Cherry Chimes chats to TWTD who fear Norwich play-off showdown

Rival Lines
Match Preview: Ipswich Town v AFCB
Blogger Interview: TWTD

Well while all of you were enjoying break or may be stressing over the lack of Championship football in the last 10 or more days I had the good fortune to be able to grill the opposition on the Cherries next match against Ipswich Town. Blair Ferguson who writes on the excellent TWTD site that follows the Tractor Boys. I not sure who was more nervous - me asking the questions or Blair giving the answers. It's just that time of the season where you hope everything just goes for your team.


CC: How do you feel ahead of the game against AFC Bournemouth?

TWTD: It’s another important game for Ipswich in terms of cementing a place in the top six. We could be out of the play-offs by the time the game starts so there could be an extra bit of pressure going into the game.

CC: How important do you think the three points were that Ipswich won against Watford?

TWTD: Massive! We had a tough time at Middlesbrough but reacted well with a win against Bolton, then continued to build momentum against Watford who are currently second and doing well.

The impact of scoring a late winner is always great for the fans but it shows the team are going to the very end of the game, which is important at this stage in the season.

CC: What do you feel about your remaining fixtures?

TWTD: I’m not sure there are many easy games at this stage of the season, but we do have a few games against teams who are mid-table and don’t have anything to play for. I think that can work against you sometimes, because the pressure is off them and they can just play.

You’d like to think the game against Blackpool shouldn’t be too difficult a task but it does make me lightly nervous! The match against Wolves has the potential to be season defining if the results go the right way going into it.

There are a few teams I’d rather play than Forest and Blackburn going into the last two because I’m fairly sure it will go that far.

CC: Mick McCarthy says that automatic promotion is still a possibility for Ipswich, but I guess a win against AFCB would be pretty much a must for that to happen?

TWTD: If we lose then the gap would be nine points and the chances of closing that would be very unlikely.

Ipswich would need to win all their remaining games and hope most teams above us all dropped points at the same time because we don’t have any of them left to play after Friday. It’s fairly unlikely but not impossible.

CC: Is there any team you would want to avoid if you do end up in the play-offs - Norwich City might be a bit awkward?

TWTD: Our recent record against Norwich has been poor and the thought of trying to change that over two-legs doesn’t excite me. Meeting them in the final would be even worse, but as a one off game you never know how that could end.

Derby haven’t been playing well recently and would probably be my favoured option. It’s always better to be the team that finishes with momentum in the play-offs and Derby have lost all of theirs, so I’d take them.

CC: Tyrone Mings has received 10 yellow cards now so who do you think will fill in for him against AFCB and how much of a miss will he be for Ipswich?

TWTD: Mings is a good player so he will definitely be missed but I think Jonathan Parr will fill in for him provided he’s recovered from his knock. Just remembered, we signed Zeki Fryers on loan before the international break. He could replace Mings if Parr isn't fit.

CC: Mick McCarthy has brought in a few players to Ipswich on loan in recent weeks - who has stood out for you and given you a real boost?

TWTD:: Richard Chaplow provided a boost with his winning goal against Watford but apart from that the loan signings haven’t made a great deal of impact.

Luke Varney and Chris Wood haven’t managed to score for us yet and I think that’s what you have to judge a striker on in terms of the difference he has made.

CC: Did you have any injury concerns following the Watford game and have you got many players on international duty?

TWTD: Christophe Berra featured for Scotland alongside Matt Ritchie – Ritchie set up Berra for his goal against Northern Ireland – and we might see David McGoldrick return after a long spell out, but he didn’t feature in the U21 game against Coventry on Monday night.

CC: Did you feel that things were going against Ipswich after the early part of March when the team lost to Norwich and were beaten by Boro?

TWTD: Not so much going against us. Norwich and Middlesbrough are good teams and you expect hard games against them. I think the most concerning thing was the manor in which we lost and the poor performance in each game. We seem to have put that behind us now and need to keep the momentum going.

