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Sutton's predictions: Ipswich v Tottenhampublished at 11:24 22 February
11:24 22 February
Ipswich got a great battling point against Aston Villa last week but wins are what they need in their situation at the bottom of the table.
They beat Tottenham earlier in the season to get their first victory of the campaign and another one would be absolutely massive for them.
I really hope they do it - not for me, but for my daughter's teacher, Mr Fields who is a big Tractor Boys fan. But this game is big for Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou too.
Having James Maddison back fit obviously helps Spurs, and goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario also played really well against Manchester United on his return from injury too.
So, while my first thought was that Ipswich could get some joy from playing on the counter-attack, I am going with a draw.
McKenna on Enciso, Palmer and wanting 'fast start' against Tottenhampublished at 16:15 21 February
16:15 21 February
Josh Lobley BBC Sport journalist
Ipswich Town boss Kieran McKenna has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Tottenham at Portman Road (kick-off 15:00 GMT).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
McKenna confirmed that Sam Morsy, Leif Davis and Sammie Szmodics have all trained and are available. He still needs to "make a decision" on if Connor Chaplin will be ready for the match.
He gave an update on Julio Enciso's recovery: "He's had some scans - thankfully it's no new significant damage. It just needs a bit of time to settle down. We're not sure how long that will be."
McKenna has been impressed by January recruit Alex Palmer: "He's a really good communicator and he's comfortable with his game. He knows what he likes to do and how he likes to play the game - he's off to a good start. Don't expect him to be perfect but he is a very good goalkeeper and he's had a great start."
On opposing manager Ange Postecoglou and the pressure he has been under recently: "He doesn't need [sympathy] from me. He's done brilliantly in his career and he's an excellent manager. He's gone through a spell where there's been a lot of injuries and challenges - he's handled that situation well."
On what he expects from Saturday's match: "We want to go for a fast start, but Tottenham always go for a fast start, home or away. We need to hit the intensity and set the right tone for the game."
Backing up Delap, injuries - what's not being talked about at Ipswich?published at 16:48 20 February
16:48 20 February
Image source, Getty Images
We asked for your views on the things going on at Ipswich that are being overlooked.
Here are some of your comments:
Rowan: How our attackers aside from Delap need to step up. Delap has been immense this season but he needs support from the likes of Hutchinson, Clarke and Philogene. If we're going to stay up, these players need to contribute.
Peter: Nobody is talking about our lack of goals from the line playing behind Delap. Delap has been a revelation and we must enjoy him whilst he's here as he won't be here next season. However, to survive, we need other players to chip in with goals and this has been lacking. After a positive performance in the FA Cup against Coventry, hopefully Clarke will be able to make that step and Broadhead has consistently looked one of our best technical players since his return to the fold. Hutchinson and Enciso are also capable of delivering and easing the burden on Delap, but the clock is ticking and we need them to now.
James: With many of the bigger clubs bemoaning their lengthy injury lists - I'm mostly looking at you, Ange Postecoglou! - Ipswich's own injury concerns have gone under the radar of the wider footballing public. Kieran McKenna refuses to use the absence of some key players - including Chiedozie Ogbene, Wes Burns and Sammie Szmodics - as an excuse as he looks to plot our path to Premier League safety.
Only Everton (63%) have scored a higher share of their Premier League goals this season in the first half of games than Ipswich (61% - 14/23). Meanwhile, Tottenham have conceded a higher share of their goals in the opening 45 minutes than any other side (57% - 21/37).
Gossip: Clubs consider Delap movepublished at 07:42 19 February
07:42 19 February
Manchester United are weighing up a move for Ipswich Town's £40m-rated striker Liam Delap. The 22-year-old, who came through Manchester City's academy, has 10 Premier League goals this season and is also interesting Chelsea. (i Paper), external
Is 'assured' Palmer 'a new hero'?published at 07:50 18 February
07:50 18 February
Richard Woodward Fan writer
Image source, PA Media
The Ipswich Town faithful had a new hero to sing their praises to on Saturday, as Alex Palmer's dramatic saves helped earn Town a hard-fought point at Aston Villa.
As well as Championship experience with the Baggies, Palmer had a loan spell in the National League with hometown club Kidderminster, plus time in League Two at Oldham and Plymouth. He was part of Lincoln's 2020-21 League One play-off side that narrowly fell short of promotion, alongside Brennan Johnson (now at Tottenham) and Morgan Rogers, who was in the Villa side on Saturday.
Town's goalkeeper struggles this season have not gone unnoticed, especially of late. The inconsistency of big-money signing Aro Muric, not least in the galling defeat by Southampton, has been compounded by a serious injury to second-choice stopper Christian Walton.
