How good is your memory….the last time we played Ipswich back in October we were bottom of the League with just 1 point earned from our 1-1 draw with Doncaster Rovers. Our equalising goal from Harvie was the first conceded by Ipswich this season in the league, and the Ipswich goal from Nolan was the only one on target for the Tractor Boys out of three attempts. In contrast we had 13 shots, 5 of which were on target and were only denied a win thanks to the Ipswich keeper Tomas Holy who made a number of top saves, in a game we dominated with 66% of the possession, fast forward 36 games and thankfully we are nice and comfy in the league, and our fortunes have changed somewhat.
I’m sure this game is winnable, I wouldn’t normally be this bullish but to me Ipswich look vulnerable at home, they won their first 5 games at Portman Road, but since then their form has bin a bit hit and miss. Every game we have had with them has been a tight affair, but we have failed to beat them in the league in 4 attempts with just a penalties win against them back in 2006 as the only thing to shout about, but I can really see us winning this and upsetting their promotion push. The pressure will be on them to win, and it’s a great shame fans wont be in the ground as I could see the Portman Road faithful getting more than frustrated with them as we wouldn’t give them a chance of time on the ball.
THE SEASON SO FAR – Ipswich currently sit in 8th place with a record of Played 38, Won 17, Drawn 8, Lost 13, GF 41 & GA 38, Points 59.
FORM AT A GLANCE – WLLDWD
HOME LEAGUE RESULTS 2020/21
Ipswich 2 Bristol Rovers 1
Ipswich 1 Plymouth 0
Ipswich 1 Lincoln 1
Ipswich 2 Doncaster 1
Ipswich 0 Oxford 0
Ipswich 0 Northampton 0
Ipswich 2 Blackpool 0
Ipswich 0 Sunderland 1
Ipswich 0 Peterborough 1
Ipswich 2 Swindon 3
Ipswich 2 Burton 1
Ipswich 0 Portsmouth 2
Ipswich 0 Charlton 2
Ipswich 0 Hull 3
Ipswich 2 Shrewsbury 1
Ipswich 1 Crewe 0
Ipswich 1 Gillingham 0
Ipswich 2 Accrington 0
Ipswich 2 Rochdale 0
Ipswich 2 Wigan 0
That’s a record of Played 20, Won 11, Drawn 3, Lost 6, GF 22 & GA 17.
YEAR FORMED – 1878
HOME GROUND – Portman Road (30,311)
CLUB NICKNAMES – The Blues, Town, and the Tractor Boys.
THE MANAGER – Paul Cook
aged 54 and born in Kirkby, Merseyside.
As a midfielder Cook played 723 games scoring 62 goals playing for Marine, Wigan Athletic, Norwich City, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Coventry City, Tranmere Rovers, Stockport County, Burnley, and Accrington Stanley.
As a manager he has also done the rounds managing at the following clubs, Southport, Sligo Rovers, Accrington Stanley, Chesterfield, Portsmouth, Wigan Athletic, and now Ipswich Town since March 2nd and is contracted to 2023 following the sacking of Paul Lambert.Cooks stats are 678 GAMES in charge with a record of Won 291, Drawn 173, Lost 214 giving him a well above WIN RATIO of 42.9%.
FORMER IPSWICH MANAGERS –Legends of the game such as Sir Alf Ramsey, Jackie Milburn, Sir Bobby Robson, Bobby Ferguson, John Lyall, George Burley, Joe Royle, Roy Keane, Paul Lambert and Mick McCarthy.
FORMER IPSWICH TOWN
PLAYERS – Hundreds to choose from, so a snapshot of Ray Crawford, Mick Mills, Kevin Beattie, George Burley, Brian Talbot, John Wark, Paul Mariner, Alan Brazil, Arnold Muhren, Terry Butcher, Frans Thijssen, Chris Kiwomya, Kieron Dyer, Tony Mowbray, Jim Magilton, Dalian Atkinson and Darren Bent.
PLAYED FOR BOTH – Keith Andrews, Nathan Abbey, Dean Bowditch, Jimmy Bullard, Cody Cropper, Jay Emmanuel-Thomas, Stephen Gleeson, Ian McLoughlin, Stuart O’Keefe, Steve Palmer, Jordan Spence, Nigel Reo-Coker, Andros Townsend, Ed Upson and Jonny Williams.
CLUB MASCOT – Bluey the
Horse and Crazee Horse.
FAMOUS FANS – Nigel Havers, Griff Rhys Jones, Julie Andrews, Bill Oddie, Des Lynam, Jon Pertwee, and John Peel, possibly Fat Boy Slim, most of those are unconfirmed.
IPSWICH LEADING SCORER 2020/21 – James Norwood with 7 goals.
CURRENT INTERNET ODDS – Ipswich 14/9 Draw 12/5 MK Dons 11/5
LAST TIME ROUND – Sat Oct 3rd, 2020 – MK Dons 1 Ipswich 1
Team – Nicholls, Williams, Keogh, Lewington, Brittain, Kasumu, Fraser, Sorenson (Poole), Harvie, Mason, Morris (Nombe).
Unused Subs – Cargill, O’Hora, Walker, Houghton, Sorinola.
Goals – Nolan 7’, Harvie 54’
Referee – David Rock (3 Yellows)
Attendance – Behind Closed Doors
HEAD 2 HEAD
2020/21 – MK Dons 1 Ipswich 1 – (Harvie)
2019/20 – Ipswich v MK Dons (Cancelled – Covid)
2019/20 – MK Dons 0 Ipswich 1
2015/16 – Ipswich 3 MK Dons 2 – (Revell 2)
2015/16 – MK Dons 0 Ipswich 1
2006/07 – MK Dons 3 Ipswich 3 AET (LG Cup) – (Knight, Gallen, OG) – Dons won 5-3 on Pens.
