WHILE hoping Ipswich Town do make the lottery of the play-offs, Blues legend Alan Brazil has warned Ipswich's away form could come back to haunt them.Brazil also believes Crystal Palace, not Wolves, are Town's biggest obstacle to making the top six.

Derek Davis

By Derek Davis

WHILE hoping Ipswich Town do make the lottery of the play-offs, Blues legend Alan Brazil has warned Ipswich's away form could come back to haunt them.

Brazil also believes Crystal Palace, not Wolves, are Town's biggest obstacle to making the top six.

West Brom's 1-0 win on Tuesday leaves Wolves trailing in Town's wake, although they will still have a game in hand after the two teams meet at Molineux on Saturday, while Ipswich go away the following week to Preston.

Brazil said: “I hope it goes to the last day at home against Hull City and they do it but I would be more hopeful of them making it if their away form was better.

“We have to find some self belief and we have to use that win by Tony Mowbray's side. Jim (Magilton) will talk about how West Brom hammered then really and if I was them I would attack, attack, attack. Play the really fast football that Town can do and really go for the jugular. It is no good messing about, they need to go and outplay them, and get goals.”

But even if Town did win at Wolves, Brazil is not convinced Town will be home dry.

He said: “Palace are the biggest danger. They are in position and you can never rule out a Neil Warnock side. Wolves still have the game in hand over Town and Ipswich's away form has been the biggest disappointment.”

Brazil tips Mogga's team to go up automatically, with hull joining them, although does not discount Bristol City or Stoke.

He said: “Mogga has got the most potent strike force in the Championship, with Phillips, Miller, Gera. I like them up front and the midfield although they do give you a chance at the back.

“I'm very pleased for Phil Brown who has done a great job at Hull and they have timed their run perfectly.

Bristol City boss Gary Johnson used to go to Portman Road when he first started out coaching at Cambridge and Newmarket Town during Sir Bobby's tenure as manager and Brazil knows his strengths.

He said: “I got to know Gary when he was coaching and he used to visit us. He has done incredibly well and I'm delighted for him. They won't give up that's for sure”

The popular football pundit believes a trip to Wembley will be on if Ipswich can squeeze into the top six.

He said: “If they get into the top six then anything can happen and they certainly get to the final and then it is a one-off.

“With the away game first in the semi-final Ipswich will know what they have to do and can roll anyone over there. If they can get a nil-nil away for example we know how good they are at home.”

Alan Brazil is a contributor to a special ESPN Classic studio based show about Ipswich's 1980-81 season to be shown on Sky Channel 442, Monday night @ 10.30pm