Midfielder Ryan Tunnicliffe sees similarities in the styles of football played by his current loan club Wigan and Town, where he spent the first half of the season. The two play-off chasing teams meet at Portman Road on Saturday.

The 21-year-old joined the Latics last month, having been recalled from his loan with the Blues by Manchester United in January ahead of a permanent switch to Fulham.

“They run, run, run and never give up,” Tunnicliffe said of Town when speaking to Wigan’s official website. “They like to run teams off the pitch and they score goals by pressing.

“During my time there we were one of the fittest teams in the league, so it’s going to be difficult this weekend, but our style is pretty similar and Ipswich will have to be wary of us just as much.

“The gaffer wants us to press high and win the ball in the final third, something which has been very effective in our recent games.

“Looking at both teams there aren’t many differences in that respect and it’s shown in the league positions up until now because Ipswich very much want to push for the play-offs.”

He says he enjoyed his spell with the Blues: “My time at Ipswich was great, it made me grow up and mature on the pitch and off the pitch.

“When I left the club I said I’ll have friends for life there because all of the lads were great. I keep in touch with some of the Ipswich boys and it was a great environment to be in, it will be nice to go back and see them.”

The Heywood-born former England U17 international recalls playing for the Blues in their unlucky 2-0 defeat at the JW Stadium early on in the season: “It’s a strange situation for me because I played for Ipswich in the last meeting and I remember feeling disappointed.

“My aim now is to focus completely on Wigan Athletic and to help make sure we continue our recent run at the weekend.”

He says a victory at Portman Road, which will take the Latics’ winning streak to eight in all competitions and six in the league, will put down a marker: “If we beat Ipswich it will show a real statement of intent to the rest of the division.

“To win three or four games in a row in this league is a difficult achievement, so to win a sixth game in a row will send out a big message.”

Photo: Action Images

MaySixth added 10:19 - Mar 14 Good player for us. Liked him. Hope he has an absolute shocker Saturday.
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Beattiesballbag added 10:36 - Mar 14 Hmmmm! We like to close teams down in our half, they like to close teams down in the oppositions half . Maybe we could try that, then if we win the ball it's not so far to the goal! Cut out the middle man so to speak, as that area does pose a bit of a problem for us.
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Beattiesballbag added 10:45 - Mar 14 speaking of styles, he didn't mention that we both play in an attractive blue & white!
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emergencylime added 11:27 - Mar 14 Is it not the DW stadium? Let's hope he doesn't find his scoring boots just yet...
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TimmyH added 13:00 - Mar 14 'They run, run, run and never give up' and 'During my time they were one of the fittest teams in the league' - really? perhaps when we haven't got the ball but certainly not when we're attacking, you certainly don't see players making runs off the ball for passing opportunities, quite static in fact. The pressing element about scoring goals says it all about Mick's tenure so far (on the attacking side) - simply don't have the creativity or passing ability.

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JWM added 13:06 - Mar 14 Timmy might have something positive to say one day... Who knows!
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TimmyH added 13:23 - Mar 14 @JWM - I did the other day when we beat Yeovil, you can't be up positive all the time at the expense of realism.
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JWM added 13:46 - Mar 14 Apologies Timmy I must have missed it!
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Fat_Boy_Tim added 14:19 - Mar 14 You do realise that we have scored 3 more goals than Wigan this season? Granted they have a couple of games in hand but our attack stacks up well against most teams in this league. That's what creativity is for, creating goals and we doing that ok, not great but better than the average.
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warktheline added 19:51 - Mar 14 JWM, Timmy is always giving back handed compliments....he he he.
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