Assistant boss Terry Connor says Sylvan Ebanks-Blake’s return from injury will help spur on David McGoldrick as he looks to become the first Town striker to score 20 league goals in a season since David Johnson in the 1999/00 promotion campaign.
Returning keeper Scott Loach made three important saves from Blackpool midfielder Faris Haroun as the Blues and Seasiders drew a blank at Portman Road. Top scorer David McGoldrick headed disappointing Town s best opportunity wide in the ninth minute with Loach thwarting Haroun twice in the first half and once late on in the second.
Boss Mick McCarthy says he’s delighted with Town’s January transfer window business but doesn’t expect any further additions to come in on loan. From today, Football League clubs are able to take players on 93-day ‘emergency’ loans.
Town recorded their first double of the season with a form book-shredding 5-1 victory over Championship leaders West Ham at Portman Road. Michael Chopra opened the scoring in the third minute, Daryl Murphy adding the second in a frantic period before the break in which Jack Collison pulled one back for the Hammers and Lee Martin made it 3-1 from the spot. In the second half, Jay Emmanuel-Thomas netted the night’s best goal, a low 35-yard strike which beat Robert Green off his post, then added the fifth in the final moments.