Ipswich Town v Leeds United: Danger man Lawrence to miss clash with Whites

Tom Lawrence, the in-form and free-scoring Ipswich Town winger, has been ruled out of Saturday's clash with Leeds United through suspension.
Ipswich Town's Tom Lawrence.Ipswich Town's Tom Lawrence.
Ipswich Town's Tom Lawrence.

The on-loan Leicester City player will be missing from Ipswich’s line-up this weekend after his 10th yellow card of the season earned him a two-match ban. Lawrence was booked for dissent in the first half of yesterday’s 1-1 draw with Brighton, preventing him from facing Leeds at Portman Road.

Ipswich boss Mick McCarthy aimed veiled criticism at referee Roger East after full-time, saying: “I won’t talk about him because I’ve got nothing nice to say at all and that would get me into trouble.”

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Lawrence is on a season-long loan from Leicester and Ipswich stood firm against widespread Championship interest in him during the January transfer window.

Mick McCarthy.Mick McCarthy.
Mick McCarthy.

The 23-year-old has come up with 10 goals and five assists this season, eight of those strikes coming since the turn of the year. “It’ll give a chance to somebody else, as disappointing as it might be,” McCarthy said.

McCarthy’s squad have struggled this season but their draw at Brighton followed an away win at Aston Villa and a stalement with fourth-placed Reading.

“Quite clearly we’re on an upward curve, that’s evident to everybody,” McCarthy said. “I did say openly that we’ll probably play well against these sort of teams and get more points than we did from supposedly easier games.”

“I’m hoping we’ll do it again on Saturday.”