Ipswich v Cardiff Preview

Posted on | March 9, 2010 | 1 Comment

The bookies thought that both of these sides would be battling for a play off place by the end of the season but as it turns out, only Cardiff are matching those expectations. The Bluebirds are currently sat in 6th position although with two games in hand, you’d have to describe their current predicament as pretty strong. Ipswich on the other hand have endured a dreadful season and despite being managed by the strong-minded Roy Keane, the Tractor Boys face more of a relegation battle and sit just one point above the drop zone.

Ipswich’s season has been an utter disaster and it wouldn’t surprise many if Roy Keane finds himself out of a job in the summer. The goal for the Tractor Boys was to gain promotion within two years of Keane’s arrival and while he’s not yet halfway through his tenure, the Portman Road outfit have gone backwards if anything. Consistency has been the main issue and Keane’s men just can’t string a good set of results together. They’ve accumulated far too many draws with the current tally standing at seventeen. They’ve recorded just the one victory in their last five and considering the fact that every single one of those opponents operate on a shoestring budget compared to the Tractor Boys, that is a fact that will be unacceptable to their supporters.

Cardiff on the other hand have been through something of a sticky patch recently although bounced back with a 1-0 win over Middlesbrough at the weekend. That put an end to four straight games without a win although saying that, the Bluebirds are still riding high in the league and sit in 6th. Two points separate them from 7th place Blackpool and considering the fact they have two games in hand over the Seasiders, they are sat in a fantastic position as we enter the final third of the season. Of course, the same was said last season and Dave Jones will know he’s under immense pressure to finally get the Bluebirds into the play off stages.

In terms of team news, Ipswich just have the one concern with Grant Leadbitter sitting out through suspension. The former Sunderland man picked up his tenth yellow card of the season and will therefore be banned for this encounter. As for the visitors, Dave Jones has a few more problems. Peter Whittingham, Steven McPhail, Mark Kennedy and Mark Hudson are all struggling with injury while Joe Ledley continues his long rehabilitation following hip surgery.

As for a prediction, we’re going to go for the draw. Ipswich have drawn an incredible ten games at Portman Road this season and they are up against a side who are statistically one of the best on the road in the division. With that, we think they’ll cancel each other out – 2-2.

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5. Middlesbrough v Ipswich Preview

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