Ipswich Town begin their 2011/12 Championship journey with a trip to Bristol City, but who knows what their final destination will be come May next year…
Vital Preview:
The wait is finally over as manager Paul Jewell takes charge for his first full season as Ipswich Town manager. After taking the wheel from Roy Keane in January, the Blues boss steered his side away from the depths of the Championship to the safety of a mid-table mooring.
A highly productive summer has followed with seven new signings arriving at Portman Road, notably the acquisition of Cardiff City hotshot Michael Chopra. Given the chance to start afresh, hopes will be high that Jewell’s new-look side herald a new era for Town, who have been tipped by more than a few observers as dark horses for the playoffs. As long-suffering Blues fans will know all too well though, expectation is a dangerous thing.
Where better therefore to test how far they have come than at Bristol City, a side who in recent seasons have never strayed too far from Town in the table. In the four years since their promotion from League One in 2007, the Robins have finished within 5 places of Ipswich every season, including last year where they took 15th place, just two points and two places behind the Blues.
That parity could be at an end this time though, with City boss Keith Millen under some pressure to prove that he has what it takes to take the club forward after spending most of last season trying to haul them clear of the dropzone. Whether star striker Nicky Maynard yields to the lure of the likes of Leicester City or West Ham United could be decisive in determining whether Bristol can muster a playoff push of their own.
Both teams begin this campaign somewhat out of the limelight and there is likely no clear favourite at Ashton Gate on Saturday, though Josh Carson’s strike did see ten-man Town get the better of Bristol last time out in April having already beaten them at Portman Road last August. Plenty has changed even in that time however and it remains to be seen who will get off to the better start to the campaign – and more importantly, the better finish.
For more buildup to the start of the season, why not check out our in-depth preview for Ipswich Town’s 2011/12 Championship campaign.
Bristol City Team News:
Bristol City have been boosted by the news that Dean Gerken, Jamie McAllister and Damion Stewart have all recovered from injuries in time for the visit of Ipswich.
Robins boss Keith Millen will however be without Christian Ribiero through a groin injury, whilst forward pair David Clarkson and Marlon Jackson miss out with ankle and Achilles problems respectively.
Ex-Town striker Jon Stead could well start against his former club along with in-demand frontman Nicky Maynard.
Player to watch: Nicky Maynard
How many games he has left for Bristol remains to be seen with strong interest from Championship rivals West Ham and Leicester, but for as long as he does stay, striker Nicky Maynard poses a major threat for Keith Millen’s team.
A record £2 million signing for the Robins in 2008, the former Crewe Alexandra forward missed most of last season with an injury he picked up last summer. With 6 goals in his subsequent 13 league appearances however, the 24-year-old showed why the Robins’ hopes for the coming campaign could rely heavily on him.
If he stays fit and can hit his best form, expect to see Maynard banging in the goals this season – even if isn’t at Ashton Gate.
Ipswich Town Team News:
After a busy summer in the transfer market and with no injury worries for any of his players, Ipswich Town manager Paul Jewell must decide how many of his new signings to feature against Bristol.
Michael Chopra, Jay Emmanuel-Thomas, Lee Bowyer, Ivar Ingimarsson, Aaron Cresswell and David Stockdale all started the 2-1 friendly defeat to Wolves last weekend and the Blues boss could stick with a similar lineup.
Jewell will also need to choose whether to retain the 4-5-1 formation from that game, despite some fans calling for 4-4-2.
Player to watch: Michael Chopra
Arguably Ipswich’s standout signing of the summer, striker Michael Chopra has been hailed by many as the long-awaited solution to Town’s lack of potency in front of goal.
The £1.5 million arrival from Cardiff netted 4 goals in pre-season for the Blues and has been tipped to break the 20-goal barrier this season – something which no Ipswich player has done since Marcus Stewart a decade ago.
Much could depend on the formation Jewell chooses to play with Chopra preferring a partner up front, but with a keen eye for goal and a proven scoring record, a lot of hopes will no doubt be riding on him alone to get the Blues firing this season.
Last Meeting:
FLC – (15th) Bristol City 0-1 Ipswich (13th)
16 April 2011
(Click here for Match Report)
Goalscorers:
Ipswich: Carson 52
Teams:
Bristol City: James, McAllister, Stewart, Nyatanga, Spence, Elliott (Woolford 80), Campbell-Ryce, Cisse (Skuse 72), Adomah, Maynard, Stead (Pitman 58)
Ipswich: Lee-Barrett, McAuley, Delaney, Carson, O’Dea, Leadbitter (Healy 70), C Edwards, Norris, Martin (s/o 28), Bullard, Wickham
Match Prediction:
Doesn’t seem two minutes since we were at Ashton Gate in April, does it!
Paul Jewell has done a great job this summer and generated a lot of optimism about the season ahead, but I don’t think we can be expecting miracles. My gut feeling is that we’ll probably be frustrated on Saturday and start this season quite slowly while the new signings take time to gel. Whilst it would be wonderful to see us simply romp to the top of the league and stay there, I reckon we’ll probably have a campaign quite similar to 2008/09.
Still, that’s what it’s all about for us fans at this time of year, isn’t it: getting predictions completely wrong!
Editor’s Prediction: Bristol City 1-1 Ipswich
Next Fixtures:
09/08/2011 CC1 Northampton Town (H)
13/08/2011 FLC Hull City (H)
16/08/2011 FLC Southampton (H)
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