Ipswich vs Northampton – Cup diversion useful for both bosses
Published:Ipswich and Northampton are two of the most out of form teams in English football, but will be hoping that a Carling Cup fourth round victory could lead to a turnaround in form.
Match Odds
After a bright opening to the season, which saw them feature prominently in the Championship play-off places, Ipswich have begun to struggle of late.
They have lost four of their last five fixtures, but could be boosted by a game against opposition placed two tiers below them.
Ipswich are 1/2 to beat Northampton and reach the last eight of the Carling Cup for the first time since 2001.
They also have the advantage of having dumped out Northampton in the previous two meetings between the pair in the competition.
Meanwhile, the fixture represents the first time since taking over that Ipswich manager Roy Keane has been drawn to play at home in a cup game.
Northampton are 11/2 to beat Ipswich and will fancy their chances of causing another shock after eliminating Liverpool in the third round.
However, they currently sit second from bottom of League Two after losing their last five games.
To Qualify
Northampton have required penalty shoot-outs to make it through the last two rounds of the Carling Cup and there is every chance that their clash with Ipswich will not be settled within the 90 minutes.
The visitors are 7/2 to qualify for the Carling Cup quarter finals, while the hosts are no strangers to being taken beyond the 90 minutes as they beat Crewe in extra time in the second round.
They are 1/6 to qualify past Northampton and with Keane liable to play some of his fringe players there is a strong possibility that his team will hold the stamina advantage as the game wears on.
The Carling Cup was the only domestic trophy that Keane failed to win during his playing career. See the full Ipswich vs Northampton match betting odds market.
