12 to go.... please log in to view this image Vs please log in to view this image please log in to view this image Team News: Saints: Danny Fox is doubtful for Tuesday night's game after limping off with a groin injury in the win at Leeds, so Dan Harding is expected to deputise at left-back in his place. However, on a more positive note, Adam Lallana looks good to return according to manager Nigel Adkins, again from a groin problem. Lallana's return would drop Jason Puncheon to the bench, whilst Richard Chaplow should continue on the right of midfield. Tadanari Lee was replaced at half-time at Elland Road, with tiredness limiting his performance, meaning Billy Sharp could claim start his first game since the 4-0 win over Derby. Frazer Richardson and Guly do Prado came through their respective absence issues seemingly unscathed against Leeds, so will feature in the squad here. Ipswich: Jimmy Bullard has been suspended for two weeks by manager Paul Jewell after a late night out last Wednesday in Newcastle with team mate Michael Chopra, so will play no part at St Mary's. Adam Lee-Barrett and on-loan Reading 'keeper Alex McCarthy have been rotated in recent months, with both making errors, however McCarthy seems favourite to start on Tuesday evening. Nathan Ellington is Town's only injury worry, and may return to the 16 after a 'minor groin niggle', however he faces stiff competition from the unorthodox Jay Emmanuel Thomas, the experienced Jason Scotland and in-form, aforementioned Chopra. Last Result: Saints: 1-0 WIN Vs Leeds (Away) Ipswich: 3-0 WIN Vs Bristol City (Home) Predicted Saints Team: --------------------------------------------Davis----------------------------------------- ---Richardson-------------------Fonte---------------Hooiveld--------------------Harding-- ---Chaplow---------------------Cork----------------Schneiderlin-----------------Lallana--- --------------------------------Lambert-------------Sharp-------------------------------- Subs: Martin, Hammond, Puncheon, Lee, Guly. Hammond did very well when coming on at Leeds, as did Guly, but I think too many changes will be seen by Nigel as unsettling. This side on the presumption Fox is out. Referee: DARREN DRYSDALE. Last Saints game = 23rd September 2006, Burnley 2-3 Southampton (Wayne Thomas sent off, ironically enough). Prediction: 1-0 Saints. Chaplow with the goal, after scrappy Ipswich defending from a set-piece leads to the ball falling to him 6 yards out - BANG - GOAL. COYR!
But he's started most of them, so I'm a bit confused. I mean, top of the league..? How is that disappointing..?
Well in that case delete this thread immediately [said the poster who earlier boasted that he was a follower of logic and didn't believe in luck, chance, serendipity, looking funny when the wind was in the east, picking his nose on Sundays at 1pm just to make sure the Sun shines 40 days hence, etc...], as it looks as though you were born under a bad sign.
Maybe we arrange it on the SKD/Guly method? We get someone to do the thread like Lambsden for example, and if we win we all post on how good he is, and plead with him to do the next one. When we go on to lose a match, we must all post that the thread was rubbish and that frankly he is just not good enough and that we hope that he never pulls on his replica shirt, logs on to this site and posts another. Until we have rejected one or two others, where he will be welcomed back as the new great hope.
Ipswich is going to be a tough match. They've had some great results recently, although most of those have been at Portman Road. Will be interesting to see what their form is going to be like away from home. I'm really hopeful of a convincing, reasonably comfortable 2-0 or 3-0 win. A couple of early goals would be nice, then calm down, keep it tight and retain possession. Give the old ticker a bit of a rest after Saturday. I'll go for 2-0, a goal apiece from Sir Rickie and Billy.
We will win this and maintain momentum. Ipswich have improved of course, but no, we'll be too strong. As much as I like Sharp, I think Chung might start again, looking very useful linking up with Lambert. If fit, as Adkins intimated, Lallana will be up for this having missed the 'epic'. On a side note, looks like Adkins and Warnock had words after game, check out Adkins on the OS gallery. Image 29 he looks like he would take on the world!
I think we'll just edge the game 2-1 Davis Richardson Fonte Hooiveld Harding Chaplow Schneiderlin Hammond Lallana Lambert Sharp Subs: Martin, Cork, Puncheon, Guly, Lee
Anyone who thinks this game will be a walk in the park and a guarenteed 3 points is probably on the arrogant side of confident. Yes on paper, and looking at our respective positions in the table we should win. However Ipswich have picked up some real form of late, they have won 5 of their last 6 games and have recently beaten West Ham 5-1 and Cardiff 3-0 and a 2-2 draw with Blackpool. They have some good players, including the in form Chopra who has scored 6 goals in his last 6 games. Their away form is not as good as their home form but thats the same for most teams. The early goal is as important as ever for us, other than the Leeds game we tend to push on when we get the first goal. The team put a lot into winning the three points at Leeds, as they say its harder work when you don't have the ball so I would expect to see a couple of changes to the starting line up. This is another big game. You would expect West Ham and Reading to win their respective midweek games and they are probably expecting us to win too...so let's not dissapoint! A close contest but a 2-1 win for the boys in red and white.
If we get the first goal I think it will be fairly comfortable. I'm going to go for 3-1. Saints go 2 up, Ipswich get a goal back and then Saints seal the win late on. What a time to get 2 home games in a row, though.
We must hope Ipswich didn't watch the Leeds game...because that is the way to play us. If Ipswich give us room I can see a 2.0 or 3.1 win.
