Preview: Town – Watford
By Aston
February 8 2008
Town will face one of their toughest tests of the season when Aidy Boothroyd brings his Watford side to Portman Road tomorrow.
Town could be without Alan Quinn who is carrying a slight knock, Sito is serving the final game of his suspension. Alan Lee could start after his goal against Sheffield Wednesday last week.
Town squad: Bruce, Bywater, Colgan, Counago, De Vos, Garvan, Harding, Haynes, Lee, Miller, Naylor, Norris, Quinn, Roberts, Sumulikoski, Trotter, Walters, Wright.
Town manager Jim Magilton: "Any team that finishes above Watford are likely to get themselves promoted.
"With three points against them this weekend we will move up within striking distance of them.
"It is an opportunity for us to be in a position to move on and make this a fantastic season.
"There was a lot of relief around the training ground this week, and now we must move forward and continue to push for a promotion place.
"A win tomorrow will set us up perfectly for our trip to Crystal Palace on Tuesday where we will have extra confidence if we can see off Watford.
"And to come out in credit from our next two very tough games will be just what the doctor ordered at this stage of the season.
"Watford have players who can hurt us and they defend well with a good work ethic.
"We must roll up our sleeves, but also have the courage to play our football when we get the chance.
"We set out the season with a play-off place in mind but once you get on a roll it is sometimes hard to stop. So I would not rule out a serious challenge for an automatic promotion place at this stage."
Watford will be missing Lee Williamson and Jobi McAnuff who are both suspended, Jay Demerit, Damien Francis and Collins John are injured. Danny Shittu is back from the African Nations Cup.
Possible Watford squad: Lee; Mariappa, Bromby, Shittu, Sadler; Smith, Eustace, O'Toole, Ainsworth; Kabba, Ellington; Stewart, Ainsworth, Henderson, Bangura, Doyley, Kabba.
Watford manager Aidy Boothroyd: "Portman Road is an intimidating place and with 14,000 season tickets holders they will get that place jumping.
"Ipswich will want to play their brand of football, and their manager Jim Magilton will get his team to pass it. We've got to be a match for that.
"We will have to defend resolutely and give Ipswich problems on the counter attack, and from our set plays.
"It will be a mixture of styles and it should be a really interesting game. Ipswich are a competitor in the promotion race and are one of the teams we have to take points off.
"We are the best away team and they are the best home team so it will probably be a dull 0-0 draw."
Match odds:
Town: 7/5
Draw: 12/5
Watford: 31/16
Officials:
Referee: A P D'Urso
Assistants: D J Phillips and G D Scott
Fourth Official O Saliy
Source: Evening Star
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