League 1 - Ipswich Town vs Wycombe Wanderers Preview & Matchday Thread

[Frosty]

Ipswich Town v Wycombe Wanderers


Friday 7th April 2023 – 15:00


Portman Road







Pre Match Thoughts - Mike



The Blue & White Tractor just keeps rolling on an on, the excellent win at Derby County has taken the current winning run to a very impressive Seven games while the clean sheet count is now standing at Eight, quite remarkable given where we were after the miserable efforts at Cambridge Utd & Bristol Rovers. The fixture threw up a really tricky run of Fixtures what with Bolton, Derby & Barnsley all in quick succession and while the latter has been put back a while we just keep on brushing teams aside who are supposed to be major obstacles in our quest to get back into the automatic promotion race. I can remember HallamBlue saying the only hope we had was to beat all Three of those clubs and and while I just did not see that happening it is now a very real possibility, such is our superb form right now I think most of us are almost starting to expect it.

When we factor in events and results from elsewhere we now find ourselves very much back in real contention for a top Two finish, if not the title, Sheffield Wednesday having been on an incredible winning run now can't seem to beat an egg and are showing relegation form rather than promotion form, so much so that should we win our game in hand we leapfrog the team that only a few weeks ago were according to many unassailable. Plymouth to their credit continue to hang on in there but they too are starting to feel the heat with a few injuries piling up and an absolute mauling at the hands of Bolton Wanderers in the EFL Cup Final, that will take some getting out of the system. Barnsley continue to keep well in touch and bounced back from their recent defeat with a resounding win at the weekend. I made the point a few weeks back that it was not beyond the realms of possibility for Wednesday & Plymouth to both miss out on the automatics and while it was a little bit tongue in cheek it doesn't look quite so obscure now.

We have Four Home games left against Wycombe Wanderers, Charlton Athletic, Port Vale & Exeter City and they most definitely all have to be won, as in my opinion do the trips to Cheltenham Town & Fleetwood Town on the final day, that leaves us with trips to Peterborough Utd & Barnsley where a solitary point from those Two games could well be enough to get the job done, anything more and we would be in clover, of course winning those Six games won't be easy either but the way we are playing anything is possible.

The game at Derby was by all accounts a very impressive and thoroughly deserved win, I was otherwise engaged returning from holiday but have caught enough highlights now to see who the better team clearly were, not to mention the comments from the Derby fans who felt their team were poor on the day. It was also suggested we rode our luck with their goal being given offside but on closer inspection it appears to have been a correct decision on Two fronts. Let's not beat around the bush here, our first goal was absolutely fantastic from start to finish, had that been scored at a higher level with more TV exposure the pundits and scribes would still be waxing lyrical about it now, it really was that good, I also thought the turn and shot by George Hirst was better than it has been given credit for too, that was no easy finish and the lad is starting to prove the doubters, myself included, wrong.

I am not sure if it is just me but in recent games I have felt we are seeing the Wes Burns of last season again, suddenly he looks hungrier, quicker, more direct, you name it, and all this at a crucial time in the season. We have so many players hitting top form right now it is staggering and god forbid it did end up being the play off's then surely nobody would be relishing meeting us, thankfully I get the feeling it won't come to that.

This weekend see's the often critical Easter period upon us where hopes and dreams can either be crushed or endorsed, we have Two of those must win games over the holiday period with Wycombe Wanderers at Portman Road on good Friday and a trip to Cheltenham Town on Easter Monday. I don't think it will have escaped too many of us that we owe Wycombe one for sure following their fortuitous victory over us at Adams Park where some woeful Town defending gifted them the only goal of the game, it was also One of only Three occasions in which we have failed to find the net, there are definitely scores to settle and settle them we must. Wycombe too have their own agenda, they are well in touch with the play off scrap and currently sit a mere Two points off the Sixth and final slot, their current form however is poor with only One win in the last Five outings, the need for maximum points is very real and as such I don't see too much parking the bus on this occasion, inviting us on to them all game would be dicing with death but equally trying to go toe to toe when we are in this kind of form is a tall ask and One which would also potentially play right into our hands.

