Ipswich Town legend Mick Mills believes his former side are “bit overdue a victory” after dropping points once more on Saturday at home to Middlesbrough.
On the first day of April, the Tractor Boys earned a huge 3-2 win over promotion rivals Southampton at Portman Road after loan signing Jeremy Sarmiento bundled home a half-chance from inside the penalty area, causing the stadium to erupt into sheer pandemonium.
"Even for the Championship this is extraordinary!" 🤯
Ipswich Town have won it at the last! WOW! 😲 pic.twitter.com/oEXm6mQbYY
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) April 1, 2024
Supporters began daring to dream and the impossible finally started to look possible. However, three games later, Kieran McKenna’s side have failed to win a single match since, which included a 1-0 defeat in the East Anglian derby to bitter rivals Norwich City.
The last two results will definitely have disappointed McKenna as his team played out a goalless draw against strugglers Watford and a 1-1 affair with Middlesbrough, both coming at home.
Nevertheless, Ipswich Town have been somewhat fortunate over the past fortnight as both Leeds United and Leicester City have suffered large slip-ups in their own pursuit of a return to the Premier League. As a result, the Tractor Boys are still top of the league, although the Foxes have a game in hand.
With three tough games coming up against Hull City, Coventry City and Huddersfield Town, club legend Mills believes a win on Saturday at the MKM Stadium would get the side marching once more. Speaking to BBC Radio Suffolk, the 75-year-old said [quotes via Inside Futbol]:
“We haven’t had a win since the Southampton game so we are just feeling that we are a bit overdue a victory, which would sort of get us marching forward again,” he said.
“We are stuttering, there is no question about it, results-wise.
“We lost at Norwich and we have now dropped points at home so in general times that’s not very good,” Mills continued.
“But the people around us are actually doing worse than we are and so, if Leeds or Leicester want to hand us the promotion, I will take it with both hands.
“I won’t grumble about it at all.”
Writer’s View
Ipswich Town have been the surprise package of the Championship this season and have rightly deserved their flowers. But, if they really want to upset the apple cart and become champions, they need to start acting like champions. Picking up two points from three winnable fixtures isn’t the way to do this.
Saturday’s clash in Yorkshire will be vital for the promotion race as Hull are still in with a fighting chance of reaching the play-offs and will certainly be up for a fight. McKenna needs to ensure his team can handle that pressure.
