PREVIEW: SHEFFIELD v IPSWICH (Prem)

SHEFFIELD co-owner Peter Mole is asking fans to back off under-performing Troy Batchelor ahead of tonight’s (Thursday) crucial clash with Ipswich at Owlerton.

Batchelor joined the Tigers as No.1 but has struggled on his home circuit and failed to score in the recent defeat by Wolverhampton.

They face the Witches holding a four-point advantage over the Suffolk side in the race for the top four – and with four matches in hand.

Mole said: “Troy will be the first to admit his performances are not what he hoped for so far this season, but getting on his back will not help the situation.

“We need to all support and encourage him every time he puts that Tigers race suit on, he wants to score points and needs all the encouragement we can give him.

“As management we all had discussions following the Wolves meeting, and Damien Bates had in-depth talks with Troy.

“We need him firing fully to both claim a play-off position, and then move forwards in said play-offs.”

Witches boss Ritchie Hawkins said: “We put in a good performance there last time and I was really pleased with how we went on our first visit to Sheffield. We ran them really close, and the boys have got three meetings now to show everyone what they can do.

“We have performed better on the road this season than at home and hopefully the boys relax, believe in themselves and perform how we know they are capable of. If we do that, we will give Sheffield a tough night.”

SHEFFIELD: Jack Holder, Troy Batchelor, Kyle Howarth, Josh Pickering, Adam Ellis, Danyon Hume, Stefan Nielsen.
IPSWICH: Jason Crump, Anders Rowe, Jake Allen, Craig Cook, Danny King, Paul Starke, Drew Kemp.