Tractor Boys ready for tough test

Ipswich Town boss Paul Hurst is expecting a very tough afternoon as his team prepare to meet the Irons at Portman Road.

The Hammers are unbeaten since their opening practice run around against Winteruhr in Switzerland and looked convincing as they settled into their new pattern of play under Manuel Pellegrini agaunst Villa at Walsall in midweek.

And Hurst is looking forward to testing his team against us saying: “I’m sure it will be a tough game against West Ham but it’s the sort of game I want from pre-season and to be honest, I would have preferred more of them.

“We have had more of the ball in the matches we have played so far and while we haven’t blown teams away, we haven’t been tested us much as I would have liked.

“It will be a completely different challenge against West Ham. Players will understand they will have to raise their game against the quality of opposition we face and you can get a better reflection of where we are then.”

So far Town have been beaten 2-0 by Braintree and have won their three games against Crawley, Barnet and MK Dons by a single goal.