Match Preview
Ipswich Town v AFCB
Blogger Interview - TWTD
CC: Ipswich have been in the Championship for many years so do you think getting promoted would do a lot for the town?
TWTD: I think it would lift the Town massively if they were to be back in the Premier League. There are the obvious things of getting more people into the Town but it would also raise the attendances at Portman Road, which is a great place to start.
CC: How have you done against the teams in the play-off positions this season and would you be confident of getting past them?
TWTD: It’s been a bit of a mixed bag. We’ve drawn against and beaten Derby and recently beaten Brighton at the AMEX, which was a result that really kick-started our promotion push. Because we are relatively late to the party we didn’t do well against some of them earlier in the season but we are a lot stronger now.
If we were to get 6th I think we are more than capable of beating whoever we get. At the time of writing it looks like we would get QPR and although we’ve lost to them twice this season I think we are stronger team to the one we were when we last played them in January.
CC: Do you think Mick McCarthy has what it takes to do well in the Premiership after his experience with Wolves?
TWTD: Mick McCarthy has a lot of experience in the Premier League and I think that would serve us well. With a few additions I think he would make us very hard to beat in any division.
CC: If you don't go up do you think you will hold on to the nucleus of the squad for next season - Johnny Williams seems to be one player that has done well for you on loan?
TWTD: I think it would be very important to keep the squad together. The hardest one to keep hold of will probably be Aaron Cresswell as he’s had clubs sniffing around him for a while now.
‘Joniesta’ has been a real catalyst for our season because he’s brought some much needed creativity behind the strikers. He is a very positive, forward thinking player and I think his positive style of play has rubbed off on some of the other lads and given us confidence to be more adventurous going forward.
CC: The TWTD talks about defender Aaron Creswell a lot so what qualities does he bring to the team?
TWTD: Aaron Cresswell is a great modern day full-back who has the engine to get up and down the pitch but he’s also got plenty of pace. He’s also got the ability to swing in a great cross, is strong from free-kicks and when he wants to can hit a powerful shot.
CC: Do you think the team could have won more games in March or were they just difficult fixtures?
TWTD: I think the game against Middlesbrough is one where we could of picked up some points but we came up against Wigan as they were making their surge up the league, so that was always going to be a difficult game.
The draw with Nottingham Forest is a game I thought we could have taken all three points but on the day they had chances as well.
CC: The Ipswich team we saw at Dean Court had been unbeaten away since September but what has the home form been like to watch of late - are Ipswich supporters nervous or excited?
TWTD: Nervous! Luke Chambers' goal in the dying minutes against Doncaster will have had everyone on the edge of their seat. With every game that pass’ with us getting three-points people start to think that maybe we go get sixth place and get into the play-offs for the first time since ???
CC: Has Daryl Murphy gone under the radar a bit in the media with David McGoldrick doing so well? I remember he scored against us!
TWTD: He’s one of those players that works hard and gets some goals along the way. The reason he has been in McGoldrick’s shadow a bit will be because they are different type of players. McGoldrick has a bit more class to him where as Murphy will usually score from inside the six-yard-box, not that that’s a bad thing!
If both of them were on form together they could form a formidable partnership but Murphy stepped up when Town needed someone to fill the void when McGoldrick got injured.
CC: How well did you feel Ipswich played in your last home game against Doncaster Rovers?
TWTD: Not bad at all! It was a bit of a nervous ending given that they scored a penalty in the 83rd minute but maybe you know it might be your year when you score the winner six minutes later!
CC: With the positions as they are and a top six position at stake would you rather be playing Bournemouth now than a team lower in the league at this stage?
TWTD: I don’t think you want to be playing a team who are in a relegation battle at this stage of the season. We all know that anyone can beat anyone in this division but I’d rather be playing Bournemouth.
CC: What can away supporters look forward to when they come and see the Portman Road stadium?
TWTD: First and foremost it’s a nice stadium with a bit of character to it, unlike some of the modern stadiums that feel as if they are all the same!
CC: What do you think the score will be when Ipswich play Bournemouth?
TWTD: I fancy us to take it 2-0, although we do play better when we go behind so maybe 2-1 is the better option! It will be a tough game given we are both after the same thing but I’d fancy us to edge it.
CC: Thank you for your answers Blair. It has been a long hard season at it will be a pleasure to come and visit Portman Road on Monday. While both teams can't get in the play-offs let's hope that at least one of them does and I also hope that it is a cracker of a game, because it is all set up for a must win for both sides.
For more views on Ipswich Town's season have a visit to TWTD.co.uk it's packed full of information and has a report on Town's last outing away at Watford.
Make sure you send in your score predictions for the game tomorrow and I'll post them up on the site as soon as I can.
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