We have scored just one goal in our last six matches at Portman Road, and none in our last four so if there was any chance of getting supporters back to the ground any time soon, this is most certainly not the way to do it.
We know the playing surface is bad but it is bad for both teams and with our distinct lack of skill in a number of departments, you would have thought that having a poor pitch might be a great leveler!
Our last four games at home have seen us lose 0-1 twice and draw 0-0 twice and we have to go back to the 13th January for our last victory here, which was a narrow 1-0 win against Leeds United.
It is not as if we are playing particularly badly but we lack decisiveness up front and vision in our midfield. This is so far removed from our early season form at home when we seemed to be scoring for fun.
Tonight we have another chance to take the bull by the horns but Hull City will be up for the fight, having clawed their way back from a 1-3 goal deficit in their last encounter.
Unfortunately manager Mick McCarthy has not won any of his last eight league matches against Hull and Nigel Adkins could name the same side that beat Norwich 4-3 on Saturday afternoon.
That was a splendid win and their tails will be up tonight for sure. We may however get on the score sheet at last, as we have never failed to score in five consecutive home games in the clubs history!
In his press conference yesterday I sensed that McCarthy was not as sure footed as normal – in fact he was almost as defensive minded as the team he often selects!
Whether this is because he is not as confident as he was about his contract being renewed is anybody’s guess but he behaved in a way that suggested he knew something that he did not want to hear.
Anything less than a win tonight and any long lingering hopes of a play-off place will have surely gone.
Anything less than a good performance and so too will most of the Town supporters I would have thought.
Frank Weston – Editor of Vital Ipswich
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