Town manager Joe Royle said he was delighted with his first three days in charge at Portman Road as his side prepared for Thursday night's UEFA Cup game with Slovan Liberec. Royle was well aware of the 40-year unbeaten home record held by the club, which he is charged with upholding against the Czechs.

Royle was speaking, along with skipper Matt Holland and Slovan Liberec boss Ladislav Å korpil, at a press conference at Portman Road on Wednesday night while the Czech side got a feel of the Portman Road pitch.

Former striker Royle was in Europe during his playing days and also managed Everton in the Cup Winners' Cup in 95/96: “It's great to be back, European nights are exceptional. They always have a great atmosphere, there's always a great atmosphere at night games anyway, but when it's a European tie it really is something special.

“The unbeaten record in Europe is certainly a burden for your first game, that's for sure, a proud and nice burden, though.”

Royle has trained with his new side every day this week and has been pleased with the way things have gone: “I've been delighted with the first three days training, I've been delighted with the response. They are very decent people, they are great lads and they've all look very comfortable with the ball. But, the proof in the pudding starts now.”

“Fortunately we've got the two lads [Ambrose and Darren Bent] back from the England youths, so they come back into the reckoning, but we've lost Finidi George in training this morning. He's got a slight hamstring.”

Asked whether there will be many changes to the team, Royle was unsure of the side Tony Mowbray fielded last weekend against Gillingham: “I don't actually know the team that started last Saturday, I've looked at tapes of Liberec and I've looked at other tapes but not last Saturday's. I hope that doesn't sound too ill-informed, but the honest truth is I'm not sure about last Saturday.

“I'm delighted we've got Darren Ambrose. The kid has done exceptionally well, I've seen his goals, I've seen him in training and he's looking very good.

One player who is missing is Marcus Bent, however he is on the way back: “Marcus Bent is getting better and I don't think he'll be too far away from Sunday. We'll need him to be fit for Crystal Palace as obviously Pablo Couñago is suspended.”

The new man has managed to get an idea of Thursday's opposition despite his short period in office: “I've seen a couple of tapes of them and three reports and they've been very good. They've played well, they look a very well organised team, they play hard for each other and it certainly isn't going to be an easy tie.”

His opposite number, Ladislav Å korpil appeared more taciturn that his Town counterpart. He felt that Ipswich's greater experience in Europe would matter little on the night: “History is one side and the fact is the other side. The team [Ipswich] is now in the second league, but that doesn't matter in football matches. England is like the mother of football with a history in World Cups. So it is the same difficulty as when they play Milan or other teams because it is always difficult when you play whatever country.”

Having watched tapes of Town's recent games the players he had most been impressed with were Darren Ambrose and Pablo Couñago, the Spaniard interestingly the player also picked out as the star by FK Sartid's boss in the last round.

Town skipper Matt Holland feels that a win in the Liberec game could help Town get on a run which would do their league position some good: “Results breed confidence and obviously tomorrow we're well aware of the unbeaten record and want to keep that going. It's also Joe's first game in charge and we'd obviously like to get him off to a winning start.

“The manager has said that there's a clean sheet for everyone and everyone has got a chance to impress. There are bound to be small changes when a new manager comes in. I think Joe will sit back for a couple of weeks see things, assess things and then we might see bigger changes. But the players have been very impressed so far and are certainly enjoying working under Joe.”

The new boss has so far been pleased with his welcome in Suffolk: “Despite the what happened last Saturday, I've had nothing but a warm welcome from every direction, dare I say from yourselves as well, the gentlemen of the press, and the players, everybody in the ground and outside.

“I'm sure the fans will see the greater thing which is Ipswich Town and everybody loves their club. I'm sure there'll be a great reception for the team and we have to see it as a fresh start for everyone, me included.”

Squad: Ambrose, Armstrong, D Bent, Brown, Clapham, Couñago, Gaardsøe, Holland, Hreidarsson, Magilton, Makin, Marshall, McGreal, T Miller, Pullen, Venus, Wilnis and Wright.

Photo: Action Images

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