Much credit must go to Kieran McKenna and chief executive Mark Ashton for acting so decisively on deadline day to address this increasingly problematic situation.
The Blues need a strong defensive foundation if they are to stand any chance of surviving in the Premier League. Palmer is hopefully, albeit belatedly, the final piece in that puzzle.
As Joe Hart analysed on Saturday's Match of the Day, the minimum expectation for Palmer was to make saves - and he certainly did that against Villa. His counterparts had only managed a solitary clean sheet each before his arrival. While Palmer did not add to that number on Saturday, he looked assured, including with the ball to feet which has been a concern of both Muric and Walton.
If Town are to go on their now annual post-Valentine's Day charge under McKenna, it will inevitably rely on more heroics from their new goalkeeper.
Delap 'still upsetting centre-backs' and Palmer 'up and running'published at 11:12 17 February
11:12 17 February
Image source, Getty Images
Former Ipswich Town defender Mick Mills praised "exceptional" Liam Delap and "brilliant" Alex Palmer for helping the Tractor Boys hold Aston Villa to a 1-1 draw in the Premier League, with just 10 men on the pitch.
Speaking on BBC Radio Suffolk's post-match show, Mills said: "We don't stop talking about Liam Delap, do we? From his very first game against Liverpool, I remember thinking: 'I like this fella.'
"He has pace, strength and courage. He has everything you want from a centre-forward basically - and I saw that on day one.
"We are in February now, away at Aston Villa, and he is still producing. He is still upsetting centre-backs and putting them on the deck. He is still high up in the charts for the most fouls in the division, which most centre-forwards would be happy about.
"He is an exceptional player, but we have known that for quite some time."
On goalkeeper Alex Palmer, who completed a deadline day transfer to Portman Road, Mills added: "First, he has shown a bit of character to be able to step into the club and take over completely.
"Secondly, I liked watching him in his warm-up, stopping and saving the balls. Straight away I thought to myself: 'This guy can shot-stop.' And he really can.
"Aston Villa didn't really make tremendous inroads when we were down to 10 men, but they did obviously have a number of opportunities and he dealt with them brilliantly. His handling of the ball and his balance looked good.
Aston Villa 1-1 Ipswich - the fans' verdictpublished at 08:44 17 February
08:44 17 February
Image source, Getty Images
We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Aston Villa and Ipswich Town.
Here are some of your comments:
Aston Villa fans:
Max: The result doesn't tell the story. As the saying goes, "games are decided by moments". Ipswich had a moment that resulted in a goal and Villa had many that resulted in ONLY the one. Ipswich defended like Spartans. There were times when Villa seemed too relaxed to press their advantage. Rashford did everything he could, but a few of the mainstays looked a little tired. Marcus has earned a start from this and the Spurs game. One bit of brightness on an otherwise dreary result.
William: I can see us finishing 10th in the Premier League, going out in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup and going out in the last 16 of the Champions League. Is that a successful season? I'm not sure.
Damien: So many disappointing results in games that are absolutely winnable. Somehow we remain four/five points off the Champions League places despite our form in recent months, but I think any hope of finishing in the top six is gone. Too many teams competing between fourth and 10th now and we don't have the consistency or the efficiency to put games away. All hopes in the FA Cup and the Champions League run.
Prit: Same old problems once again in this Aston Villa season - can't keep a clean sheet and can't score enough goals. Last week we should have been out of sight against Spurs and we should have scored at least five against Ipswich. Teams above us are taking their chances and each week it makes our chances of European football more remote (unless we win the Champions League and/or the FA Cup). On the plus side, looks like Rashford and Marco Asensio could make a real contribution.
Ipswich fans:
Marcus: Fabulous game by Ipswich. We fought incredibly hard with 10 men for an hour, but Ollie Watkins' goal was unstoppable. Our new goalkeeper was man of the match - he was sensational. With a keeper on form like that, have we possibly just tipped ourselves to getting out of the relegation zone?
Glenn: Would have taken a point before the game. Going down to 10 men would have ripped your hand off for a point. How good was Alex Palmer? What a way to make your Premier League debut.
Peter: The signing of Palmer could well be the piece of the puzzle we've been missing. With Liam Delap up front we always carry a threat. Fingers crossed Julio Encisco isn't out for any sustained period as he looks dangerous too. We will stay up!
