Ipswich v Bristol City Preview
Posted on | August 27, 2010 | No Comments
Both of these sides were tipped for very good campaigns through the summer, with managers Roy Keane and Steve Coppell highly respected bosses who have both managed in the top flight. Since then, Coppell has departed, but there’s no doubting that Bristol City will still be harbouring ambitions of a promotion push. Out of the two it’s Ipswich who have enjoyed the better start though, with the Tractor Boys racking up seven points out of their opening three games to put them into 5th position.
Last season could only be described as a disaster for Ipswich and it would be fair to say that Roy Keane is under immense pressure to deliver in this campaign. When he joined the club two years ago, Keane set the target as promotion by the end of his second season although judging by the little progress made last year, that looks a little ambitious at the moment. However, ignoring last season’s failures, Ipswich have made a very good start to this campaign with two wins and a draw to their name. Considering the fact that Middlesbrough and Burnley have been amongst their opponents, an accumulation of seven points is a superb statistic and gives the club an excellent footing already.
There’s no doubting that Bristol City supporters have undergone something of a rollercoaster season already following the departure of Steve Coppell just one league game into the season. His successor Keith Millen has been busy working in the transfer market and another two promising players were brought into the club this week. Brett Pitman opted to turn down Premiership side Blackpool and join City from Bournemouth, while fellow striker Jon Stead also signed for the club this week – coincidently from Saturday’s opponents Ipswich. On first view, it appears as though it’s the defence that City need to sure up though. Seven goals have been conceded in the league this season – with Millwall and Barnsley getting three each. This poor defensive record means that City have just the two points now and sit just one place above the bottom three.
As for team news, Roy Keane could throw in new signing Jason Scotland who joined the club from Wigan at the start of the week. Elsewhere, defender Gareth McAuley could return after a back problem, but Keane will be without both Andros Townsend and Mark Kennedy who are suspended and injured respectively. Bristol City just have the one problem with Cole Skuse set to miss out through a knee injury. However, Keith Millen has the option of giving debuts to new signings Jon Stead and Brett Pitman, while Kalifa Cisse is also available having recovered from a thigh strain.
Bristol City may be splashing the cash, but there’s no doubting they have serious problems in defence. Ipswich have enjoyed a solid start to the season and we think they will maintain their unbeaten run – 2-1 Tractor Boys.
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- Ipswich v Bristol City Preview
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