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Magilton After Derby Reaction Against Bristol City
Magilton After Derby Reaction Against Bristol City
Tuesday, 9th Dec 2008 10:33

Town manager Jim Magilton says his players must go into Wednesday's game at home to Bristol City aiming to get Sunday's dismal derby display and defeat out of their system. The loss to the Canaries saw the Blues drop to 13th in the table.

Magilton remembers being in similar positions as a player and hopes for a similar reaction from his squad: "Our lads are hurting and I know when I lost in a derby match I set my stall out to put things right in the following game.

"We must do that on the pitch tomorrow and get the hurt out of our system. In this modern game results are everything and a matter of life or death.

"My life in this job will not depend on whether we beat Bristol City and then Cardiff on Saturday.

"I will give everything to get a result in both games and it could be a completely different picture for us on Saturday night.

"At the end of the day, it is players that win you games and players that win you promotion. I have every faith in mine.”

Striker or midfielder Jon Walters will again be assessed before the game due to his ongoing back and thigh problem, while Pablo Couñago is fine after picking up a slight knock at Carrow Road and Ben Thatcher is OK after catching the flu bug which was affecting the squad last week.

Magilton is likely to make one or two changes to the side taking on the Robins, although the backline will probably remain the same with Alex Bruce alongside Gareth McAuley at the heart of the defence, David Wright on the left, Moritz Volz on the right and Richard Wright in goal.


Walters could come into contention for a midfield place if fit, having been less effective up front of late than in his wide right role. That could see either Owen Garvan or Veliche Shumulikoski drop out, with David Norris moving to the centre.

Darren Ambrose's left-sided position could also be in question after a number of quiet performances. Alan Quinn could see himself recalled, although there is an outside chance that Owen Garvan could be utilised in that role having moved out wide during a number of recent matches.

Pablo Couñago is a probable starter, although the Spaniard like all Town's attackers is currently short on goals. Jon Stead may get a recall, but Kevin Lisbie may also be in with a chance of a start after scoring for the reserves last week.

Bristol City currently sit in 14th place in the table a point and a position behind the Blues. Away from home, their record reads won four, drawn two, lost four.

Boss Gary Johnson says last year's 6-0 thrashing will have no bearing on the game: "That was last season and so is very much in the past. We have moved on a lot since then.

"The time to get revenge for that was in the home game a couple of weeks later and we did that by winning so that has been put to bed.

"Ipswich will be smarting after losing the derby match and will want a good response.

"We know we will need to weather the early storm and, if we can do that and quieten the crowd, we will be right in the game.

"Ipswich have been going through a bit of a hard time of late and Jim Magilton is under a bit of pressure. We need to take advantage of that.”

Jamie McAllister is expected to miss out after undergoing a steroid injection on a toe injury and is likely to be replaced by Liam Fontaine at left-back.

Midfielder Lee Johnson (ankle) and striker Dele Adebola (dead leg) are also out of action. Former Blue Gavin Williams is likely to be amongst the subs.

Williams is the only former Town player in the Bristol City squad, although boss Gary Johnson started his managerial career in Suffolk at Newmarket Town, while no current Blue has been a Robin.

Town have had the better over Bristol City over the years, winning 23 times, including the only two cup meetings between the sides, losing 17 and drawing on eight occasions.

In last season's 6-0 Portman Road hammering Jon Walters hit a hat-trick, Tommy Miller a penalty and David Wright and Pablo Couñago also got on the scoresheet. City's Bradley Orr was red-carded just after half-time for a professional foul.

The Blues were somewhat less impressive at Ashton Gate later on in the season, losing 2-0 via an early Marvin Elliott strike and an Orr penalty just after the half hour.

TWTD issue 95 is currently under construction (contributions welcome) and will be available at the Birmingham game on Boxing Day. Issue 94 is still on sale online, either by buying a single copy or six-issue subscription here.

Wednesday's referee is Paul Taylor from Hertfordshire, who has shown 46 yellow and four red cards in 13 games so far this season. His last Town match was the 2-1 home defeat to Preston on the opening day of the season in which he booked only Lilywhites' striker Neil Mellor.

Likely squad: R Wright, Supple, D Wright, Thatcher, Volz, McAuley, Bruce, Naylor, Balkestein, Shumulikoski, Garvan, Norris, Miller, Campo, Ambrose, Walters, Quinn, Couñago, Stead, Lisbie, Haynes, Rhodes.


Photo: Action Images



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