Mick looking to make Play-Off knockout blow on return to Molineux
Mick McCarthy says eight teams chasing promotion can become seven if Town win at Wolves at the weekend.
Blues are three points in front of the Molineux club and have a better goal difference by seven ahead of tomorrow’s 12.15pm kick-off.
With both teams having three games to play, defeat for Wolves would leave them as big outsiders to reach the Play-Offs.
“The dynamic has not changed for us, even though we are now three points clear of Wolves and Brentford,” the Town boss told the Club website.
“We are going there to try and win. It may have changed for Wolves though. It’s a home game for them and they will feel they have to win it.
“If we beat them, we will be six points clear with two games to play and I don’t think they are going to catch us from there.”
Christophe Berra and Stephen Hunt will be returning to Molineux for the first time since they left the club in 2013, while for Mick and TC, it’s a second game back at the club they both managed before departing - at different times - in 2012.
“I have got a lot of fond memories of my time at Wolves and the only sadness I had was that I was hoisted out of the job when we had just dropped into the bottom three,” added Mick, who guided Town to a 2-0 win at Molineux in December 2012.
“Who knows whether we would have stayed up or gone down if I stayed. I would like to think we would have stayed up. The team spirit was good. There was a good atmosphere about the place.
“I’ve got friends at the club but I moved on from Wolves as soon as I left. It’s been the same for me whenever I have left a club.”
Subscribers to Ipswich Player can watch the full interview with Mick on Saturday’s big match now.
Team news:
Wolves: Tommy Rowe is back in training after a knee problem but is unlikely to feature.
Town: Kevin Bru and Darren Ambrose have returned to training but David McGoldrick, Noel Hunt and Luke Hyam are all sidelined. Luke Varney misses out with a hamstring problem.
Where they currently stand
Wolves: 8th
Town: 6th
Played for both
Richard Stearman: The former Leicester defender joined Town on loan from Wolves in January 2013 and went on to play an important part as Blues beat the drop to League One. He clocked up 15 appearances for Mick McCarthy’s side before returning to Wolves. Stears was a regular as the gold and blacks won promotion from League One last term and has topped 200 appearances in his seven years at the club.
Match officials
Referee: Stuart Attwell
Assistants: James Mainwaring and Peter Wright
Fourth official: Rob Lewis
Follow the action on Saturday with live commentary of the game available on Ipswich Player from 12.15pm, with live text commentary available via the Ipswich Wall. Highlights of the game and behind the scenes footage will be screened on Ipswich Player over the weekend.
Fancy a flutter
Daryl Murphy is 6/4 to score anytime during the 90 minutes and 11/2 to net the first goal. Blues are 19/10 to win, with 23/10 the draw. For more odds, click on www.skybet.com.
