Ipswich v Forest: Ipswich Town manager Mick McCarthy has called upon supporters to roar their side on to another landmark victory at Portman Road this afternoon.

The Blues moved to within two points of the play-off places following Tuesday night’s dramatic 2-1 win over Derby. And victory over close rivals Nottingham Forest today could see them move into the top six of the Championship table with just seven games to go.

Forest may arrive in Suffolk winless in eight and without a manager, but McCarthy has warned his players against complacency and urged fans to remain patient.

Asked if he had to try and keep a lid on expectations following two big wins against Brighton and Derby, the Blues boss said: “No, rip it up – come on. That’s how it should be, we’ve just got two big results.

“The danger always is that everyone now thinks Nottingham Forest are in trouble, they haven’t got a manager, we should beat them, everything should be great… That might not happen.

“Is that me trying to keep a lid on things? No, that’s me being my usual pragmatic, realistic self.

“I remember a week ago at Brighton it was a full house, there were 30,000 there and I don’t think anybody except for our couple of thousand fans were giving us a ha’porth of a chance of getting anything. Their fans all turned up full of optimism and left full of pessimism.

“I want that feeling of optimism among our fans, but Nottingham Forest are no mugs. Don’t even think they are.”

He continued: “The home fans have always got a part to play. I would just say, if we’re not 1-0 up after five minutes and they’re having a bit of play then stick with us. Nottingham Forest have been in a better position than us all season and this is a good team that is coming here.

“There has to be a bit of an understanding of that. If it is 0-0 coming up to 70 minutes let’s have the same atmosphere as Tuesday night because it was fabulous then.”

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