Boss Mick McCarthy looks likely to be forced into at least one change when the Blues travel to Brighton on Saturday with midfielder Cole Skuse expected to be unavailable. Town, who are ninth, six points off the play-off zone, would appear to need to take at least a draw from the game against the eighth-placed Seagulls in order to maintain their top six challenge.

Skuse, who has been ever-present in his holding midfield role during Town’s Championship campaign so far, suffered a kick to the leg in last week’s 3-1 home defeat to Wigan and hasn’t trained this week.

McCarthy could opt to match the 4-3-3 system Brighton have employed in recent games with Paul Green perhaps the man to fill Skuse’s usual position, having occupied a similar role in the past, most notably for Ireland. The on-loan Leeds man replaced Skuse in the second half against the Latics.

Luke Hyam is another option, having been used as a holding midfield player by previous bosses Roy Keane and Paul Jewell, but McCarthy may prefer to use him in his more regular role. The other central slot could go to Jay Tabb, while Stephen Hunt and Jonny Williams are other alternatives.

Williams, however, may instead be included in the front three along with Daryl Murphy and Frank Nouble, who is back from his hamstring injury. Top scorer David McGoldrick remains sidelined with his medial knee ligament injury.

If McCarthy decides to stick with the 4-4-1-1 formation he used against Wigan, Murphy will be up front on his own and Williams behind him with Paul Anderson and Hunt in the wide midfield roles and Hyam partnering Green in the centre.

Whichever formation he decides to go with McCarthy will probably stick with his regular back four — skipper Luke Chambers, Christophe Berra, Tommy Smith and Aaron Cresswell — and keeper Dean Gerken.

The Town boss says it’s no surprise that Brighton have the best defensive record in the division, having conceded only 28 goals in 35 league games.

“If they lose it they’ll get back in and defend deep, they’ve generally got one sat in front of the back four,” he said.

“Rohan Ince, who joined them from Chelsea, is sitting there doing it, so it makes them a hard team to break down.

“And that will be the case. Even at home they’re quite happy to sit in when you’ve got the ball and try and catch you on the break and they’re very good on the counter-attack.”

He says the Seagulls are a slightly different team under Oscar Garcia’s management, the Spaniard having taken over after Gus Poyet and assistant Mauricio Taricco's departure last summer.

“I think they’re still similar, except they’ve got Leonardo Ulloa, the big 6ft 4in or whatever he is striker up front. That’s kind of different.

“They had Craig Mackail-Smith, who used to run and get in the channels and cause you real problems that way. This fella will still do that but he’s big enough to have it into him so they can play it up to him and he can link up with his midfield players.

“I don’t think they pass you off the pitch quite so much now, although maybe that’s the time year with the pitches, but they’re still very capable passing it, however, they’ve got other strings to their bow.”

A crowd close to 30,000 is expected at the Amex Stadium, the Blues’ allocation having sold out, and the Town boss says Brighton are back to where they used to be after some difficult years following their departure from the Goldstone Ground.

“I think it was a big club then it lost its way a little bit for financial reasons and they ended up playing at the Withdean Stadium.

“I think it is a big club, it has been, it just had its little spell in the wilderness but it’s got back to being that way.

“I haven’t been to the stadium, but I’m told it’s fabulous. I’ve seen it, it looks great and there’s always a great atmosphere there. I’m looking forward to it.”

Brighton boss Garcia told the Seagulls club site that he’s looking to avenge Town’s 2-0 win at Portman Road early in the season: "We want to make up for the result that we had away from home and this must be our mentality; to pick up the three points in front of our own fans.

"There will be a good atmosphere and we're looking forward to it. Ipswich always play with a direct style and they will not change that so we must be prepared."

Suffolk-born former England central defender Matt Upson is expected to return to the Brighton side after flu, while Ireland international and one-time Town loanee Keith Andrews is also expected to be back in the team having been ineligible for last week’s 2-0 victory over his parent club Bolton.

Striker Will Hoskins is back in contention after a year out with a cruciate knee ligament injury, but Craig Mackail-Smith isn’t yet ready after an Achilles’ tendon problem. Midfielder Andrea Orlandi is out with a thigh injury.

Historically, Town have the upper hand, having won 28 of the games (25 in the league) between the sides, Brighton 22 (20) and with 13 (12) ending in draws.

In September at Portman Road, David McGoldrick netted in the 20th and 24th minutes to see the Blues to a comfortable 2-0 home victory.

While the deflected first had an element of good fortune, the second was as good as anything the striker has scored for the Blues.

