Can Town Be Of Top Tree In January?

The mere thought alone is enough to have us doing handstands. Although I must confess if I attempted it, I would probably be celebrating the great event in a local hospital somewhere!

But tonight at the AMEX stadium, Ipswich Town football club have another wonderful chance to be top of the Sky Bet Championship and this time with a clear lead!

Thanks to a determined Leeds United side, who defeated leaders Bournemouth last night by a single goal – having gone down to ten men, the blues can go top of the table tonight and be two points ahead of their nearest rivals but only we win?

A draw would see us back in second place with the same amount of points as The Cherries but with an inferior goal difference.

A defeat would mean that Derby County could overtake us again when they play their game in hand and it would of course bring us much closer to the chasing pack, which is the last thing we want.

I do not want to be too greedy tonight because this game at Brighton is bound to be fraught with danger.

Chris Hughton has just taken over the stewardship of the club and if they are to get away from a relegation dog-fight then they need to start picking up some points at home – especially having lost their last home game to Brentford narrowly at the weekend.

The Tractor Boys will probably go into this one with the same team that did so well against fellow strugglers Millwall. That means that Noel Hunt and his brother Stephen will be in from the start, although Cole Skuse could find a place in midfield to beef things up if need be.

The defence will be the same and on the bench we can expect to find Freddy Sears again; along with reserve keeper Paddy Kenny and Darren Ambrose. Jonathan Parr, Cameron Stewart and perhaps Matt Clarke could all find themselves on bench-warming duties too.

Brighton on the other hand could give Leon Best his full debut after joining from Blackburn Rovers on a season long loan earlier in the week.

The Seagulls are sweating on the fitness of a number of players although they expect Greg Halford and Craig Mackail-Smith to pull through but Jake Forster-Caskey is a serious doubt with a hip injury and Lewis Dunk is suspended having been red carded in their last match against Brentford.

My heart says that Town can win this one but my head thinks a 1-1 draw. As usual though whatever the result, I hope Town do themselves justice and who knows by tomorrow morning we may be singing with the birds!




Frank Weston – Editor of Vital Ipswich