Manager Roy Keane was delighted to be given a home cup tie with Town at the seventh time of asking, the Blues having been paired with Northampton in Saturday’s Carling Cup fourth round draw. Overall, Town had had eight away draws in succession in both cup competitions, five in the Carling Cup.

Keane said: “We’re just pleased we’ve got a home draw, we’re surprised we’re at home. I think we were in the last couple of teams that came out.

“We’re glad for the home draw, glad for the supporters because it was eight in a row away. It’s nice, but that game will take care of itself. Our priority now is Tuesday and we’ll need to play better than we did at Scunthorpe.”

Keane previously came up against the Cobblers in the same competition in 2008 when Sunderland boss, his side winning on penalties after a 2-2 draw.

Northampton manager Ian Sampson is looking forward to pitting his wits against Keane: "Ipswich have got a manager who demands excellence, just like how he played.

"He called [the 2008 result] one of his worst times in football. Hopefully we can do that again to him. But they won't rest players - it's a big game."

The last meeting between Town and Northampton was in the 1987/88 season, also in the League Cup, on that occasion at the second round stage.

The Cobblers came away from the first leg at Portman Road with a 1-1 draw, Romeo Zondervan having scored for the Blues, but Town won at the County Ground, Mich D’Avray (2), Graham Harbey and David Lowe netting for John Duncan’s men in a game which went to extra time.

In the 1977/78 season the Blues won another second round tie, Trevor Whymark (2), Eric Gates, Paul Mariner and Clive Woods scoring the goals.

Overall, the Blues have won 11 games between the teams (nine in the league), 10 (seven) have been draws with Northampton winning 10 (10).

Carling Cup - Fourth Round
Newcastle v Arsenal
Birmingham City v Brentford
Wigan Athletic v Swansea City
Aston Villa v Burnley
Leicester City v WBA
Manchester United v Wolverhampton Wanderers
West Ham v Stoke City
Ipswich v Northampton

Fourth round ties take place on either Tuesday 26th or Wednesday 27th October.

Photo: Action Images

joshuanelli added 09:51 - Sep 27 We've got to be pleased with the draw !! Northampton will have been hoping for a bigger team and the manager seemed genuinely gutted that he was only playing The Town - presumably realising that they won't be progressing much further in the cup as we'd be putting a strong team out (unlike Liverpool reserves!) We haven't had a good cup run for a few years so lets enjoy it whilst it lasts, and with there being 3 all Premier League ties, who knows, we could be realistically be in with a shot of the semi's ?!! Does anyone else share my optimism??

0

dobbie73 added 10:03 - Sep 27 Joshuanelli - I my be being a sentimental fool, but I have a good feeling about this cup now. All due respect to Northampton, but we *should* beat them, and yes, I can see us making it to the semis again! My predictions to go through: Newcastle, Birmingham, Swansea, Villa, West Brom, Man Utd, Stoke, and of course, the Mighty Switch. Any of those would be pretty tough for us, but imagine if we beat Northampton and then got Newcastle at home (if they beat Arsenal) - I see a mighty revenge on the cards!! COYB!

0

StowTractorBoy added 10:04 - Sep 27 I really hope we go for this with a strong team. If we can win this then get a home draw in the quarter finals you just never know what may happen. I would like to see both Clubs agree to reduced admission for the tie ensuring a decent crowd. The Cobblers will bring two to three thousand I am sure.
0

dobbie73 added 10:09 - Sep 27 Agreed Stow - the club needs to get the prices down to ensure a decent turnout. After all, this is almost a local derby! At least I think Northampton just about make it on Anglia Weather and Look East, lol ...
0

Back_The_Boss added 10:22 - Sep 27 The perfect draw. I just hope the club charge reasonable prices, and not £31 for a ticket!
0

Rydeabluehorse added 10:34 - Sep 27 Bet Liverpool were delighted when they drew Cobblers at home!! We'll need to be at our best but it's great to get a home draw at last (although Northampton is much nearer me than Ipswich!)
0