I have to go for a Town win, I think I would against ANY team in this division right now, a sell out crowd, a team bang in form, players oozing confidence is a recipe made to succeed and while I know some will say that in the past we have flunked when such occasions present themselves let's not forget this is a different Animal we are dealing with now and Kieran McKenna has this team on fire, everything just seems to be clicking into place when we need it most. I gave McKenna stick a few weeks back and at the time I genuinely felt it was justified as for me a couple of things weren't right. things which now seem to be being handled differently, factor in the January signings and you have to hold your hands up and say at the moment KM and the boys are doing everything that we expect of them and also look as if they can get even better. Talk about happy days at last !!! Town to win this One I think, dare we dream of another clean sheet ? Personally I would love it but I feel they would need to score more than One to prevent us from racking up another Three points. Town win here........COYB'S



The Opposition – Wycombe Wanderers Honours



League honours


Football League One
Play-off Winners: 2019–20
Play-off Runners-up: 2021-22


Football League Two
Third place (Promoted): 2008–09, 2010–11, 2017–18
Play-off Winners: 1993–94
Play-off Runners-up: 2014–15
Play-off Semi-finalists: 2005–06, 2007–08

Football Conference
Champions: 1992–93
Runners-up: 1991–92

Isthmian League
Champions: 1955–56, 1956–57, 1970–71, 1971–72, 1973–74, 1974–75, 1982–83, 1986–87

Spartan League
Champions: 1919–20, 1920–21


Cup honours


FA Cup
Semi-finalists 2000–01

Football League Cup
Semi-finalists: 2006–07

Football League Trophy
Southern Area finalists: 1993–94

FA Trophy
Winners: 1990-91, 1992-93

Football Conference Shield
Winners: 1991–1992, 1992–1993, 1993–1994

Football Conference Charity Shield
Winners: 1987–1988



The Manager – Matt Bloomfield








League Table as at 4th April 2023









Form Guide




Ipswich Town



4 Mar Ipswich Town 4 - 0 Burton Albion

7 Mar Ipswich Town 3 - 0 Accrington

11 Mar Bolton 0 - 2 Ipswich Town

18 Mar Ipswich Town 2 - 0 Shrewsbury

1 Apr Derby County 0 - 2 Ipswich Town




Wycombe Wanderers




11 Mar Burton Albion 2 - 1 Wycombe

14 Mar Bristol Rovers 0 - 2 Wycombe

18 Mar Wycombe 0 - 1 Barnsley

25 Mar Charlton 1 - 1 Wycombe

1 Apr Wycombe 2 - 2 Milton Keynes








Head to Head








Match Referee – David Rock







IPSWICH TOWN 2 WYCOMBE WANDERERS 1

[hallamblue]

Early goal is vital for us - COYBs

[marko69]

Another excellent write up. My own personal take and maybe adding to the last paragraph, (and with things being a lot better)---->> the tinkering with the squad WAS indeed the figurative "boot up the arse" the team required. If anyone was to believe otherwise, then it'd be the equivalent of saying he "stumbled upon" the past 8 games. Got to give the guy more credit than that though. Its been an excellent run past few weeks and hopefully it stays that way.

Think ITFC @ PR should be able to take care of business in this one but sort of feel Wycombe will be trickier than Derby. Hopefully the promotion form continues. Can only be 6 from 6 over the Easter period. COYB's

Speaking of Easter, I saw Arnold Schwartznegger in town today eating a chocolate egg.
"You like this time of year, Arnie?" I asked.
"Have to love Easter, Baby," he replied.
Can only assume he does after that response.

Ref caption:
"Hey ref. Arnie's eating your Easter egg"
Ref: "NO! Don't even joke about that."

Matt Bloomfield Caption.
Reporter: "So Matt, what does it feel like having a name that wouldn't be out of place on a Dulux Paint colour chart?"
Matt: (Picture)

[number 9]

Can’t imagine we’ll get another clean sheet…maybe. They’re fighting for a play off spot…can we mute their desires? Possibly…aww fuckit, 2-0!…maybe 2-1.

[Frosty]

Bloomfield is not Ainsworth.

Since he took over in February they have won 2, drawn 3, lost 3.

Hopefully Bloomfield remembers his origins and we make that lost 4.

[arana peligrosa]

I just vote for victory. Took all of one second, no need to weigh up any further alternative. Any other outcome seems illogical.

We got the greater firepower, determination, consistency etc. We're stronger in probably just about every department to them and with a large vociferous home crowd you just can't really view beyond a home victory. Only something surreal can hold the team back or see the opposition take something from their trip over.

We have to win all remaining home games now, that's where the real points will be available. Can't recall who SWFC and Barnsley play on the same day / weekend but last viewed, got to thinking they won't necessarily take three points from either. We could feasibly be in the automatic promotion places by end time on Friday, it's that close to target.

ITFC 3 Wycombe W 1

[Cabanas Blue]

Good news that Broadhead only missed one days training and Davis has had one day of training, a 2-1 Win for me.

[hallamblue]

I’m expecting Wycombe to hoof that ball into our box all afternoon. Can we defend that?

[JohnnyB]

I’m expecting Wycombe to hoof that ball into our box all afternoon. Can we defend that?

