Town’s end-of-season lap of the Portman Road pitch, a club tradition dating back to Sir Bobby Robson’s time in charge, will go ahead regardless of the outcome against Sheffield Wednesday in the club’s final home game of the season on Saturday.
Newcastle United full-back Danny Simpson has revealed that he came within an hour of rejoining the Blues last summer before moving to St James’ Park. The former Manchester United man had previously been on loan at Portman Road in the 2007/08 season, making seven starts and one sub appearance.
Sixteen-year-old Andre Dozzell came off the bench to score a debut goal as the Blues drew 1-1 at Sheffield Wednesday, but Town would now appear to have no realistic chance of making the play-offs. Dozzell came on at half-time and headed home Liam Feeney’s cross in the 71st minute, Fernando Forestieri having given the Owls the lead three minutes before the break.
Town boss Mick McCarthy says the Blues are determined to hang on to their best players, including highly-rated young midfielder Andre Dozzell, but admits that you can never absolutely rule out someone moving on.
Town go into Saturday’s game away against Sheffield Wednesday knowing that only a win will be good enough to reignite their play-off hopes. The eighth-placed Blues are eight points behind the Owls in sixth with a significantly inferior goal difference and with only five games remaining.