CC: Are you ready for glory or despair on the last day of the season?

TWTD: I’d consider a play-off spot glory at this stage and I think we can definitely achieve that. Sitting in sixth now means it is ours to lose with the possibility of nicking second-place still at the back of my mind.

CC: Do you feel that the Ipswich squad can get promoted if it has to do it through the play-offs?

TWTD: As I mentioned earlier, momentum is a big part of winning the play-offs and Ipswich will have to keep winning between now and the end of the season to be in there. We have a very good team spirit just now and that could play a big part in a play-off campaign.

CC: Are you surprised that AFC Bournemouth have hung in at the top of the league despite fall off the top in February?

TWTD: Not overly. AFCB are a good team and everyone around the top has had a wobble at one time or another, at one stage it looked like no one wanted to win it!

CC: What is your score prediction for Ipswich v AFC Bournemouth?

TWTD: 1-0 for Ipswich

Well, I almost thought I was winning Blair over, but he came out very confident with a 1-0 home win prediction in the end. Looking at recent games in the Championship between these two sides the draw is certainly the safe bet although both teams have so much to gain with a win that they are likely to leave nothing on the pitch for this one. It could certainly be a Good Friday for one of these teams and the late kick-off will just add a little more drama to the occasion with the TV cameras looking on. I suppose I also have to give a score prediction and I am going for a 1-2 away win - come on Kenwyne!

Please check out the  TWTD site which has some news on players coming back from injury and lots of views on Ipswich's run-in.

Expect more grumbles from Mick McCarthy

It's probably fair to say that Mick McCarthy has been keen to stress that AFCB's good fortune is more to do with their bank account than any other factor from the comments he has made in previous encounters with the Cherries. Attracting good capital these days though is half the problem for many teams that are finding it difficult to manage their finances. AFCB should not be looked down upon though because they are now doing things right. Perhaps other clubs can learn from how AFCB have secured better funding and have been able to come through the league and to compete against clubs with much bigger fan bases.

AFCB v Ipswich last November.

Ipswich are of course one of those clubs that AFCB fans would consider a big club and they have also been bringing in some loan players ahead of the run-in with Johnny Williams and Zeki Fryers joining from Crystal Palace. The Suffolk side have also kept hold of Luke Varney and Richard Chaplow until the end of the season. Mick McCarthy also brought in Freddie Sears from Colchester who has done well since joining Ipswich. Elliott Hewitt has also been recalled from Colchester as possible cover for Tyrone Mings who will miss the clash with the Cherries. Striker David McGoldrich might also be back for the big match against the Cherries, along with Darren Ambrose perhaps.

Ipswich will know that a win against Bournemouth would draw them just three points behind the Cherries and could give them vital distance points over some of the teams vying for a play-off place. But Mick McCarthy will also know that a defeat would make it very hard for Ipswich to finish in the top two being nine points behind the Cherries. Ipswich need to make up ground and whether that means they come at the Cherries and leave holes in behind we will have to wait and see. Previous encounters in the Championship between the two sides have ended in draws but I don't think either side would be overly pleased with a draw this time around.

Ipswich's home form is pretty strong and with the TV cameras at the game it should be a very lively game, because AFCB never go to any ground and hold back these days. I'll be looking forward to Mick's post-match comments though. It will probably go something like - how can they afford someone like Kenwyne Jones? Only kidding Mick, you were the first to stop calling us "little Bournemouth" - just don't tell him AFCB's players have been training in Dubai. UTCIAD!

Ipswich Town Home Form
WLWDW

AFCB Away Form
WLLWD


Make sure you check out Cherry Chimes tomorrow as we have a Rival Lines interview with Independent Ipswich fan site TWTD.

What makes Ipswich Town tick?

Ipswich Town are one of the teams that have crept up the league without much fuss or examination by the media of their title credentials. They are a team that perhaps like AFCB is not laden with individual stars, but have a great team work ethic and a great manager that knows what is needed to get out of the Championship. 

