Ipswich Town Preview - Away, March 15th

Watford end March with a double header of away trips against sides currently residing in the lower reaches of the Championship with a trip to Ipswich Town.

Former Bradford, Wigan and Derby manager Paul Jewell has had an instant effect on the Tractor Boys, losing just five of his first 14 games in East Anglia.

'I think they came here to rough us up a little. They probably thought 'Watford are a soft touch' but we weren't.'

Source: Evening Standard

Jewell is boosted by the addition of West Ham midfielder Kieron Dyer who arrived on a months loan from the East End club in the past week.

Left-back Mark Kennedy is back from injury and thus in contention whilst midfielder Colin Healy felt no ill effects from his first run out of the year against Leeds at the weekend.

Line-up Vs. Leeds United: Fulop; Edward, McAuley, O'Dea, Delaney; Dyer, Bullard, Leadbitter, Martin; Priskin and Wickham.

The Hull City midfielder linked up with former manager Jewell on loan for the remainder of the campaign having been frozen out at the KC Stadium due to his wages.

The former Fulham and Wigan midfielder scored his first goals for the Tractor Boys in the surprise 2-0 defeat of Cardiff City in South Wales.

Bullard's time at the KC has been blighted by injury and his extraordinary wages have prevented him from really settling in Humberside. It seems likely that the experienced midfielder will be on his way sooner rather than later.

Will Buckley and Lee Hodson are both out with long-term injuries.

The injury suffered by Hodson at home to Sheffield United on Saturday has yet to be confirmed but the full back will be replaced by Adam Thompson.

Likely Line-up: Loach; Thompson, Mariappa, Taylor, Doyley; Eustace (c); Cowie, Jenkins, Buckley; Deeney and Eustace.

The forward broke the 20 goals barrier for the season with the first in the 3-0 defeat of Sheffield United on Saturday.

Ipswich home form: Draw Vs. Hull, Lost Vs. Portsmouth and Lost vs. Reading.

Head2Head Form: Ipswich 0-0 Watford (08/09), Ipswich 1-1 Watford, Watford 2-1 Ipswich (09/10) and Watford 2-1 Ipswich (10/11)

Watford away form: Draw @Reading, Draw @Doncaster and Draw @Swansea.

Referee: Mr G HEGLEY Assistants: Mr W Norcott & Mr A Sannerude Fourth Official: Mr D Rock

This should be a tough one, Ipswich have made a marked improvement under Paul Jewell. I'd take a point but we're on a decent run now, so an uber-positive prediction of a slim win!

Ipswich: 6/5 SkyBet

raw: 5/2 Victor Chandler

atford: 13/5 Victor Chandler

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