Eng. Championship
2010-12-18 - Ipswich Town vs Leicester City
A Sports Betting Pick by Caged
This weeks televised Saturday teatime Championship game sees Roy Keanes Ipswich Town take on Sven Goran Erikssons Leicester City.Will the struggling Ipswich manager beat his big spending Leicester opponents and save his job?
Ipswich Town
18th Place
Home Record W4 D1 L5 GF12 GA15
After a strong start to the season, Ipswich are slipping down the table faster than Grandma with the Chistmas sherry.
A porous defence seems to be the main issue, the Tractor Boys haven’t kept a clean sheet in 8 games and only 4 all season.
Things have gone from worse to worser in recent weeks as Ipswich have slipped to 6 (six) defeats in a row, a run that included a routing a neighbours Norwich, a defeat at bottom club Preston and a 2 goal home defeat against Barnsley. Everyone knows Barnsley never win away.
Roy Keane must be on borrowed time, even he is saying that if he doesnt get a win here his Chairmans patience has to run out. He has been backed financially but has not bought and sold well, and his board look reluctant to throw any more resources at him.
Even at home theyve struggled, theyve lost half their home games and the goal difference column tells its own story. Town havent won in the league in six weeks and theres nothing to suggest they are about to start now.
Not only that, but they are struggling with injuries too. First choice keeper Martin Fulop is 50/50, promising forward Conor Wickham and midfielder Gareth McAuley are also not expected to play
Leicester City
13th Place
Away Record W2 D1 L7 GF13 GA25
All of which couldn't be further removed from Leicester.
Sven Goran Erikssons upwardly mobile Foxes are throwing cash at improving the squad and two excellent home wins have followed. Signings like Vassel, Bednar and Davies have drastically improved Leicester and as such they look a great bet at 6/4 to get a win at Ipswuch.
However, any Leicester backer has to overcome two hurdles. Leicesters poor away record, and Leicesters poor record at Portman Road.
Away from home if is true that Leicester do still seem vulnerable, but that has to change soon as the new signings bed in and lift the side. Having seen their impressive performance at home to Forest a few weeks ago, I am stumped as to why the Foxes can't put in similar performances and results away from the Walkers Stadium.
The only conclusion I can come to is that this has to change soon, and there wont be much better opportunities than at an Ipswich side who cant buy a win.
The head to heads arent pretty for Leicester either, only one win in 9 at Ipswich. But they are W1 D1 L1 in the last three which suggests things should be much closer this time.
In team news things are looking good for the Foxes who hope on loan (and premiership class) Chris Kirkland will make his debut in goal. Roman Bednar is 50/50 with a knock but Dany N Guesan returns from his loan at Scunthorpe.
In simple terms this is two teams moving in polar opposite directions. The only logical bet is on the visitors.
Head to Head
D1 15-Aug-09 Ipswich Town 0 - 0 Leicester City
D1 11-Dec-07 Ipswich Town 3 - 1 Leicester City
D1 32 10-Feb-07 Ipswich Town 0 - 2 Leicester City
D1 36 25-Feb-06 Ipswich Town 2 - 0 Leicester City
D1 12-Feb-05 Ipswich Town 2 - 1 Leicester City
D1 18-Aug-02 Ipswich Town 6 - 1 Leicester City
PR 26-Dec-01 Ipswich Town 2 - 0 Leicester City
PR 14-Jan-01 Ipswich Town 2 - 0 Leicester City
The Pick :
Ipswich 1 Leicester 2
