By Aston
March 4 2005

Ipswich Town can regain top spot in the championship with a win against current league leaders Wigan at the JJB stadium tomorrow.

STB Match Preview: Wigan

Ipswich Town can regain top spot in the championship with a win against current league leaders Wigan at the JJB stadium tomorrow.

Wigan boss Paul Jewell may have a depleted squad to pick from because of a flu virus going round the Wigan camp, so far six players are believed to be effected by virus including Jason Roberts, Nathan Ellington Alan Mahon, Jimmy Bullard, Gary Teale and David Graham, but to help ease these worries Jewell has signed Graham Kavanagh from Cardiff City.

Wigan manager Paul Jewell: “We had 10 training yesterday, a few of the lads are struggling with this flu bug so we'll have to assess the situation.

“It's not ideal but I'm sure come tomorrow we will be able to put a decent team out and we aren't going to use this as an excuse.

“Hopefully we'll have more on the pitch than not and while this is something we could have done without, Ipswich could have done without De Vos and Scowcroft being suspended.

“Whatever two sides are put out, it should be a great game and both sets of fans will be looking forward to it.”

Town manager Joe Royle is with out the suspended Jason De Vos and James Scowcroft, Drissa Diallo is still injured while Shefki Kuqi has made a recovery from a gashed thigh and will travel and is also expected to play a part.

Royle: “It will be a tough game for both sides. We had a terrific game here against them when we came out on top in what was probably our best performance of the season, bearing in mind the opposition, we need to get back on track after slipping down the table so rapidly to joint top third.

“I saw them against Leeds and they were very impressive. Their pitch is not the best but you would not know it by the way they played on it, they were terrific.

“Wigan have the leading scorer in Nathan Ellington and top strike duo along with Jason Roberts and we have to deal with that.

“We have to match them strength for strength and pace with pace.”

Wigan will try and beat us. They don't change, they will play their 4-4-2.

“Our away record has been excellent. We won at Sheffield United and we were within 30 seconds of winning at Reading and they were two very tough games.”

Ipswich Town Squad: Darren Bent, Dean Bowditch, Pablo Couñago, Darren Currie, Kelvin Davis, Kevin Horlock, Daniel Karbassiyoon, Shefki Kuqi, Jim Magilton, Tommy Miller, Richard Naylor, Lewis Price, Matt Richards, David Unsworth, Ian Westlake, Fabian Wilnis.

The one other game that Town fans might be watching tonight is Burnley against Sunderland and a few might be watching Norwich against Chelsea as well.

Source: EADT

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