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Clapham Hits Back - Ipswich Town News

Jamie Clapham has hit back at his detractors after his performance against Everton was widely slated. He was also dropped for the Spurs and Sunderland cup games and has faced criticism all season.

The left-sided defender or midfielder was expected to be one of those players pushing for an England call but when Sven's squad was named Clapham was not amongst them, with Charlton's Chris Powell surprisingly jumping ahead of him.

The Lincoln-born player said: "I'm my most severe critic and I know when I have had a bad game or not. For example I had a specific job in the job against Arsenal and felt I did well but then a couple of things didn't go my way against Everton and I was singled out perhaps unfairly, but you have to get on with it."

The ex-Spurs player continued: "But I'm not going to worry about being criticised. I have not suddenly become a bad player."

Clapham hopes to rekindle suggestions of an England call-up during the rest of the season. He may find himself on the bench tomorrow should Hermann Hreidarsson return from his hamstring problem and Martijn Reuser get a call.

Sunday's game sees Town come up against Andy D'Urso for the first time since the Chelsea game. Referee D'Urso gave Chelsea a hugely debatable penalty, then sent off John McGreal and later wrote to the FA reporting Jim Magilton's post match tirade.

Town were deeply unhappy about these incidents and Magilton is still waiting to hear from the FA about a date for his hearing.

Town say they are still on target for the extra 2,000 seats for the last four games. The matches with Liverpool, Newcastle, Coventry and Manchester City will see Town's highest attendances since the days of terraces.

The Liverpool game could face a move should Tranmere fail to overcome Gerard Houllier's men. Liverpool would then have an FA Cup semi-final the same weekend as the Town game.

Sven-Goran Eriksson will be at Portman Road on Sunday to watch Town take on Bradford. It is the second time he has watch the Blues, he took in the Leicester game in January.

The England manager said yesterday: "I will be in London tomorrow, my office on Friday, Arsenal against West Ham on Saturday, Ipswich against Bradford on Sunday and Sunderland against Aston Villa on Monday."

The new issue of TWTD will be on sale at the ground from 2pm on Sunday. The excellent cover, as usual created by Dan Thomas, can be found via a link on the Message Board: http://www.twtd.co.uk/messages

class="storytext">Issue 56 of TWTD includes interviews with George Burley and Marcus Stewart as well as the usual variety of features. It costs £1 and is worth every penny. But I would say that. You can get the fanzine delivered by looking at The Zine section of the website, click the link above and see menu left.

Today's Do You Remember? star is former Town and Bradford player Eddie Youds. What do you recollect of the injury-prone defender? Click the link on the Message Board, link above.

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