Coca Cola Championship Preview
As six-pointers go they dont come any bigger than tonights showdown which will have Portman Road packed to the rafters. And therein may lie the key to the three points, if either of these top two teams manages to claim a victory over their closest rival.
Despite Wigan flying high in the league since day one when they have played at home it has been in front of disappointing crowds of around 6,000, whereas Ipswich have been packing them in at home with cavalier football and their scoring exploits which have made Joe Royles side the highest scorers in the Coca Cola Championship.
Ipswich have a superb home record and have won their last four in a row. Wigan, on the other hand, despite their recent slump have lost just one of their last six away games. But its in the goals columns that these sides stand out.
Wigan have scored 46 goals so far this season while Town are just three behind and while Ipswich have conceded at more than a goal a game Wigan have the divisions best defensive record of just 15 goals against.
This isnt just a fixture between the top two sides, it is a game in which a win could have a considerable effect on automatic promotion, even though theres still five months of the season to go. Should Ipswich win, and I believe they will, they would regain top spot, put two points between them and Wigan AND be three points ahead of 3rd placed Sunderland. If the Latics win they would move four points clear.
Darren Currie, a new arrival at Portman Road, may make his full debut for the club as Kevin Horlock is suspended. Currie, signed from Brighton, made his debut when he came off the bench to score against QPR but Wigan will be without Per Frandsen, who has a knee injury thats likely to keep him out of action for the rest of the season.
Jason Jarret has recovered from a broken leg and may secure a place on the bench but Paul Jewell, the Wigan boss, has no new injury worries so couldn't really be in a better position as far as team selection goes.
Ipswich and Wigan are the two teams currently expected to occupy the automatic promotion places at the end of the season and few would argue with that assessment at present. Although Wigan have the better defence, and are no slouches in the scoring department, Ipswich have proved that if they concede two goals they are more than capable of scoring three so I have to go for a significant Town win, but maybe by just one goal.
Former Wigan defender Jason De Vos is backing his current teammates, Darren Bent and Shefqi Kuqi, to win the battle of the strikers with the prolific Nathan Ellinton and Jason Roberts.
De Vos, who joined Town at the start of the season, says: "Benty and Shefki have really done the business this season without getting the same headlines as the Wigan strikers. We need them firing and if they are, I think they can really hurt Wigan.
"Benty's pace and Shefki's strength will be a real problem for them and I can see their defence struggling to deal with them.'
Ipswich boss Joe Royle, who last week signed a two and a half year contract extension, called on the home fans to do their bit too. "It's a massive game and hopefully the occasion - I always think a game under floodlights creates a better atmosphere - will bring out the best in everyone.
"The prize for victory could hardly be bigger and while I have a great respect for Wigan we are at home in front of a full house and must look to make that count in our favour.
"Our supporters have been in great form themselves all season. They can cheer us to victory and give themselves the perfect Christmas present.'
