Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna looks forward to the test his side will face as they travel to face Rotherham United tomorrow evening. A win for the Tractor Boys will take them to the top of the Championship, as the former Manchester United man hopes to return from the international break with another three points.
Victories have been easy to come by for the East Anglian outfit, with nine in eleven league outings so far. They haven’t tasted defeat since their seven-goal thriller against Leeds United in August, winning their two games in October before the international break.
Nevertheless, McKenna believes the trip to South Yorkshire may not be as straightforward as the table suggests, saying, via Suffolk News;
“It’s going to be a tough game and it’s a tough place to go.” He also noted their scalps from last season, saying that United “had got some big wins at home (in) the second half of last season and have had a couple of good results at home this season as well.”
Meanwhile, Rotherham are hoping to use the point they gained at Southampton as a springboard to climb up the table. Jordan Hugill’s volley sixteen minutes from time at St Mary’s Stadium helped them salvage the draw their defensive resilience deserved. Goalkeeper Viktor Johansson produced an inspired performance to keep the Saints at bay, and ultimately take a share of the spoils.
That helped ease some of the pain from the previous midweek disappointment against Bristol City, when substitute Tommy Conway scored twice in the final ten minutes to snatch victory. His winner was an astute flick in the fifth minute of stoppage time to seal the points, following Tyler Blackett’s equaliser five minutes after Conway curled in from distance.
The Millers will be without Blackett for tomorrow’s encounter, although according to the Rotherham Adviser, his injury may not be as serious as first feared. Matt Taylor’s men also have Cameron Humphreys sidelined through injury as they looked to record only their second league victory of the campaign against the high flyers from Suffolk.
Writer’s View
There’s no underestimating the job that Kieran McKenna has done with Ipswich, and it would be another statement of intent if they can overcome an awkward trip to South Yorkshire. Rotherham will no doubt be a tough nut to crack, buoyed by that late point in Hampshire two weeks ago.
But it’s hard to see past an away win, and Ipswich have netted seven goals in their past two games, so expect to see the Tractor Boys attack on form again. The Millers have the leakiest defence in the division, conceding two goals a game on average, and this encounter only looks like going one way.
Score Prediction: Rotherham United 1-3 Ipswich Town
