IPSWICH, Key man: Daryl Murphy

IPSWICH
Position: 7th
Points: 60
Form: WWLWLL
Up next: Brentford (h)
Sky Bet promotion odds: 6/1

Key man: Daryl Murphy

Murphy’s renaissance under his old Sunderland boss Mick McCarthy has been truly astonishing and with 21 Championship goals so far this season, he looks certain to be the division’s top scorer. Almost half of those goals have come as part of five braces with Brentford and Wolves among his victims and while the fact that Ipswich recently scored four against Birmingham without him getting on the scoresheet might be seen as encouraging, Murphy’s missed penalty against Leeds on Wednesday was a huge blow. His streak must surely continue if Ipswich are to maintain their push.

Daryl Murphy needs to keep scoring if Ipswich are to gain promotion

Beagrie’s expert view

Ipswich have had injuries to important players. Losing David McGoldrick was a bad one and Noel Hunt is out as well. They have had a season of overachievement, looking at their side. At the start of the season I thought they would finish in the top 10 because of the lack of funds – their side cost about £50,000 – but it’s been a phenomenal achievement. It’s hard not to get disappointed when you have been rubbing shoulders with the top teams but there are times when players become tired, squads get exposed and the gaps between the have and the have nots are glaring. That can change in an instant, though, there are still a lot of points to be played for.

Opta stat: Daryl Murphy has had the most shots in the Championship this season, 102