With a play-off place assured, Watford will be looking to gain a league double and some much needed momentum when they entertain Ipswich Town at Vicarage Road on Easter Monday afternoon.
The Suffolk side, so often the bridesmaids at this level in recent years have struggled this time around and experienced manager, Joe Royle has had to endure the frustrations of the Portman Road crowd in recent weeks.
Following play-off failure at the hands of West Ham United last season, it was inevitable that a number of star players would be Premiership bound even if their team was not.
Darren Bent and Shefki Kuqi, who between them netted 40 goals last season, were perhaps the biggest names to depart the homely Suffolk club, and the vacuum left by their departure left Royle with a void he has simply found impossible to fill.
A chronic inability to regularly find the back of the net has been the predominant factor in the Tractor Boys' frustrating campaign with an odd good result invariably being followed by a poor one, and his side arrive at Vicarage Road having netted just 49 times in their 43 matches to date, with Jimmy Juan and the injury prone Sam Parkin joint top scorers with just five goals apiece.
A quick glance at Ipswich Town's results reveal six away victories including notable on the road triumph's at Elland Road last September as Leeds United were defeated (2-0), and an odd goal in three win in the East Anglia derby at Norwich City at the beginning of February, courtesy of goals by Juan and Danny Haynes.
However, their inability to win consistently in front of their own fans, indeed the last two home matches have been lost to Stoke City (1-4) and on Saturday, Brighton & Hove Albion (1-2), has condemned Royle's men to mid table mediocrity this time around, and as the conclusion of the season approaches they have very little to play for except professional pride.
Watford on the other hand are looking to crown a fantastic season with promotion to the top flight via the play-offs and will be looking to repeat their Portman Road success of earlier in the season, when a second half header Ashley Young in late October returned the Golden Boys to a place inside the division's top six, a position they have occupied ever since.
Marlon King's somewhat harsh sending off at Wolverhampton Wanderers on Good Friday has at least given manager, Aidy Boothroyd a perfect opportunity to try out one or two different attacking permutations and the ever positive boss will also be mindful of one of two other squad players pushing for first team recalls as his side bid for a first win in five games.
History of the Watford v Ipswich Town fixture
Watford prepare to entertain Ipswich Town at Vicarage Road Stadium on Easter Monday afternoon looking to improve upon the most recent Championship encounter between these two sides, when they cancelled each other out in an enthralling 2-2 draw in October 2004.
For a detailed analysis of the head-to-head between the two sides, click here.
Recent encounters between the teams: | |||||
2005/2006 | Sat 22 Oct | Ipswich Town | 0 - 1 | Watford | CHMP |
2004/2005 | Tue 22 Feb | Ipswich Town | 1 - 2 | Watford | CHMP |
2004/2005 | Sat 23 Oct | Watford | 2- 2 | Ipswich Town | CHMP |
2003/2004 | Sat 20 Mar | Ipswich Town | 4 - 1 | Watford | CHMP |
2003/2004 | Sat 27 Sep | Watford | 1 - 2 | Ipswich Town | CHMP |
2002/2003 | Sat 14 Dec | Ipswich Town | 4 - 2 | Watford | CHMP |
2002/2003 | Sun 17 Nov | Watford | 0 - 2 | Ipswich Town | CHMP |
Recent Respective form guides
Watford have been playing quite well at home, winning three, drawing two, and losing just once, against Millwall in their last six outings. The Golden Boys have managed 13 goals during this spell with seven conceded.
Ipswich Town have an average recent record on the road, picking up two good wins, but losing three, from the last six, and a although the Tractor Boy's have scored 7 times during these games they have let in an alarming 9.
Watford are just outside the promotion places, in third place, having taken 74 points from their 43 games played.
Ipswich Town meanwhile, see themselves just below half way in the Coca Cola Championship, showing a record of 53 points from their 43 games played so far.
For a detailed analysis of team form guides throughout the leagues, click here.
Current form guides: | P | W | D | L | F | A | P |
Watford | 6 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 6 |
Ipswich Town | 6 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 13 | 2 |
Footymad's prediction…
The match against Ipswich Town is certainly an interesting one and in a close run game we think the Golden Boys will just edge it. Home Win
Sequence statistics: | |
Watford | Failed to win in previous 3 home matches. |
Ipswich Town | Not won in previous 4 away matches. |