Ipswich Town boss Mick McCarthy believes his side have been handed an ‘unfair’ Easter schedule, but insists his players can cope with the demands.

The Blues – only outside of the Championship play-off places on goal difference with just four games to go – play at Watford tomorrow then host top-six rivals Bournemouth on Monday.

They are one of just eight teams in the division to be playing two games in the space of three days this weekend, with Bournemouth versus Sheffield Wednesday one of seven Championship fixtures today.

“It’s just what you need after 42 league games isn’t it?” said McCarthy. “Bournemouth are playing Friday-Monday too so that will give them an advantage. Me and TC (assistant boss Terry Connor) are going to watch their game (today) actually.

“It does give them an extra day’s rest. It’s slightly unfair, actually. It would be at any stage of the season, but it’s even more so now.

“I’ve no idea if bringing our game forwards (to Good Friday) was an option. All I know is we’ve got that schedule and we’ve got to deal with it. We’ve been brilliant physically all season and I’m sure we’ll cope with it again.”

Leicester finished sixth in the Championship table with 68 points last season, but it looks like more will be required to finish in the play-off places this time around with Town already on 64.

Asked how many points he thinks his side need from their final four matches, McCarthy said: “I don’t know, I haven’t got a clue. We could go to Watford and get beat, everything would be doom and gloom, then we might win the last three and be back in it. I just do not know.

“I don’t look at everybody’s fixtures. You get twisted doing that. We’ve got Watford and Bournemouth this weekend, let’s just try and win those. That’s all we can do.”

On Watford – who are seven points adrift of the top six with a game-in-hand to come – McCarthy said: “I don’t know if they can get in the play-offs. I don’t look beneath us, I only look above.”