Recent results have been good for Ipswich as Watford and Wolves have found them too strong at home, while even on their travels Mick McCarthy's men have not been beaten since their match against Cardiff on 21 October, and before that you have to go back to 16 August when they faced Reading. They are a strong side who can be physical and AFCB will have to be prepared for that.

Ipswich players at Dean Court last season.

While David McGoldrick is often sighted as their key striker it is Daryl Murphy that has twice as many goals on 10 that AFCB will particularly have to keep close tabs on. Luke Hyam and Cole Skuze were missing from their last win but were behind some of Ipswich's strong performances this season. Tommy Smith at the back has also had a good couple of games and scored the winner against Watford. Ipswich have a deep squad and they do have some good young players but Jay Tabb, one of the older heads, has done well since he has returned to the side.

Ipswich are on a run of three wins in a row so it will be a very big test for the Cherries to keep their own unbeaten run going. Mick McCarthy hasn't scowled since the match against Huddersfield four matches ago when they let a two goal lead slip and the Cherries will have their work cut out to keep on top of the Tractor Boys. Yet, Mick McCarthy will know full well that AFCB have won their last four games at home.

Ipswich Away Form
WDDLW

AFCB Home Form
DWWWW

Match referee: Michael Bull

Mick McCarthy's team could be the dark horse

No one outside of Ipswich has really been talking up Mick McCarthy's team in the Championship play-off race which probably suits Mick. But there is no more disguising the fact that they are in with a chance of snatching sixth place if they can string a good series of results together in the final games. The big clash for them though will be the game against Bournemouth now which is as big a game as they come. Still, if AFCB can win this one there will be an even bigger game on the south coast against Nottingham Forest next weekend.

Ipswich players at Dean Court.

I looked at Ipswich's game before Good Friday and thought that the Watford match was a really tricky one for them away from home. Watford are capable of spoiling anyone's party as we know all too well and it proved to be so for Ipswich. They also have to go to Burnley and play Sheffield Wednesday, so I would not say that they have had the easiest fixtures in the run-in.

Daryl Murphy is getting nothing but praise from Mick McCarthy although he is one of the Championship's strikers who has not been spoken about as frequently as some. Now he has some 15 goals and is rapidly getting noticed in McGoldrich's absence. He even scored against Bournemouth at the Goldsands stadium so Eddie Howe will have done a lot of homework on him.

But have Ipswich got enough about them when it comes to the big games? Well they have beaten teams such as Derby, Brighton and Reading so they can mix it with the big boys. They have only lost to Wigan at home since 15th March. It is whether McCarthy can convince his players that they are good enough yet. I find similarities there with Eddie Howe and the Cherries. The worse result for both teams would probably be a draw but such a result can half be expected in such a big game. Brighton certainly look favourites for the last play-off place, but it's really too tight to call and a slip up now could see anyone of five or six teams snatch it away from the Seagulls.

We're on our way to Portman Road. Singing a bunch of A-ha songs!

Ipswich Home form:
WLWDW

AFCB Away form:
WLWWD

You can still back the Cherries by getting your free bet from Free Bet Negotiator. 

Ipswich v AFCB showdown with TWTD and Cherry Chimes

Match Preview

Ipswich Town v AFCB

Blogger Interview - TWTD

Cherry Chimes gets ready for the huge Easter Monday showdown with Ipswich Town FC by talking to Blair Ferguson from independent Ipswich Town website TWTD.co.uk. Cherry Chimes welcomes back Blair to the rival Lines hot seat as the Tractor Boys and the Cherries go head to head in what is probably the game of the Easter period in the Championship - winner takes all! HAPPY EASTER!

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.

Can AFCB knock Ipswich off their pedestal?

While AFCB are the professional club in Dorset, Ipswich are the only such league club in Suffolk, but that's just about where the similarities end. We know every game is hard in the Championship, but some are harder than others. I put this fixture as the most difficult home game AFCB have had since Derby County.

