Blues Need A Winning Start!

Newly promoted Barnsley will be up for this and that means that Ipswich Town have to pull out all the stops today to gain all three points.

Town have virtually a full compliment of players and lots of attacking options with Grant Ward signed from Tottenham in the mix – along with Conor Grant from Everton on a season long loan.

The defence is also looking healthier with the addition of Adam Webster and this will probably mean that Tommy Smith will drop to the bench.

Bartosz Bialkowski is likely to be in goal – although Dean Gerken is fit again and in midfield we can expect to see Kevin Bru and a rejuvenated Teddy Bishop!

Up front manager Mick McCarthy has lots of options and he may put Brett Pitman and Freddy Sears through the middle but of course Daryl Murphy is also raring to go as is David McGoldrick so he is a little spoilt for choice.

I see this one being a tight affair and if the blues are victorious it will probably be by a single goal – although McCarthy has said he wants to entertain the fans.

The blues pre-season games have been largely disappointing but this is the one that counts and three points in their first game at Portman Road would be the perfect start.

Frank Weston. – Editor of Vital Ipswich