Ipswich Town v Brentford: Big match preview
Ipswich Town players celebrate Jordan Spence's late winner at Millwall in midweek. Photo: Pagepix Ltd - Credit: Pagepix Ltd
Ipswich Town manager Mick McCarthy is not reading too much into Brentford’s poor points tally ahead of their Championship visit to Portman Road this afternoon (3pm).
Flynn Downes could return to action today following a calf injury. Photo: Pagepix Ltd - Credit: Pagepix Ltd
While the Blues have won all four of their opening matches, the Bees have lost 1-0 at newly-promoted Sheffield United, required extra-time to beat League One side AFC Wimbledon in the Carabao Cup, lost 4-3 at home to Nottingham Forest before drawing 2-2 with Bristol City at Griffin Park on Tuesday night.
“I can’t believe they’ve only got one point,” said McCarthy. “I’ve watched their game from midweek and they absolutely bashed Bristol City. The keeper made some good saves and it ended up 2-2 in the eighth minute of injury-time.
“They must be scratching their heads, but I don’t think he (Dean Smith) will be worried. He’ll be saying ‘if we keep playing like that we’ll be fine’.
Manchester City loanee Bersant Celina is available again after illness. Photo: Pagepix Ltd
“It concerns me because I think they are a really good side. They’re bright, they’ve got good movement, they get the ball down and pass it.
“It will be a different game for us. We’ll have to be mentally tough in terms of dealing with movement and rotation, as opposed to the game on Tuesday night, which was a real scrap.”
Town have beaten Birmingham, Luton, Barnsley and Millwall, but skipper Luke Chambers is the latest player to join a lengthy injury list and the level of opposition now looks to be going up a notch. After today the Blues travel to Crystal Palace in the Cup (Tuesday), then host Fulham (next Saturday).
Martyn Waghorn has scored three goals in his first two league appearances for Ipswich Town. Photo: Pagepix Ltd - Credit: Pagepix Ltd
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Town are going to need their fans behind them in order to keep the momentum going, with a noisy travelling support certainly playing the role of 12th man at The Den in midweek.
“My ambition was to get back to winning ways and recapture a few hearts and minds and restore that belief and confidence in the players and the club,” said McCarthy. “I’m not bothered about me, to be honest. I’m not fussed about that at all.
“It just really upset me that such a good club with such a good following was down in the dumps. I don’t like that, I feel bad about that.
Teddy Bishop has undergone groin surgery and will be sidelined for some time. Photo: �INPHO/Ryan Byrne - Credit: �INPHO/Ryan Byrne
“If we lose a couple it will be back to that again no doubt. It’s not about me. I just prefer it when the players are getting applauded and the club is in a good place, like it is this week.”
