Ipswich Town’s Sky Bet League One campaign gets underway this Saturday as the Tractor Boys travel to Burton Albion. This will be Town’s first fixture in the third tie for 62 years.
Burton Albion Host Ipswich Town as Tractor Boys Open League One Account
The Chance to Regroup and Improve
Relegation to League One will by no means be what Ipswich Town supporters anticipated at the start of last season.
The appointment of Paul Hurst was credited as a new era for the Tractor Boys. However, the former Shrewsbury Town boss had his tenure at Portman Road cut short after just one win in 14 League games.
Step forward Norwich City folk hero Paul Lambert.
The Scot ended the season with four victories to his name in Suffolk, including a final day 3-2 home victory over third-placed Leeds United.
However with a full pre-season and the chance to shape a squad around his philosophy, Lambert has the perfect opportunity to restore Town’s fortunes and guide them back to the Championship.
Exciting New Beginning for Town
A drop out of the Championship, Ipswich’s first time out of the second tier in 16 years, could be the start of something exciting for them.
The Blues will be without striker Freddie Sears and talented youngster Tristan Nydam; however, Lambert recently added goalkeeper Will Norris on loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers and prolific talisman James Norwood is likely to prove a deadly force for Town up-front.
Supporters may have been concerned that creative midfielder Alan Judge was heading out the door of Portman Road. Until just a few days ago, the former Brentford attacking midfielder seemed destined to join Mark Warburton at Queens Park Rangers; however, after a reported three bids were rejected by Town, the 30-year-old’s potential switch to Loftus Road appears to have fallen through.
With Norwood keen to maintain momentum from last season’s goal tally of 32 from all competitions, an attacking duo of Judge and Norwood could be a dangerous strikeforce in the third tier.
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