Blues boss Paul Jewell is sweating on the fitness of skipper Grant Leadbitter ahead of tomorrow’s home game against Blackpool. The midfielder hurt his hip during Wednesday’s unlucky defeat at Birmingham.

The Town manager is short of other central midfield options with Jimmy Bullard not yet 100% after his virus. Leadbitter seems likely to play unless really struggling, alongside Andy Drury with Bullard or Luke Hyam probably on the bench.

Josh Carson, who has played in central midfield regularly in the reserves and at U18 level, could also be viewed as potential cover amongst the subs.

Elsewhere in the side, Daryl Murphy and Lee Martin look set to carry on in the wide roles with Tommy Smith and Ibrahima Sonko at the centre of the defence, Aaron Cresswell and Carlos Edwards in the full-back roles and Alex McCarthy making his home debut in goal.

Up front, Jewell could recall Michael Chopra alongside Jason Scotland as Jay Emmanuel-Thomas had a quieter game at Birmingham after a number of promising performances recently.

Defender Damien Delaney remains out with a foot injury and Lee Bowyer with a groin problem.

Despite their fourth successive defeat at St Andrew’s, the Blues boss says he and his players have to remain positive: “You have to recover because if you don’t recover or you feel sorry for yourself you get beaten even more. We’ve got to dust ourselves down and get ready for another game tomorrow.

“Every game is difficult and every team in this league is capable of beating every other. I think that’s been proven throughout this season.”

He says the Tangerines will be tough opponents with manager Ian Holloway having done well despite losing some of their best players: “They’re a good team and Ian Holloway has done a great job.

“After losing Charlie Adam and DJ Campbell, he’s replaced them with good players and they look a good team. I’ve known Ian for a long time, when he started at Bristol Rovers when I was at Bradford.”

The Seasiders are without skipper Barry Ferguson, who is still banned after receiving a red card against his old club Birmingham on New Year’s Eve.

Former Blues striker Billy Clarke joined Blackpool on a free transfer from Town in the summer of 2009, while Jay Emmanuel-Thomas was on loan at Bloomfield Road between August and December of the same year, making seven starts and five sub appearances, scoring once.

The Seasiders tried to sign Jason Scotland before the summer transfer window closed and Blackpool veterans Kevin Phillips and Barry Ferguson were both Blues targets early in their careers, as well as over the summer in the striker’s case.

Historically, Town have won eight games between the sides (seven in the league), seven have been drawn (seven) and Blackpool have won four (three).

In September, at Bloomfield Road, second half goals from Gary Taylor-Fletcher and Barry Ferguson saw Blackpool to a comfortable 2-0 victory over the Blues.

Town never looked like getting back into the game after Taylor-Fletcher’s 49th minute opener, Ferguson adding the second 11 minutes later.

Last time out at Portman Road, in December 2009, Town won 3-1 with Jon Stead, Jack Colback and Gareth McAuley scoring for the Blues and Evatt netting for the visitors.

Saturday's match programme includes an in-depth interview with Town owner Marcus Evans, who talks about various issues, including Paul Jewell's future with the club. An online electronic version of the programme is available here as well as the paper version at the game.

Saturday’s referee is Gavin Ward from Surrey, who has shown 69 yellow cards and five reds in 22 games so far this season. Ward’s last Town game was the 1-0 victory over Portsmouth in which he booked only Lee Bowyer.

Squad from: McCarthy, Lee-Barrett, Wright, Edwards, Cresswell, Sonko, Smith, Ainsley, Leadbitter, Drury, Bullard, Hyam, Carson, Martin, Murphy, Chopra, Scotland, Emmanuel-Thomas, Ellington.

Photo: Action Images

algarvefan added 20:52 - Jan 13 Suffolk and good are you free to be manager...looks a good team :)
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TimmyH added 21:13 - Jan 13 2-2 tomorrow I reckon, we tend to do a smidgeon better when Leadbitter doesn't play, It take it there has been no offers for him? he's out of contract at the end of the season - more players leaving for free again??
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walberswick added 21:36 - Jan 13 Ipswich 3 Blackpool 2 (0-2 HT)
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FornhamBlue added 21:37 - Jan 13 @ Suffolk_n_Good - ridiculous suggestion for a starting eleven............how the heck can Brenner play in the middle of the park when he's going to be commentating on the match??!!
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suffolkpunchdrunk added 21:41 - Jan 13 Has Bullard caught ebola or the tooashamedtoshowmyheadintheteam disease or is he genuinely ill at the moment? Never thought I could, would or should say this but if a loss guarantees PJ will go I will take it thanks. I know I will take flak for saying this but desperate times have lead me to say such desperate things.
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richnblue added 21:46 - Jan 13 I wouldn't sweat over him, not a clue that bloke. If it was an away match I'd be telling the coach driver to put his foot down
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Tractastic added 21:55 - Jan 13 Suffolk n Good with all the frustration and anger (and rightly so for passionate fans) on this site your post earlier was a breathe of fresh air.Superb. A bit concerned about the coach driver on LM as i don't think he has enough pace.! However Brenner in CM with Photographer is a master stroke as this will entice most of the vain Blackpool team to come over to them for interviews and photo's so coach driver can pass the ball up to Tea Lady to slot the ball home. After that coach driver just parks the coach up against the town goal so nothing gets through.1-0 Job done. COYB. Tea lady WOTM (careful Jewell.)

