Ipswich manager Paul Jewell is confident that victory for the Tractors is just around the corner, starting with Charlton on Saturday. Given that he's already being criticised, he's hardly likely to say anything else
Pre-season the pundits had limited faith in Ipswich, while agreeing that they would escape relegation. Four Four Two had them at 14th and The Times at 15th which is where they finished last season. The Football League Paper had them down at 19th.
Striker Michael Chopra seems to have lost his golden touch. In the defeat at Boro he kept running but made little of the chances he had. Paul Taylor, signed from Peterborough for £1.5m, showed good movement behind Chopra and was more likely to score. However, he limped off injured in the Wolves game. Arsenal youth product Jay Emmanuel-Thomas has become a source of frustration to fans and did not play against Boro, although he came on a sub against Wolves Fans would like to see Luke Hyam used, but he stayed on the bench at the Riverside and against Wolves.
In defence Luke Chambers looked reasonably strong at Boro, while Aaron Creswell put in a decent shift on the left of defence, but could not get into the game. Keeper Scott Loach saved a penalty against Huddersfield, but was at fault for one of the goals at Boro. N'Daw was largely anonymous in the centre of the park, but former Manchester United trainee Lee Martin was more impressive. Daryl Murphy could not make any passes count.
Against Wolves the Tractors wasted chances galore either side of a comical own goal from defender Tommy Smith in the 68th minute. The Kiwi still seems to be suffering from jet lag after his return from international duty. Ipswich have the worst goalscoring record of any club in the division. Paul Jewell confessed, 'We're not just missing half-chances - they're gilt-edged opportunities.'
I find this a difficult match to call, but it's at least possible that we could take all three points. A lot will turn on who scores the first goal.
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