Town boss Mick McCarthy believes Saturday’s opponents Blackburn Rovers are a better team than their current position suggests. The Lancastrians are 18th in the Championship having won only once so far this season, while the Blues are eighth behind third-placed Reading on goal difference alone.

“They’ve got good players,” McCarthy said. “I like the striker that they signed, [Fodé] Koita, the big tall lad who was injured [for last week’s 1-1 draw at Hull].

“They’ve got Tom Lawrence on loan from Leicester, who is a real talent whether he plays wide left [or elsewhere], he’s a right footer.

“The wingers, Craig Conway and Ben Marshall. They murdered us for a period there last year, murdered us in the game. We set off well, but they really took the game to us.

"They did it against Fulham recently as well, I thought they were outstanding and they are just better than their league position suggests.

“We’ve seen it before. Rotherham have been struggling but they had two wins on the bounce. It’s just the way the league is, I don’t think there’s that much difference between any of us.”

He added: “I watched them against Fulham on TV and in the first half Fulham set off and were two up. I only caught the second half because we’d been training and Blackburn battered them, absolutely battered them.

“They had one of those ghost goals that should have been a goal but wasn’t given because they couldn’t see that it was over the line - why we haven’t got Hawkeye in our league is beyond me - and it should have been a goal.

“They pushed and pushed and pushed and I thought they were outstanding [despite ultimately losing 2-1]. They’re a good side with good players. And, of course, they’ve got Jordan Rhodes who always manages to score.”

Ex-Blue Rhodes, whose five goals this season have come in his last four games, has been tipped for a move away from Ewood Park for several transfer windows now and McCarthy admits he thought the 25-year-old would have departed before now.

“I’m surprised he’s still at Blackburn because I thought Middlesbrough would have taken him,” he added.

“I think they were trying desperately to take him - if all the rumours and our sources were correct, of course - for that final push towards the end of last season.

“There were a couple it was suggested had gone in for him but they wouldn’t sell him to a Championship club. I guess that would have been seen as a lack of ambition on their part. Maybe if it had been Premier League sides he would have gone.

“So I am a little bit surprised, but I think he has a nice contract there and he keeps scoring goals there and he’s their star man. To prise somebody like that away from a football club is difficult.”

Having taken 10 points in August the Blues managed only five in September, which McCarthy says is typical of the division: “Championship football. I think we got off to a flyer, maybe one or two have looked at us and thought they’d have to give us a bit more respect, knowing what’s coming.

“When we made a great start I didn’t think we were that much better than everybody else and I don’t think we’re that much worse now.

“I watched the Bristol City game again on Monday and I saw the stats and we actually played well in that game. It was a real turgid, tough first half.

“We got the goal, we should have gone on and won it but we gave two goals away and even then we had enough chances to win that game. I thought we played well in the second half and created enough chances, but it wasn’t to be.

“But did Bristol City look like the team who are bottom of the league on Saturday? No they didn’t. And this’ll be the same on Saturday with Blackburn because they’re better than their league position suggests.”

The Blues, who will wear their Barcelona-style away kit for the first time on Saturday, have kept only two clean sheets in the last 21 games in all competitions and only four teams in the Championship have conceded more this season.

McCarthy says the squad have worked on defending at Playford Road during the week, the first for a while when there’s not been a midweek game.

“It’s very difficult to do that when we’ve had matches on the Friday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, Tuesday and then Saturday.

“Why’s it difficult? It’s difficult because you have go at full tilt to defend. You can work on a bit of shape but if you’re actually doing defending it’s got to be done aggressively and at full speed and done properly.

“And this is the first week that we’ve had for a while where we could do a bit of coaching. So we’ve had a couple of good sessions and enjoyed it.”

Town were most recently at Ewood Park on the final day of last season when they lost their fourth successive match on Blackburn territory - they are without a win there in eight - but ended the afternoon celebrating finishing sixth and reaching the play-offs for the first time in a decade.

“It was surreal, wasn’t it, having lost 3-2,” he recalled. “We were pushing to try and get back and we just couldn’t do it. But it was a party atmosphere on the pitch having lost, it was barmy, it was bonkers.

“But it was great because we got in the play-offs and I’ve always said it’s what you end up with not what you get on any given day, and we ended up with enough points to finish sixth.

“We’ve not done really well at Blackburn, so it’s about time we did. The only silver lining on that cloud that I can see is that it’s about time we turned that around and got a result there.”

McCarthy seems unlikely to make too many changes to the side which drew 2-2 with Bristol City last week.

