Blues boss Mick McCarthy misses today’s home game against Middlesbrough due to the virus which has affected him this week. However, he is understood to have picked the team with Scott Loach keeping his place in goal, Lee Martin out with a hamstring injury and Richard Stearman making his debut.

Aaron Mclean comes into the side in place of Martin with Daryl Murphy likely to switch to left midfield.

New loan signing Stephen Henderson and this week’s permanent addition Anthony Wordsworth are on the bench.

Former Blues Kieron Dyer and Grant Leadbitter are in Tony Mowbray and Mark Venus’s Boro team. The former England man may well start in the right wing-back role he occupied in his early days with the Blues. Full match preview here.

Town: Loach, Stearman, Chambers, Smith, Cresswell, Edwards, Hyam, N'Daw, Murphy, Mclean, McGoldrick. Subs: Henderson, Hewitt, Kisnorbo, Drury, Wordsworth, Nouble, Chopra.

Middlesbrough: Steele, Friend, Dyer, Bikey, Woodgate, Williams, Leadbitter, Haroun, Ledesma, Emnes, Jutkiezicz. Subs: Ripley, Bailey, Hines, McEachran, Carayol, Parnaby, Reach.

Photo: Action Images

davidsc1971 added 14:43 - Feb 2 Wild horses live in Ipswich after all. Come on you Blues
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bluefeast added 14:51 - Feb 2 come on , please make today the day , a win needed. Lets be ruthless. No Lee Martin so lets be more controlled and effective.
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AlexGreen added 14:51 - Feb 2 Even with Martin out injured JET still can't even make the bench, really think it's the end for him now which is a shame, fully justified based on performances though, just always hoped he'd turn it around.
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irishtim added 14:56 - Feb 2 Glad Scott Held his place. 3 points please lads.
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warksonwater added 15:57 - Feb 2 So far so good. Come on lads, we've lost five points from winning positions in the last two games. Could have laid any fears to rest. Let's not blow it this time. Let's climb that table!
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oscarwhiting added 16:10 - Feb 2 2-0 wow. Am I listening about the same team fantastic.
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irishtim added 16:18 - Feb 2 Looking good now.
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suffolkpunchdrunk added 16:20 - Feb 2 Well this should make MM feel a little bit better! We want more! COYB!
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miltonsnephew added 16:38 - Feb 2 Mick needs to be off sick more often!! Lol
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oscarwhiting added 16:41 - Feb 2 4-0 what did tc say to this lot before the game and at half time.
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miltonsnephew added 16:49 - Feb 2 Scotland scores again!! Glad he's doing well just not good for us!!
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thebeat added 16:52 - Feb 2 This is the first home game ive missed for 3 years because of illness and we give Boro a beating! Ive got to say part of me is elated but part of me is gutted! COYB
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Lightningboy added 16:58 - Feb 2 Fantastic result and much needed - just a right pain in the arse that all these other clubs around us are picking up wins! Mick will be feeling all the better for this though..Great stuff.
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tractorfact added 17:04 - Feb 2 great stuff lads, great to see Mcgoldrick get off the mark and McLean Great result Lee you was so missed mate just leave....... Should have outed Chopra and kept Scotland, hes keeping Barnsley afloat
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