A dramatic playoff race continues for Ipswich Town on Tuesday evening when they host Cardiff City at Portman Road.
As the eight-team battle to secure a spot in the Premier League goes on, the pressure to avoid disappointing results is higher than ever and a meeting with a side comfortable in mid-table is certain to bring its own challenges.
Ipswich Town
© Getty Images
Mick McCarthy's side head into their latest test on the back of a victory which was far more difficult to secure than expected when Championship fans looked at the weekend's fixture list.
Despite being short of their best, Ipswich managed to battle to a 3-2 victory over relegated Blackpool on Saturday thanks to Christophe Berra, who scored a late winner to clinch three crucial points.
Although the performance may not have been ideal, McCarthy will be fully aware that results are all that matters at this stage of the season, and recovering from a winless Easter weekend was surely more important than the display in Suffolk.
Before the win over Blackpool, a draw with leaders Bournemouth and defeat to Huddersfield Town had put the pressure on, but Saturday's triumph helped the Tractor Boys regain sixth spot.
Ipswich prepare for the meeting with Cardiff just one point behind fifth-placed Derby County, but with Brentford and Wolverhampton Wanderers level on points with them, there is simply no room for slip-ups.
It could be Saturday's trip to Wolves which has the biggest say in whether Ipswich's promotion bid is successful, but taking a win into that fixture could prove to be vital.
Recent form: LWWDLW
Cardiff City
© Getty Images
For Russell Slade, ensuring that his Cardiff players remain motivated in the closing stages of the season will surely be the biggest challenge as the Bluebirds look to clinch a top-half finish.
A season after losing their Premier League status, hopes of an immediate return to the top flight of English football were dashed in the first half of the campaign and supporters will already be looking to the summer in hope that new additions can boost a promotion bid.
The same supporters remained in the Welsh capital to protest a "derisory" 500-ticket allocation, and they missed an impressive win as Slade's men picked up a 2-1 win over Leeds United at Elland Road.
Cardiff's travelling fans will be back for another long trip on Tuesday, and recent form suggests that they will arrive full of confidence thanks to a seven-match unbeaten run away from home.
Slade will be keen to ensure that his side do not lose focus in their final four games, and they could move level on points with ninth-placed Nottingham Forest with another victory.
Home fixtures against Millwall and Blackpool follow Tuesday's test, and the Bluebirds will be quietly confident about finishing the season with an extended winning run after a campaign of frustration.
Recent form: WDWDLW
Team News
Cardiff are expected to be forced into at least one change after Conor McAleny was forced off in the first half of the win over Leeds due to injury, and Eoin Doyle is likely to take his place in attack.
Joe Mason is likely to keep his place in the side, while Lee Peltier is expected to start at full-back once again.
Ipswich could be without Luke Varney, who lasted just 23 minutes against Blackpool at the weekend, and that may see Jonny Williams return to the starting lineup.
There is still no good news regarding the fitness of David McGoldrick, which means Daryl Murphy and Freddie Sears should continue their partnership up front.
Ipswich possible starting lineup:
Bialkowski, Chambers, Smith, Berra, Mings, Williams, Skuse, Bishop, Tabb, Murphy, Sears
Cardiff possible starting lineup:
Marshall, Peltier, Ecuele Manga, Morrison, Malone, Noone, Whittingham, Gunnarsson, Ralls, Doyle, Mason
Head To Head
Murphy handed Ipswich the lead in the reverse fixture back in October, but Cardiff responded impressively in the Welsh capital to secure a 3-1 victory with goals from Peter Whittingham, Federico Macheda and Adam Le Fondre.
Cardiff have lost just one of their last five games against Ipswich, with their most recent defeat coming when Lee Martin scored twice in a 3-0 triumph for the Tractor Boys in February 2012.
We say: Ipswich 2-0 Cardiff
Ipswich will take confidence from battling to a win over Blackpool, and ahead of a crucial meeting with Wolves, McCarthy's side should be ready to produce their best at Portman Road. Cardiff picked up an impressive win at the weekend, but the hosts have enough to pick up all three points.
Callum Mulvihill