Surco72 added 10:48 - Sep 27 If we can overcome the Cobblers and get another home tie v the winners of Wigan/Swansea,Leicester/WBA or West Ham/Stoke who knows a semi appearance would be more than welcome and a boost for morale ,it has done Hull and Burnley no harm in recent seasons after good cup runs
0

nthstd added 11:53 - Sep 27 Great Draw. They should make this a £10 or £15 game and £1 or £3 for the under 16's. Then we will get a darn good crowd and the youngster will get a treat on a school night.
0

suffolksam added 12:01 - Sep 27 oh how bloody exciting northamtpton in mickry cup
0

itfc4eva added 12:05 - Sep 27 at last!
0

dobbie73 added 12:05 - Sep 27 Well, until we have won the Premiership title, FA Cup and Champions League all in the same season, Suffolksam, I'll take the League Cup! It's the one domestic trophy we have never won, and it's still worth going for IMHO.
0

bluelady added 12:16 - Sep 27 dobbie - Suffolksam would be moaning if we were in the quarter finals of the champions league, just one of those people you avoid in day to day life as they are so flippen miserable!
0

bluelady added 12:16 - Sep 27 dobbie - Suffolksam would be moaning if we were in the quarter finals of the champions league, just one of those people you avoid in day to day life as they are so flippen miserable!
0

joshuanelli added 12:17 - Sep 27 Dobbie73 ... and also if i'm not mistaken isn't it another route into "Europe"? We all remember that Alun Armstrong header against Italian Giants Inter Milan (although they did field a reserve team haha). ... We can dream can't we???
0

Skip73 added 12:19 - Sep 27 I'd take the League Cup as well, a day out at Wembley and qualifying for Europe, lovely stuff. Of course there's a long way to go as yet and we'd have to beat at least 1 top Prem team to win it, so lets not get carried away.
0

Skip73 added 12:21 - Sep 27 Yes Bluelady. Suffolksam - what a charmer, I bet he's a hit with the ladies.
0

zippyrainbow added 12:24 - Sep 27 Need to win this game or Keane needs to walk. I also read that Sunderland vs Northampton in the cup a few years back was the beginning of the end for Keane up there. After demolishing several tactics board, he left not too long after. Let's hope he walks after this game !!!! Also, it's a shame for Northampton that most of our fickle negative fans will stay away and we will lucky to get 7,000 fans in attendance.

0

bleedblue added 12:24 - Sep 27 ITFC - UEFA Cup Winners 2011-2012
0

blueisblue added 12:42 - Sep 27 Yes keep going town , the start of the season is going so well keep it up roy and the boys.
0

bluelady added 12:48 - Sep 27 ok Zippy you are so up with football can you suggest when Keane 'walks' who will take over? Your posts are predictable, child like and really have absolutely no footballing knowledge at all. Do you get some kind of kinky kick out of being so ridiculous? Are you and Suffolk Sam lovers? see i neither like nor loath keane, for now he is our manager, we are fourth and have progressed further in the cup than we have for many years so know what as a FAN im feeling quite upbeat. Oh and i will be at the game as always, question is will you?!!!

0

BrightBlue added 12:52 - Sep 27 Zippy'yellow&green'rainbow............ say no more!
0

comeonthegoodtimes added 13:05 - Sep 27 bluelady - Will you have my babes?lol Everything you just said is exactly what i was thinking, i do think there are some fans who just want to pick holes in the players and manager we have at the minute just to try and get a bite out of someone and if the truth be told i think if Sir Bobby himself (God rest his soul) were in charge they would still moan. by all means have an opinion but being down right negative all the time is just stupid and shows that you know nothing about football or indeed our club. Anyway, I think we will win and on current form i don't really mind who we get at home... And yes i will be going and SUPPORTING the guy's COYB

0

TrumptonBlue added 13:34 - Sep 27 "We all remember that Alun Armstrong header against Italian Giants Inter Milan (although they did field a reserve team haha)." Can we kill this myth off? That evening, Inter's starting eleven included eight of the eleven players who were their most regular starters in Serie A that season. They rested Vieri and Ronaldo was injured, iirc. It was a pretty strong side. Anyway, I like the League Cup simply because it makes for a much more interesting week when you've got a midweek game to look forward to. I think Keane has used the competition well to look at the younger players, many of whom have gone on to play in the league as a result. We should go for it and hopefully look forward to a big QF and/or SF.

0

joshuanelli added 13:59 - Sep 27 Trumpton Blue ! I do still agree with you, it was a strong team mate .. its just that all the talk at the time was that we got lucky because players were rested which seems to have taken the gloss off what an amazing victory it was! Secondly ... Zippy ... YOU REALLY MUST BE A DELIA LOVING PR*CK!!
0

brian_a_mul added 15:32 - Sep 27 Northampton at home is a good draw. A game, as Zippy, mentioned that we should win with no excuses. With exception of Man U & Arsenal, I would also fancy us to gave any of the remaining PremierLeague teams a good game at PR. The players will really be up for big cup games and its an opportunity to get a glimpse of the potential this team has. Newcastle at PR would be my ideal draw in next round. I hope we get a full crowd for the game. Being from Ireland, I am not being able to get over to PR as much as I would like. I am jealous of all you people :( Please give us a full crowd!

0

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls