I am not going to gaze too deeply into my crystal football, but this is how see the month of August panning out for Ipswich Town.
Saturday 6th (15.00) Forest Green Rovers (away) League Two Champions Forest Green Rovers present a real threat. They won their first game away narrowly, thanks to a late winner from Scottish midfielder Regan Hendry but new manager Ian Burchnall will be delighted with this start by the club from Gloucestershire. I think this may well turn out to be another draw. I hope not, but this has not been an easy start for the Blues. Prediction: 1-1 (1 point)
Saturday 13th (15.00) MK Dons (home) I was surprised to see MK Dons go down by a single goal to Cambridge City away, but there are always shocks at this stage of the season. We drew with them at home and away last season, and of course, they finished in the top six, and we didn’t! Bradley Johnson is a good player and so too is Matt Smith, but if we are to be successful this season we have to start winning our home games, and this is one of them. Prediction: 3-1 (3 points)
Tuesday 16th(19.45) Burton Albion (away) In what always proves to be a busy month of football, this is a game that I fully expect Ipswich to triumph in. I cannot see Burton Albion staying up, to be honest, and we must take advantage of their disappointing start to their campaign when they lost 3-0 away at Wycombe Wanderers. Prediction: 1-4 (3 points)
Saturday 20th (15.00) Shrewsbury Town (away) This Shropshire club are dogged and very difficult to beat. They no longer call their ground Gay Meadow – just as well given the current climate, but they make life difficult for opponents at their place, and I would be happy with a hard-fought draw. Prediction: 2-2 (1 point)
Saturday 27th (15.00) Barnsley (home) This gritty Yorkshire outfit will come with a cunning game plan, and we must be ready for it. I expect us to be triumphant in the end, but it could prove to be a nail-biting affair – especially with James Norwood in their team! Prediction: 2-1 (3 points)
I have not included other competitions here because the main aim is to try and predict Towns points haul and where they might find themselves in the table come the end of the month. What do you think? Am I being overly optimistic by suggesting that Town will go undefeated in August, and find themselves in 8th with a total of 12 points?
