Ipswich Town fans predicted losing run would end against Foxes, according to Vital Ipswich poll
After Ipswich Town had recorded their sixth successive defeat at Preston North End a week ago, Vital Ipswich asked you how long you believed it would take for the Blues to record their next win.
The crushing blow of losing to bottom-of-the-table Preston was the kind of disappointment that might have led fans of Ipswich Town – and indeed some of those within the club – to feel like another win may never come. Having been happily in the playoff places after beating Sheffield United in early November, the Blues had since slumped into the bottom eight, bringing about renewed pressure on boss Roy Keane. The Christmas fixture list is always a crucial time, but even more so for a Town team on the brink.
As such, after the Preston game we presented several possible options for you to predict when Ipswich would actually pick up another 3 point haul:
50% – Leicester (18 Dec 10)
15% – Watford (26 Dec 10)
5% – Doncaster (28 Dec 10)
5% – Coventry (01 Jan 11)
15% – Not until Roy Keane leaves
10% – Not until we make some new signings
Click here to suggest your own poll for the site!
It’s safe to say now that given the benefit of hindsight, the majority got it right. Half of you predicted that Ipswich would record their next victory at the first time of asking against Leicester City this weekend (though you probably didn’t foresee the manner in which it would occur!) Of those less convinced of a win over the Foxes, 15% felt the Boxing Day home fixture against Watford would be the time, while only a handful thought it would take until the end of 2010 or the start of 2011.
Interestingly however, of the alternative options we offered that were not based on particular matches, 15% suggested that the winless run would continue unless Keane was removed as manager. This is probably not a surprise given the pressure on the boss after the recent run, though it does give an insight into what some felt was most to blame for the struggle. Meanwhile a further 10% felt new signings in January would be the only means of bringing about a change in results – presumably suggesting personnel was the problem.
Those who kept the faith in the current manager and players to get over the hump quickly have been proved right on this occasion following the win over Leicester, but it remains to be seen whether this will result in an improvement in form over Christmas and New Year – which brings us neatly to our next poll…
This week’s poll: ‘How many points do you predict Ipswich will get from their three festive fixtures?’ (See right-hand column to place your vote)
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