LEICESTER boss Stewart Dickson still has his sights on KO Cup progress, despite a six-point defeat to holders Ipswich in the first leg.
The tie will be decided at Ipswich tonight (7.30pm) and the pugnacious Scot has warned his hosts not to take progress into the semi-final for granted.
“Most folk would say the tie is almost over but come Thursday night they might be wrong,” he said.
“I’ve been in speedway long enough to know that strange results pop up. We have to go there and give it a go.
“We know that three of our riders scored well there last year, the three former Wolverhampton boys can ride it and Joe Thompson had half a season there so he knows the place.
“I know the bookies would call it a long shot, but stranger things have happened and we’ve got to go there believing that we can try to claw it back.”
Ipswich’s fine performance in the east Midlands maintained their 100% record in 2024, rising star Dan Thompson continuing his sensational start to the campaign with 9+1.
Witches’ boss Ritchie Hawkins said: “It was a tight, hard-fought victory at Leicester on Monday and I’m sure the second leg will be no different.
“I am expecting a very tough, challenging meeting and I’m sure it will be an entertaining one.
“I know Stewart and Leicester will be coming to Ipswich to win and we will need to have the same determination as we did on Monday to get the job done and get through to the next round.”
The winners will face Birmingham in the semi-finals.
Ipswich: Emil Sayfutdinov, Jordan Jenkins, Danny King, Adam Ellis, Jason Doyle, Keynan Rew, Dan Thompson.
Leicester: Max Fricke, Richard Lawson, Sam Masters, Luke Becker, Ryan Douglas, Drew Kemp, Joe Thompson.
Words by George Dodds.
Images by Taylor Lanning.