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

MarkITFC added 19:00 - Mar 5 Would love a good result tomorrow !! COYB !!!!
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TractorTrog added 19:07 - Mar 5 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... " Totally agree Brighton was not actually a bad performance as the result would have you belive. I think we will definatly give them something to worry about we can poach and shoot from long range now.... and we are looking like side who wants it ......Southampton are not scary any more... 2-1 Town in the onion bag boys!!!

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TractorTrog added 19:08 - Mar 5 forgot to say....Smile and enjoy the game boys thats when you socre goals!!!!
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cartman1972 added 19:18 - Mar 5 I'm going down to see this match with my brother who is actually a Southampton fan , they are expecting a comfortable match however i think we might spring a big surprise in this one, Lallana if playing is the key for Southampton . I went to the game early in the season at Portman Road and although we got we and truly trounced in the scoreline that first 10/15 mins of the 2nd half we annihilated them and i was sitting in the away end and they were worried.....reckon 2-2 or 2-3 to Ipswich tomorrow.

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Pip50 added 19:40 - Mar 5 Now we have all settled for mid table boredom what next. Southampton away wow last year we would have laughed at a fear of the saints. Were do we go from here ........answers on a postage stamp!
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das_bones added 20:34 - Mar 5 Gona b tough, hopefully scrape a 1-0! COYB
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meekreech added 21:31 - Mar 5 Jas If you are going to be a stats geek at least make sure you have them RIGHT !!! Our loss rate is less than 50 % !!!!!
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tellitasiseeit added 22:09 - Mar 5 Will be a tough game but the lads have nothing to fear about this game. Southampton will be the one's that will have the worry on their shoulders,A win for them is a must, and perhaps expected,But if we can hold or stick one up em perhaps they will leave gaps in their line up trying to get the win? Go for it lads . A 1-1 Draw I predict? Glad to hear Cody Cropper is well on the way to recovery, A good future prospect for Town.Should soon be number 2 or 3rd choice keeper COYB?

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bobble added 23:08 - Mar 5 we are not scared of teams like earlier in the season 1-0 to town
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afrodids added 00:08 - Mar 6 here's a stat for ya we have conceded 3 goals or more in 11 games in the 22 games that we haven't we have only conceded 18 not bad eh besides we have just won 5 out of the last 6. C.O.Y.B onwards and upwards. PS. we have lost 48.48% of our games but so what it's in the past!!!
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Tractastic added 00:54 - Mar 6 A busy night ahead for the defence but a creditable draw would be a great result against a team who have much more to play for than we do unfortunately? Would love to see Tommy Smith do well though.COYB.
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EatonBlue added 01:22 - Mar 6 It has 4-4 written all over it.
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ThailandBlue added 01:58 - Mar 6 We were a different team when they beat us at PR. Think the team has gelled well since that defeat, a win would be fantastic, but town are so Unpredictable.. Who Knows....
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statto added 05:40 - Mar 6 Hey Mr Fourth, not sure about this 7 they are supposed to have scored against us. I recall us smashing them 7-0 back in 1974, but you've got me intrigued. When did they do us by that amount? Hope I'm not jinxing this match. Come on Town, rev up yer Tractors
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BluePG added 07:47 - Mar 6 Fourth, I prefer to recall The Dell game that Marcus Stewart scored a hattrick!
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tellitasiseeit added 00:26 - Mar 7 Bobble you are correct when you state we are not scared of team's any more like were at the start of the season. We now play with a lot more confidence,bringing in the younger players was what was needed together with a mix of more experienced players.We still need a few more player's I think we all have our opinions on who and where these are needed,But I think Jewell seem's to be getting it right just in time? But still some way to go. You can see the difference in the player's now more confident in their play ,long may it continue. COYB

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