Often Partisan

GAMEDAY – Blues v Ipswich

Blues face potential playoff rivals Ipswich at St Andrews today looking to build on recent good league form to force their way into the top six.

Ipswich

Ipswich lie one place and two points ahead of Blues, having not lost a game in the league since December 19 or an away league game since October 20. However, a heavily changed Ipswich side crashed out of the FA Cup to League 2 side Portsmouth in the replay at Fratton Park on Tuesday.

Luke Chambers, Cole Skuse and Christophe Berra could all return to the squad after injury.

Blues

Blues are expected to name the same squad as the one that beat Derby so convincingly last weekend. However, Maikel Kieftenbeld has struggled with a hip injury and Jacques Maghoma was sick in midweek so there are possible doubts over those players.

This is a big test for Blues’ playoff ambitions – it’s not do or die yet but a win here could catapult them into the playoff spots depending on how Sheffield Wednesday get on at Reading.

Ref

The referee today is Michael Bull. He’s taken charge of 10 games so far this season, showing 25 yellow cards and three reds. This will be his first time in charge of a Blues game.

Suspension Watch

One red card (three match suspension served): James Vaughan

8 Yellow Cards: Maikel Kieftenbeld
5 Yellow Cards: Jonathan Grounds and Stephen Gleeson
4 Yellow Cards: David Davis, Jon Toral and Paul Caddis
3 Yellow Cards: David Cotterill and Paul Robinson
2 Yellow Cards: Jonathan Spector, Michael Morrison, James Vaughan and Neal Eardley
1 Yellow Card: Tomasz Kuszczak, Clayton Donaldson, Andy Shinnie, and Shane Lowry

The cutoff date for 5 yellow cards to attract a suspension is November 30, 2015
The cutoff date for 10 yellow cards to attract a suspension is April 9, 2016

Pre-Match

Blues Trust are having an open board meeting before the game at the Old Crown in Digbeth, beginning at 12:15. They’ll be talking about what issues Blues fans have with the day-to-day adminstration of the club such as kit, ticketing and catering which they will then take to the supporters meeting on Feb 6. This kind of thing is important; there has been a lot of moans this year about issues with the kit such as availiability of stock and lettering and this is our chance to ensure gripes are heard; as such I’ll be in attendance myself.

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48 Responses to “GAMEDAY – Blues v Ipswich”

  • StaffsBlue says:

    This is going to be a tough one, but again, there’s absolutely no reason why we can’t end the match with 3 points. I wouldn’t be surprised to see the same team start again, with Davis in a 4-3-3. Ipswich are very lively up front, so our defence need to be on their toes.

    A hard-fought 2-1 to Blues.

  • Darren Brown says:

    Get your arses down the Blues …
    Sun shining…
    Blues team that gives 100%
    Good manager
    Play off chance
    KRO
    CV7blue

  • Rkboosh says:

    Can’t see it being a goal fest or an exciting affair but despite that we need to get behind the lads today and give it absolute max from the stands. 6 of the 7 teams above us still have to come to Stans so we now have a big part to play in taking us forward to the play offs. Lets get behind GR and the lads. They have done us proud this season.

  • Dave Mann says:

    As I said on my earlier post this morning , nervous , exited but very weary of Ipswich and there away form , should be a cracker because they will come out and give us the space we need to hopefully do our damage as Derby found out , there will be goals and Ime saying a 3-2 barnstormer and the playoffs looking more possible . KRO

    • StaffsBlue says:

      I think they’ll match us up and be as difficult to beat as we are away. We’ll probably need that extra spark to open them up… Will Buckley after an hour perhaps?

  • Richard Granfield says:

    If Shinnie is not in the squad of 18 then his move to Rotherham is still on.
    Who would I have on the bench as back up to Toral in that situation?
    Mmm Reece Brown.

  • Rkboosh says:

    Agree with Staffs. Can see it being Very cagey for an hour and would be interesting to see what impact Buckley can have.

  • Shirley Blue says:

    This feels like a real 6 pointer. For me it’s a must not lose. All of our remaining away games are against teams below us and with our away form there must be points there for the taking. I am sure Ipswich would be happy to go away with a point so I predict a tight, cagey draw.

  • Dave Mann says:

    Time will only tell but I think it will be more open than we think , they’ve won seven away games and score away from home pretty much every game so we will need 2 or 3 to win which will make it more easy on the eye than we might think , were no by 5pm . KRO

  • Rkboosh says:

    Hope you’re right Dave. Only partly though as I’m on under 2.5 goals !

  • Andrew says:

    Think vaugn will score today

  • Stan Moye says:

    I just hope we take the game to them, smother any thoughts they might have on getting going,think we’ll be up for it with the bluenose backing, cheering you on lads from Sukhumvit, Thailand.

  • Big Al says:

    Will Berra score against us again??? Feel like we are already one nil down.

  • Little Al says:

    Two tough games today and Sheff Wed, get something from these games play offs a distinct possibility, lose both we can probably kiss play off place goodbye. Lets hope we play as well at home for these two games as we do away. Its a pity we could not have signed a proven goal scorer in time for the games but unfortunately there are not many out there and the better class players go elsewhere, higher wages etc.
    Today I would take a scrappy one nil win, its going to be a tight game, lets hope Blues start well and can score first , which then may open up the game.

