We Can Expect More Town Changes Today

It seems almost inevitable, that after that lackluster toothless display at Portman Road on Tuesday night, manager Mick McCarthy will ring the changes for the trip to Bristol City this afternoon.

Ipswich are already without striker Joe Garner, who will miss the rest of the season with a minor skull fracture and this will give the medical team more time to assess his other ailments, which might even include some knee surgery.

Also out of the match today are Mustapha Carayol (groin strain) and Dominic Iorfa (thigh injury) so there is every possibility – given the fact that the Blues have nothing more to play for, that McCarthy may play young Ben Morris from the start!

If he is really brave he might also pair him with Aaron Drinan but this seems very unlikely. If we can take our manager by his word then once it is mathematically impossible to make the play-offs, he will start to blood the youngsters. Sadly perhaps, after this highly forgettable season, this is still not the case and therefore his cautious approach might still prevail?

Yet, after that diabolical display on Tuesday night at Portman Road it seems inevitable that he will shuffle his pack. McCarthy can be blamed for many things but not the injury crisis that has plagued him from day one.

Cole Skuse is likely to return today and I think that Kevin Bru might get a starting berth too because the midfield seriously under-performed against Hull City.

Personally, I would like to see Danny Rowe get a look in and McCarthy must surely regret shipping out Flynn Downes to Luton Town. Ben Folami netted the only goal for the Blues under 23 team today as they defeated our rivals this afternoon by a single goal, which is a small shred of comfort I suppose.

Bristol City have injury worries of their own and The Robins say that their regular centre back Nathan Baker has only a 50/50 chance of making it, while striker Milan Djuric is closer to full fitness it it thought.

They have two defenders suspended for this one though, as Aden Flint and Joe Bryan will have to watch from afar.

Amazingly perhaps, Ipswich have won just five points in home matches compared with 11 points away this year but given the toxic atmosphere at Portman Road these days, this might not be such a surprise.

A win away today might buy Mick McCarthy a bit more time but it will do little to satisfy the increasingly vocal element of Town support.

Frank Weston – Editor of Vital Ipswich