BOUNCEBACKABILITY
Yes, last Saturday’s 2-1 setback against Cardiff, with two goals conceded in stoppage time, might be a psychological blow.
Town have consistently demonstrated resilience in the face of setbacks, thanks to their cool and analytical manager.
The 4-3 home setback to Leeds last August was followed by four consecutive league victories.
The 2-0 away setback to West Brom in November was followed by four consecutive league victories.
The 4-0 hammering at Leeds just before Christmas was followed by an outstanding performance and a 1-1 home draw against league leaders Leicester just three days later.
A 3-2 loss against Preston in early February was followed by a seven-game unbeaten streak, including six triumphs.
SCHEDULE LESS PUNISHING
Either side of Christmas, Town played nine games in 36 days, travelling 1,566 miles in the process.
The most recent nine games played also came in the space of 36 days and included a whopping 2,378 miles travelled.
The final nine games, by contrast, are spread over 50 days and include just 1,256 miles of travel.
Beyond the Easter weekend, there’s just one midweek game left – and that’s at home.
The same for everyone? No. Southampton, who have had to re-arrange games against Preston and Leicester, have 10 games in 37 days.
Leicester, in the FA Cup quarter-finals, have 10 games (possibly more if they beat Chelsea on Sunday) in 49 days.
STYLE OF OPPOSITION
This season, Town have struggled against physical, direct, and confrontational opponents.
Sheffield Wednesday and Blackburn Rovers, managed by Danny Röhl and John Eustace, could put that to the test in the following two games. Watford and Huddersfield, under new managers Tom Cleverley and André Breitenreiter, may also fall into this category.
We know, however, that Southampton, Norwich, Middlesbrough, Coventry, and Hull will want to compete in a technical game of football. Town prefers playing against five challenging opponents ranked between fourth and ninth in terms of style.
REVERSE FIXTURES GUIDE
Looking at how teams did in the reverse fixtures of the games they’ve got left isn’t a complete science given managers have changed, players have arrived and form has swung.
Nevertheless, the following can give heart to Town fans.
Leicester: W9 D0 L0 Pts 27
Ipswich: W7 D2 L0 Pts 23
Leeds: W5 D2 L2 Pts 17
Southampton: W4 D3 L3 Pts 15
A repeat of the above would see the final standings read: 1st Leicester 109pts, 2nd Ipswich 101pts, 3rd Leeds 96pts and 4th Southampton 88pts.
GOALSCORER IN FORM
Teams who win at the end of the season usually have a striker in top form.
Kieffer Moore is one of the town’s representatives. The 6ft 5in forward has six goals in nine games since signing on loan from Premier League club AFC Bournemouth on transfer deadline day.
Remember, the 31-year-old has a history of leading a team to the Premier League. He scored four crucial goals in three end-of-season games for the Cherries in 2022, securing second place.
SQUAD HEALTH
There have been some injuries and suspensions along the way, but the group is in terrific shape as we approach the finish of the season.
Kieran McKenna has 22 different outfield players to choose from from the previous weekend, with George Edmundson, Dominic Ball, Cameron Humphreys, and Sone Aluko missing out in Cardiff.
Wes Burns and Nathan Broadhead recovered rapidly from minor calf and thigh strains that forced them to miss last month’s 3-1 home triumph over Birmingham.
Jack Taylor, who provides a different option in midfield, has just made a couple of appearances off the bench after recovering from a quad issue that sidelined him for all of February.
Influential skipper Sam Morsy now has to make sure he doesn’t pick up three bookings in the final nine to avoid a three-game ban (he’s had three in his last 16).
While Brandon Williams’ loan at Manchester United is uncertain, Janoi Donacien is nearing recovery from groin surgery in late January. He’ll be a valuable backup in both fullback positions.
McKenna also disclosed recently that striker George Hirst, who has six goals and seven assists in the first half of the season, is making good progress in his recovery from January’s hamstring surgery and could return this season.
PRESSURE’S OFF
The Blues may have been quietly confident that they could carry some positive momentum ahead and compete in the Championship as a cohesive unit this season, but none of them anticipated to be in this situation by mid-March.
I honestly trust Kieran McKenna and the players when they say ‘one game at a time and let’s see where we end up’.
Without a doubt, the three teams who have lately slid down from the Premier League are under intense pressure to succeed. If they fail to do so, they will be forced to begin cutting their clothes accordingly.
HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS
Five of Town’s last nine games are at Portman Road.
McKenna’s men have captured the hearts and minds of their sizeable fanbase over the last 18 months and, as a result, have packed out their stadium with 29k+ crowds most weeks.
There’s a real bond between supporters and players. One always lifts the other in times of need.
A home league record of W13 D4 L1 – with an average of three goals scored in each of those 18 matches – has to give great belief going into games on Suffolk soil against Sheffield Wednesday, Southampton, Watford, Middlesbrough and Huddersfield.
IF IT IS THE PLAY-OFFS…
There’s a chance, of course, that Town fall just short and end up in the ‘lottery’ of the play-offs with an incredible points total.
Would the Blues be able to recover from the disappointment of that, dust themselves down and go again? I think they would.
Town have suffered the fewest defeats in the division, scored the joint-most number of goals, have constantly changed games with substitutes, claimed more points from losing positions (28) than anyone else and play their best football on good pitches/in good conditions.
Those are all key ingredients needed for play-off glory.
