Midfielder David Norris says he expects Town to hand someone a hammering in the next few weeks. Norris, who hit the bar at Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday, felt the Blues did everything but win at Hillsborough.

Norris said: "Someone's due a hiding. We've got a big, decent squad, we're comfortable playing in two different formations and someone's going to get a thrashing soon.

"It was as close as you'll ever get to winning a game without actually getting the points.

"I had a couple of chances and their goalkeeper made two fantastic saves, including one with his fingertips to push my shot on to the bar.

"I really thought I'd done enough but he got the slightest of touches and it was one of five or six very good saves he made.”

Saturday's game was Norris's first 90 minutes of the season and is finally free of injury problems after suffering with heel problems after moving to Portman Road from Plymouth in January.

Meanwhile, boss Jim Magilton has hit out at those criticising him for changing Town's starting line-up on a regular basis: "I will pick whatever team I see fit and people can make any judgements they want.

"I will pick whatever side I think can win a game of football. It is not about my best XI, it's about the players I think can win the game.

"Until you all stop going on about it and allow me to do my job I will carry on making changes.”

After starting the season making five and six changes per game as the Blues struggled to find their form, Magilton has actually settled into a more settled line-up in recent weeks as results and performances have improved.

The Town manager made two changes on Saturday, Gareth McAuley returning for Pim Balkestein in central defence after recovering from his dead leg and Veliche Shumulikoski coming in for Tommy Miller.

Against Southampton on Wednesday, Magilton made two amendments to the team which beat Reading 2-0. David Norris came in for his first start of the season for Pablo Couñago, while Balkestein took over from the injured McAuley.

Couñago missed the game at Hillsborough due to an ankle problem sustained in training but is expected to be back in action when Town take on Wigan in the third round of the Carling Cup at Portman Road on Wednesday.

Photo: Action Images

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