Robson aims to spring surprise

BRYAN Robson is hoping his Bradford City side can exploit Ipswich Town's all-out attacking style and pull off the sort of shock result that rocked Norwich City, writes Derek Davis.

In what was their only win in 12 away games, the Bantams surprised the league leaders with a single-goal victory, courtesy of on-loan Town striker Alun Armstrong.

With Andy Gray, who was left out of the Scotland squad to face Wales, and Dean Windass leading the attack in Armstrong's enforced absence, Bradford will be looking to add to the 47 league goals Town have leaked so far this season.

Robson said: "Ipswich have lost a few matches at home so that gives us hope. Joe Royle is a very attack-minded manager so they play good football. But then so did Norwich and look what happened there.

"Teams that play that way tend to suit us a bit better than the physical ones."

Robson will not be able to call on Armstrong, whose loan period has been suspended by Ipswich just for this one game.

He said: "It's a funny situation. Joe agreed we could have Alun for another couple of months as long as he could not play against us.

"It is up to Joe if he wants to play him against us but Ipswich have a lot of forwards which is why Joe and I don't really see that he will."

City will be without four suspended players including Alan Combe who was sent off at Gillingham. The keeper has been further charged by the FA, something Bradford will appeal against.

In the meantime, they have secured Nico Vaesen on loan from Birmingham City. Vaesen had originally said no to the move after returning from a loan spell at Gillingham but quickly changed his mind.

Jason Gavin, Simon Francis and Ben Muirhead are also banned.

Former Everton striker Danny Cadamarteri has returned from injury but is likely to start on the bench.

Last year City stunned Town with their only ever victory at Portman Road, they badly need to complete their East Anglian double to have any hope of staying in the division.