Irish influence can help Ipswich continue recent record at Charlton

Ipswich Town, 7/2 Championship promotion chances with Coral, have lost just twice on their travels in the league so far this term. Couple that with two wins on the spin at The Valley, and it’s easy to see why they are 13/10 favourites to beat Charlton Athletic.

This televised lunchtime fixture makes for an interesting spectacle, as the hosts are backed by Belgian investment, but have seen their own promising early season form tail off.

Five draws in the Addicks’ last six home games where they are still unbeaten, added to the Suffolk side sharing spoils in three of their previous five on the road, make odds of 9/4 for honours to be even again tempting.

What that price, and the 21/10 on offer for a Charlton victory, fail to take into account, though, are Tractor Boys boss Mick McCarthy’s in-form Republic of Ireland forward Daryl Murphy.

Ipswich have taken 10 points from a maximum of 12 on offer in November, with the ex-Celtic and Sunderland striker scoring four in as many outings.

Murphy is therefore, magnificent value at 5/1 to net last, having done so against Blackpool, Wolves and Bournemouth. He even grabbed the winner in this fixture back on Boxing Day 2012, so it’s understandable that he is a shorter 5/4 in the anytime market.

But McCarthy’s Irish influence doesn’t end there. Although born in Barnsley, the Tractor Boys boss played for and later managed the Republic, and it’s those connections that have attracted compatriots to his current team.

Ipswich have snapped up Leeds United misfit forward Noel Hunt on loan, to act as backup fellow Ireland internationals Murphy, David McGoldrick and Connor Sammon in attack. Brother Stephen is also knocking about at Portman Road, having served McCarthy well at Wolves.

More striking perhaps, especially with Scotland centre back Christophe Berra (another who performed at Molineux when the Tractor Boys boss coached them in the Premier League) suspended, is the free transfer signing of Sean St Ledger.