LUCKY BREAK
McKenna happy to get a rest after Boro clash
KIERAN McKENNA says the looming two-week break will give Ipswich’s promotion ambitions a huge boost.
The Tractor Boys will sign off for a fortnight after today’s clash with Middlesbrough.
McKenna’s side have no midweek fixtures for the next two weeks and their meeting with Coventry next Saturday has been shifted to April 30 because of the Sky Blues’ FA Cup semi-final clash with Manchester United.
And the Ipswich manager believes the rest will only help his side’s bid to secure a top-two finish.
He said: “We’re seeing it as a positive, because you go back to international week and we had Kieffer Moore and Nathan Broadhead involved in two huge games with Wales, Kieffer playing 120 minutes.
“Five games in quick succession, especially with the level and intensity and competitiveness of every game, has been a big challenge. A good challenge and we enjoy it, but I’m really confident that we’ll benefit from the break, we’ll come back from it stronger.
“Not just, hopefully, having some players back involved who aren’t available at the moment, but also I’m sure the players who have been playing lots of games will really benefit from it.
“We’ll try and use the period as well as we can. And then we’ve got a really clear week ahead of us. And we know it’s three games after that.
“Three tough games, three good games, but I’m sure we’ll be in a strong position after the break to really attack those games.”
Forward Conor Chaplin is in no doubt about the tough test Middlesbrough will pose today, and is keen to keep the Tractor Boys’ strong home form going.
He said: “We had a tough game up there and it’s going to be another tough game but we’re ready for it.
“We just need more of the same, in terms of what we’ve been playing like throughout the whole season.
“We’ve obviously got a really good record at home and there are a lot of factors that play into that.
“We’re confident when we’re at Portman Road, we’re a very good side and we know we’re a match for anyone.”
Matt Clarke, meanwhile, is adamant Middlesbrough’s play-off push still has legs, despite the six-points gap between themselves and the top six.
Boro head to Ipswich unbeaten in eight games but having dropped two points at Hull on Wednesday.
Centre-half Clarke said: “You have to believe the opening is still there for us.
“Everyone expects the top teams to keep winning but that’s not been the case.
“We’re on a good streak and we’re desperate to keep it going. We go to Ipswich believing we have what it takes to win the game.”