Premier League
Portman Road, 15:00 GMT
I feel like some people don’t believe that I am a lifelong Nottingham Forest fan, because I do support about eight other teams too, but there are photos of me as a kid in a new bright red Forest kit at Christmas one year, playing on a little snooker table that my parents had bought me.
So, this is a big game for Bruce and myself. He says the first game he went to at Portman Road in the mid-80s was against Brian Clough’s Forest.
Ipswich won 1-0 and his abiding memory is of walking out of Portman Road afterwards and seeing the Forest team bus with Clough, in his green jumper, sitting in the front seat with a face like thunder.
The Tractor Boys desperately need a repeat of that result but I just can’t see it happening.
Ipswich pushed Forest all the way in the FA Cup a couple of weeks ago, only losing on penalties, but both teams made changes for that game and I am not sure it will have too much bearing on what happens here.
It feels like it is now or never for Kieran McKenna’s side in their fight to stay up, but I have been saying that for a while now and they still haven’t won a league game this year.
Forest were impressive when they beat Manchester City last week and, when I think about their attacking players, I am convinced they are going to score enough to win this.
Sutton’s prediction: 1-2
Felix’s prediction: I’ve got a soft spot for Ipswich, like I always do for the underdog teams. They have had flashes where they have been really impressive and I love to see that, but Forest have got the Champions League places in their sights now and they just need to focus on that. 1-3
Felix on Forest: As an Arsenal fan who spends all his time in Nottingham, it has been a bit of salvation for the disappointment of our season to see Forest flying the way they are. Knowing so many Forest fans, it makes such a difference to the whole city when they are doing so well and I love the way they play. They are so well organised, and they are really disciplined and determined, it’s amazing.
