IPSWICH go into Sunday's crucial game against Hull City at Portman Road, kick off 2pm, with manager Jim Magilton saying: “It will be a wasted opportunity if we do not make the play-offs.

Elvin King

IPSWICH go into Sunday's crucial game against Hull City at Portman Road, kick off 2pm, with manager Jim Magilton saying: “It will be a wasted opportunity if we do not make the play-offs.”

Ipswich are in eighth position in the Coca-Cola Championship and need a victory against a visiting side that need three points themselves to stand any chance of overtaking Stoke City and gaining automatic promotion.

Something has to give with nothing less than a win for the Blues finally ending their slim hopes of a top-six finish.

Magilton says that his team are in buoyant mood with them all fit and well apart from long-term injury sufferers David Norris and Richard Naylor.

Magilton said today: “We have made strides this season but it is a Championship where everybody has had an opportunity.

“A number of clubs, us included, will feel it is a wasted opportunity if we don't take advantage and move up.

“But if it doesn't happen then we will lick our wounds and be better for the experience next season.

“We have new players still bedding in and with some summer signings expected we should be in even better shape when next season starts.”

Magilton says that he will select a side to win the match as nothing else will do - and then hope that the other results go their way.

He added: “Alan Lee has done well coming on as a late substitute up front and Danny Haynes is showing the effects of a long season.

“But this is one more game and Danny's pace can make a big difference for us. All the lads are desperate to play and the side will be picked to get a victory against a very good side.

“Ipswich have not been very lucky on the final days of previous seasons when they have been hunting for promotion or play-off positions and I have personal experience of some of these as a player.

“Hopefully things will swing our way on Sunday but all we can do is win our match and hope other teams can do us a favour.

“When you are mid-table both the manager and players all want to win but if you do go a goal down there is not the same disappointment as there would be say around Christmas time. In the final match summer holidays can be on your minds.”

Ipswich were well beaten at Hull in the corresponding game when they conceded three first-half goals, and Magilton is looking for support from a near capacity crowd to lift his team into one last effort that he hopes will keep his season alive.