COMMENT: Ipswich Town have ability to remain unbeaten until end of season
Luke Hyam - Credit: Archant
The in-form Blues have the credentials to achieve the unthinkable, and finish a difficult campaign with an unbeaten run.
Their transformation from relegation certainties to one the Championship’s toughest nuts to crack has been nothing short of sensational and means the feat is far from mission impossible.
The second-tier is arguably the most difficult division in Europe to predict and, remarkably, the Blues could still go down, such was their shoddy start under Paul Jewell.
That is unlikely though as the stubborn Blues have tightened up no end and would sit fourth in the league had the season’s start coincided with Mick McCarthy’s arrival in Suffolk.
Eight clean sheets in 11 games is outstanding and while goals have been harder to come by, especially on the road, the Blues’ ability to eke out vital home wins and pick up points on their travels cannot be ignored.
Nerves could get the better of them, but Saturday’s away game at Derby, as well as trips to Sheffield Wednesday and Burnley, should hold no fear.
At home, Town have yet to host play-off chasing Crystal Palace, second-top Hull and mid-table Birmingham, but just two home defeats under McCarthy have threatened to turn Portman Road into a fortress.
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McCarthy’s side also became the first team to prevent leaders Cardiff from scoring at home and have also ruined sizeable unbeaten runs enjoyed by Bolton, Burnley and Nottingham Forest this season.
With Hull having conceded four goals in two of their previous four away matches and Palace having won just once away from Selhurst Park since November 10, what once would have been considered a pipe-dream may just become a reality.
Town’s remaining six games
Derby (a); Hull (h); Crystal Palace (h), Sheff Wed (a); Birmingham (h); Burnley (a)