Town were last at the Amex Stadium in October 2012 when Brighton sub Will Buckley netted 10 minutes from time to grab a 1-1 draw. The Seagulls had put on the pressure in the second half after Town had gone in front via Daryl Murphy in the first period.

Midfielder Keith Andrews, who is on loan with the Seagulls from Bolton, is the only player in either squad to have represented the opposition, although veteran defender Matthew Upson was born in Hartismere near Eye and was with Town’s Centre of Excellence as a schoolboy.

Brighton midfielder Jake Caskey-Forster is the stepson of ex-Blues and Seagulls striker Nicky Forster, while keeper Tomasz Kuszczak turned down a move to Portman Road to join the Sussex club in the summer of 2012. Town assistant boss Terry Connor was a player with the Seagulls between 1983 and 1987.

Saturday’s referee is Darren Drysdale from Lincolnshire, who has shown 89 yellow cards and eight red in 28 games so far this season. Drysdale’s last Town match was the 1-1 draw at Birmingham in August when he booked Luke Hyam and one opposition player.

Squad from: Gerken, Loach, Chambers, Richardson, Cresswell, Mings, Berra, Smith, Green, Hyam, Tabb, Hunt, Williams, Anderson, Edwards, Wordsworth, Murphy, Ebanks-Blake, Nouble, Taylor.

Photo: Action Images

ericclacton added 13:50 - Mar 21 I think he will play 8 1 1.
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Garv added 14:13 - Mar 21 Eight red cards in 28 games?!
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PhilTWTD added 14:31 - Mar 21 Indeed, three in one match: http://www.soccerbase.com/referees/referee.sd?referee_id=948
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Seasider added 14:35 - Mar 21 Three things stand out from above report. Firstly Phil seems to think Tabb and Green will be in midfield if we match up their 4-3-3.I hope not!No mention of Paul Taylor surprise surprise? Oscar Garcia says"Ipswich always play with a direct style,and they will not change that so be prepared" How about changing it Mick,that's if you have seen the quote on Seagulls website,if not somebody better tell him.Would it make any difference,is Mc Carthy too set in his ways? Finally looks like we have a card happy ref in Darren Drysdale,lets hope one or even two Brighton players upset him!

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battyblue added 15:41 - Mar 21 Do not forget PAUL TAYLOR our most inspirational player did you notice when he has played Mick or was you dreaming of different class Frank Nouble.
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hogster1970 added 15:59 - Mar 21 personaly i would like to see, taylor upfront with murphy and blake and have hunt hyam and williams in the middle
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Kesgraveblue57 added 16:10 - Mar 21 Cole Skuse not playing hell are we going to miss his goals
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MattinLondon added 16:11 - Mar 21 As much as I'd love Town to go back and play the passing football akin to the Burley era - I don't think it's in MM DNA to play passing attacking football. Not meant as criticism on MM just that we all knew his style of play (and player) and can't see it changing.
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NoelTheDub added 18:07 - Mar 21 Maybe the last home game of the season well see Wlliams and Green in the middle with Hunt and Anderson out wide and Taylor With SEB or Murf up front.So I can dream on I suppose Mick.Stop this boring team selection now as its very unfair to our traveling supporters and lets all enjoy this good season for gods sake.
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GiveusanI added 18:18 - Mar 21 Not even a mention of Paul Taylor. Why is that TWTD? Because you don't think MM will even consider him? Or are you in collusion with our dull attritional style of football. One of our few players who shows any quality of adventure with the ball and he is somehow written out of the team. I really don't understand. I'm going to Brighton tomorrow with very little optimism and fully expect us to loose. Sorry for the negativity but does anyone think we'll actually try and play attacking football that isn't just a hoof in the vague direction of Murphy?

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GerkensBeard added 18:18 - Mar 21 I miss Didsy :(
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blueboy1981 added 18:28 - Mar 21 ........ can't really see anything but rear guard action in this one - if we haven't the confidence to play more than one up front at home, can see four on the goal line, and six across the 18 yard line, plus of course the Keeper for this one. Only chance we have in this game is ATTACK from the start - and take the game to them which will certainly unsettle them for sure. Otherwise another 0 points return - will be the order of the day I guess. Hoping for better of course - but not expecting much.

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GerkensBeard added 18:32 - Mar 21 First goal tomorrow will be vital, if we score they've gotta come at us which leaves them open for the counter attack, however if they do there's no way back in it with their defence.
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Tom18 added 20:23 - Mar 21 Play Williams he looks a decent player
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ITFCRealist added 22:07 - Mar 21 Does Barcelona leave out Messi? Do Chelsea leave out Hazard? Do Bryan Munchen leave out Ribery? Why or why does boring long ball dinosaur of a manager leave out Taylor? We would be 10-15pts ahead of where we are if he had been played. Time for a change, Marcus. Bring in Ferguson from PBoro, or you wont sell any season tickets. Look at the flair players he has found... Boyd now in Premiership and creating for fun, The young lad at Palace banging in goals of the season, CMS at Brighton who got them into the playoffs etc etc. Why are we stuck with a manager from the last decade who plays terrible football? Even Jewell was more entertaining. 3-0 loss tomorrow with Tabb, Nouble and Gerkin all playing - none of whom are fit the wear the shirt. No skill, no passion. Every loss brings us closer to sacking Mick, and as sad as I am to say that, that's not a bad thing. My team for tomorrow: GK: Loach (Blue through and through) RB: Hewitt (should not be on loan) CB: Berra CB: Smith (Drop in form is alarming, badly man managed in my opinion) LB: Cressers RM: Green (no one else good enough) CM: Williams CM: Hyam LM: Hunt ST: Taylor ST: Ebanks Blake Play that and we might get a point, which we need to still have the ludicrous hope only the Mick lovers have of making the playoffs. Lets face it, only the boring boring hoof ball has given us the luck to be where we are now in the table. If we tried to play a decent entertaining style, we would be on our way to league 1.

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livrich added 22:53 - Mar 21 Glad not that we perhaps are playing negative and conservative football with patchy results still only six points of sixth, but meeting FFP rules will become key, hope they enforce it properly, and we don't lose or drive away MM before this game is played out. Fingers crossed for a win this w/e
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ITFCRealist added 22:55 - Mar 21 FFP is a myth used by people like ME to justify not investing. Look at Leicester, QPR, Forest. Owners that aren't afraid to splash the cash, and will get their rewards.
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livrich added 22:58 - Mar 21 Other clubs are getting worried....
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CharlieITFC added 23:46 - Mar 21 ITFCRealist - are you drunk?! Firstly, sacking MM and appointing someone like Darren Ferguson is the most ludicrous thing I've heard. Yeah, let's get rid of a proven championship track record, that kept us in the league and has given us a sniff of the play offs for the first time in years, with a bloke who couldn't keep this Peterborough team that you think was so amazing in this league. That's simply moronic! You have also said if we played entertaining football, we'd be going towards league 1...so are you saying, as a fan, you'd rather see us relegated playing nice football than battle for play offs being hard to beat playing how you said 'boring boring hoof ball' Don't get me wrong, everyone is entitled to their opinion, and a minority may agree with you. But anyone who actually wants the best for this club, will appreciate that we are a million times better off now than we have been in a very, very long time.

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ITFCRealist added 00:51 - Mar 22 Learn to read Charlie - Mick doesn't know how to play decent football, and if he tried we would be on the way to league one as he has no idea of modern football. A decent manager like DF would get us playing well, and challenging for promotion, as he understands flair players. He got a poor team like PBoro into the championship, imagine what he could do for a club with a rich footballing heritage like ours. We are no better now then we were with Jewell or Keane (in fact the football is worse). If you cant see that, take off off your Mick tinted glasses.

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cartman1972 added 05:12 - Mar 22 ITFCRealist I'm sorry but you have clearly been on the sauce, just look at Peterborough this year, hardly setting league one alight. You don't need attractive Football in the championship, it's about attrition and working off scraps...mm knows this and is the best man for the job. Yes I would love us to score more but defensively there has been a marked improvement.

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flashblue added 05:47 - Mar 22 I have it good authority that we are sticking with the same formation as against Wigan.
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essexboy added 07:03 - Mar 22 All this talk about Ferguson as manager need to get into the real world.Just what has he REALLY achieved ,in reality NOT a LOT.At the moment MM is doing a good job,even though the football is not great.IF and Only if we decide to changer the manager we need to look a bit higher than him,remember we are a sleeping giant,or have we all forgotten that.GET behind the team and don't knock it,I'm sure it's just frustration.!! COYB

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muccletonjoe added 07:41 - Mar 22 Perhaps they didn't mention paul taylor because it was an odds on certainty that you lot would (yawn)
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planetblue_2011 added 08:44 - Mar 22 Gk - Gerken Rb - Chambers Lb - Cresswell Cb - Berra Cb - Smith Dm - Hyam Rm - green Lm - Hunt Am - Williams Str - Taylor Str - Murphy That's my team today I think would do well!! If it is a 4.3.3 push Williams up top and I'm sure hunt & green can help Hyam in the middle of the park. Going for a 2.2 draw today, gonna be a hard game. Williams & Taylor with the town goals! How wrong will I be haha!! COYB

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