Ipswich Town: Why Premier League promotion can be secured

Ipswich Town lost 2-1 at Cardiff City last Saturday - but they've shown they can bounce back from defeats before. (Image: PA)

BOUNCEBACKABILITY

Yes, the nature of last Saturday's 2-1 defeat at Cardiff - two goals conceded in stoppage-time - could prove a psychological blow.

Town have proven time-and-time again though that, led by their calm and analytical manager, they do not get derailed by set-backs.

The 4-3 home defeat to Leeds last August was followed up by four straight league wins.

The 2-0 away loss to West Brom last November was followed up by four straight league wins.

The 4-0 thrashing at Leeds just before Christmas was followed up by an impressive performance and 1-1 home draw with league-leaders Leicester just three days' later.

A 3-2 defeat at Preston in early February was followed up by a seven-game unbeaten streak that included six victories.

Leif Davis celebrates after scoring a late winner against Bristol City last Tuesday night. Excluding the Easter weekend, Town now have just one midweek fixture left to play. (Image: Steve Waller)

SCHEDULE LESS PUNISHING

Either side of Christmas, Town played nine games in 36 days, travelling 1,566 miles in the process.

The most recent nine games played also came in the space of 36 days and included a whopping 2,378 miles travelled.

The final nine games, by contrast, are spread over 50 days and include just 1,256 miles of travel.

Beyond the Easter weekend, there's just one midweek game left - and that's at home. 

The same for everyone? No. Southampton, who have had to re-arrange games against Preston and Leicester, have 10 games in 37 days.

Leicester, in the FA Cup quarter-finals, have 10 games (possibly more if they beat Chelsea on Sunday) in 49 days.

Town won 1-0 at Southampton last September thanks to Omari Hutchinson's goal. (Image: Ross Halls)

STYLE OF OPPOSITION

If Town have had one Achilles heel this season it has been facing sides that want to make it a game of chaos by being physical, direct and in your face.

Sheffield Wednesday and Blackburn Rovers, under the management of Danny Röhl and John Eustace, could test that in the next two games. Watford and Huddersfield, under new bosses Tom Cleverley and André Breitenreiter, might also fall into that bracket.

We know for certain though that Southampton, Norwich, Middlesbrough, Coventry and Hull are going to want to go toe-to-toe in a technical game of football. Five tough opponents who are all currently placed between fourth and ninth, yes, but stylistically these are the games that Town prefer. 

Wes Burns scores in Ipswich Town's 2-2 home draw with Norwich City back in December. The second East Anglian derby of the season takes place at Carrow Road on April 6. (Image: PA)

REVERSE FIXTURES GUIDE

Looking at how teams did in the reverse fixtures of the games they've got left isn't a complete science given managers have changed, players have arrived and form has swung.

Nevertheless, the following can give heart to Town fans.

Leicester: W9 D0 L0 Pts 27

Ipswich: W7 D2 L0 Pts 23

Leeds: W5 D2 L2 Pts 17

Southampton: W4 D3 L3 Pts 15

A repeat of the above would see the final standings read: 1st Leicester 109pts, 2nd Ipswich 101pts, 3rd Leeds 96pts and 4th Southampton 88pts.

Kieffer Moore has scored six goals in nine games since joining Ipswich on January transfer deadline day. (Image: Ross Halls)

GOALSCORER IN FORM

Teams that get themselves over the line at the end of the season normally have a striker in red-hot form.

Town have one of those in Kieffer Moore. The 6ft 5in front man has scored six goals in nine appearances since joining on loan from Premier League club AFC Bournemouth on transfer deadline day.

Remember, the 31-year-old has history when it comes to firing a team into the Premier League. He bagged four vital goals in three end of season fixtures for the Cherries in 2022 to secure second spot.

George Hirst could give the squad a timely boost in the final stages of the season. (Image: Stephen Waller)

SQUAD HEALTH

There have been injury and suspension issues along the way but, touch wood, the squad is in good shape as we hit the business end of the season.

Kieran McKenna has 22 different outfield players to select from last weekend, with George Edmundson, Dominic Ball, Cameron Humphreys and Sone Aluko not making the matchday squad at Cardiff.

Key attacking duo Wes Burns and Nathan Broadhead came back pretty quickly from the minor calf and thigh strains that forced them off in last month's 3-1 home win against Birmingham.

Jack Taylor, who provides a different option in midfield, has just made a couple of appearances off the bench after recovering from a quad issue that sidelined him for all of February.

Influential skipper Sam Morsy now has to make sure he doesn't pick up three bookings in the final nine to avoid a three-game ban (he's had three in his last 16).

It may look increasingly unlikely that Brandon Williams will resume his Manchester United loan, but the reliable Janoi Donacien is close to being fit again after undergoing groin surgery in late January. He'll provide valuable back-up in both full-back positions.

And McKenna revealed recently that striker George Hirst - who provided six goals and seven assists in the first half of the season - is making good progress in his rehabilitation from January's hamstring surgery and could play again this season. 

Kieran McKenna has drummed the 'one game at a time' mantra into his players. (Image: Stephen Waller)

PRESSURE'S OFF

The Blues may have been quietly confident they could carry some positive momentum forwards and compete in the Championship as a bonded group this season, but the truth is none of them expected they could be in this position come mid-March.

I genuinely believe Kieran McKenna and the players when they repeat their 'one game at a time and let's see where we end up' mantra.

No doubt about it, all the pressure is all on the three teams who have recently slipped down from the Premier League to get the job done. Fail to do so and they will have to start cutting their cloth accordingly.

Conor Chaplin celebrates during Ipswich Town's recent 3-2 win against Bristol City at Portman Road. The Blues have scored an average of three goals a game on Suffolk soil in the league this season. (Image: PA)

HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS

Five of Town's last nine games are at Portman Road.

McKenna's men have captured the hearts and minds of their sizeable fanbase over the last 18 months and, as a result, have packed out their stadium with 29k+ crowds most weeks.

There's a real bond between supporters and players. One always lifts the other in times of need.

A home league record of W13 D4 L1 - with an average of three goals scored in each of those 18 matches - has to give great belief going into games on Suffolk soil against Sheffield Wednesday, Southampton, Watford, Middlesbrough and Huddersfield.

Ipswich Town skipper Sam Morsy has five promotions on his CV. (Image: Steve Waller)

IF IT IS THE PLAY-OFFS...

There's a chance, of course, that Town fall just short and end up in the 'lottery' of the play-offs with an incredible points total.

Would the Blues be able to recover from the disappointment of that, dust themselves down and go again? I think they would.

Town have suffered the fewest defeats in the division, scored the joint-most number of goals, have constantly changed games with substitutes, claimed more points from losing positions (28) than anyone else and play their best football on good pitches/in good conditions.

Those are all key ingredients needed for play-off glory.