After Liverpool’s 2-2 draw with Chelsea last night Town are still in with a chance of Champions’ league football. The Blues will definitely need to win their game with Derby on the last day of the season while hoping that Charlton can get a point or points from Gerard Houllier’s team.
Leeds are also right back in it and have a very similar record to Town. David O’Leary’s side have two games left to play with the first a home fixture against Bradford. Were they to beat Bradford 1-0 then they would have an identical record to Town and talk of a play-off would begin again.
Town will hope that Bradford will do them a favour on Sunday which would leave it as a straight two-horse race. Town will imagine they can beat Jim Smith’s men at Pride Park while Liverpool will have a tricky task to overcome Charlton at the Valley, as Town know well.
David Sheepshanks and George Burley have added to this season’s haul of awards at Portman Road. The chairman has won Chairmans’ Chairman of the Year while Burley has won FourFourTwo’s Manager of the Year.
Sheepshanks said: "I’m very flattered to receive this honour from my fellow chairmen. It is very humbling. But really huge credit has to go to George, the players on the field and all the back-up staff.”
FourFourTwo editor Mat Snow said of Burley’s award: "Nobody can deny that Ipswich have had a stunning first season in the Premiership. For George Burley to secure European football at Portman Road is a wonderful achievement, particularly as he works with a limited budget compared to many of his counterparts in the Premiership.”
The Manager of the Year proper is announced next week.
There’ll be a sigh of relief from all Town fans this morning as has Andy Marshall virtually ruled himself out of a summer move to Portman Road. The Norwich press suggested last week that George Burley and Tony Mowbray had gone to Carrow Road to watch the keeper, however he seems to be shying away from a move in this direction.
The Norwich ‘stopper’ admitted he had played his last game for the Canaries and added: "The last thing I want to do is go and sit in the Premiership for the next two or three years and not play a game. I would prefer to play with a top Division One club. Ideally though I would want to be playing regularly for a Premiership club.”
Mark Kennedy, an unlikely link with Town before deadline day, has committed himself to Manchester City. Another sigh of relief I think. Meanwhile sources this morning are linking Town with a possible move for Danny Tiatto, City’s Australian midfielder. Tiatto is the one man City fans see as coming out of their season with any credit and Joe Royle is likely to want to keep hold of him. Bids of around £4 million might tempt City to part with 27-year-old.
Tonight sees the long-awaited second leg of the FA Youth Cup semi-final with Arsenal (Portman Road 7pm). Town have a 4-3 advantage from the game at Highbury but it still promises to be a tricky game.
Arsenal clearly had some talented individuals in the first leg, but often they appeared to want to win the game single-handedly, Jermaine Pennant being the biggest culprit. Town’s more team-orientated approach won the day with goals from Darren Bent and Darren Ambrose. Bent’s screamer in the last minute game Town an important lead ahead of tonight’s game.
Arsenal’s youngsters refused to shake hands with the Town players at the end of the match and there might be a bit of needle between the two squads.
The winners will play either Blackburn or Liverpool in the final on May 17th and May 22nd. Both games will be live on Sky. The other semi stands at 1-1 and the two also meet tonight, at Ewood Park.
Entry to Town’s game costs £3 adults and £1 juniors. Arrive early as huge queues are likely. Gates open 6pm.