I'm expecting a back 4 of Clarke, Wolfie, Burgess and Leigh. In which case I'd say, yes!

[arana peligrosa]

I’m expecting Wycombe to hoof that ball into our box all afternoon. Can we defend that?

I'm expecting a back 4 of Clarke, Wolfie, Burgess and Leigh. In which case I'd say, yes!

I'd bring Venus, McGreal, De Vos and Hreidarsson for example out of retirement and still expect to win.

Bit rich also suggesting opposition teams practice hoof-ball tactics against us. (Some) Previous managers and teams assembled here in recent time made something of an art form out of it.

[Mauswara]

I'd say 4-0 but how long can our clean sheets last?

4-1 Town

[hallamblue]

I’m expecting Wycombe to hoof that ball into our box all afternoon. Can we defend that?

I'm expecting a back 4 of Clarke, Wolfie, Burgess and Leigh. In which case I'd say, yes!

I think Leigh deserves to keep his place tbh. He’s a better “ defender” than Davis, and if David had a hamstring injury, I wouldn’t be in too much of a hurry to bring him back. That injury needs a bit of time / rehab.

[Shed on tour]

I’m sure there are going to be several more twists and turns in the race for automatic promotion before the end of season. Today it could be the case at Portman Road and I will go for Town 1 Wycombe 1.

[Shed on tour]

I’m expecting Wycombe to hoof that ball into our box all afternoon. Can we defend that?

I'm expecting a back 4 of Clarke, Wolfie, Burgess and Leigh. In which case I'd say, yes!

I think Leigh deserves to keep his place tbh. He’s a better “ defender” than Davis, and if David had a hamstring injury, I wouldn’t be in too much of a hurry to bring him back. That injury needs a bit of time / rehab.

Totally agree hallam.

[Andym]

I think Leigh deserves to keep his place tbh. He’s a better “ defender” than Davis

I think so too. I think Davis has improved, but he's better going forward than he is defending. He (Davis) can't win a header. He compensates by blocking the opponent. Leigh somehow seems to jump early and hang in the air.

[Bluemike]

Same here too, I have always preferred Greg Leigh defensively to Leif Davis, that said Davis offers far more going forward and has several assists to his name this season, kinda win win really.

[Cabanas Blue]

Leigh not even on the bench ? Hope Davis is fit enough after only one days training.

[Charnwood]

Personally I think we’ve won more points through Davis’s attacking play and 10 assists than we’ve dropped points because of his poor defending. Definitely Greg Leigh did an awesome job standing in last weekend and deserved all the recognition he got but there’s no comparison when it comes to which player is more valuable to the current campaign.

[Charnwood]

Surprised Leigh hasn’t made the bench today but I guess McKenna only feels the need for one of Leigh or Donacien on the bench, assuming of course the later is included.

[Charnwood]

Just looked at the line up which pretty much selects itself these days. Unbelievable bench with almost every player good enough to be an automatic starter in most League One teams.

[Charnwood]

At least with Wycombe sitting on the fringe of the play offs it means they have to go all out for a win today just as Bolton and Derby had to recently which should make the game more open and improve our chances of adding to our run of wins.

Most important is we score first, if we don’t our afternoon will get a whole lot more difficult.

[Charnwood]

Not sure what it’s like in the UK today but it’s such a huge religious day here it seems strange being a footie day and I’m only just getting tuned into it.

[Charnwood]

For anyone unaware you can watch todays game live on iFollow within the UK & Ireland. Normally without a VPN only those of us living overseas can watch the full 90 minutes live so wherever you are if you can’t make it to Portman Road today get the telly on and enjoy the game.

[Charnwood]

If we can win this afternoon we’ll match the Clubs all time record of 8 consecutive wins in a single season which has stood since 1953/54 which is the season we won the Third Division South Title.

[marko69]

If we can win this afternoon we’ll match the Clubs all time record of 8 consecutive wins in a single season which has stood since 1953/54 which is the season we won the Third Division South Title.

Aw no! Hope that's not the mother of all jinxes!!

[Charnwood]

If we can win this afternoon we’ll match the Clubs all time record of 8 consecutive wins in a single season which has stood since 1953/54 which is the season we won the Third Division South Title.

Aw no! Hope that's not the mother of all jinxes!!

If you believe in all that stuff new records would ever be set. Feel positive Marko Go for em boys.

[Charnwood]

Plymouth behind 1-0 at Morecambe already

[Charnwood]

Mighty marginal that offside disallowed goal but I think maybe the linesman just got it right.

[Charnwood]

We’re so much the better side but that counts for nothing without a goal.

[AzzurroMark]

We’re so much the better side but that counts for nothing without a goal.

Just not coming off at the minute.Too many overhit passes.