Watford boss Gianfranco Zola: 'I respect Mick McCarthy and facing Ipswich Town will be tough'

12:57pm Tuesday 19th February 2013 in Latest Sport Photograph of the Author By Frank Smith, Deputy Group Sports Editor

Gianfranco Zola says he respects Ipswich Town manager Mick McCarthy following their previous head-to-heads. Picture: Action Images Gianfranco Zola says he respects Ipswich Town manager Mick McCarthy following their previous head-to-heads. Picture: Action Images

Gianfranco Zola has expressed his respect for Mick McCarthy and believes Watford need to be at their best to beat Ipswich Town tonight.

Ipswich were bottom of the Championship when McCarthy was hired in November and whilst they are still only 18th in the table, the Tractor Boys are an improving side.

Tonight will see one of the best attacking teams in the country go up against one of the most improved sides defensively.

Watford's four goals at Birmingham City on Saturday took their tally to the season to 64; making Zola's men the joint highest scorers in the top four divisions, alongside League Two promotion-chasers Port Vale.

And Ipswich have gone from conceding an average of two goals a game prior to McCarthy's arrival, to an outfit who have shipped just eight in their last nine league matches at Portman Road.

"I respect Mick a lot; I’ve come up against him already a few times with West Ham and he’s doing a great job over there, so it will be tough," Zola said.

"Mick has gone there and the situation has improved a lot. It’s a tough game and knowing the manager, I know that Ipswich will make it difficult for us. We can’t afford to not play our best game.

"The next game always has to be your best one, that is the way you can improve and move forward."

The Tractor Boys won the reverse fixture between the two clubs in the second game of this season but history has traditionally been with the Hornets; Watford enjoyed an unbelievable 15-match unbeaten run against Ipswich prior to the August defeat and the Golden Boys are unbeaten in their last seven visits to Portman Road.

Watford also have an excellent away record this season; no other Championship side have won nine games on the road this season.

Zola admitted: "It makes your life much better if you can perform away from home like we are but I know the nature of the Championship. Therefore I’m expectant of the players because if they don’t perform like they can, then it will be very costly."

Click here to read team news ahead of tonight's match.

Comments(16)

Johnnypaul says...
1:20pm Tue 19 Feb 13

Please, please,please,play the same team as Saturday ,or more or less the same, as we were great come on you orns

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Only 2 Ross Jenkins says...
1:34pm Tue 19 Feb 13

McCarthy's views on our foreign policy makes a refreshing change. Holloway et al take note. Whilst clearly not ideal, I think we will just get one point tonight. Will be much tougher than Saturday IMO.

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jimbowfc says...
1:36pm Tue 19 Feb 13

Perhaps bring Elkstrand back in and drop Anya to the bench;

Then if GFZ really feels the need to rest players, bring Geijo for for Deeney and Foresteiri for Vydra in the 2nd half, and probably also bring on Hogg for either Chalobah or Battochio.

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mellow yellow says...
1:37pm Tue 19 Feb 13

McCarthy is a decent man, with a decent brain. Agree this is a very tough game tonight.

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Mickey Quinn, not so thin says...
2:03pm Tue 19 Feb 13

Only 2 Ross Jenkins wrote:
McCarthy's views on our foreign policy makes a refreshing change. Holloway et al take note. Whilst clearly not ideal, I think we will just get one point tonight. Will be much tougher than Saturday IMO.
A draw would be a reasonable result on the face of it but if we are going to outsprint H, L and CP for 2nd spot we must win these games.

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AMP4WFC says...
2:04pm Tue 19 Feb 13

Need to field the absolute strongest side to win this game. I predict other top-5 matches tonight will result in home wins so Mr. Zola: Please don´t change TOO much........

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lutondown says...
2:24pm Tue 19 Feb 13

Mickey Quinn, not so thin wrote:
Only 2 Ross Jenkins wrote:
McCarthy's views on our foreign policy makes a refreshing change. Holloway et al take note. Whilst clearly not ideal, I think we will just get one point tonight. Will be much tougher than Saturday IMO.
A draw would be a reasonable result on the face of it but if we are going to outsprint H, L and CP for 2nd spot we must win these games.
Disagree. If we have bagged 4/6 points in four days, that is promo form. Obviously Im hoping we will win every game but know we won't. Steve Bruce reckons 7 more wins gets Hull promoted. So we need 8 if the case.
Lets not put to much pressure on the team or ourselves.
Now walk the Dogs, shave and shower, avoid the Mrs and her evil glare, and with the very nice pilot Mr Worth, we're heading East

COYH!