Dean Gerken is set to stay in goal with skipper Luke Chambers likely to be at right-back, Jonas Knudsen on the left and Tommy Smith and Christophe Berra in the centre of the defence.

In central midfield, McCarthy could opt to bring Kevin Bru back into the side alongside Cole Skuse, although he says he’s been happy enough with the pairing of the former Bristol City man and ex-Rover Jonathan Douglas in recent matches.

“I’ve no complaints about the two lads who have been playing, I think they’ve been different class, Skusey and Dougie,” he added.

Ryan Fraser and Ainsley Maitland-Niles look set to continue in the wide roles, while the Blues boss faces his usual decisions up front.

McCarthy may well start with Daryl Murphy as last season’s 27-goal Championship top scorer looks to get back to the top of his game with David McGoldrick perhaps alongside him. If they don’t start, Freddie Sears and Brett Pitman are likely to be involved from the bench at some stage.

Blackburn, who have drawn four of their nine Championship games this season in addition to their single win, a 3-0 home triumph against Charlton, will have winger Chris Taylor back in the squad for the first time after six months out with a groin problem.

MIdfielder or right-back Jason Lowe is sidelined having undergone surgery for a foot injury, while striker Koita and centre-half Matt Kilgallon (both hamstring) and midfielder Danny Guthrie (thigh) are expected to miss out.

Manager Gary Bowyer, whose club is subject to a transfer embargo for transgressing the Championship’s Financial Fair Play rules, believes his team should have more than their current total of eight points.

“I think the performances first and foremost in September have been very good,” he told the Lancashire Telegraph. “The fixture list wasn’t kind to us with three of them being away from home.

“But we’re disappointed with the points tally. That’s a sign of the potential that this group has got because to have three games away from home and to be disappointed not to have more points just shows the progress that we’re making.”

Town have had the upper hand on Rovers over the years, winning 17 games (14 in the league), losing 14 (13) and drawing 16 (15).

The Blues’ last win at Ewood Park was the 1-0 FA Cup third round replay victory back in January 1996. The last league triumph there was in the August of the 1991/92 Second Division championship season.

Home and away, the Blues have won just one of their last 10 games against Rovers, drawing five and losing four.

On the final day of last season’s Championship back in May, Rovers beat Town 3-2 at Ewood Park, a result which saw the Blues finish sixth and face Norwich in the play-offs.

Daryl Murphy put Town ahead in the second minute but goals from Jordan Rhodes, Craig Conway and Rudy Gestede saw the home side into a 3-1 lead before Murphy netted a late penalty.

In October at Portman Road, Ben Marshall netted an injury time freekick as 10-man Rovers grabbed a 1-1 draw.

David McGoldrick curled home a freekick in the 65th minute after Matt Kilgallon had been dismissed having picked up two yellow cards and the Blues looked well on their way to their fourth successive home win until Marshall’s late sucker punch.

Rhodes came through the academy ranks at Playford Road having moved to the Blues’ youth set-up in March 2005 for £5,000 from Barnsley after his father Andy joined the club as goalkeeper-coach.

The striker made 10 sub appearances and scored one goal for the Town first team before being controversially sold to Huddersfield by then-manager Roy Keane in the summer of 2009 for a fee which, after top-ups and a sell-on following his £8 million move to Rovers in August 2012, climbed to just over £1 million.

Since moving to Ewood Park, Rhodes has scored four goals in five games against the Blues, only failing to find the net in one match.

Midfielder Jonathan Douglas joined Blackburn from hometown club Monaghan United as an 18-year-old in 2000 but spent much of his time with Rovers out on loan and made only 16 starts and eight sub appearances in six years at Ewood Park, scoring once.

Blackburn tickets available on the day from Darwen End ticket office (1pm onwards), both cash & card accepted with no price increase #itfc– Ipswich Town FC (@Official_ITFC) October 2, 2015

Luke Varney is currently a free agent but is set to be offered terms with Town once he is over the achilles injury he sustained in the play-offs while on loan with the Blues from Blackburn last season. The 33-year-old is undergoing his rehab at Playford Road.

Saturday’s referee is Andre Marriner from the West Midlands, who has shown 23 yellow cards and one red in six games so far this season.

A Select Group and FIFA referee who primarily takes control of Premier League matches, Marriner’s most recent Town game was the 1-0 home victory over Hull City on the final day of the 2007/08 season in which he booked Pablo Couñago and Danny Haynes and four Tigers.

Prior to that he was in charge of the 2-0 friendly defeat to Lazio at Portman Road in the summer of 2006 - Jim Magilton’s first home game as manager - and the 2-1 league defeat at Cardiff in November 2005, as well as both legs of the the Blues’ FA Youth Cup final victory over Southampton in May 2005.

Town squad from: Gerken, Bialkowski, Chambers (c), Knudsen, Parr, Berra, Smith, Malarczyk, Skuse, Douglas, Bru, Fraser, Maitland-Niles, Touré, Oar, Tabb, Sears, Pitman, Murphy, McGoldrick.

Photo: Action Images

blueherts added 11:40 - Oct 2 Must admit this made me chuckle ! Like some have said on here - All Managers have to do these pre match interview and there is only so much they can say if asked about the opposition eg our oppo managers all say 'You know what to expect from a Mick McCarthy- very direct , hard working' What worries me is Tom Lawrence vs Chambers - in fact any team with a good left sided player - I am sure Luke will show him on the outside onto his weaker foot - Lets hope for better defending than last few weeks and Bru back in the middle - Douglas - I am sorry but him and Coke are in the same box IMO - Skuse and Bru - Sears and Pittman/Dids up front , Bart in goal and Parr in the mix - Lets get back to playing like we did first couple of games - up until 91 minutes vs Brentford we were decent - and that was against Jota and co - Ball on the deck PLEASE !!

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jas0999 added 12:16 - Oct 2 I like Mick and understand he has to say some of this stuff. But the reality is Blackburn, like Bristol City, are not world beaters. It's another game we should be looking to win if we have a realistic chance of promotion. Having disappointingly failed to win any of our last three home games, we need a win. Micks comments are getting tiresome, particularly after stating how great the 24th team in the league are, after failing to beat them ... Despite resting his entire starting eleven in the league cup. My expectation tomorrow is for three points to the Town. Nothing else will be good enough.

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BackTheBlues added 12:18 - Oct 2 Just don't know what to say to our fans... We spend last year playing 'hoofball' get to the play offs <-- everybody says well done now we want football! We play football, start really well, a couple of teams as you have all pointed out are now playing 'hoofball' against us and now we need to change it at the back? You cannot on our budget play attractive football and be tight at the back! It ain't possible people! I for 1 will take 1-0 wins all the way to May!

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sidtheswan added 12:27 - Oct 2 Nice to see once again MM getting excuses in early . Bored now can he change the record please !
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warktheline added 12:31 - Oct 2 Skuse and Douglas, "different class", I can't argue with that McCarthy! My problem is I haven't been able to find what 'class' to place the pair!
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Surco72 added 12:36 - Oct 2 “The wingers, Craig Conway and Ben Marshall. They murdered us for a period there last year, murdered us in the game. We set off well, but they really took the game to us." That's because our full backs are not good enough and every one can see it bar you MM “I've no complaints about the two lads who have been playing, I think they've been different class, Skusey and Dougie,” Yes the same different class as Tabby , a class below top championship / premier players Don't understand why a team leaking so many poor goals the second half of last season have only just managed to get some coaching on defending ? Why didn't we spend the whole of the summer trying to improve ? Because MM believes he defence and keeper are good enough to challenge at the top , IMO they are not . Team for tomorrow Bart Parr, Chambo , Smith , Berra , Knudsen AMN, Bru, Fraser Didz Sears Lets keep the ball by having better quality players on the ball , would help the defence no end

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braveblue added 13:42 - Oct 2 Really getting fed up with these ridiculous comments. Bigging teams up every week. Douglas and Skuse different class - yes lower!! Second worst defence in league - no changes. Does Mick think fans are stupid?
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babyblueboy added 13:45 - Oct 2 Surco 72 like your line up " God forbid that we would field such an attack minded starting 11 " and take the game to them, with this line up who knows we may even murder them !!!!
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tractorshark added 13:49 - Oct 2 For Douglas, read Tabb. He's not going to slag him off regardless of whether he plans to play him or not. And he isn't going to reveal his team whatever. So question asked about midfield partnership, response 'they've been different class'. What do you expect him to say? 'They've been average and I'm making changes'. Or 'I'm playing Douglas cos I'm bloody minded and want to wind up the fans.' I don't rate Douglas and I'd rather see Bru play but people read way too much into these comments. McCarthy's man-management is proven to be pretty good. Our club is in good hands, regardless of whether we win, draw it lose tomorrow. Lump on Douglas to score first.

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blueherts added 14:34 - Oct 2 Surco - now that is a 'Footballing line up' no excuses for hoofball out the back there ! If we ever saw that line up - which I like - I doubt it will be MM doing it
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Bluetone added 15:52 - Oct 2 I wonder if McCarthy's bigging up the opposition is a superstition or obsession thing as in "if I don't big up the opposition something bad will happen". Getting to be frequent enough to be compulsive for him.
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warktheline added 16:00 - Oct 2 No question about it, if Blackburn play pace out wide, we once again will struggle to remain in the game. Over to you McCarthy......and of course Oddball, your blind faith lieutenant!!!!
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Toronto_Tractor added 16:25 - Oct 2 I agree with the logical posters on here that realise that this is just something Mick has to do and pretty much has to say... As boring and tedious as it may seem. Just because he's showing respect to his opponents to the press doesn't mean that he's shattering confidence in the dressing room. The reality is that this is a very tight division with very evenly matched teams. Hence the fact we beat watford but lost to Rotherham last season. I'd like to see more postivity in the tactics though, we do have more options than last year but we have been unlucky not to pick up a couple more points. Bru and Bart would help for sure.

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Superblue95 added 17:07 - Oct 2 Guenchev you are right we are 3 players away from being a top 6 team. The frustrating thing is them 3 players are all sitting on the bench and will probably continue to do so. I think everyone agrees we would soon fly up this table again if we had Parr Bart and Bru starting each week but the one person who can't see this is Mick
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magnus68 added 17:44 - Oct 2 All said, hopefully Mick see and listen. Be more aggressive please, we are better. They are where they are for a reason. Sure, pay respect to the opposition, but dont start every week with saying "if we loose, its because they are better than their position". We are Ipswich, we have ambitions, we will play to win, but we respect our opposition. Let the game begin....
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therein61 added 17:46 - Oct 2 I think that most of us have an idea of how good our opponents are!!!!!! what we need to see is a side put on the park that we all feel confident can beat them!? however I expect that we will be treated(after another long journey) to the same unbalanced back 4 in front of a keeper not worth his place(bet Mr Rhodes is relishing ripping them to shreds) the usual 2 ineffective midfielders(1 we could carry not 2!!??) and hoof ball to the strikers who have to work their nuts off to make the so called pass look half decent, I do not understand Mick's thinking(and he doesn't give a toss about ours) but if the same crap is continually served up then we who don't matter need to vote with our feet.

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bluemikey100 added 17:47 - Oct 2 blackburn only 1 defeat and 3 goals conceded at home we can beat them just like leeeds who were undefeated and we had a terrible record the same CMON TOWN 3 points i feel with bru in the side
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essex57 added 19:21 - Oct 2 Town to win 3-2 shut the frustrated love to be managers up that twtd give them a platform to bleat on.
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Cheshire_Blue added 19:29 - Oct 2 Thank goodness the 99% of Town supporters who do not bother to post on here are not as negative and more perceptive than the 1% who do !!
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brittaniaman added 19:40 - Oct 2 What is the Betting MM. will pick the same team again ?????? He has 34 squad players to pick from, must be the biggest squad in the championship, yet he will pick the same 11. on form or not ??? Blackburn had nothing to play for last season and they still beat us 3-2
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peteswindon added 20:05 - Oct 2 I have said it before he bigs up every team, giving our team the message that they are good so don't worry if we lose against them. I hope he talks differently to the players behind closed doors.
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afrodids added 20:41 - Oct 2 same bullsh*t different week,change the record MM. Tired of excuses of why we lost before we have played. Tired of playing a centre back at Rb a problem since david wright left imho who I thought was a good RB . Chambers is a great captain but can't defend for sh*t. Tired of the lack of ambition ,selling players for big fees and spending sweet FA. As a club we have actually accrued more money from transfers than we have spent since ME took over and that's a fact! No ambition playing like Wimbledon doesn't really inspire me to part with my well earned ca$h!

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warktheline added 21:09 - Oct 2 Essex57 to the rescue! Try justify McCarthy's team selections, instead of moaning about most of forum asking questions. Questions that ain't going away, due to the manager's stubbornnness!
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Kirbmeister added 22:25 - Oct 2 Cheshire Blue - well said! 15 points from 9 games, 2nd joint highest scorers, 2 defeats. Its a decent start. Agree could have been better but early days and we have injuries still. I shudder to think what these posts would say if we were struggling.
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warkthelint added 22:31 - Oct 2 Methinks the only bleating on with his anal comments is essex57 - maybe someone should tell him that the whole point of this forum is that people express their opinions and if they collide with his then that's just too bad.If he doesn't like it then he can go back to supporting Hyde Utd.
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