As I hinted at yesterday, the game against Blackpool at Portman Road on Saturday will not be easy and if we are to stand any chance of getting back into the top six, then a win is an absolute must!
Of course the Tangerines can go into this one in a relaxed frame of mind, whilst for the blues there will be a tenseness in the air and this will be generated by the players and supporters alike.
We cannot afford to drop more points and on this occasion the Mick McCarthy mantra that any point is always a good point will simply not apply.
Long term injuries to Luke Hyam and David McGoldrick have not helped our cause but neither has a mindset that puts defence first and this is especially disconcerting when we are playing at home.
I still believe we could have beaten Bournemouth if we had not relied so heavily on defending at all costs. We got the lead by attacking them and then as soon as we got the goal we went back into our shell like an Italian team but sadly without any Italian defenders!
Against Huddersfield it was Zeki Fryers who perhaps proved why has struggled to make an impression at the highest level with a piece of inept defending that cost us dear.
Thank goodness that Tyrone Mings suspension has ended and he can resume his post at the back.
Prior to the goal we seemed relatively comfortable but after it the Yorkshire side had their tails up and it was backs to the wall time from then on in.
On Saturday afternoon at Portman Road we must be positive and try to get an early goal to settle the nerves. Then we really must press on and not think one goal is enough because it never is as far as Ipswich Town are concerned!
The team the manager picks may go along way to deciding the outcome and I would play Stephen Hunt from the start this time.
I still cannot fathom why he did not come off the bench when we were chasing the game at Huddersfield but in fairness the players who came on were all attack minded but Freddie Sears should have been in from the start and I just hope Mick McCarthy has learned a lesson from it.
We must risk Teddy Bishop again too and it is disappointing to discover that Dylan Connolly was injured playing for the under 21’s last night because he is someone who could potentially shake things up as a second half sub.
Elliot Hewitt also played and scored and perhaps we have to drop Tommy Smith so that Luke Chambers can revert to his natural position at centre half along side Christophe Berra.
One thing is certain and that is that anything less than a win is simply not good enough and might possibly end all hopes of a top six finish for the blues.
F.W. Vital Ipswich
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