Town bidding to end Hornets hoodoo

CAN Ipswich Town end their Watford jinx at Portman Road tomorrow (kick-off 3pm)?

Elvin King

CAN Ipswich Town end their Watford jinx at Portman Road tomorrow (kick-off 3pm)?

In their last seven meetings the Hornets have stung the Blues, and you have to go back to a Dean Bowditch hat-trick in a 4-1 home victory five years ago to find the last time the Tractor Boys beat their bogey side.

Last season when Portman Road was a fortress, Watford were the only side to win on Suffolk soil, and consequently the only side to achieve the Coca-Cola Championship double over Jim Magilton's side.

They have a chance to repeat this tomorrow following their 2-1 win Vicarage Road earlier in the season, when poor Town marking presented them with both goals.

And Ipswich have been warned to expect another tough time this time around with head of player development and coaching Bryan Klug watching Watford at Cardiff City on Wednesday when they were beaten by a last-minute disputed penalty.

“Bryan gave us a very positive report and said Watford played well,” said Town assistant manager John Gorman.

“There's no way we're going to underestimate them as they have been playing well since Brendan Rodgers took over.

“I worked with him at Reading and he's very enthusiastic and likes to play good football. It's pleasing to see a young manager doing well.

“They'll come here and be very positive, which will suit a team like us.”

Rodgers should be able to name an unchanged squad and will be looking to make amends after the late penalty reversal at Cardiff, which followed a last-minute spot-kick equaliser for Sheffield Wednesday last weekend.

“We didn't think it was a penalty at Cardiff,” said Rodgers. “Our performance level was good, and we have been excellent over the last couple of months.

“To get so close yet lose was very disappointing as we still need points for safety, but I will focus on the positives as you would have thought it was two top-six sides playing at Cardiff.”