Preview Peterborough United v Ipswich 14022010 The Opposition

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The Opposition:After finishing 9th in the Championship in the 2008-2009 season hopes were high for Ipswich at the start of this term as many backed them as likely candidates for automatic promotion, unfortunately for the Tractor Boys the season hasnt gone as planned and they currently find themselves sitting only 2 places and 1 point above the relegation zone. After Jim Magiltons sacking,due to the facthe didnt meet the boards expectations of a play-off spot, he was Donald Driver Jersey  replaced by Roy Keane. Keane strengthened his squad with 7 new players in the summer with Ipswich being amongst the biggest spenders in the Championship. The season however started very poorly for Town and Keane had to wait until October 31st to watch his team pick up their first League win, only their second in his time in charge, this run saw Ipswich sink to the bottom of the league and pre sure grew on the former Manchester United midfielders job. Things have picked up since then however and Ipswich now have a resilience, that was pivotal in Keanes playing days, that makes them very hard to beat.Two of the most famous managers in English football history have been managers at Ipswich Town, in SirBobby Robson and Sir Alf Ramsey; both have been commemorated with status outside Portman Road, Ipswichs home ground. Town enjoyed their greatest succe s in 1981 when, under the late Sir Bobby Robson, they won the U.E.F.A cup and finished fourth in the Premier League, or as it was then called The First Division. Ipswich Town have also been in the Premiership in more recent times, they returned to the top division in English football in 2000, after a six year absence. In their first season, since promotion from the Championship, they finished remarkably in fifth position and qualified for the U.E.F.A cup, narrowly mi sing out on a Champions League spot. Ipswich though suffered the famous second season syndrome when they found themselves relegated back down the Championship once again.The Form Book:Ipswich come into this game at London Road having lost  Aaron Jones Jersey just 3 of their last 20 games however they havent risen up the table as the form would suggest, due to the fact they have drawn  Jimmy Graham Jersey too many games; 10 games in their last 20 have resulted in the Tractor Boys only picking up one point instead of three and they are the Championships draw specialists, with the scores being level 15 times in Ipswichs 29 League games so far.Peterborough are in danger of finishing with the lowest points total ever since the Championship was formed, Rotherhams 29 points is the current record, Posh currently have only collected 21 so far. Posh have only lost 2 of their last 7 home games and will be looking to turn London Road into a fortre s for the rest of the season.Last Time Out:Back on December 8th 2009 the two teams met at Portman Road and played out a 0-0 draw. Joe Lewis pulled off two world cla s saves for the away side, in Poshs best defensive performance of the season. Aaron McLean almost secured 3 points for The  Darnell Savage Jr. Jersey Posh in the last minute but his shot went agonizingly wide of the post. Ipswich and Posh have also met at London Road this season in the League Cup where Peterborough ran out 2-1 winners, after coming back from 1-0 down.Key Players:Ipswich: Grant Leadbitter- Leadbitter signed for Ipswich, rejoining former manager Roy Keane, on deadline day of the summer transfer window, he cost Keane a fee of 2.6 million pounds. A product of the Sunderland youth academy he has represented England at U19, U20 and U21 level. Leadbitter made 111 appearances in his time at The Black Cats scoring 11 goals in the proce s. He has been a regular in the Ipswich midfield this season and has scored 3 goals. A battler and a midfielder with an eye for goal from long-range, Posh will have to be at their best to make sure he doesnt bo s the midfield.Peterborough: George Boyd  The skilful George Boyd has put in some stunning displays at Posh since signing from Stevenage Borough for a conference record 250,000. Boyd will always be remembered as a club legend and has been a catalyst in both of Peterboroughs promotion seasons  Rashan Gary Jersey and is the clubs top goal-scorer this term. Boyd has not been at his best recently though and his performance at Middlesbrough was very poor, he will be looking to make amends against Ipswich and the away side will have to be very fearful if Boyd is on top of his game.Team News:Ipswich: Richard Wright mi ses out but is coming back to fitne s; Lee Martin is also unlikely to be fit. Luciano Civelli is a long term injury worry.Peterborough: The Posh have no fresh injury worries, it is unlikely Gabriel Zakuani will have recovered from his groin injury although the centre back is close to being back to fitne s.Match Odds (William Hill)eterborough  7/4 Draw  9/4 Ipswich  6/5Please leave any comment on the match, predictions or general discu sion, below. There will also be a match report, on this page, after the game.