Leggi Looks At: Wolves
By Aston
August 20 2008
Singing The Blues message boarder Leggi is back after his summer break and now looking at Town's opponents again, on Saturday it Wolverhampton Wanderers at Portman Road.
Wolverhampton Wanderers
Mick McCarthy's Wolves' side travel the 163 miles across the country to Portman Road on Saturday, looking to keep their unbeaten run of unbeaten games intact. A 2-2 draw on the first day away at Plymouth Argyle was followed up by a 4-1 hammering of very early table-toppers Sheffield Wednesday at Molineux last weekend. And it leaves Wolves currently sitting in 4th position in The Championship, just a point ahead of Town after our first victory of the campaign, last week at Burnley.
The Wolves have certainly started where they left off last term, having now lost just 2 of their last 17 games in all competitions, and will arrive in Suffolk with new striker Chris Iwelumo in fine form, netting 4 in his last 2 games, his strike partner, Sylvan Ebanks-Blake also got his first goal of the season in the demolition of The Owls last Saturday, as he hopes to beat his 23 hits of last year, a tally which saw him top The Championship scoring charts. Also added to their already impressive squad during the summer is, exciting, 18 year-old striker Sam Vokes who arrived from Bournemouth, the young hit man scored 16 goals at the seaside club before opening his Wolves account on the opening day at Home Park. With these three up front and inform, Town will definitely be in for a tricky afternoon!!!
In last seasons Portman Road encounter, Ipswich put on one of their best displays of the season, comfortably winning by 3 goals to nil. Danny Haynes, Alan Lee (goal), and Pablo Counago on target for The Blues.
Whilst at Molineux, Tommy Millers last minute strike earned Ipswich a 1-1 draw, after Ebanks-Blake had put the home side ahead in the last quarter of the match.
Our league record against Wolves at Portman Road:
Played: 32
Won: 21
Drawn: 4
Lost: 7
For: 59
Against: 32
Record Victory: 5-2, Division 2, 1966.
Record Defeat: 4-2, Division 1, 2003.
The highest attendance of 27,700 watched that 4-2 defeat mentioned above, Whilst the Lowest gate at Portman Road is 12,048., Who witnessed a 0-0 draw in a Division 1 game in 1996.
Colin Viljoen, John Wark and Paul Mariner are out leading all-time scorers against Wolves with 5 goals each. Rod Belfitt, Ray Crawford and Kevin Beattie are amongst 6 players who got 4. Twenty-four different players have represented both clubs, they include, Ipswich Town legend, Jungle-boy Ray Crawford, Alan Sunderland, Andy Marshall and Mark Venus.
Leggi's Key Man: I feel will be our Ex-England stopper, Richard Wright, who was outstanding last week against Burnley, he dealt with everything thrown at him by albeit a very poor Burnley team. This weekend its going to be a different matter, Wolves have many players they can score through and will provide a much stiffer test than the few long range efforts, Burnley could muster last Saturday. His experience and talent is a welcome return to Portman Road, this season, after our merry-go-round of 'keepers in recent years, and I must admit I feel a lot safer with him between the sticks than any of the other 3 or 4 that have worn the number one jersey since his departure in 2001. It will also help Wright, that his old pal, Richard Naylor made his return to the team last week. Anybody who said the Ginner was 'past it' need to take a long look at last weekends game where Bam-Bam was excellent another welcome re-addition to this seasons squad. With these 2 playing this weekend I think we stand a good chance of getting something from the game.
Leggi Predicts: I will always class Wolves as one of my bogey teams after never seeing the Blues win at Molineux, despite numerous visits to The Midlands. They are once again(like every year) tipped to do great things this season. Improve on their home record and this will be very much achievable for McCarthy's men. Looking ahead to Saturdays game now, and Town will want to show the home faithful a decent performance after our no-show against Preston on the opening day, we will be uplifted by our last 2 displays though and I must say, this could be our year if we carry on our performances of the last week and a half. I'll predict a breathtaking display from Town and a shock, 4-1 victory for Jim as we seem to 'up it' even more against the bigger teams.
Leggi is confident as ever, how are you feeling ahead of the game? Leave a prediction below.