James: I can't remember celebrating a more satisfying draw, especially up against a very one-sided refereeing display. The two yellow cards given to Alex Tuanzebe were incredibly soft. I thought Kieran McKenna got the tactics spot on, defending heroically and pushing forward when the opportunity was there. Delap's goal was expertly taken, and Villa's equaliser highly unfortunate. We then stood up to everything they threw at us, with Palmer's jaw-dropping late save the icing on the cake of a thoroughly deserved point. Such a performance and result should give everyone a boost heading into a potentially season-defining game against Tottenham next weekend.
'I didn't agree with the red card'published at 18:04 15 February
18:04 15 February
Image source, Getty Images
Ipswich manager Kieran McKenna has also been speaking to Sky Sports on whether it is a point gained: "Certainly says so from where we were at half time and going in with 10 man. I think it was pretty even game until the red card which I didn't agree with and then yeah at half time you know you are in a really difficult situation and you have to show your character, manage the game and be ready to take your moment and we did all those things really well. It's a really well earned point.
On Axel Tuanzebe's red card: "I think the first yellow was a poor one for me, I didn't think it was a foul. Even if it was a foul, I think it was a decision given against a smaller team against a bigger team away form home. It was out of the pocket before the ball even stopped rolling. I thought that was a really poor yellow. The second one there's not too many complaints."
On Liam Delap: "He did a really good job, you need a physical outlet, you want someone who can carry the ball up the pitch and he did that well. Him and Omari Hutchinson, two young players, were the highest up the pitch and they showed real growth and maturity."
On Alex Palmer: "He was excellent, the lads were delighted for him. A really good start for him in the Premier League, a big part in the point."
Aston Villa 1-1 Ipswich Town: Visitors battle to morale-boosting pointpublished at 18:01 15 February
18:01 15 February
Matthew Howarth BBC Sport journalist
Image source, Getty Images
After watching their side lose their last four Premier League games, Ipswich fans could have been forgiven for fearing the worst against an Aston Villa side whose last home reverse came against Crystal Palace in the Carabao Cup three and a half months ago.
The task facing Kieran McKenna's team was made a great deal more difficult by Axel Tuanzebe's second yellow card late in the first half, but the visitors stunned Villa Park when Liam Delap turned home Omari Hutchinson's cross 11 minutes into the second half.
Ollie Watkins' 68th-minute equaliser set up a nail-biting end to the contest, but goalkeeper Alex Palmer - making his Premier League debut at 28 - made several superb saves to preserve a hard-earned point.
Having already denied Marcus Rashford and Morgan Rogers, the February signing thwarted Marco Asensio with a one-handed save before producing a moment of goalkeeping brilliance to prevent Conor Townsend's inadvertent flick from ending up in the net.
With games against Tottenham and Manchester United to come in February, Saturday's impressive battling draw could provide the confidence boost Town need to pick up further precious points in their battle for survival.
'Everyone who started and finished the game were excellent'published at 17:22 15 February
17:22 15 February
Image source, Getty Images
Ipswich goalscorer Liam Delap, speaking to BBC MOTD after today's draw: "The way the game panned out in the first half, to go down to 10 men we knew it was going to be a really tough game but we believed in ourselves and showed we can compete. Everyone who started the game and who finished the game were excellent."
On his goal: "It's a really good ball from Omari and I just gambled and it was a good finish and I just need to keep it up and see how many I can get.
"In training we spend a lot of time working on crossing and finishing, I'm a striker and I love kicking the ball in the back of the net. I spend forever on the training pitch shooting so when it comes to a game you're more used to it."
On Alex Palmer: "Incredible, I said to him one of them was the best saves I've ever seen live. He's incredible and he's a very good person as well so it's a real boost for us to have that quality now."
On staying in the Premier League: "We've got such belief and confidence and our standards are top tier, we really believe we can put in the performances to get the points."
On catching up in with Mohamed Salah for the golden boot: "He's quite far ahead, ain't he?! There's room for improvement and I just need to carry on."
Sutton's predictions: Aston Villa v Ipswichpublished at 11:01 15 February
11:01 15 February
Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna made 11 changes for their FA Cup tie against Coventry, so what does he do here to try to stop his side's four-game losing run in the league?
Last time the Tractor Boys were in the Midlands, they demolished the Sky Blues, but this is obviously a much tougher test.
Aston Villa also got through in the FA Cup, beating Tottenham, but they have gone three games without a win in the league - drawing with Arsenal and West Ham, and losing to Wolves.
All three of those results came after midweek matches, however, and not being in the Champions League play-off round this week is a big boost for Villa.
Unai Emery's side are short of centre-backs, with Ezri Konsa the latest to be injured when he was forced off against Spurs, but they do have new loan signing Axel Disasi to come into their defence.
I think Ipswich will score, but Villa are going to score more.
