It seems that every week we’re fated to play the team one space above us. Ipswich fills that slot today.

Ipswich V Derby County

Coca Cola Championship 

Saturday, 22nd November 2008, 3:00 pm

Portman Rd, Ipswich

The Tractor Boys are in 11th place and ahead of us by regard of a better goal difference.

The season so far seems to be very much a case of swings and roundabouts. Win one, draw one lose one with no clear pattern emerging. Following a 1-0 win away at Blackpool they then lost 1-0 to Doncaster.  That was their first defeat for six games but they did draw in 3 of those games.

The club has shown steady progress under Jim Magilton since the club sank to a low of 15th under Joe Royle. Given Ipswich’s history, the fans and board would not accept another season of mediocrity and they expect a better finish than just outside the play-offs

Jim Magilton was unhappy with the team following the Doncaster game; “It's a poor defeat because the last seven or eight games we've been very good but four or five players were below par today, we lacked quality in vital areas. I think we got a little bit bullied and overrun in midfield - I think they beat us in that department. We've got plenty of experience in there but it was just a lack of quality and a lack of know-how.”

One player that Derby fans will recognize in the Ipswich squad is Jon Stead who scored 3 goals for us in his loan period at Pride Park (though it took him long enough). He’s been on the bench recently due to the form of Ipswich's other strikers.

One player who won’t be featuring is Ivan Campo who is available for loan to the right club. 

 Tractor Boy statistics 

Paul Jewell has moved in the loan market to bring in Darren Powell as a back-up centre half. At least we will have a ready made chant for him if he plays!

Powell has been without a club since being released by Southampton. Although he's been training with Charlton Athletic, he probably lacks match practice and hence why Paul Jewell has only offered a short term deal. At 32, the last thing we need is another aging and slow centre half but Powell has always impressed me with his speed and aerial ability. An added bonus, he scored his first goal for Southampton against Ipswich.

Last weeks result against Sheffield Wednesday was pleasing in the fact that Claude Davis and Lewin Nyatanga looked composed and well organized at the back. Some fans have suggested that Wednesday were poor last Saturday and this made the team look good.

I don't hold with that. I think team spirit has finally returned to the dressing room at Pride Park and if Dean Leacock and Martin Albrechtsen were fit, I think Paul Jewell would think long and hard about bringing them straight back.

Jewell himself was very upbeat after last Saturday; "Brian Laws said he'd seen our last two home games and said they had a good chance to beat us. That fired us up a bit, and I thought we were by far the better side. It was a comprehensive 3-0 win, and it could have been five or six. But we are not getting too carried away, because we still need to improve the squad, but we've got a decent spirit, we are getting better, and we are moving in the right direction."

Mick's team: Carroll, Connolly, Davis, Nyatanga, Stewart, Barazite, Green, Addison, Commons, Villa, Hulse.

What the bookies think

Ipswich are favourites with William Hill at 10/11 while the Rams are at 5/2. The draw is at 11/5. You can get 11/2 on Jonathan Stead to score the first goal while Tito Villa is our favourite at the rather long odds of 15/2. There are some bizarre odds for the final score like 2-0 to Derby will get you 16/1. Worth a look anyway.

Information for travelling fans

Driving: It’s 160 miles to Portman Rd. Best route is M1 south to J19 then take the A14 towards Cambridge and then on to Bury St Edmunds & Ipswich. Take the A137 into Ipswich and you will see the ground on the left.

Parking: Get there early if you want to park near the ground. On previous occasions I’ve ended up in the multi-story car parks in the town although there are apparently car parks near the ground.

Drinking: As is becoming more and more common, all of the pubs near the ground are for home supporters only. Footballground.com says that the Drum & Monkey, which used to serve away fans, is now home support only.  That leaves pubs in the town and by the station as the only options.

Mick’s Prediction

Another tough game but one we can take something from with the right attitude. For some reason I think this game will be a draw

Photo: Action Images

Macclesfield Town Polls