We have assembled a group of Town fans to predict the outcome of Ipswich games and have their say on what’s going on at Portman Road.
Every week, our panel of Ipswich Town fans will make their predictions ahead of the Blues’ latest game, with three points awarded for a correct scoreline and one point given for a correct outcome.
We’ll keep a league table along the way, before crowning a winner at the end of the season.
Alistair Rattray
It is becoming increasingly hard to second-guess which way Mick McCarthy will turn, as the end to this season feels like it is lengthening rather than shortening.
After the brief optimism of the Bank Holiday draw with Millwall, with no end of entertainment, goals and a sparkling League debut from an academy product, Saturday’s defeat at Brentford was a return to the standard fare of the previous few months.
However, a home game against struggling Barnsley may just be enough to see McCarthy persuaded to take a more positive approach again. Having intimated that Ben Folami was in his thoughts for Saturday, he must surely be in line for his first League start, whilst Tristan Nydam deserves a better platform to show his ability. Prediction: Ipswich Town 2-1 Barnsley
Kieren Standley
This is another dead rubber for us so it will be interesting to see how much we see of Cotter, Folami & Morris in this game. All the fans are crying out for is some excitement in these final five games, so this is a great opportunity to play some young guns and play with a bit of freedom against a poor side.
Barnsley have picked up a couple of big results in consecutive weeks, taking 4 points off of Bristol City & Sheffield Utd respectively, so will come here with a bit of confidence of pulling further away from relegation against a horrendously out of of form Town.
That said, I actually fancy Town to get the three points from this game. We are massively overdue a win and for me, this is the only realistic chance of getting one before the season finishes. It won’t be pretty, but I’ll back Town to edge it narrowly in a dire game. Prediction: Ipswich Town 1-0 Barnsley
Seán Salter
Finally I think we’re going to see some younger players get some decent game time against Barnsley, which should give a much needed injection of positivity into the club. However we face yet another team with something to play for as we get into the business end of the season, and this again will be the difference between the two teams.
Add Kieffer Moore and the absence of Luke Chambers into the mix and I think we’re going to have a goal-fest under the floodlights at Portman Road. Prediction: Ipswich Town 2 Barnsley 3
Joe Fairs
This prediction is made more in hope than expectation - I can’t bring myself to consider that we won’t beat relegation threatened Barnsley at home otherwise I may struggle to even motivate myself to go to the game!
In reality though, this is going to be a tough game. Kieffer Moore and Ollie McBurnie look to be forming a good partnership, and Moore’s aggressive and powerful play coupled up with having a point to prove could make it a long night for the Ipswich defence which is missing captain and lynchpin Luke Chambers, and possibly Adam Webster too.
It is very important that Ipswich play with the shackles off, even though McCarthy denied that they are ever on yesterday, no regular visitor to Portman Road can surely agree with him. I’m hopeful of seeing more of Ben Folami after his impressive debut, and hope that we get out there and attack a Barnsley team that don’t have a great defensive record. Prediction: Ipswich Town 2-1 Barnsley
Benjamin Bloom
Five games to go and all the fun of the second half of the Millwall game was crushed with another tame defeat at Brentford. Mick claimed in his press conference it’s a ‘misconception’ that his team plays in a defensive manner but the last three identical 1-0 away defeats would seem to suggest differently.
Barnsley are in lots of trouble and will look at tonight as a good chance to get some points and the return of Kieffer Moore is an obvious narrative that also plays in their favour. Add to this the absence of Chambers and Webster and you have the makings of a perfect storm.
On the Ipswich side Mick will probably go back to a back four, Skuse will return and perhaps Carayol or Folami may start, so let’s go for a typically unhelpful to either side 1-1 draw. Prediction: Ipswich Town 1-1 Barnsley
Amy Downes
I’m struggling to find any positivity in my predictions at the moment, so as I am based in Yorkshire I asked some of my Barnsley supporting friends for their thoughts on tonight - it hasn’t cheered me up much!
Town seem stuck in a rut, with fans, players and managers all just wishing the season was over. Meanwhile, the Reds have been buoyed by their recent win and are battling to stay in the league. On top of that, former Ipswich player Kieffer Moore has been, and I quote my friend Michael here, ‘a machine who is playing brilliantly at the moment - he’s looking a bargain and will be fired up for today’.
Well that’s great news, isn’t it? I hate to do this, but I’m going with a 2-0 defeat tonight. Really hope I’m wrong. Prediction: Ipswich Town 0-2 Barnsley
José López Lerena
The Tractor Boys are back in action… It’s match-night! We are facing Barnsley on the last home game under the lights at Portman Road of the 2017/18 season! After our disappointing day at the office last Saturday we must go back to the winning ways in a couple of hours.
The Tykes are currently struggling to be out from the relegation zone of the table as they are currently 22nd just 2 points behind Bolton Wanderers… We need to be confident in ourselves but we must watch out as we are suffering some important missing for today’s game like Chambers or Webster… But let’s play some youngsters! We really have some quality ones!
So let’s keep ourselves behind the Tractor Boys cheering them as loud as possibly and avoiding any negativity during the game! We can defeat them, can’t we? My prediction is a 1-0 win thanks to a goal from Waghorn! COYB! Prediction: Ipswich Town 1-0 Barsnley
Jack Prentice
It’s weird how football can change in just over a month. Six weeks ago I was cautiously optimistic of a top-10 finish and a little panache along the way. Then, we played Sheffield United and Burton Albion and in an instant the hope disappeared, and Mick McCarthy effectively fired himself.
It’s disappointing that the shackles seem tight and the handbrake is still on despite having nothing but pride to play for. Yes, Mick won’t be here next season but surely he doesn’t want the work he did at the start of his tenure to be completely and utterly tarnished.
Surely we all want fun, even if we might not get successive victories. 90% of the crowd would get behind a team containing youngsters and a little glimpse into what should be a bright and positive future for Town. I’m encouraged that youngsters Barry Cotter, Ben Folami and Ben Morris weren’t involved in the U23 game yesterday.
I just hope that doesn’t mean they just get a spot on the bench tonight, and get a chance to prove themselves against a Barnsley team that are fighting for their Championship lives. I want us to get at Barnsley and put on a show. I can’t see it happening though. Prediction: Ipswich Town 1-1 Barnsley
Kate Riley: Ipswich Town 2-1 Barnsley
Katy Sealy: Ipswich Town 2-1 Barnsley
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here