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Ipswich manager Kieran McKenna has called on his team to capitalise on the tense atmosphere expected from the Wolves fans during their Premier League encounter at Molineux this Saturday.
With Gary O’Neil’s position under scrutiny after three straight losses leaving his team in the drop zone with McKenna's Ipswich and Southampton, the Tractor Boys' boss recognises the opportunity.
"Going away from home, there are two edges to the sword, especially against a team that is not in a position that the supporters are happy with. We know that if they get momentum up, and score the first goal, then they will all pull together because they are all fighting really, really hard for the result.
"But you also know that if you can impose yourself on the game, and you can get the first goal, then you have a chance of turning that momentum against them."
Both Ipswich and Wolves have mirrored each other's poor form, losing their last three games and sitting just above bottom-placed Southampton with a mere nine points from 15 games. Despite the high stakes, McKenna refused to label the upcoming clash as a relegation 'six-pointer'.
"It is a really big game but I would never describe anything as a six-pointer, whether we are at the top of the table – as we have been for the past couple of seasons – or at the bottom.
“I am only worried about our own performance and trying to accumulate as many points as we can. What other teams do over the course of the season will take care of itself. It is another big match for us, and one we would love to get a positive result in. To do that we have to deliver a good performance and everything that entails in a game like this to give ourselves the best chance.”
Kalvin Phillips (ankle) has been an unused substitute in Ipswich’s last two matches, and remains a doubt, while McKenna also revealed a number of players have been ill this week.
“We have had one or two illnesses in the camp,” added McKenna. “There seems to be quite a lot of it in the country at the moment, so all squads have probably got one or two who are not feeling 100 per cent. We’re certainly in that situation.”