Ipswich Town have landed huge promotion boost after what’s just happened at Southampton | OneFootball

Southampton's Flynn Downes will miss their crucial promotion clash against Ipswich Town as he serves a three-game ban.

Ipswich Town head into a huge final week of the Championship season knowing two wins from three games will ensure they win automatic promotion.

It has been an intriguing fight for a top two spot this season, and with four teams separated by just three points, there is a lot on the line as the pressure builds on all those involved.

Yet, there’s no denying that Ipswich are in pole position to join Coventry in the top two, as the Tractor Boys have a game in hand on Millwall, Southampton and Middlesbrough, whilst their superior goal difference means if they finish on the same points as the Lions, they should be above them.

Ipswich Town have two major hurdles to overcome to reach the Premier League

Therefore, two wins from Ipswich’s final three games should ensure they can’t be caught in second place, but they don’t have the nicest fixture list.

Whilst a final day home game against QPR shouldn’t pose too many problems, upcoming away games at West Brom and Southampton are very challenging.

Albion have been transformed since James Morrison’s appointment, with the Baggies boasting a nine-game unbeaten run.

Meanwhile, Southampton away is arguably the toughest game in the league right now. They haven’t lost in 20 games going into their FA Cup semi-final against Man City, and they have looked a formidable Championship outfit under Tonda Eckert.

Even though Ipswich can afford to lose once, they will be aware of how tough these two away games could be, especially the fixture on the south coast.

Ipswich handed Flynn Downes boost ahead of Southampton clash

At this stage of the season, you need every little advantage you can get, and Ipswich have received a boost after it was confirmed that Flynn Downes would miss their game at St. Mary’s Stadium.

The midfielder, who Tractor Boys’ fans know all about given he started out with the club, is set to miss the next three games after he was charged with violent conduct by the FA.

Whilst Southampton have a good squad, and Shea Charles and Casper Jander are both very good players if they do start, the reality is that not having Downes is a major setback.

Plus, those two are likely to start at Wembley on Saturday against Man City in the FA Cup, with Downes also missing that game.

So, where Eckert has previously rotated his team, he won’t have that luxury in the middle of the park, with Charles and Jander highly likely to follow up a gruelling 90 minutes against City with the Ipswich fixture a few days later, even if youngster Cameron Bragg is an option too.

As well as that, Downes adds real bite and energy to the team, and he is regarded as one of the top midfielders at this level, so his influence on the team will be missed.

Of course, Ipswich are only focusing on themselves, and the West Brom game is the only priority for McKenna right now.

But, there is a possibility that Ipswich can win promotion at Southampton, and many will see that as a defining fixture in the promotion race.

Ultimately, at this stage, it’s all about the result, and every club would take any little advantage that comes their way, and we know that fine margins can make a big difference in the promotion battle.

Some feel Ipswich have had the rub of the green when it comes to refereeing decisions recently, but, crucially, they have made sure they were in a position to capitalise.

Now, news of Downes’ suspension is another little positive for McKenna, and if it helps them to three points on the south coast, there’s every chance Ipswich will be playing Premier League football in August.