Well, I guess we would hope so. We are now back to third in the table and revenge against Lincoln City next Saturday at Portman Road might see us go top again! I think a victory is very possible, and after that thrilling but disappointing 5-3 result at the LNER Stadium, we have something to prove.
The Town team has a much more settled look to it these days and manager Paul Lambert seems to have nailed his favourite eleven – barring injuries or suspensions. That said, you would not expect James Norwood to be bench-warming on a regular basis and you cannot see Lambert playing with three out and out strikers, so it seems as if only Kayden Jackson place is assured upfront at the moment.
The defence is sorted until Kane Vincent-Young returns and this could be some time off, and although Teddy Bishop and Freddie Sears are getting closer to the first-team selection, it will probably only be in the event of unforeseen happenings.
Football is about 40 % technical ability and 60 % confidence and this applies to every league and every player, no matter how high you go in the football pyramid. Town are now starting to play with a bit more of it and that handsome win against Accrington Stanley went some way to restoring it. We do need to start getting good results against the clubs that are vying for the promotion places however and shortly, we will have the chance to test ourselves once more.
Flynn Downes and Kayden Jackson were on target in the second half against Tranmere Rovers and there is a real prospect that more goals will come from different quarters as the season progresses. It is reassuring to hear Downes say that he is committed to the club and he believes that young central defender Luke Woolfenden is too, because if we are to get automatic promotion this term then we will surely need both of them.
There are 18 games left and that is 54 points to play for and remember 12 of those matches are to be played at Portman Road. Strangely perhaps, it has been our away results that have propelled us into this position but if we can improve on our home results, then we have every chance of going up without having to suffer the indignity of those dreaded play-offs!
F.W. – editor of Vital Ipswich
