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'Ipswich have hardly had a mention' - Pundit's praise for 'brilliant' Town

Football pundit Mark Lawrenson, inset, believes Kieran McKenna and Ipswich Town will go up tomorrow <i>(Image: PA Images)</i>
Football pundit Mark Lawrenson, inset, believes Kieran McKenna and Ipswich Town will go up tomorrow (Image: PA Images)

Football pundit and Liverpool legend Mark Lawrenson says Ipswich Town deserve to go up tomorrow - and he thinks they will.

The Blues only need a point from their home clash with effectively-relegated Huddersfield (12.30pm) to seal back-to-back promotions and a return to the Premier League after 22 years away.

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Third-place Leeds United, who for much of the season were heavily favoured to secure an automatic promotion spot, need to beat Southampton and hope Town are upset by the Terriers.

But former Match of the Day regular Lawrenson can't see it happening.

East Anglian Daily Times: Ipswich Town only need a point tomorrow to seal promotion to the Premier League
East Anglian Daily Times: Ipswich Town only need a point tomorrow to seal promotion to the Premier League

Ipswich Town only need a point tomorrow to seal promotion to the Premier League (Image: Pagepix Ltd)
“Leeds don’t have any chance of getting the final automatic promotion spot this weekend," he told Paddy Power. "I think they’ve missed their chance.

“I’ve watched every Championship game in the last four months, and it’s been fantastic.

"I think Leeds just went a bit too early and they’re a bit all or nothing where they win by five goals or they lose, but that’s the way they play, and you’ve seen the number of goals they’ve scored.

“The pundits have been saying it’s going to be Leicester and Leeds for the top two, but Ipswich have hardly had a mention and they’ve been brilliant.

"There aren’t too many clubs who have done back-to-back promotions, they’re fantastically well managed and are a good side, and I think they deserve to finish second.

East Anglian Daily Times: Kieran McKenna has guided Town to the brink of the Premier League
East Anglian Daily Times: Kieran McKenna has guided Town to the brink of the Premier League

Kieran McKenna has guided Town to the brink of the Premier League (Image: PA Sport)

“I’m confident that Ipswich will beat Huddersfield at the weekend, but with them finishing second, it means the play-offs will be unbelievable.

"The top four teams will all be thinking that they should be in the top two, and if I had to put on a bet, I reckon the team who finishes in sixth, will be the one who gains promotion.”

Town's old rivals Norwich City, who travel to Birmingham tomorrow, currently sit in fifth spot and will be involved in the play-offs.