Boss Mick McCarthy is looking forward to visiting a ground with the type of atmosphere he relished during his playing days when the Blues face Leeds United at Elland Road this evening (KO 7.45pm).

“I think the intimidating places are the best places to go and play if you want to be a top footballer,” said McCarthy, a boyhood Leeds fan.

“I’ve never been applauded on by the opposition fans but I’ve always preferred it when there’s a really good atmosphere.

“Certainly as a player, getting a bit of abuse gets the hackles and the senses up and you have to play. If you can’t play in those places then sadly you won’t be a top player.”

Despite sitting in 16th in the Championship, nine places and 19 points behind the seventh-placed Blues, Leeds have beaten some of the division’s big hitters this season, recording a double over Middlesbrough and victories against Derby and Bournemouth.

“That’ll be OK because according to some we’re not one of the big teams, so we’ll be fine!” McCarthy joked, making reference to Norwich manager Alex Neil’s omission of the Blues when he listed the Championship’s top teams last week.

“Leeds are one of the big teams, as are Sheffield Wednesday. Some of the big teams are languishing in mid-table.

“Elland Road on a Wednesday night under lights, it’s never an easy place to go. I think whatever team they put out, whatever’s happened, with Neil Redfearn there they’ve got a bit of consistency.

“I think they’d lost a few on Saturday, they seemed to have a couple of injuries, so I’m kind of OK with what team they’ll be playing but there’ll be a couple of different players.

“It’s Elland Road, it’s Leeds United. Going up there is never easy but we’re fine. We’ve had some great results on the road.”

Leeds boss Redfearn is a fellow Yorkshireman: “I know him but [not very well] despite the fact he played for Barnsley. That was a good time after me and he was a really good player for Barnsley.

“I know him, I spoke to him after the game here. We’re from the same area so we speak the same language. I know him but he’s not someone I played with or managed.

“He’s gone back to a British team. They had a lot of foreign influence and a lot of foreign players came in and it’s not easy for all those guys to come in and do it immediately.

“He seems to have put in one or two of the more tried and tested ones who have done it in the Championship and they’ve been tougher.”

Redfearn was at one-time head of the Leeds academy and a number of young players have become regulars since he took over as first-team boss in October, having been caretaker-manager on a number of previous occasions.

“Sometimes it’s needs must," McCarthy said. "He was working with the academy, so he’ll know the kids and I think if he’s thinking about longevity he’s got to get some kids in this season to think about what he’s going to be doing next season.

“Alex Mowatt and Lewis Cook and Charlie Taylor, the left-back, they’ve all come through the academy.”

On Saturday, the Whites lost 3-2 at home to Watford having been 2-0 up before a storming Hornets comeback, which impressed the Town manager.

“They were 2-0 up against Watford, but I’ve watched the game and it could have been eight or nine in the second half, Watford were fabulous in the second half,” he continued.

“How are they going to react? I don’t know, but they’ll be wanting a reaction for their fans.”

McCarthy will be similarly looking for a reaction from his players - “We’ll be like two wounded animals!” - after the defeat at Norwich with the Blues still the only side in the Championship yet to lose two consecutive league games.

Town beat the Whites 4-1 at Portman Road in December and their players will also be looking to avenge that defeat.

“I think it’ll be in their minds that they got a bit of a doing down here, so they’ll want to repay us in kind,” McCarthy added.

“I don’t think when you’ve won you go up there thinking ‘We won and we had a good victory and it’s going to be similar’ because it’s going to be nothing like that.

“I personally don’t do that. I treat every game as an individual game, which is what it is, of course.

“I always go back to what I was like as a player. If I’d lost 3-0 the week before I was even more determined not to give anything away. I didn’t worry, thinking we might concede four. I was the opposite mentality.

“I guess not everybody’s like that. There might be some [in the Leeds team] who are worrying about it. Let’s hope there are.”

McCarthy believes that the points total required for an automatic promotion place this year will be lower than last season when Leicester amassed 102 and Burnley 93.

“I think it’ll be fewer but probably more for the play-offs because Wolves are pushing, Brentford are pushing, Nottingham Forest, unbelievably, are pushing.

“It’s all concertinaing up. I think it might be more for the play-offs and fewer for the top two.”

