Ipswich Town have just ten games to maintain their Premiership status - and tonight they play Graeme Souness' Blackburn Rovers in a game many feel they can't afford to lose.

Back in September the two teams fought out a 1-1 draw.

Matt Jansen salvaged a point for Rovers after Alun Armstrong had put the Portman Road outfit ahead.

Blackburn haven't beaten Ipswich on their own patch for six years - a run that defender Titus Bramble hopes will continue.

He said: "If we defend well and do the basics I think that we can get what we need to stay up. We've said that we need ten points. I think that's possible."

Ipswich last tasted defeat at Ewood Park in January 1995. An Alan Shearer hat-trick helped Rovers to a 4-1 romp on their way to the title.

One Ipswich player who may feel that he has a point to prove is former Blackburn striker Marcus Bent.

The young hitman has made a bright start to his Blues career and scoring against one of his old clubs would be a welcome boost to him.

Bent said: "It's always good to go back to play against your old teams and your old team-mates. Looking back I think that Brentford are the only former club of mine that I haven't appeared against.

"I'll be looking to do well. Not just for me but for the whole team."

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Published Wednesday, March 13, 2002