Ipswich Town will host Sheffield United tonight in what looms as a crucial encounter for both managers chasing momentum. For Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna, this match is another opportunity to pull his side up the table after stumbling out of the blocks on their return to the championship. Their opponents, Sheffield United, have also struggled to regain the form that saw them make the playoff final last year as they have lost all four of their Championship games coming into this one, registering just one goal in that time from the left boot of Tyrese Campbell on the opening weekend. McKenna has made it clear that he expects the Blades to “climb the table,” stating that the men from the steel city have “had chances and most of their games have been tight. The margins are small.” On the other side, Blades boss, Ruben Selles isn’t quite as optimistic for his sides hopes this season, arguing that the recruitment “has not been good enough this summer” and warned that his squad must show competitiveness and “a willingness to win the game.” These comments frame a match between two teams under pressure, but arguably in different kinds of trouble.
Ipswich and McKenna are optimistic that they will be towards the top of the table come crunch time in May as they now don’t have the fear of losing their top talent with the transfer window coming to a close. The summer saw The Tractor Boys lose key players such as Liam Delap, Omari Hutchinson, and captain, Sam Morsy, but also a number of new arrivals and one who is yet to make an appearance is former rival Marcelino Nunez, who made the rare move from Norwich in a deal worth around £5 million. McKenna has said that the Chilean is “fit and could be involved on Friday night. You can see his quality in training.” Norwegian talent, Sindre Walle Egeli is also in contention for his first minutes in English football tonight after making a £17 million move from Danish side Nordsjaelland.
Sheffield United left their business until late in the window, making four signings on deadline day, including Chiedozie Ogbene on loan from today’s opponents, who will be unavailable for today’s game, Alex Matos from Chelsea, and two much-needed centre-backs in Ben Mee and Mark McGuiness and the Irishman is optimistic that his new sides fortunes can change for the better as “the quality is there, it is a top draw squad, we need one little turn, and we’re hoping for that on friday evening.”
Ipswich last won this fixture in 2011, so The Blades can be optimistic of picking up their first points of the season but all eyes will be on their disjointed attack to see if they can convert the chances they are given.
Written by: Tyreid Savage.
Sports Talk Online 