Ipswich Town v Leeds United: Clash of styles but we can win it, insists Christiansen

Seventh-placed United are seeking a first win in four games with the end of December’s Championship loss at Birmingham City and goalless draw at home to Nottingham Forest on New Year’s Day followed by last Sunday’s 2-1 defeat at League Two hosts Newport County in the third round of the FA Cup.

Ipswich, who sit 12th, have themselves lost four of their last five games but Whites midfielder Eunan O’Kane has warned that United would have to deal with an “ugly” physical and aerial threat from the Tractor Boys and a style of play that “people would say doesn’t really suit us”.

But while Whites head coach Christiansen admitted he was very wary of the threat posed by the Suffolk side, the Dane said he was confident United could outfox Mick McCarthy’s men by doing things their way in Saturday’s clash at Portman Road.

United bagged all three points when the two sides met at Elland Road back in September through a hard-fought 3-2 victory.

Christiansen said: “We know how they will play and we also know that we want to try and keep the ball and try and be in possession of it and create our opportunities with the ball. It will be a tough game, like the game we had at home against them.

“But we have to go there with our ideas and try to take a good result and we are going to do it. I am convinced also that the team has learned their lessons from Newport.”

Christiansen also said United remained in a “good situation” despite their last three games and still on course to achieve this season’s objectives.

The Dane added: “Everything is in a good situation, of course not in the cup but we are in the top six and this is where we belong and what we have to fight for.

“The project of this season is to be in the top six.”