  • ChrisG says:

    The great thing about supporting The Blues is going to the game & not knowing what to expect, against Forest I thought we’d win & we should of, & against Derby I was hoping for a possible draw & we stuffed em & today I have absolutely no idea what the result will be, but, what I don’t want is to lose against a play off rival. I’d be really happy with a win today but not too disappointed with a draw. KRO COYB

  • Dave Mann says:

    Same here ChrisG , you don’t know what to expect performance wise from Blues though we have only lost one of our last eight league games so a win fantastic and a draw ok. KRO

  • Jimbob says:

    I think 1-1 tody which wouldn’t be bad or good, I would take a point a piece against Ipswich & Sheffield W with 3 points at Bristol, that would hit the 1.6 points per game that GR wants, after Derby away last week I have got excitement with a hint of butterfly’s in my stomach for the firt time in ages, I think a draw but if we get 3 points today do we dare to dream, come on u blue boys, couple of cheeky ales in the forge first then take my seat in the Tilton to sing my heart out, it’s what Saturday’s were made for,
    If you can afford to get down there today or don’t have any other commitments I.e family/work etc etc…
    Then get down there, the lads need you, your club needs you & you need your club KRO..

    • StaffsBlue says:

      The very least we need is a point against both Ipswich and Wednesday… at least that stops them pulling away from us.

      • Jimbob says:

        Well if we do that but beat Bristol then that would be great, 1.6 points a game for the next 18 games takes us to 73 points going into the last game of the season possibly needing a draw/win away to Cardiff, now that would be interesting

      • Shirley Blue says:

        Agreed. Must not lose games. I was looking to go to Bristol city but we have sold out. Apparently we requested a further allocation but they said no. Seems a shame unless it’s a complete sell out which I would doubt.

        • Dave Mann says:

          Just 1400 Shirley so it’s rediculous but Bristol do get good home support but if there’s plenty of empty seats then it’s a scandal . KRO

          • ChrisG says:

            I’m glad I got my ticket for Bristol a couple of weeks ago. We’ve got 2600 fo Rotherham & 3000 for QPR & I expect they will sell out pretty quick also.

          • Shirley Blue says:

            Yes I would have though we could have easily taken 4,000 there – great chance of a win and nice quick trip down the M5.

  • Dave Mann says:

    As good as our away form as been this season if we win today at home then we are equal on games and points home and away ! .. Food for thought and has daft as it sounds Ime more worried about Bristol city away than these two home games … That’s the championship for you ! KRO

  • StaffsBlue says:

    Maghoma out. Buckley in. Adams on the bench.

  • StaffsBlue says:

    Blues have won the LMA ‘Performance of The Week’ award for the win at Derby last Saturday. Well done everyone.

  • Waycoolblue says:

    We love you Kingbeldy we do get in 3-0 we want 4

  • StaffsBlue says:

    If we beat Bristol City, we’ll definitely move into the top 6, because Sheff Weds play in the cup next Saturday. Then they have Burnley at home before they meet us.

  • ChrisG says:

    For the second time in a week i’ve come away completely gobsmacked, two 3-0 wins against teams i’d have been happy to have gotten a draw. Maybe GR & his staff signing a new contract has also had a positive effect on the team as well. Bristol here we come.

  • Shirley Blue says:

    What do I know – tight and cagey I said. I didn’t get a great view of the sending off but a few people have said it was harsh. What a performance though. We should definitely get Buckley for the rest of the season. What a goal from Toral – brilliant. It’s about time a few more stay away Blues fans got off their arses and got down there now. They will be all be able to make it to Wembley if we get there of course.

  • StaffsBlue says:

    I was fairly confident we’d win.. but I thought it would be a tighter game.

  • Mitchell says:

    Forget money on new signings-just get Toral signed up. Arsenal though in reality must be tracking his progress very closely.What an intelligent player he is and I just hope we can have him right through the play off games. Perhaps Daniel could advise on this. This squad continues to surprise the lot of us and so reminiscence of the Brucie first season . nice blend and great team spirit. Down again to GR.

    • Tony says:

      I have been saying for a while Toral is a class ac,t just because he does not run around like a headless chicken or work all the time, some on here think him a luxury not so. Workhorses are two a penny quality is not

    • ChrisG says:

      Torel is on loan til the end of the season, should we reach the play offs he will be available going by an interview he gave in December, he talked about reaching the play offs with Brentford last season & said he hopes if we get there to go one better this season with us & get promoted

  • paule says:

    I thought it was a sending off at the game and after watching it on sky sports I still think the ref got the decision right, foot looked high & studs showing!! I thought we were the better team before & after the sending off great performance kro.

  • stan drews says:

    Good game today. The tractor boys are a good outfit but so are we. Buckley had a good game, some nice touches. Motm for me was Donaldson, his work ethic is amazing. The bandwagon rolls onto Bristol then KRO.


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