Mick McCarthy's West Midlands side travel the 163 miles across the country to Portman Road on Saturday, looking to keep their run of unbeaten games intact. A 2-2 draw on the first day away at Plymouth Argyle was followed up by a 4-1 hammering of very early table-toppers Sheffield Wednesday at Molineux last weekend. And it leaves Wolves currently sitting in 4th position in The Championship, just a point ahead of Town after our first victory of the campaign, last week at Burnley.
The Wolves have certainly started where they left off last term, having now lost just 2 of their last 17 games in all competitions, and will arrive in Suffolk with new striker Chris Iwelumo in fine form, netting 4 in his last 2 games, his strike partner, Sylvan Ebanks-Blake also got his first goal of the season in the demolition of The Owls last Saturday, as he hopes to beat his 23 hits of last year, a tally which saw him top The Championship scoring charts. Also added to their already impressive squad during the summer is, excitng, 18 year-old striker Sam Vokes who arrived from Bournemouth, the young hitman scored 16 goals at the seaside club before opening his Wolves acoount on the opening day at Home Park. With these three up front and inform, Town will definately be in for a tricky afternoon!!!
In last seasons Portman Road encounter, Ipswich put on one of their best displays of the season, comfortably winning by 3 goals to nil. Danny Haynes, Alan Lee (goal), and Pablo Counago on target for The Blues.
Whilst at Molineux, Tommy Millers last minute strike earned Ipswich a 1-1 draw, after Ebanks-Blake had put the home side ahead in the last quarter of the match.
OUR LEAGUE RECORD V WOLVES AT PORTMAN ROAD
Played 32
Won 21
Drawn 4
Lost 7
Goals:
For 59
Against 32
Record Victory: 5-2, Division 2, 1966.
Record Defeat : 4-2, Division 1, 2003.
The highest attendance of 27,700 watched that 4-2 defeat mentioned above, Whilst the Lowest gate at Portman Road is 12,048., Who witnessed a 0-0 draw in a Division 1 game in 1996.
Colin Viljoen, John Wark and Paul Mariner are out leading all-time scorers against Wolves with 5 goals each. Rod Belfitt, Ray Crawford and Kevin Beattie are amongst 6 players who got 4.
24 different players have represented both clubs, they include, Ipswich Town legend, Jungle-boy Ray Crawford, Alan Sunderland, Andy Marshall and Mark Venus.
LEGGI'S KEY MAN
I feel will be our Ex-England stopper, Richard Wright, who was outstanding last week against Burnley, he dealt with everything thrown at him by albeit a very poor Burnley team. This weekend its going to be a different matter, Wolves have many players they can score through and will provide a much stiffer test than the few long range efforts, Burnley could muster last Saturday. His experience and talent is a welcome return to Portman Road, this season, after our merry-go-round of 'keepers in recent years, and I must admit I feel alot safer with him between the sticks than any of the other 3 or 4 that have worn the number one jersey since his departure in 2001. It will also help Wright, that his old pal, Richard Naylor made his return to the team last week. Anybody who said the Ginner was 'past it' need to take a long look at last weekends game where Bam-Bam was excellent another welcome re-addition to this seasons squad.
With these 2 playing this weekend I think we stand a good chance of getting somthing from the game.
LEGGI PREDICTS: I will always class Wolves as one of my bogey teams after never seeing the Blues win at Molineux, despite numerous visits to The Midlands. They are once again(like every year) tipped to do great things this season. Improve on their home record and this will be very much achievable for McCarthy's men. Looking ahead to Saturdays game now, and Town will want to show the home faithful a decent performance after our no-show against Preston on the opening day, we will be uplifted by our last 2 displays though and I must say, this could be our year if we carry on our performances of the last week and a half. I'll predict a breathtaking display from Town and a shock? 4-1 victory for Jim as we seem to 'up it' even more against the bigger teams!!!
*Next Week* COLCHESTER'S CUP FINAL IN THE CARLING CUP.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2008:08:20:20:11:56 by ITFC LEGGI.
However I disagree with your prediction, surprisingly.
I want to saqy 1-4 to Wolves, but honestly I think it will be 2-2 draw.
Ipswich Town - the pride of anglia
2-2 my prediction
Well you weren't too far off, were you? Oh.