Never give up on a good thing sang George ‘Bad’ Benson, down the years it is something that the Latics have always adhered to, from relegation scraps in the Premier League, the FA cup win, promotion battles, we have always given our all.
For too much of this season though we have been more Wet Wet Wet and Sweet Surrender than ‘Bad’ Benson and not giving up, Graham Barrow is at least attempting to get the Latics signing the right song as the season drags to a close, but it looks like we may have changed our tune too late.
So it’s off to Portman Road tonight, Ipswich can’t buy a win at the moment, just one in their last thirteen, our form isn’t quite that bad so I am feeling quite optimistic about this game. Mick McCarty’s teams are always physical, we will need to stand up and be counted, which I am sure we will, the performances against both Villa and Newcastle last Saturday have been much improved and more attack minded.
One last chance at the Great Escape, maybe, a win would certainly keep hopes alive.
Up the tics!
What The Bosses Say:
Latics boss Graham Barrow – ”We can turn it on its head this week but we need the same sort of performance and effort (as of Newcastle).
”Usually when you get the performances consistently the results will then turn, but it’s this thing now where it’s too easy to say that if we get a good performance at Ipswich we’ll probably win the game.
”But it doesn’t work like that because we have to make it happen. The good thing is that we’re together for two days now to get ourselves mentally right for the game. ”
”If we could manage to beat them, they would be absolutely still be in the mix, we’re well aware Ipswich are having a rough time, the locals aren’t happy.
”If we can start the game well, it does take a very strong player to be able to come out and play in those circumstances.
”We have to test their character as much as we possibly can. If you can take the crowd out of the equation down there, you’re well on the way towards a positive result.
”I thought we managed to silence the crowd very well at Newcastle on Saturday. If you can do it there, you can do it anywhere.
”We’ve just got to concentrate on ourselves and try to take it to the last game. If we can do that, we’re more than capable of dealing with that pressure.”
Ipswich boss Mick McCarthy – ”I think they need three points
”They probably see it as a game they can win as well, bearing in mind how we played in the second half on Saturday, the atmosphere at the ground”
”They’ll be saying ‘Can we keep it tight, can we score a goal, they’ll turn against them’. All the usual nonsense and commentaries and cliches that are said.
”But unfortunately it’s true, that’s the case. If they come here and do that it will be a really tough evening.
”It’s up to us, it’s up to me and the players to perform, get the crowd on our side and get a good result.”
”Wigan played well at Newcastle on Saturday it was a nothing to lose game at Newcastle, they weren’t expected to win going up there, certainly.
”But they played almost with gay abandon and played really well and caused Newcastle problems. Newcastle sort of nicked it in the end. Matt Ritchie hit a shot, it was deflected onto the bar and it came back and he headed it in and they won 2-1.
”But I think the feeling is that they were pretty fortunate. They certainly played well on Saturday.”
Ipswich Town Team News:
Cole Skuse is out but Jonny Williams, Emyr Huws and Tom Lawrence are looking to get a start.
Ipswich possible – Bialkowski, Spence, Chambers, Berra, Knudsen, G Ward, Bru, Douglas, Sears, Pitman, McGoldrick.
Player to watch:
Brett Pitman
Goal scoring midfielder who ‘popped’ two in against us at the DW Stadium back in December.
Wigan Athletic Team News:
Omar Bogle has joined the lengthy injury list at the Latics, it looks like he could have played his last game this season due to a thigh strain but we wait and see.
Powell, Grigg, James, Kellett, Burke and Daniels are all still out.
Latics possible – Gilks, Connolly, Buxton, Burn, Warnock, MacDonald, Power, Morsy, Hanson, Jacobs, Obertan
Player to watch:
Michael Jacobs
Great goal at Newcastle on Saturday for Crackers, more of the same tonight please.
By permission of Bernard Platt/Wigan Athletic
Any Previous?
Latics and Ipswich have met 12 times down the years.
Latics 6 wins, Ipswich 4, draws 2.
Last Six Meetings
17 Dec 2016 – Championship – Latics 2 Ipswich Town 3
31 Dec 2015 – Championship – Ipswich Town 0 Latics 0
22 Sept 2014 – Championship – Latics 1 Ipswich town 2
15 Mar 2014 – Championship – Ipswich Town 1 Latics 3
22 Sep 2014 – Championship – Latics 2 Ipswich 0
24 Sep 2008 – Carling Cup – Ipswich Town 1 Latics 4
Ref Watch:
Andy Davies (Hants)
Take a look at our ‘Meet The Ref’ article.
Andy Davies Card Watch 2016/17
Games – 33, yellows – 122, reds – 4.
Match Prediction:
Head says 1-1
Heart says Latics to win 0-1, as always going with the heart.
Up Next:
Championship Run In
Latics v Rotherham United
DW Stadium
Saturday
08/04/17
3pm
Latics v Barnsley
DW Stadium
Thursday
13/04/17
7:45pm
Brighton and Hove Albion v Latics
The Amex
Monday
17/04/17
3pm
Latics v Cardiff City
DW Stadium
Saturday
22/04/17
3pm
Reading v Latics
Madejski Stadium
Saturday
29/04/17
3pm
Latics v Leeds United
DW Stadium
Sunday
07/05/17
12 Noon
Check out the latest PWU Podcast – Newcastle & Ipswich Previews
Timecodes:
0:00 Suspiciously edited intros (extra STEAMy)
2:30 Reluctant relegation run-in prediction pool
10:00 Preparing those point deduction campaigns
12:00 Newcastle preview with cringe-worthy form guide
16:00 Si’s Oddschecker – numbers still upsetting
20:00 The Great Escape is on! But only if Wigan beat Newcastle
22:00 Ipswich preview with Beanbag Beamback chat & predictions
27:00 Smashing League One with Super Matty Gilks (and Dan Burn)
The podcast can be listened to by clicking the embedded player below or downloaded to listen at you leisure by visiting www.buzzsprout.com
We are also available on itunes and we have an app for your tablet or mobile, just follow the instructions here