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IvorFeeling added 22:13 - Jan 13 To quote Harry Redknapp 'we are down to the bare bones'. The management of this situation and I blame Clegg and ME as well as PJ is nothing sort of shocking. Of the outfield players suggested by Phil as probable only 3 have been constant picks and are yet to be dropped from the 16 - Sonko, Cresswell and Edwards. The others have not been good enough until 4 weeks ago or have been in and out of the team quicker than the Hokey Cokey. How can a team gel and get continuity? I am make a conscious decision not to go tomorrow because the situation is so bad. I still want the team to win but having lost faith i am now losing hope :-( I hope by some miracle we can win

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bostonusablue added 22:48 - Jan 13 Let's hope he is fit, then we'll lose and Jewell will finally be fired. I am crossing my fingers and toes.
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blueit added 23:49 - Jan 13 Why on earth don't we move Edwards up into midfield and use Jamie at right back. Edwards is one of the few players that has shown some quality this season and could do so much more in midfield. surely if Peters could do Arsenal he could cope with Blackpool, at least put him on the bench as he can play in so many positions. A year ago Jamie Peters owned Arshavin at Portman Road, since then Jewel has given no chance to a player that has always given 100% for town and deserves better. Since last week i see no future for Jewel as he seems too frightened to speak to his players(or inspire them) which is ironic as last year our players were too frightened to talk to keane(before he was sent packing) Get George back and lets watch some football again, build a team over the next two years and then go up the right way. If you want to support a team that always wins go and support Man u but wheres the pride in that.

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michaeldownunder added 23:55 - Jan 13 defence Ainsley in at fullback with Sonko Smith and Crestwell push Edwards up to wide midfield to play with Dury,Leadbitter and Martin JET up front with Scotland. We have to get two new c/halfs and a fullback soon, Sonko is soooooo poor and slow,Edwards is almost never in the correct position. I notice for both the Birmingham goals our new goalkeeper 6ft 4 stayed on his line. give him the benefit of the doubt for the first one but the 2nd he should have come and punched the ball away. The long throws looped in he had plenty of time to get there and their c/fwd never even had to jump for the ball

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whippet added 04:40 - Jan 14 Don't think we will keep a clean sheet for this one. hoping for a 1-1 draw, a win is highly unlikely. every point will prove crucial in our battle against the drop. Smith and sonko with ainsley for help in df. Priskin up front with scotland
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tractorboy1961 added 07:19 - Jan 14 We are doooooomed! Seriously it's match day and time we all put our differences behind us and really get behind the team today. This is a must win game otherwise we will be dragged even close to the bottom three. Whether Jewell stays or goes we will still be here and really don't want to fall into the abyss that is League 1 so let's give it all we have got. If that doesn't work then at 4.55pm I will be calling for the head of Clegg who I believe has really put us in this position with his poor transfer band contract dealings and Jewell who is a nice enough cheeky choppy but is clueless as a manager.

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singingtheblues added 07:54 - Jan 14 If 'sweating' on leadbitter is the difference between a good game & a bad one then we are surely doomed!
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Suffolkboy73 added 08:03 - Jan 14 Love it or hate it. I think today we all need to back "THE TEAM" what ever it contains. Face it people we need the points to stay up. We can deal with sackings later. No change at the helm will help a club that has had its heart slowly withdrawn over the last 3-4 years. We need a back to basic approach with jewell or maybe a young eager manager. So for today COYB!

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walberswick added 08:40 - Jan 14 It's too late to sack Jewell, so we've got him until April. Whatever else happens we cannot afford to be relegated. With ME, Clegg and whoever they would have as much success getting us out of Div 1 as getting into the Prem. It was a much better performance against B'ham, despite two very bad goals conceeded. Let's get behind the team and get some points before we sort out this sorry mess.(oh and get a defensive coach in if PJ , Hutchings or McCarthy can't do it) Come on you BLUES!

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BrettenhamBlue added 09:37 - Jan 14 COYB! Time for us all to get behind the team. Feel we will win this one and win it well-- good 2-0 win with a brace from Ellington. Hopefully Carson and Martin will play and the power and speed of Ellington will prove too much for the Blackpool defence. Think this will be a relatively easy win and it will start a good run for us. Hopefully Ainsley will get a start at the back. Vital we win this one. A draw or a defeat are not even worth contemplating right now. We matched Birmingham and deserved a draw, hopefully we can take this form back to Portman Road.

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alfromcol added 11:18 - Jan 14 PJewellisaGod Have you made a typo? "" ......and the power and speed of Ellington will prove........"" speed of Ellington???
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bontcho9 added 12:09 - Jan 14 What the hell is going on at town, Leadboots in my opinoin was a poor signing by Keane and I was hoping against hope that he would have been long gone, i am sick and tired of his name of even being mentioned as being in contention........ We as fans must make our feeling known much more..........our opinion does matter ..........so unless you want to see this debacle continue, start voicing at the match........in the past we eventually got listened to .......whatever it takes this must be sorted out unless League 1 is to become a reality...........Jewell OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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llewej_tuo added 12:46 - Jan 14 apparently jewell is doing a good job, he just needs more and more time .... 52% loss rate and 11 defeats in 14. Disregard these pathetic stats at your pearl mr evans
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BrettenhamBlue added 14:21 - Jan 14 Alfromcol Compared to my granny he is fast....
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BrettenhamBlue added 14:30 - Jan 14 We've got to try and think positive.... COYB. A Ellington hatrick is on it's way....
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