Ipswich Town start a crucial run of games when they host Fleetwood Town on Friday. Mark Heath takes a look at their December matches...
Friday, December 2: Fleetwood Town (h)
Currently: 17th
Last five: LDDWD
Top scorer: Carlos Mendes Gomes (seven)
I don't know why, but games against Fleetwood always worry me.
The Blues have only played the Cod Army six times - winning four and losing two - and have claimed three on the bounce, including doing the double over them last season.
So there's no basis in stats for my concern. I just have a feeling that under Scott Brown they'll present aggressive, physical questions to be answered under the Portman Road lights on Friday.
And, as opined by my esteemed colleague Stuart Watson, these sorts of games - at home against bottom-halfers who come to spoil - may well be among the most difficult Town face for the rest of the season.
To be fair to Fleetwood, they're in decent form - they only lost once in November (2-1 to Bolton last time out) and have won through to the third round of the FA Cup too.
Mendes Gomes is their danger man, while Danny Andrew (28) and Daniel Batty (20) lead them in chances created.
There's also a reunion with Toto Nsiala to enjoy too of course, the ex-Town man having played 16 games for them so far this season, both on the right and in the middle of a back three. Ex-Town loanee Josh Earl is also a regular in that defensive mix.
Prediction: 2-0 Town. Fleetwood don't score or concede a lot, so I can see the Blues having to work hard to break then down before edging their way to a win.
Saturday, December 10: Peterborough United (h)
Currently: 4th
Last five: LLWWW
Top scorer: Jonson Clarke-Harris (14)
The 12.30pm kick-off against Posh starts a run of games against sides you'd expect to be there or thereabouts come the business end of the season. Or in and around it, to use standard football parlance.
It also, of course, brings back some bad memories of seasons past - that 7-1 away defeat in 2011 and the 4-1 home tonking in February 2020 to name but two.
Indeed, Town haven't actually beaten Posh in the league since March 2012, and have lost their last three League One battles.
Grant McCann's men are having a bit of a wobble though, having been dumped out of the FA Cup by Shrewsbury, and losing their last two league games against Bristol Rovers and Exeter. In fact, they only won once in November - an FA Cup replay at Salford.
But, of course, they do have League One's top scorer in the always-dangerous Clarke-Harris, and they score a lot of goals.
They'll come to Suffolk with ambition too, which could be crucial as Town look to make another statement against promotion rivals.
Prediction: 4-2 Town. I'm going for a high-scoring, free-flowing game - and an impressive Town win.
Saturday, December 17: Wycombe Wanderers (a)
Currently: 12th
Last five: LWDDL
Top scorer: Anis Mehmeti (seven)
Ugh. Wycombe away are two of the most unattractive, unappealing words in the English language.
Town have never lost against Wanderers in the four times they've played - two wins, two draws - but the games are pretty much always highly competitive and physical.
Gareth Ainsworth's men are slowly climbing the table after a poor start to the season, and have beaten the likes of Peterborough (3-1) and Oxford (1-0) already this campaign.
In contrast though, they have fallen short against leaders Plymouth (1-0), third-place Sheffield Wednesday (3-1) and top six chasers Derby County (2-1).
You know exactly what to expect from this one. The Chairboys are among the league leaders in shots and crosses blocked, plus clearances.
And, in Albanian attacker Mehmeti, they have a dangerous threat going forward.
I fear this won't be the prettiest game - and it's exactly the sort of game where the Town teams of the past would come unstuck.
Prediction: 1-1 draw. My gut tells me Town will lose this, but I'm looking past my intestines and going with my head, which suggests the newly-resilient Blues can get at least a draw here.
Monday, December 26: Oxford United (h)
Currently: 13th
Last five: DWDDW
Top scorer: Cameron Brannagan (nine)
The U's may be 13th, but they haven't actually lost since October 22, when they fell 2-1 at home to Posh.
Since then it's eight games unbeaten in league and cup, including a 1-1 draw at Portsmouth and a 3-1 win at Bolton. They've just thumped Exeter 4-1 in the FA Cup too.
It's actually home form which has hampered the U's so far - just four wins from 11 games - so perhaps they'll be pleased to be in Suffolk on Boxing Day.
Boss Karl Robinson said recently: "We feel that some of our form has been quite negative. But we do feel that the longer the season goes on people will enjoy watching us play.
"We need to get rid of negative energy from ourselves first and make sure we put in positive performances and win games - then all of a sudden things start turning around."
Midfielder Brannagan is having a cracking season, both scoring and creating chances for others, while Billy Bodin has bagged five goals in his last four games.
Will Oxford come to play or be Christmas scrooges? Let's hope for the former.
Prediction: 2-1 Town. Another game which would have worried me in days of old, but I fancy Town to give fans a belated gift on Boxing Day.
Thursday, December 29: Portsmouth (a)
Currently: Seventh
Last five: DDDDW
Top scorer: Colby Bishop (13)
What a way to end 2022. Games against Pompey have all the emotion, narrative and bad blood of derby duels these days, given the recent history between the sides.
Again, there will be plenty of spice going into this game - Town tonked Pompey 4-0 last time they visited Fratton Park, with Paul Cook as boss, while the Blues emerged victorious from a 3-2 thriller at Portman Road earlier this season.
Portsmouth have since dumped Town out of the Pizza Trophy, of course - but that's small beans.
Danny Cowley's side will desperately want to put right the last two league wrongs, in what is sure to be a cracking, crackling atmosphere under the lights on the south coast.
Depending how you look at it, Pompey are either in good form - they've not lost since October 17 - or slightly frustrating form, given they've drawn their last four league disputes.
Up top they've got one of the best attacking duos in the league in Bishop - who scored twice at Portman Road in October - and Dane Scarlett, who's bagged five goals so far this campaign, including in that EFL Trophy win in Suffolk.
This should be a cracker, with a fair few goals - but can Town make it three in a row?
Prediction: 3-2 Pompey win. I'd love to say I think Town will end the year with another win, but I have a feeling there may be a sting in the tail at Portsmouth.
Conclusion: I've given Town 10 points from a possible 15 - three wins, a draw, and a defeat. If that comes to pass, I think most of us would be pretty pleased - a very decent December platform from which to jump into January and the transfer window.
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