x

Joe Sticks With Same Side - Ipswich Town News

Town manager Joe Royle has named an unchanged side for Tuesday's home game with relegation-doomed Rotherham United. Royle is also sticking with the same five substitutes from Saturday's 3-2 victory over Derby County.

The Blues continue to be largely injury free with only Jimmy Juan and Drissa Diallo on the sidelines. The French loanee from Monaco has had a foot problem since joining Town, while Diallo, out of contract in the summer, is still recovering from his hamstring injury.

The Guinean international is set to see a specialist on Tuesday and if all goes well could be back in training by the end of the week.

Although the Millers will be assured League One football next season if Town beat them and either Cardiff or Gillingham get a point from their matches, Royle says he is taking nothing for granted: "Rotherham cannot be treated lightly. People were saying our home games against Watford and QPR in February meant a guaranteed six points and we got none, so this is another tricky one.”

The Town boss says he is concentrating on his own game and is not weighing-up the various scenarios thrown up by possible results in the crunch clash between Wigan and Sunderland at the JJB Stadium: "I've heard some people say it's best we let Sunderland go and look to finish second, while others are saying a draw would suit us best and we could catch them both.

"But I'm not getting into that. All that matters to me is that we keep winning and if we do it six times we won't have to worry about anyone else in any case.”

Rotherham caretaker boss Alan Knill has a slight concern about the fitness of Irishman Michael Keane. The midfielder injured a shoulder in Saturday's shock win against Stoke but came through training on Monday and declared himself fit for the trip to Portman Road.

Former Chelsea full-back Scott Minto could be in contention after recovering from an achilles tendon problem, while ex-Oxford, Leicester and West Brom central defender Phil Gilchrist had shoulder surgery last week and misses the rest of the season.

Midfielder Andy Monkhouse will also be unavailable for the remainder of 2004/05 after a knee operation.

Former Blue Chris Swailes, now 34, is still amongst the Millers' more staunch defenders.

Tuesday's referee is Lee Probert from Gloucestershire who has shown 79 yellow and six red cards in 27 games this season. His previous appearance at Portman Road earlier in the season saw the Blues thrash Sheffield United 5-1.

Town: Davis, Wilnis, Unsworth, De Vos, Naylor, Magilton, Miller, Westlake, Currie, Bent, Kuqi. Subs: Price, Scowcroft, Richards, Horlock, Couñago.

What to read next:

[Podcast] Blue Monday - New Podcast Now Online
A new podcast from the Blue Monday team is now available.
Huddersfield Game Live on Sky
The Blues’ final game of the season at home to Huddersfield Town on Saturday is among those being shown live on Sky Sports.
London Branch Meet-Up For Coventry Match
The London Branch of the Ipswich Town Supporters Club is inviting fellow fans to watch Tuesday’s live-on-Sky away game against Coventry City at the Brondes Age public house in Camden.
Hayes Set For Second Wembley Trip
Keeper Nick Hayes will be making two trips to Wembley next month, his Solihull Moors loan side having reached the National League Promotion Final.
Former Skipper Nets Hat-Trick in Final Game
Former Blues skipper David Norris ended his career on a dramatic note, netting a hat-trick for Lancaster City in his final match, a 4-3 Northern Premier League Premier Division defeat at FC United of Manchester on Saturday.
McKenna: Players Handling Big Three-Game Week Really Well
Town visit Coventry City live on Sky on Tuesday night knowing that a victory would take them a point away from securing promotion back to the Premier League after 22 years away.
No Dividends For PLC Shareholders
The board of the Ipswich Town PLC has written to its shareholders confirming that its stake in the club has now reduced to less than one per cent and outlining that any dividends taken out of Town in future will go solely to majority owners Gamechanger 20 Ltd.
[Podcast] Blue Monday - New Podcast Now Online
A new podcast from the Blue Monday team is now available.
Rosenior: I Couldn't Be Prouder of My Players
Hull City manager Liam Rosenior said he couldn’t have been prouder of his players following last night’s 3-3 draw with Town which keeps the Tigers hopes of making the play-offs alive going into their final match and wished the Blues well for the remainder of the campaign.
Hull City 3-3 Ipswich Town - Highlights
Highlights of yesterday’s 3-3 draw with Hull City at the MKM Stadium.