***match day thread*** Ipswich Town v Cardiff City

We are in Suffolk to play the Tractor Boys, whilst Leeds United host their great rivals Norfolk City. Incidently, Suffolk is the home of the world famous Minsmere Nature Reserve. The emblem of the R.S.P.B. is the unmistakeable Avocet


Founded in 1878, Ipswich Town did not join the league until 1938 and under Alf Ramsey won the First Division title at their initial attempt in 1961-2. When Ramsey left to manage the national team their fortunes plumeted. in 1969 they appointed Bobby Robson and again they flourished. Their peak was in 1980 when they beat Manchester United 6-0 at Portman Road in a match which saw the United goalkeeper save three penalties. There are statues to Ramsey and Robson at the ground.



TEAM NEWS
Ipswich will assess the fitness of Luke Varney after the on-loan Blackburn forward came off injured in the 3-2 win over Blackpool.

Manager Mick McCarthy will be without without David McGoldrick (thigh), Luke Hyam (knee), Kevin Bru (calf) and Darren Ambrose (hamstring).

Cardiff will make the long trip to Portman Road without striker Conor McAleny, who missed the win at Leeds.

Alex Revell and Federico Macheda (both back) remain absent from the squad.

MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head

•Cardiff won the earlier meeting this season 3-1 at the Cardiff City Stadium in October.
•City have won two of the last three meetings, drawing the other. Ipswich's last win was 3-0 at Portman Road in February 2012.
•The Bluebirds won the last meeting at Portman Road 2-1 in October 2012 - their only win in the last four meetings there.

Ipswich Town

•Ipswich have lost only one of their last five games. Their only defeat since mid-March was 2-1 at Huddersfield on 6 April.
•Town are unbeaten in their last five home games, winning three. Their last defeat at Portman Road was 1-0 against Reading on 21 February.

Cardiff City

•Cardiff have lost only one of their last six games. Their only defeat since 7 March was 3-0 against Bolton at home on 6 April.
•City are unbeaten in their last seven away games, winning four. Their last defeat on the road was 2-1 at Middlesbrough on 20 January.

3-1 reverse.

Difficult game for sure. We don't have a good record at Ipswich to start off with, but I fancy us to grind out a Malky-style 1 - 1.

A high scoring 3-2 win for Cardiff City. Don't ask me why

i will go with that win ronnie

We'd do well to get a draw I reckon.

Noone dropped. At last.

Pilkington also on the bench which is a big boost.

nicholls, harrington, sitfall, oooops wrong year!
marshall
manga, peltier, malone, da silva
morrison gunnarsson, ralls, whittingham
doyle, mason

noone has been a bit selfish in having a pop when passing was the better option

Wonder where Fabio is going to play?

da silva in the midfield

1-0 freddie sears - manga error

I reckon that's his best position, but we will see....

.......oops mistake by Manga 0 - 1

doyleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

1 - 1 Doyle......things looking up again!

scott malone cross