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watfordal says...
2:43pm Tue 19 Feb 13

Nice to be so nervous and excited ahead of a February midweek game at ipswich isn't it? Who'd have thought? Come on!
Or at least until we see the teamsheet...........
.and if effing Chopra scores again..........it could be a ***T journey back.

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Mickey Quinn, not so thin says...
2:45pm Tue 19 Feb 13

lutondown wrote:
Mickey Quinn, not so thin wrote:
Only 2 Ross Jenkins wrote:
McCarthy's views on our foreign policy makes a refreshing change. Holloway et al take note. Whilst clearly not ideal, I think we will just get one point tonight. Will be much tougher than Saturday IMO.
A draw would be a reasonable result on the face of it but if we are going to outsprint H, L and CP for 2nd spot we must win these games.
Disagree. If we have bagged 4/6 points in four days, that is promo form. Obviously Im hoping we will win every game but know we won't. Steve Bruce reckons 7 more wins gets Hull promoted. So we need 8 if the case.
Lets not put to much pressure on the team or ourselves.
Now walk the Dogs, shave and shower, avoid the Mrs and her evil glare, and with the very nice pilot Mr Worth, we're heading East

COYH!
Disagree back !

Bruce is wrong.
Given there are 4 of us racing for one slot, one of us will go on a run and win 9 or 10 of their remaining 14 games. Given we are already 3 points behind H, and effectively behind L, we need to win 9 or probably 10 of our last 14 to finish 2nd (assuming no points deduction from the FL). We have more difficult games in which to drop points.

Enjoy your flight, you jetsetter you.

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WessexLad says...
2:58pm Tue 19 Feb 13

Must win game. Hopeful that Anya will start, and would then be content to see Deeney and Geijo getting on the end of some decent crosses. The ability to break quickly will be vital against a well organised defence. COYH.

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SAHornet says...
3:27pm Tue 19 Feb 13

If Anya plays, hope he continues to drive forward. Don't like the way he used to check and then pass backwards most of the time. His confidence should be higher now after the Brum game. Good luck to the lads and all travelling 'orns tonight. Enjoy and 3 points please.

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WHIZZY HORNET says...
3:29pm Tue 19 Feb 13

Would it not be funny if we get promoted, which we will, Palarse stay in the Championship, the League change the rules regarding loan signings from abroad, Palace then get bought out by new owners, say Barcelona and then could not use them in the same way we have this season. Oh dear Mr. Holloway what have you done, laugh, I'd be wetting my pants.

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Harry's Bar says...
3:56pm Tue 19 Feb 13

Mickey Quinn, not so thin wrote:
lutondown wrote:
Mickey Quinn, not so thin wrote:
Only 2 Ross Jenkins wrote: McCarthy's views on our foreign policy makes a refreshing change. Holloway et al take note. Whilst clearly not ideal, I think we will just get one point tonight. Will be much tougher than Saturday IMO.
A draw would be a reasonable result on the face of it but if we are going to outsprint H, L and CP for 2nd spot we must win these games.
Disagree. If we have bagged 4/6 points in four days, that is promo form. Obviously Im hoping we will win every game but know we won't. Steve Bruce reckons 7 more wins gets Hull promoted. So we need 8 if the case. Lets not put to much pressure on the team or ourselves. Now walk the Dogs, shave and shower, avoid the Mrs and her evil glare, and with the very nice pilot Mr Worth, we're heading East COYH!
Disagree back ! Bruce is wrong. Given there are 4 of us racing for one slot, one of us will go on a run and win 9 or 10 of their remaining 14 games. Given we are already 3 points behind H, and effectively behind L, we need to win 9 or probably 10 of our last 14 to finish 2nd (assuming no points deduction from the FL). We have more difficult games in which to drop points. Enjoy your flight, you jetsetter you.
I second that! You'll need 10 wins to be sure of securing a top two finish. Draws aren't good enough.

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Poppet Bear says...
4:03pm Tue 19 Feb 13

Forget Holloway, he's just a whingeing git. Lets get on with our season. COYH

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Bush Hornet says...
4:13pm Tue 19 Feb 13

4 points from the next 2 games may be a good return but I think 6 is v much within grasp. Would be foolish to underestimate Derby on Sat: Anyone who thinks that's 3 pts in the bag think again.

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lincoln horn says...
5:12pm Tue 19 Feb 13

I hope Anya starts again ,though I feel the team loses its passing ability slightly when he's in the side. Hopefully having said that ,Vydra and Deeney won't be rested as I feel Anya/Cassetti potentially provide so much service between them that goals are there to be had this evening . COYH

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