Ipswich Town: Terry Hunt on Championship promotion race

I did some gardening while Leicester were playing on Saturday, but then checked the score about 50 times on my phone. I’m told it was a very fortunate three points, but they’re back in pole position.

Then I turned my worrying to the Southampton conundrum. Do we want them out of the running? It kind of makes sense, but then surely we don’t want them consigned to the play-offs before they play Leeds on the final day?

What about Coventry? Did we want them to reach the FA Cup final or get knocked out? Better to meet them with nothing to play for or have the distraction of Wembley? But then again, some teams turn into Brazil 1970 when there’s nothing on the game...

Ipswich Town fans will be watching on nervously as promotion rivals play this week (Image: PA)
It’s all too much for my tiny brain to cope with. Of course, my much more sensible friends keep reminding me that, in reality, the situation is very simple. Win our remaining three games and we are in the Premier League. It’s in our hands. No ifs, no buts.

With that in mind, is our bizarre two-week break a good thing? It’s definitely an opportunity to recharge batteries. Some of the players have been looking shattered recently.

It’s also a chance to spend quality time on the training pitch and focus on all the very good qualities which have taken us so far in this incredible season.

But (you knew that was coming, didn’t you?) it also gives our rivals an opportunity to have a free hit at us, without us being able to respond. A bit like a boxer standing in the ring with his hands tied behind his back.

It’s fine when they lose, as Southampton surprisingly did at Cardiff, but not when they sneak a lucky win, as Leicester did against WBA to take over at the top.

There are a couple more nervy evenings to get through this week, with Leeds at Middlesbrough tonight and Leicester hosting Southampton tomorrow.

Middlesbrough boss Michael Carrick could do his mate Kieran McKenna a big favour tonight (Image: Steve Waller)
Surely Boro boss Michael Carrick will be anxious to do his old mate Kieran McKenna a big favour, and it will be last-chance saloon for the Saints. Fingers crossed.

Then on Friday evening Leeds go to QPR before we finally return to action late on Saturday evening with a tough trip to Hull.

It’s possible that the picture will be clearer by the time we play again but, given how this season has panned out so far, I definitely wouldn’t bet on it.

I have always thought it will go right down to the wire. We will head off to Portman Road on Saturday, May 4 not knowing which division we will compete in next season. Let’s hope it’s still in our hands and a win - any kind of win - will do the job.

That brings me to yet another conundrum. Huddersfield, our opponents on that final, fateful day, are deep in relegation trouble. Do we want them to come to us already relegated Probably. But would that release the pressure and give them freedom to play?

I know, I know...I’m over-thinking it. But I bet I’m not the only Town fan to be putting themselves through this torture!

Kieran McKenna was named Championship manager of the season last week (Image: Shutterstock)
Many congratulations to Kieran McKenna on deservedly winning the Championship Manager of the Year title. It really was a no-brainer, wasn’t it? He’s doing an incredible job.

Just how good is emphasised by a glance at the Championship table. There we are, newly promoted, in the top two.

In stark contrast, the other two promoted clubs, Plymouth and Sheffield Wednesday, are worrying about relegation. Yes, that’s the same Plymouth who beat us to the League One title a year ago.

Whatever the eventual outcome, it’s been an extraordinary season, and the feelgood is back at our club after so many long, miserable seasons.

Let’s enjoy the last few weeks.