'Town Will Be Confident For Sure' – The Ipswich View
- Leicester City host Ipswich Town at King Power Stadium on Monday
- The Sky Bet Championship promotion chasers go head to head for the second time
- Alex Jones, from the Ipswich Star, has previewed the clash on Filbert Way
- He believes the timing of the game could represent an opportunity for Town
Following a 2-2 draw with East Anglia foes Norwich City, Town suffered a 4-0 reverse at Leeds United, before consecutive draws with the Foxes, Queens Park Rangers and Stoke City over Christmas.
An Emirates FA Cup success at AFC Wimbledon got things back on track for Kieran McKenna's Tractor Boys, while a a 2-1 home victory over Sunderland was a welcome tonic.
Promoted last term, Ipswich have taken the second tier by storm, losing fewer games than any other side, and currently sit third in the table. They're level on 58 points with second-placed Southampton and seven behind leaders Leicester.
Jones, who covers McKenna's men closely, has provided an overview of Town's fortunes this term, starting with a look back to a 1-1 draw with City on Boxing Day. A last-gasp own goal rescued a point for the Suffolk club at Portman Road.
The return fixture takes place on Monday with Enzo Maresca's table-toppers the hosts at King Power Stadium (8pm GMT kick-off).
"I think the consensus was that Town deserved a point from it," Jones said. "It was a game where they played really well – and they needed to because they were coming into it on the back of an absolute thrashing at Leeds.
"That was a really, really tough result. Town want to play on the front foot, but they played into the hands of a team that has really strong wingers, who can just carve you open with the full-backs pushing up quite high.
"There was lots of space and you had players like Crysencio Summerville running riot. At home, they’re a completely different prospect and that’s why Town have such a good record at Portman Road. I think you could see that.
"You could also see the quality that Leicester had. You don’t just need to look at that game to see the quality they have. Over the last few months of the season, you can see that. I was a little bit surprised that Leicester didn’t try to kill the game off.
"They were real chances midway through the second half to go and put the pressure on. Town knew they had to go and attack to get something from the game and there was a chance, I thought, to hit them on the counter.
"I was really impressed with how Town managed the game. There was a bit of fortune with the late goal, a couple of deflections, and it has gone down as an own goal. That’s probably fair enough but I think it was, overall, what they deserved from the game."
A heavy loss at Leeds threatened to derail Ipswich's promotion charge in December, and while it's taken time for them to get back into their stride, the 1981 UEFA Cup winners remain in the top two midway into January.
"There were five winless games over the festive period," Jones explained. "There were a few really disappointing ones in there. The expectation was that they’d beat Norwich, which was the one they really wanted to win, and that they’d beat QPR.
"They were quite poor in that game and it was a 0-0 draw. There was a real issue with selection due to injuries and that kind of thing. That dragged into the Stoke game (another 0-0 draw) as well on New Year’s Day.
"Those three ended in draws, but I think perspective is the most important thing. Town have lost the fewest games of anyone in the league, which is absolutely astonishing.
"They’re up against three teams that were playing in the Premier League last season and I think, probably, all three would be in mid-table in the Premier League if they were in it this year.
"They are all strong sides which, another year, would all be miles clear at the top of the Championship. Southampton have gone unbeaten since Town last played them in September and they’re still third.
"It shows how strong this division is at the top end, so perspective is important, especially in this race for promotion. In a season which is Town's first in the Championship, you’ve got to bear in mind that this is a long-term project.
"It’s hopefully one which Kieran McKenna can be a part of for the long term, but it’s not one where everything is make and break around automatic promotion. That allows them to take one step at a time and also play with a bit of freedom."
Jones senses an opportunity for Ipswich on Filbert Way with City needing to pick themselves up against a 3-1 loss at Coventry City last weekend. The circumstances of that reverse, he believes, could work in Town's favour.
"I think the way the M69 Derby ended for Leicester may shake things up a little bit," he added. "I know the Manager [will be in the stands] and Abdul Fatawu got sent off as well.
"This is probably the best time to play the strongest team in the league and one of the strongest teams in the history of the league to be honest, coming off a derby defeat, which I’m sure will hurt.
"Maresca, although he’s not going to be on the touchline, will want to go and fix that over the coming days, going into the game against Ipswich. I think Town will be confident for sure.
"The Sunderland result was more like what we’ve seen this season. It wasn’t a totally dominant, free-flowing display, but they were the better team.
"They created chances and they were coming up against a side in Sunderland who were pretty impressive against Leicester, for example, albeit they lost that. They’re a good side. It shows the level that Town are at.
"They’ve done the double over Sunderland and that is so important. After a long winless stretch, they needed that in the league, so I think that’ll be a really big boost."