Today sees Blues make the trip to Portman Road for their 58th fixture of the current campaign against Paul Jewell’s Ipswich Town. Blues need a win to further cement their place in the playoff spots whilst Ipswich are pretty much playing for pride, with neither promotion nor relegation within their reach.

Ipswich Town

Ipswich’s form of late is average at best, with one win and three draws giving them six points from their last eighteen available. However, they have been good at home with the recent defeat to Leicester being the first loss at home since the January 2 defeat to Nottingham Forest, nine games previously.

Keeper Richard Wright misses out again through injury and former Hull midfielder Jimmy Bullard is also out with illness. Paul Jewell has promised that he will play schoolboy midfielder Byron Lawrence at some point in the remaining fixtures this season but it remains to be seen if the sixteen-year-old will get a bow against Blues.

Birmingham City

Blues have some major injury concerns going into this game, with Keith Fahey rejoining Guirane N’Daw, Jonathan Spector and Stephen Carr in the treatment room as his niggly groin injury flared up again in the Bristol City game. Boaz Myhill will miss out with a thumb injury meaning Doyle will once again deputise between the sticks and Jack Butland, freshly recalled from his loan spell at Cheltenham will be elevated to the Blues bench. With Jordon Mutch also very doubtful with an ankle knock Belgian u19 international Brice Ntambwe has been added to the squad and will travel although I personally doubt he will even make the bench.

With the playoff picture not quite finalised yet I think it’s more important Blues not lose this one than play for the win, and as such I fully expect Blues to play a 4-5-1 or 4-4-1-1 formation; most probably with Huseklepp playing off the front man and Elliott asked to play a slightly deeper role than he is used to in the centre of midfield. Blues are in good form at the moment and it’s a shame that the injuries which looked like they were clearing up have come back to blight the team.

I can’t see Blues winning this one; Ipswich are decent at home and despite having nothing to play for I don’t think they’ll conveniently roll over and die for Blues on the pitch. I’d take a draw right now, coupled with no further injuries.

Tags: Boaz Myhill, Brice Ntambwe, Guirane N'Daw, Ipswich Town, Jack Butland, Jonathan Spector, Jordon Mutch, Keith Fahey, Stephen Carr