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

gav_g added 17:01 - Sep 27 As long as we pay the due respect to northampton we should make the next round. I then think its written in the stars for keano and fergie to meet at some stage of the competiiton.
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cooper4england added 21:40 - Sep 27 Ha ha the difference between 87 and 78. Gates, mariner, woods and whymark compared to d'avary, lowe and the legend harbey! Suppose lowe wasn't a bad player...... The joys of following the blues through the years!
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Skip73 added 12:09 - Sep 28 Zippy, you should have used one of the muppets as your avatar it would suit you better.
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