He fully expects the fight for the play-off places to go right to the end of the season: “Without a doubt and it’s not written in stone by any stretch of the imagination.

“Wolves are on a bit of a run. Nottingham Forest are on a bit of a run and I would think they would probably think they can still get there.”

McCarthy is without Teddy Bishop (ankle), David McGoldrick (thigh), Noel Hunt, Luke Hyam (both knee), Stephen Hunt and Darren Ambrose (both hamstring) but has said he is considering making changes with matches coming thick and fast.

Bartosz Bialkowski is set to keep his place in goal but McCarthy has options at the back. The Blues boss could stick with his regular back four or he could return to the quartet he used earlier in the season, bringing Jonny Parr in at right-back and moving skipper Luke Chambers to the centre of the defence with Tommy Smith dropping out.

Alternatively, Parr could come in at left-back for Tyrone Mings, who the Town manager has previously rested for the occasional game during busy periods of the season.

In midfield, Cole Skuse is likely to continue in the holding role with Kevin Bru or RIchard Chaplow, who played the first 45 minutes at Norwich before being replaced, in the centre.

Jay Tabb will probably be on the left with Paul Anderson perhaps returning on the right. Up front Freddie Sears is again likely to partner 21-goal Championship top scorer Daryl Murphy.

McCarthy feels the Irishman hasn’t been hampered by his broken nose, despite the not having found the net in the last three games. Having worn a mask for two matches, Murphy discarded it for Sunday’s derby.

“I don’t think he was affected at all, except that he busted his nose and had to wear some protection,” he said. “He wasn’t affected by it.”

New signing Chris Wood, a late sub at Norwich, is likely to play a part from the bench.

Leeds will be without midfielder Rodolph Austin, due to a thigh strain, but central defender Giuseppe Bellusci is back from a ban.

Striker Steve Morison could return having been out with a groin injury, however, midfielders Granddi Ngoyi (thigh) and Tommaso Bianchi (knee) are again expected to miss out.

Historically, Leeds have the superior record in the fixture, winning 29 (28 in the league) clashes between the teams. Town have been victorious on 25 (20) occasions and 20 (17) games have ended in draws.

In December at Portman Road, Daryl Murphy scored twice and David McGoldrick (pen) and Christophe Berra once each as Town came from behind to thrash the Whites 4-1.

The visitors went ahead via Mirco Antenucci in the fourth minute but Murphy struck back on 12, then McGoldrick netted what’s still Town’s only spot-kick of the season on 26.

Murphy added his second just before the break and Berra added the fourth three minutes into the second half.

The sides last met at Elland Road in January last year when McGoldrick netted his 14th goal of 2013/14 in a 1-1 draw.

The Irish international opened the scoring on 57 but the home side equalised five minutes later via a Ross McCormack penalty, Luke Chambers having fouled Cameron Stewart, who was then on loan with the Whites from Hull City.

Blues winger Stewart - who is still to make his league debut for Town - made nine starts and two sub appearances for Leeds during the second half of last season.

The move was expected to be made permanent in the summer but the Whites pulled out of the deal and the 23-year-old subsequently joined Town.

Injured Blues striker Noel Hunt made 14 starts and six sub appearances without scoring in an unhappy 17 months at Leeds prior to his move to Portman Road earlier in the season.

Recently signed loanee Luke Varney was at Elland Road between 2012 and 2014, scoring eight goals in 42 starts and eight substitute appearances.

Blues assistant manager Terry Connor was with his hometown club between 1979 and 1983, scoring 22 goals in 108 games.

No current member of the Leeds squad has played for Town, although the Blues made an unsuccessful loan approach for striker Billy Sharp in January.

Tonight’s referee is Mark Brown from East Yorkshire, who has shown 52 yellow cards and five red in 25 games so far this season.

Brown’s most recent Town match was the 2-0 win at Huddersfield last April in which he booked one player from each side.

Squad from: Bialkowski, Gerken, Chambers (c), Parr, Mings, Berra, Smith, Clarke, Skuse, Bru, Chaplow, Benyu, Anderson, Tabb, Stewart, Connolly, Murphy, Sears, Wood, Varney.

Photo: Action Images

Steelmonkey added 07:21 - Mar 4 " with the Blues still the only side in the Championship yet to lose two consecutive league games." I love statistics being proved wrong, I think that with all our injuries and fatigued players that one will be another out of the window. Hope I'm wrong. COYB's.
3

wangford_blues added 08:16 - Mar 4 Farewell to the play-offs. Out of the top six. MM's sitting on his arse for Jan and Feb has cost us dearly. You can sign a whole load of cast offs but now its too late. It will be April before we recover and then we'll all be dreading another season with mid-table Mick. After Sunday has anyone got faith we can do anything tonight? Have we got it when it counts? Over the last 5 years its a definite no.

-11

dirtydingusmagee added 08:39 - Mar 4 wangford blues,how much cash was available to MM for the transfer window ? Everyone [and their dog]would like to have seen a big signing im sure.The fact we didnt is not down to MM sitting on his arse.That said MM would probably do just as well sitting on his arse with a dog and holding out a hat in the street.M E is the one who governs the finances.Until we get someone investing in the club ,we ,like MM, will have to make do with what whats available. Im sure MM would like ,and is capable of getting into Prem if he had more backing .The Buck stops at the top .

5

bluefeast added 08:43 - Mar 4 There are still 12 games ,have faith ,if we win 6 and draw 6 we will average 2 points per game ,that will put us on 84 points. Yes we need to perform better and keep clean sheets as thats been a problem since January. But i would be stunned if we didnt make the play offs.
7

Europablue added 08:55 - Mar 4 I was depressed to lose at the weekend, but it made almost no difference who we lost to. McCarthy should be sacked for losing to Norwich and Knighted if he beats them. He is a very pragmatic manager and does very well to keep us on the level. His biggest sin was raising expectations from fans hoping to sneak into the playoffs to fans half-expecting to be automatically promoted. The truth is we are not one of the best in the league right now. Around Christmas we were, the same can be said for Bournemouth. The form teams right now are Norwich, Middlesborough and Derby, but Derby are showing signs of dropping off. We are only two wins in a row from being right back in it. There is no doubt McCarthy is a good manager, but there is a big question mark over his ability to entertain. He's always likely to be more popular as with the owner than the supporters, but right now that is how I want my club run. It's no way near as simple as paying out 3 or 4 million for a striker and guaranteeing promotion. Wood is probably the type of player many fans would have been hoping to get in, but he's here anyway now. To sum up McCarthy is doing a good job and is the best man for the job right now, but I'd prefer to risk losing a few more in order to go for the win. I'd like to think of Ipswich as a passing side, but the pitch isn't up to it at the moment. :)

0

Europablue added 09:00 - Mar 4 bluefeast I'm not so confident about getting into the playoffs as you, but we are hardly any less likely to get there than the teams around us. The goals have dried up a little recently. Perhaps it better to have two 15 goal strikers than one 20 goal striker. Anyway, hopefully we're get over our poor/average run soon and maybe have some of our key players back from injury.

2

Kesgraveblue57 added 09:16 - Mar 4 I watched Leeds on the TV a few days ago they looked a very good side, of course I hope for a Town victory but fear we will be cut to ribbons tonight, the dream could well be over, play-offs are still a possibility but only just.
3

Europablue added 09:21 - Mar 4 Would be interesting to know why people disagree, rather than just being marked down. I marked down some posts because they seem overly pessimistic.
1

Ipswich24 added 09:48 - Mar 4 Play this team and go for it look how Watford are doing being positive. Bart Chambers Berra Smith Parr Skuse Bru/Tabb Mings Sears Wood. Murphy
0

essexbluey added 09:55 - Mar 4 Iam just setting out for leeds. Wangford blues. You need to get real we ain't barcelona man city or chelsea buying our way to glory. If we bought every win i would not find that very interesting. Even if we went up we would be loseing every wk and that wangford blues would be more for you to moan about. Moan moan moan i feel sorry for your other half if you have one. COYB.

0

carsey added 10:29 - Mar 4 I wish McCarthy would stop bigging up the opposition. Leeds are not that good. They are 16th in the league, 9th in the form table and 20th in the home form table. They are not a good side and we should be looking to beat them. I don't suggest he is disrespectful just don't talk them up. It's been like it all season long getting in his excuses before the game. Play the correct players in the correct positions, attack the opposition whoever they are and go for the win. I know some will say we should be grateful with what he has achieved and I am but he raised the level of expectation now he needs to deliver. FFS play football

11

Europablue added 10:38 - Mar 4 carsey, I kind of agree with you but at the same time disagree with you. I'm happy with the way McCarthy talks about the other sides, but I do want him to be thinking to himself that this team are there for the taking and we should be at least going for the three points.
2

spanishblue added 10:41 - Mar 4 Europablue at least you have some sense we are currently in debt to the tune of ? Maybe wangford blue would like to stick a million or so in,just because M.E has moneyi think you,ll find he can spend it or invest it where he wants to.his biggest sin was trusting that clown keane with his dosh it takes many years to get class players into a failing club we will and are improving,as much as it makes me sick to say the budgies have a pretty good side,bad manager so they got rid of him now theyre on the bounce at the right time we can only hope they fall flat on there faces,at least we won,t get relegated

2

MattinLondon added 11:01 - Mar 4 MM has done a fantastic job and deserve much praise for what he has achieved here. However I do not think he is pragmatic - he chooses to play long ball defensive football because that is the style he believes in. The players he likes are workmanlike and honest who have a lot of heart. Hopefully back to winning ways tonight.
0

yorksblue added 11:05 - Mar 4 Big Teams - Leeds and Wednesday. Maybe in the past perhaps, but the only big thing about them these days, is their fan base. That's all.
2

PJH added 11:08 - Mar 4 I am off to Ipswich soon and then on to Leeds. This is one that we need to win and follow up with a win on Saturday to put us back comfortably in the top 6 and in touch with top 2. COYB
3

bobble added 11:50 - Mar 4 3-1 to town ..mariner hat trick
2

dirtydingusmagee added 12:39 - Mar 4 yorksblue ,not having a pop, but but the Owls look like getting big investment under new owner.But i agree they are at present nothing like as big as they were.That said the whole scene has changed with the Premiership making all but the mighty look like paupers .
1

wangford_blues added 12:45 - Mar 4 without more quality or better motivation we are mid table mediorce. if everyone's happy with that then everything's hunky dory. in mid table mick we trust.
-6

Cloddyseedbed added 13:07 - Mar 4 It will be very interesting how McCarthy approaches tonights game. We are now out of the play off places and slipping off the pace with the tactics and style that has been employed over the last few weeks. Will there be a positive attempt to go out and play football and win or a negative attempt in my view to continue to play spoiling hoofball and not loose. I for one am not happy to give up which was once a very strong chance of the play offs. We'll know more of Mr McCarthys plan when we hear the team selection and final result tonight. Good luck to all the travelling supporters, hopefully you'll enjoy the homeward journey too.

3

Bluetone added 13:13 - Mar 4 They're a good side are Leeds- We need to keep tight at the back defend well - I'll settle for a point always settle for a point away - Keep it tight - bang it up to Murph give him summat to fight for if it comes back well we'll keep it tight. Oh and I'll tell thee thisun a bonkers league. McCarthy exits press conference.
3

blueherts added 13:14 - Mar 4 Derby spanked alot of money in the window so they are 'sure to go up' Oh hang on they lost to Brighton last night - Rubbish team Derby ! Bent , Ince and Lindgard useless! No GUARANTEES .. Stop all the negative talk Should have enpugh to beat Leeds
4

lduly10 added 13:29 - Mar 4 I'd play 4-4-2 with: Mings - Chambers - Berra - Parr Tabb - Skuse - Bru - Anderson Wood - Sears? Murphy hasn't scored recently and Wood's dominance aerially will hurt leeds.
0

WindsorBlue added 13:34 - Mar 4 @wangfordblue: Clearly you've not seen us much over the last decade. Stop trying to recruit people to your negative bandwagon and spoil it for the rest of us who are enjoying a season where there is something to play for. Also, if you do want to be negative, at least have the decency to apply logic, reasoning, and heaven forbid a solution, with thought and intellect. Also to look back over the last 5 years, I would say yes we "do have it". We were gonna be relegated, and dug out some great results in Micks first season to keep us up. Since then we have progressively improved, which can only be a good thing right? Who would you rather be in charge...my guess is Mourinho!

7

AYACCA added 13:52 - Mar 4 we're gonna win 5 nil.
0

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls