It's a great time to introduce new people to Portman Road, so try to sell all four. Preston have won their last three matches so will come with some confidence. Let's hope for another strong ITFC performance like on Tuesday.

Not strictly true, they've won their last 3 league games. Lost away at Posh in the cup last week.
Still, they have nothing to lose so we have to be at our best!

As a new contributor to this forum I am intrigued to see some fans reaction to fellow supporters and their opinions and this has led me to join the debate. A lifelong fan and season ticket holder for 20 odd years I love Ipswich and through the ups and downs of our club I wouldn't change a thing, the journey home from Portman Road can often be arduous especially if we have lost (130 miles) but for the most part it is a journey I will do for many more years to come.

I have the added bonus of my two young daughters now choosing & asking to come to games as opposed to being forced to in years gone by. My love for Ipswich far out lasted my marriage.

The change in my daughters approach is interesting and fuelled my recent visits to away games (Fulham & Brighton) they have been taken along by the atmosphere, noise levels and general support, togetherness, good humour and occasional amusing and inappropriate song that only 13 year olds would really enjoy.

I doubt anyone that has been amongst fellow town supporters on trips would ever turn away from supporting this team. So why is this not repeated throughout the ground at home matches and why do forums such as this tend to divide fans in a way that is not respectful of differing opinions but turns in to what appear to me, personal attacks.

Back to my point, to be on here you must truly love your team or be a complete wind up merchant, I believe the majority must be here for the love of ITFC. If that is the case can I plead for mutual respect and politeness as united we will be stronger and this website better for it. That does not mean we need to all agree but we can pass opinion politely. Much like the united away support or the team bond that is currently being built and demonstrated by MM and his players.

I know of many supporters that do not contribute or even read the posts as the nature of some responses turns them off. I love ITFC first and second, I do not always agree with selection or style of play, I often take three hours to drive home wondering why I bothered as entertainment was non existent. However I support this team and any team that is picked to represent my club.

I wish we had more money, more flair, more entertainment, I loved the Lyall promotion winning team the Buurley style of play and I pray we will hit those heights again. What I see is a club that is rebuilding, a team that genuinely seem to care and have a passion to play in the Ipswich blue, we are not the most talented bunch, but we get the maximum out of that talent, we are not investing as i'd like and we are not likely to get top two as I dream.

What we are is Ipswich a club that many of those below would like to be, we are Ipswich a family club with tradition and history unlike some near neighbours. We are Ipswich a team going in the right direction over the last two seasons, I will always want more, I will always support you and we are Ipswich a club that welcomes new fans especially young, like my daughters, but those same children, the future of our club would not be so in tune if they read some of the posts on this our website.

So why this thread for this post, a very good friend of mine played for Steve Evans at Crawley and would describe him very unfavourably and his outburst against our team, our club in a game we dominated and in which as documented we played an attractive style of football in was unwarranted at best. those at the game or perhaps even listening on the radio will know it was unjustified and has made him look stupid, a rant to deflect from his team or players being criticised perhaps, maybe good man management, perhaps self defence, but surely not our problem. So why have some turned on each other as town supporters? Lets enjoy the victory, let other underestimate our team, let us keep picking up 3 points with injury time winners. Let us not lose supporters or contributors on this site that I enjoy for the most part. It is a shame one poster feels like no longer posting as if others take that stance what will the site be therefore.

I promise no more long posts from me after this one.

I also live in London and totally agree with ur comments RE the away games. Ipswich as a club should be very proud of its away following. Have been to roughly half of them this season and the atmosphere and indeed the numbers have been impressive and very enjoyable.

I find the atmosphere at Portman Road tho to be very flat in comparison, but no different to grounds visited this year as an away supporter. Indeed most supporters who travel to away games would probably agree that the opponents home support is often very poor as u can't really hear anything amongst the normally more vocal away following. A few clubs of course are always an exception.

With regards to ur points about Steve Evans and the bickering comments? Well it's hardly all out warfare and generally on here there is respect but ur always gonna get the odd idiot. I can agree with both sides to be honest. If we hadn't got that late winner then Evans probably would have given the old 'Ipswich are a tough side and to get a point is a good result' speech. However he's probably p**sed off and annoyed at conceding so late on and then a few minutes later has to give an interview.

Even the most ardent Ipswich fan will tell you that despite our league position this season there has been some truly awful displays and some shocking 'football' at times. Without doubt deserving the tag that Evans labelled us with. And I fail to see how anyone could disagree with that. Certainly a million miles away from the stuff under Burley during the promotion push years.

But you have to remember Evans is at a club whereby the manager is sacked every few months and is probably feeling it! I couldn't care less what his opinion is and neither should we as Ipswich supporters. Love him or hate him he did a brilliant job at Rotherham. Living in London I went to there play off final a couple of years ago.