Preview: Helsingborg- Ipswich Town FC
Julian Watkins skriver inför torsdagens UEFA-cupmatch mot Helsingborg.
Once again a UEFA away trip is just a short time away, and once again we are all looking to this competition as a welcome break from a terrible spell in the league. The West Ham game was not the ideal performance or result to precede the Helsingborg game, but hopefully the Tractor Boys can do again what they did in Moscow and out-perform their opponents in the return leg.
It will certainly be no easy game and with the Swedish league finishing last weekend, Helsingborgs IF will not want this to be their final fixture of the season. This is perhaps most relevant for one man, long time keeper Sven Andersson who will be making his final appearance between the HIF sticks on Thursday if they don´t progress. He will be looking to put in a good performance and keep a clean sheet. Then again, lets hope he is just looking forward to his holidays.
It was a clean sheet that HIF kept against Gothenburg last weekend, with 3 goals being scored at the other end too. This should give them some confidence for Thursday, in particular the Brazilian, Santos who seems to be coming back into form.
So what of the Ipswich line-up for the game? It couldn´t be more difficult to predict at the moment. The problems on the pitch have forced Burley to try some fresh players or switch people around, and its difficult to assess what has worked and what hasn´t. One thing is for certain, Town will be trying to tighten up a sloppy defence and may reintroduce Titus Bramble to the back four if he is fit. The young U21 International has been included in the squad after being out of action for several weeks with an ankle problem. Although he was at fault for the first goal in the last round of the cup at home, he also scored the all-important equaliser in that match. His addition may well improve things at the back, although it may be limited to a substitute appearance.
Fabian Wilnis too will be expecting to be in contention for a place in the starting line-up of defence, although like many of the squad he has been inconsistent recently. Young Denmark U21 defender Thomas Gaardsøe put in a promising performance on his debut on Sunday however. Mark Venus will be in there of course, along with Hermann Hreidarsson.
The midfield will also be a tough one to call with several changes being made recently. Expect Holland to start despite many questioning his place. Loanee Sixto Peralta has impressed whereas Jamie Clapham has been in and out of form, so maybe they may switch places with Clapham starting on the bench. With Finidi George out injured (cheek bone) Martijn Reuser should figure, alongside Jermaine Wright.
The two frontmen probably not so variable, Stewart will be hoping to add to his tally and Armstrong too. Let´s hope the rest of them can actually get the ball forward enough to give them a chance, otherwise Stewart will be forced to drop back to collect it. Marcus does look a bit sharper in recent matches. Pablo Couñago could come on at any point up to 30 seconds from the end!
Oh, and Sereni in goal of course. Thank goodness for our Italian.
The match can only be better than the first leg. I hope Helsingborg will play a more attacking game which Ipswich prefer to play against. It will I think hinge on the first 20 minutes for us. If we go behind then we will start looking nervous and probably end up pumping the long ball forward. But the longer the game goes without a goal the more it should play into our hands as sneaking the away goal will always be a possibility. A scoring draw will see us through of course, but I hope we dont go there looking for that. The travelling Tractor Boys faithful will certainly play their part and will be loud throughout.
Ipswich seem to be able to step up a gear in this competition, and I expect that will happen again on Thursday, with Town running out eventual winners. It may be on away goals, but I have a feeling it may be by a tight win on the night. On the other hand - I wont be surprised if I am proved otherwise.
Either way, its nice just to be here!
Julian Watkins, TractorBoys.com