While Ipswich Town have not been a Premiership team since the 2001-2 season, their fans can still look back on their fantastic European history and I certainly still view them as a big weight in the Championship. I was told by an Ipswich fan that they had not beaten AFCB at Dean Court since 1953, which indicates how AFCB have been playing their football at a much lower level in the last half century. But now we can compete with Ipswich Town and it shows you how far AFCB have come in recent seasons.

AFCB will have to be at their very best to get
anything out of a vibrant Ipswich team. 

In their last 11 games, Ipswich have only lost twice and those defeats were against teams riding high in the Championship -  Burnley and Leicester City. Such form has seen the Blues steadily climb the table and they are now in the top 10. Mick McCarthy has them being very hard to beat. While September was their most productive month in terms of points. Recently they have drawn games against two of the divisions strong teams - Watford and Nottingham Forest - so that gives us a good indication how well the Cherries are going to have to play just to keep Ipswich at bay.

While AFCB's home form could be better, there is a glimmer of hope in that Ipswich have managed only 3 away wins this season, compared to 6 at home. So they are not the best of travellers, although they are good at getting draws away from home - 5 in all so far. Their last 0:3 win against Doncaster does give AFCB plenty to think about.

That tells me that AFCB will have their usual challenge to breakdown a stubborn, well organised team at Dean Court, which has been the Cherries undoing more often that not this season. 

AFCB did very well against Yeovil in their last home match and found plenty of space to attack. The Cherries also had Harry Arter in midfield who is now suspended for this game, but that gives an opportunity for Shaun MacDonald to come into the team and perhaps Eunan O'Kane will play in a slightly more advanced midfield role with Andrew Surman. 

Batten down the hatches it's going to be another 90 minutes of nerve jangling tension. Let's see if the Cherries can start to build with a few more home wins. If they get a result against Ipswich the New year's match against Brighton is going to be a cracker with raised excitement. 

Get behind the team today and try and help them perform to the standard we know they are capable of. UTCIAD!   

Ipswich Away form:
DWWDW

AFCB Home form:
LLDLW

If you have not yet read the Rival Lines chat with TWTD, click on the Rival Lines tab to learn more about today's visitors.

AFCB have everything to gain

AFCB are just a win away from sitting a bit more comfortably in mid-table. I thought that win would come against Birmingham City but sadly it did not. By just winning two games in a row the plight of the Cherries season could alter substantially, but a couple more defeats at this stage would see dark clouds starting to gather on the club's Championship credentials. But those kind of thoughts are the views of outsiders, because AFCB see that there is everything to gain in the coming period of games.

AFCB knuckling down to business over the Christmas period.

The players and the manager at AFCB seem very upbeat, which I am pleased to hear. There is more thought going into enjoying this season and relishing the fact that the team is going to some big grounds, but of course we would like to win enough games to stay up.

While AFCB were always stepping up in class there is a little frustration in having seen them perform so well on occasion only to see them come away with no points. Sometimes I wish they could play not so well, but still take the points. I think it was Mick McCarthy last weekend who said that he did not want Ipswich to be known as a team that plays well but gets no points, and I have the same feeling about our club.

We have seen other teams start to struggle though at the moment. Watford are falling at such a rate that Zola has left them and, even with some managerial changes, the bottom three have been their virtually all season, while Charlton and Doncaster have always been in the bottom six. So while AFCB are finding it hard to pick up points at home especially, there are signs that it is not just the Cherries that are finding things tough going.

How will it all turn out? Well it's too early to say at this stage, but it could well turn into a big dog fight with any clubs from around Watford downwards fighting to stay in the Championship in the second half of the season. The gap at the bottom has been closing to teams just above the drop zone and every match against the clubs in and around AFCB is massive now. We saw that with Birmingham who clambered above us last game. 

The mini-leagues are important and we have two more such games coming up against Sheffield Wednesday and Yeovil. It's time to widen the gap. If AFCB want to avoid that dog fight they really could do themselves a big favour by winning the next two games.