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Town Free of Injuries for Tough Trip to Southampton
Town Free of Injuries for Tough Trip to Southampton
Monday, 5th Mar 2012 14:08

Town boss Paul Jewell has no injury worries ahead of tomorrow’s trip to Championship leaders Southampton (KO 7.45pm). The Blues manager admits it will be a tough game against what he says is the best side his team has met this season.

Jewell says that only midfielder Jimmy Bullard, who is suspended from the club for a fortnight, will be unavailable for what is the first time he has taken a team to St Mary’s: “We’ve got a clean bill of health.”

Even fourth-choice keeper Cody Cropper, who underwent knee surgery just before Christmas, is nearing a return: “He’s not training yet, but he’s doing a little bit. He’s not 100% flat out but he’s coming back from his knee injury.”

The Saints beat the Blues 5-2 at Portman Road in August and the Blues boss admits Nigel Adkins’s men will prove stiff opposition: “We’re just taking each and every game on its merits. We know Southampton will be very difficult, they’re probably the best team we’ve come across so far this season.

“But we can go there with confidence, knowing that we’re on a good run ourselves.”


Photo: Action Images



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Blue_Fred added 14:18 - Mar 5
i'm all for optimism, but i worry that our defence will again be found out by the strongest attacking force in the league.

no shame in losing to the Saints, but please show up and fight boys
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irishtim added 14:22 - Mar 5
Hey blue fred keep the faith. I think we might just sneak this one.
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Garv added 14:23 - Mar 5
Can see an Upton park earlier in the season kind of result coming on. 1-0 Town JET wonder goal.
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irishtim added 14:28 - Mar 5
Agree with u Garv. Tink we will do it.
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Bergholtblue added 14:31 - Mar 5
The way our season has gone so far, if we lose this we could end up losing by a big margin. Let's hope it is a 'Upton Park' performance and win 1-0. That will do me nicely.
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BillBlue added 14:35 - Mar 5
Play your hearts out lads, nothing less than three points will do otherwise my neighbour will never stop laughing. COYB
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TractorBeezer added 14:46 - Mar 5
Both teams are currently enjoying good form. This is required reading for jas and others:



Pos Name P W D L F A GD PTS
1 Reading 6 6 0 0 9 1 8 18
2 Ipswich Town 6 5 0 1 15 6 9 15
3 Southampton 6 4 2 0 11 1 10 14
4 Brighton 6 3 3 0 9 4 5 12
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clive_baker added 14:55 - Mar 5
Southampton are a quality side I was so impressed with them at Portman Road when they really gave us a lesson to be fair. I do think we've come on since then though. Got rid of the diamond and the midfield looks a lot different. Still have some concerns over the defence and keeper but we're in good form and it'll be an interesting test of how far we've come against the best side in the league.
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arablue added 15:10 - Mar 5
Yes, this will be a good gauge as to where we are relative to the top teams...and to see whether we have learned anything from our away loss to Brighton...
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arablue added 15:13 - Mar 5
Would Smith be able to pull up for 2nd game in a week after the 24,000 to and fro trip to play for NZ?
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Len_Brennan added 16:17 - Mar 5
Interesting form guide you have there TractorBeezer.
Not expecting a reply from jas0999, despite this being exactly the kind of stat he would be all over were it indicating that we were second from bottom over the last 6 matches, while calling the manager all versions of useless.
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nthstd added 16:28 - Mar 5
I'm looking forward to the game tomorrow night. I think it will certainly be a test of the substance in the team. There will be no room for any slack defending by ANY player on the pitch. A draw would be a good result, a win of course is preferred.
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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 16:41 - Mar 5
We need to go there to win. No shutting up shop, because we can't do it. Probably need to score three goals to win, as I can't see us letting in less than two. But if Chopra' and JET are on form, things can happen. COYB.
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itfc94 added 16:53 - Mar 5
Going to be an incredibly tough game this one, and I won't be too disheartened losing to a side which has shown consistency and strength throughout the entire season so far. One team seems to always crumble near the top, could it be the Saints? are we the team to drop their form?

Remain positive and optimistic. No good going there and playing defensively. Play free-flowing attacking football and I think we can cause an upset, I really do.
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BobbyBell added 16:53 - Mar 5
I think I'm right in saying that only two teams have scored more goals than us and we haven't played against the worst defence in the league as we ARE the worst defence. I think IF we can defend well on the night we have the fire power to get a result.
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1stTimeSeasonTicket added 16:55 - Mar 5
Just put £2 on town scoring 6 or more 999/1 and £2 on town winning 3-0 120/1. COYB!
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saffronblue added 17:12 - Mar 5
Interesting stat from BBC website "Ipswich have conceded three goals or more in one third of their games under Paul Jewell (19 from 57)" here's hoping that it doesn't become 20 tomorrow. Hoping it's a tight game but their defence has been awsome all season so I think it's going to be tough. Would take a draw.
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NoelTheDub added 17:21 - Mar 5
leeds battered them on sat and they won 1.0 we were all over the place as a team when they hammered us at home.think we can go there and put up a good show and get a win.im still worried about the back 4 but we have a better midfield and scoring a few helps cum on the blues we can do it....
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fourth added 17:36 - Mar 5
I've only watched Southampton v Ipswich once. At the Dell. They scored 7.

A Very hard game tonight. But it feels really good to look forward to this match
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rexron added 17:49 - Mar 5
Nothing to loose here. Hope Hyam plays.
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Langdon_Blue added 17:57 - Mar 5
A credit to the players and management that so many expect a win at Southampton...a team who have won 13 out of 17 at home this season...I hope they are right, but would definately be delighted with a point!
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jas0999 added 18:40 - Mar 5
It's one thing beating a team full of injuries and who have lost 7 straight away games - it's quite another playing at St. Mary's. However, I have gone for a 2-2 draw - which would be a good result. A win would be excellent. It's important not to lose too many more though as sadly, we still have a 51% loss rate this season - which is still abysmal at best.
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fourth added 18:43 - Mar 5
jas099 It's not worth dragging back the past.

It's over. Let it go. There. Feel better?
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Edinburgh_Blue added 18:45 - Mar 5
@jas0999. Do you realise we now HAVEN'T lost over 50% of our games? :-)
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Edinburgh_Blue added 18:47 - Mar 5
Apparently you do - just seen your post above! COYB - Keep the faith!
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