Tabb can't remember a promotion race like this one and is excited to face former employers at Portman Road

Jay Tabb admits he can’t remember a promotion race as tight as this season’s and is relishing the chance of testing himself against his former club- and Play-Off rival- Brentford tomorrow.

Town take on the Bees at Portman Road with the winner moving into the top six, with Blues midfielder Jay conceding that he perhaps didn’t expect to see Brentford at the top of the table but admits they certainly deserve to be there.





“The challenge for the top six is crazy. I can never remember it being this tight,” Tabby told the official Club website.

“Brentford have done fantastic. Some clubs have come up from League One and you expect them to kick on again, like Southampton a few years ago but perhaps you wouldn’t expect Brentford to carry on that momentum as well as they have done.

“With their manager and the way they play football, they have gone about it in a really good way.

“They are a hard team to play against and are up there where they deserve to be. A few weeks back they had a couple of defeats, when there was a lot of talk about the manager’s future there, but they picked up again and they are right in there with us.”

Live commentary of the game will be available on Ipswich Player from 3pm with all the pre-match build up including team news, to be announced on our social media channels.







Team news

Town will be boosted by the return of Teddy Bishop to the matchday squad, although Kevin Bru will miss out with a knee injury. David McGoldrick has stepped his recovery from injury but the game comes too soon for him, whilst Darren Ambrose and Stephen Hunt aren’t quite fit yet. Luke Hyam and Noel Hunt (both knee) continue to be sidelined.

Brentford boss Mark Warburton will decide whether to continue with Leicester loanee Liam Moore in defence, with Harlee Dean and Tony Craig eager to return to the heart of defence. Alan Judge is contention for the Bees although Lewis Macleod is set to miss out. Everton loanee Chris Long could start up front at Portman Road.

Where they currently stand

Town- 7th

Brentford- 6th

Last time we met





Town provided some Christmas cheer for the Blue Army, by beating Brentford 4-2 at Griffin Park in a pulsating Boxing Day fixture. Daryl Murphy fired Blues in front after just 15 seconds, then added a second after 21 minutes, before Paul Anderson made it 3-0 on the half-hour mark. Sam Saunders pulled a goal back for the hosts before a superb solo goal from Tommy Smith restored Town’s lead. Bees midfielder netted his and Brentford’s second in injury time but Town were worthy of the three points.

Match officials

Referee: Scott Duncan

Assistants: Stephen Finch & Lee Venamore

Fourth Official: Darren Drysdale

Live commentary of the game will be available on Ipswich Player from 3pm with all the pre-match build up including team news, to be announced on our social media channels.