Big ITFC survey: The results are in and Ipswich fans have full faith in McCarthy’s promotion chasers

Ipswich Town FC V Utrecht FC. Pre- season friendly. David McGoldrick equalises from the penalty spot with just a few minutes left on the clock. (Image: Archant)

More than 75 per cent of those polled in our pre-season survey are completely happy with McCarthy, with a further 20 per cent happy with his management of the club but convinced by his style of football. Just over two-and-a-half per cent responded to say they are not a fan of the Irishman, while two per cent remain undecided.

When it came to who is going to be promoted from the second tier this season, 60 per cent of respondants backed the Blues to go one step better than last season and achieve promotion, with Middlesbrough polling 59 per cent and Derby 56.

One in four Town fans believe their side are destined for automatic promotion, with 56 per cent expecting play-off football. Just two per cent predicted a bottom-seven finish.

If the Town fans are right it’s going to be a long old season for Rotherham, with 70 per cent tipping them for the drop, while MK Dons, Bristol City and Hudderfield are also expected to be in danger.

In terms of the Town squad, nearly 75 per cent believe it’s looking better than this time last year, with 89 per cent identifying the club’s strikers as their strongest area of the pitch and 68 per cent expecting Tyrone Mings to be the most-missed of the players who departed the club in the summer ahead of Paul Anderson on 19 per cent.

Town’s attacking options got plenty of attention, with 35 per cent expecting Brett Pitman to be the club’s best new signing, 30 per cent predicting David McGoldrick to be the club’s key player and 31 per cent backing Freddie Sears to be the club’s top scorer ahead of Daryl Murphy.