After last Tuesday night’s humiliating 3-0 defeat to relegation-battling Southampton, Ipswich go to Molineux looking for a reaction against the Championship table-toppers. However, the Blues’ last win at Molinuex came when they were promoted 17 seasons ago – history looks unlikely to repeat itself this season.
Wolves have a great team of stars, and manager Mick McCarthy has done a wonderful job in moulding them to be a star team. The Championship leaders have twenty points more than Ipswich, and are nine places higher. Their goalscoring record is phenomenal – not only do they have a goal difference of +22, but they have scored over two goals a game on average.
Wanderers narrowly missed out on the play-offs last season – they finished a place above Town and only missed out by one goal. They kept faith in ex-Republic of Ireland manager Mick McCarthy and they are now reaping the rewards – maybe a lesson for Ipswich next season?
From the Dugout:
Assistant manager John Gorman says that Wolves are not unbeatable. He told the club site: ‘They are not invincible and we have to go to Molineux, where we know it’s going to be tough and respond to the occasion.
‘They are going to come out all guns blazing, backed by their fans and we have to dig in and not give away any silly goals like we have done recently.
”The players know they can play a lot better than they did against Southampton last week and we’ve got to look to bounce back from that and get back to winning ways”
Wolverhampton Wanderers Team News:
Wovles have a big concern over winger Michael Kightly, currently suffering with a hamstring problem. Matt Jarvis could take his place in the side if the former Grays man is unfit.
Matt Murray is a long term injury victim, while skipper Karl Henry will be missing as he serves the final game of the two-match ban that comes with 10 yellow cards in a season.
Former Colchester United full-back George Elokobi is still injured, after picking up the knee injury at Portman Road at the start of the season. Matt Bailey and Nigel Quashie are both out.
Player to watch: Sylvan Ebanks-Blake
As I previously said, Wolves have a great team of stars and Ebanks-Blake is just one of them. He already has 23 goals to his name this season, and has scored against Ipswich in his last three games (two for Wolves, one for Plymouth).
Ipswich Town Team News:
Skipper Gareth McAuley picked up his fifth booking of the season in the last game that he could have picked up the one-match ban that goes with it, and so misses the Wolves trip. Ipswich will hand the armband to someone who hasn’t worn it before, with club captain Richard Naylor leaving for Leeds United in January. David Wright, who is set to be at right-back, is favourite to be captain, while Ben Thatcher is set to return at left-back.
Ivan Campo, another in contention for the armband, returns to the squad following a torn thigh muscle although Alex Bruce and Pim Balkestein are likely to be at the back together. Richard Wright as usual will continue in goal.
In midfield, there are likely to be wholesale changes from the awful 3-0 defeat to Southampton last Tuesday night. Alan Quinn, Luciano Civelli, David Norris and Tommy Miller could all be dropped, with the likes of Jon Walters, Owen Garvan, Veliche Shumulikoski and forgotten man Jaime Peters looking for their chance.
Jon Stead and Pablo Counago both failed to shine against the Saints, so one, if not both could drop out and be replaced by Kevin Lisbie.
Moritz Volz is injured, but Danny Haynes returns to the squad following a hamstring strain.
Player to watch: Richard Wright
Town’s number one will have a busy night keeping out the Championship leaders without captain Gareth McAuley in front of him in defence.
Ref Watch:
Graham Sailsbury referee’s Tuesday night’s game.
Match Prediction:
Unfortunately, I can see nothing other than a defeat, and the best Ipswich can hope for is a draw. Sorry Town fans, but the play-offs could look a little beyond us after tonight. I predict a 2-0 Wolves win.
Up Next…
…Reading await the Blues at the Madejski Stadium on Saturday.
