It’s a mid-table affair at Ashton Gate on Saturday, but for underachievers Bristol City and Ipswich Town, it could show which club is better placed for a promotion push next year.
Both Town and City probably had greater expectations of this campaign last summer. Ipswich were hoping for a major improvement after a poor first season for Roy Keane, whilst Steve Coppell was parading David James at Ashton Gate amidst expectation of an exciting campaign.
For Ipswich, those hopes were destroyed three months into the season when their playoff-chasing start was extinguished by the horror run they suffered in November and December, and only since Paul Jewell’s arrival have they managed to pull clear of trouble. For Bristol City however, the shock came after just 11 days, when Coppell – after less than four months as boss – decided to retire from football altogether due to a ‘lack of passion’ for the job. It proved a huge blow for City, whose promotion hopes were quickly replaced by relegation fears as they won just one of their opening 11 matches. Their troubles were clear for all to see at Portman Road in August, when James’ floundering capped off a dreadful performance by Keith Millen’s side as Ipswich ran out 2-0 winners.
As Town now make the return trip however, they should face a rather stiffer test. Millen has steadied the ship and has been significantly boosted by the return to fitness of goalscorer Nicky Maynard, whose first start of the season in February coincided with City’s best form of the campaign, losing just two of the last nine as well as taking six wins from seven matches. Such form should not intimidate Jewell’s side though, with Tuesday’s comeback against Middlesbrough making it 10 points from a possible 12. It’s the kind of form that both teams probably should have enjoyed more of this season – and if they have designs on a promotion push next year, they’ll both want to keep it going for as long as possible.
Vital Quotes:
Bristol City manager Keith Millen is looking for his side to make the visit of Ipswich an entertaining match for the fans. Much like the Blues, the Robins are keen to impress throughout the rest of this season as they look towards a more successful campaign next year.
‘It will be two improving sides playing end-to-end football with plenty of goals,’ Millen told the Bristol Evening Post. ‘I want to excite the crowd and maintain the feel-good factor we have around the place from now until the end of the season.’
The Robins’ boss also admires the work that Paul Jewell has done to steady the ship at Portman Road: ‘Things were looking a bit rocky for Ipswich when Paul went in there, but he’s brought in a few loans and they are now playing well.’
‘I’ve watched some of their recent games on video and, on paper, they are as good as anything in this division. They are confident and playing without any pressure on them, which makes them dangerous opponents.’
The same can however be said of Bristol City, who are just two points and two places behind the Blues having also secured their Championship safety. A win would take them above Town, and potentially even into the top half.
Bristol City Team News:
Keith Millen looks unlikely to tweak his Bristol City side too much with no new injury concerns, though on-loan striker Andy Keogh has had to return to parent club Wolverhampton Wanderers after suffering a back injury. Fellow frontman and former Blue Jon Stead has recovered from ankle surgery but the Robins are likely to stick with Nicky Maynard and Brett Pitman in attack. Elsewhere defender Damion Stewart may come into the side following a spell out with an ankle injury, though the game comes too soon for Louis Carey who has been on the sidelines for a long time with a skull fracture. Liam Fontaine and Stephen Caulker are the only other long-term absentees at Ashton Gate.
Player to watch: Nicky Maynard
If star striker Nicky Maynard had been fit from the start of the season, one wonders where Bristol City might have been by now. Signed from Crewe Alexandra in 2008, Maynard was the Robins’ top scorer last season with 21 goals in all competitions, but an injury during pre-season last summer meant that he was not able to make his first start of this campaign until February. Since then however, the 24-year-old has really been making up for lost time, with 6 goals in 9 matches contributing to his team’s best run of form this season. His goals will surely be crucial if City are to push for promotion next season, and having set himself a target of finishing this campaign as top scorer at Ashton Gate, he will be looking to fire in as many as possible before this season is out.
Ipswich Town Team News:
Ipswich manager Paul Jewell has one new injury problem in his squad with Mark Kennedy suffering from a hamstring strain, so Darren O’Dea looks likely to come into the starting lineup. Further changes may follow up front after Connor Wickham impressed in the central striking role in the second half against Middlesbrough, with Jason Scotland possibly dropping to the bench and Lee Martin coming back into the midfield. Alan Quinn remains the only long-term casualty at Portman Road.
Player to watch: Connor Wickham
Connor Wickham returns to the place where he made his away debut as a professional almost exactly two years ago. The then 16-year-old had broken Jason Dozzell’s record as Ipswich Town’s youngest ever player on his home debut two days earlier, and came on as a 73rd minute substitute as the Blues earned a 1-1 draw at Ashton Gate. Now two years on, Wickham arrives as an England U21 international and the Football League Young Player of the Year, with much of the Blues’ hopes of success riding on his young shoulders. The 18-year-old netted his 8th league goal of the campaign against Middlesbrough on Tuesday night and could well be rewarded with a start up front having often been utilised in midfield under Paul Jewell. Leading the attack, the teenager will be hoping to find the strike that takes him level with Jason Scotland as Town’s top scorer in the Championship this season – and show the folks of Bristol just how far he has come since his last visit.
Last Meeting
FLC – (5th) Ipswich 2-0 Bristol City (20th)
28 August 2010
(Click here for Match Report)
Goalscorers
Ipswich: Priskin 59, Scotland 74
Teams:
Ipswich: Fulop, Peters, McAuley, Smith, O’Dea, Leadbitter, Edwards, Norris, Hyam (O’Connor 84), Scotland (Murray 90+1), Priskin
Bristol City: James, Hunt, McAllister (Williams 73), Fontaine, Stewart, Elliott, Sproule, Cisse, Adomah, Stead, Pitman
Match Prediction:
I remember the scenes at Portman Road in August when the entire stadium was jeering David James after a trademark calamitous performance, though the same could have been said for the whole Bristol City team at the time. Now, things are different, and I think this trip could be far tougher. Both sides have had pretty similar experiences in recent seasons and look likely to be competing for mid-table ‘bragging rights’ again this year, with hopefully better to come next time around. As such, I think it’ll be a pretty even game, and with three draws in our last four meetings with the Robins, it could well be the same story on Saturday.
Prediction: In a mid-table battle, there are no winners! Bristol City 1-1 Ipswich.
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Next Fixtures:
21/04 FLC Norwich City (H)
25/04 FLC Swansea City (A)
30/04 FLC Preston North End (H)
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