Leicester v Ipswich: One has a “wealth of experience”, the other has crafted a side capable of winning promotion to the Premier League.

That is the viewpoint from within the dugouts as Ipswich travel to Leicester today looking to continue their encouraging start under Mick McCarthy.

Against them is a Foxes side, managed by Nigel Pearson, who are winless in four matches but who remain one of the promotion favourites this season.

And there is clearly a lot of mutual respect between both bosses with Pearson backing McCarthy to bring better days back to Portman Road.

The Leicester manager said: “Mick is a good manager with a wealth of experience. He will know the direction he wants to take this team in and how he will want them to play.

“We have to make sure that our performance is such that we make it very difficult for them when they come to the King Power Stadium. “It can be tougher when you face a team with a new manager. There is nothing new there. We have to be aware they will make it difficult for us. “Ultimately if we get our performances right more often than not the results will come.”

McCarthy, equally, has a lot of respect for Pearson and his fifth-placed Leicester side, who have struggled to convert chances into goals of late.

The Town boss said: “They’re a good side. I watched them last week against Nottingham Forest (a 2-2 draw) and I thought they were unlucky not to win that game. I watched it again yesterday and I thought they played brilliant.

“They’ve got good pace in wide areas, a goal threat in David Nugent and Andy King scores from midfield. They’re well-drilled with Nigel Pearson and I think they’ve got really good Championship players in all areas of the pitch. I’ve been impressed with them.

“Nigel is a pal of mine, he is one of my peers when I was playing. We used to play against each other – he is a good guy and he has done very well.

“They are well-balanced and they’ll be threatening the promotion places definitely.”