WANDERERS welcome in-form Ipswich Town to the Macron Stadium tonight with manager Neil Lennon conceding his side have a mountain to climb to stave off relegation.

Focus switches back on the field after the Whites were given a third and final stay of execution at the High Court yesterday over their unpaid tax bill to HMRC.

It was a hugely important day for the future of the club and prompted Lennon to cancel his usual pre-match press conference yesterday morning.

He will no doubt be pleased to now be able to concentrate on preparing his team for tonight's first home game of two in five days with Preston North End the visitors on Saturday.

The Northern Irishman refuses to throw in the towel despite a 10-point gap to safety with just 11 games remaining in what has been a wretched campaign.

But he admits anything less than a victory tonight against Mick McCarthy's visitors will make life even harder following Saturday's 2-1 reverse at Leeds United.

Lennon said: "We have nothing to lose now.

"We tried to let them play with freedom but it’s going to be a big ask with 11 games to go and a 10-point gap.

"We have to try and prevail as long as we can but it is days like Saturday that knock the stuffing out of you.

"It was a game we could – and should – have got something out of.

"They were in Sunday and we can’t give up or drop our heads.

"We will keep going but we have to start winning games.

“We have got to win our two home games and see where that takes us.”

Lennon is likely to stick with the same starting XI tonight with long-term absentees Max Clayton, David Wheater, Dorian Dervite and Ben Amos still sidelined.

Emile Heskey is also a big doubt after he aggravated a hip injury in the warm-up at Elland Road to be replaced in the starting line-up by Gary Madine.

Former Tractor Boy Liam Trotter came off the bench at the weekend and could push for a midfield berth tonight.

But with little room for manoeuvre selection-wise, it means more demands on the younger Whites players and Lennon admits it is not the best scenario.

He added: "We are throwing kids on – Zach, Holding, Vela, Woolery coming on and it is a big ask for these kids week in, week out, keeping up with the physical demands. It is not ideal.

"With Emile, it was his hip again on Saturday.

"He felt okay in the week but as soon as he got out there and warmed up it started to trouble him again, so he is a doubt."