Town's leading markman David Johnson is reported to have launched a salvo against his team-mates and manager after Saturday's poor result at Grimsby. Johnson, who has clashed verbally with others at Town before, is reported to have said "It was men against boys. Grimsby have employed the same system against us in the last three games and it has worked. They overpowered us which is really disappointing. We think we are a better team, but failed to show it. On the evidence of this we are going to struggle to get into the top six. It's all so annoying as we got off to a good start this season. Everything was looking rosy early on. Everyone was saying it was going to be Ipswich's year. But we looked no better than Grimsby. You would never have thought we had bought new players to push for promotion. Last season everything was based on our defensive record, but this time we cannot keep a clean sheet. It's all so very frustrating. I want to get promotion with Ipswich, it's my bread and butter. We have got to visit top clubs and beat them, but we couldn't go to Grimsby and get something."
George Burley was reportedly unsurprised at his striker's comments. Johnson has in the past made his frustrations known to the press and even led a delegation of Town players to talk to the chairman after the sales of Alex Mathie to Dundee United and Danny Sonner to Sheffield Wednesday in the space of a few days early last season. It has also been suggested that he may not have the closest of relationships with some Town players and that last season there was the odd moment of friction between Johnson and others at the club. Interestingly, none of the rest of the Town squad made comment on Johnno's lack of scoring prowess in the latter part of the season which arguably cost Town promotion. After this incident and the Sky interview the other week in which he almost said his intention was to leave Town could he be trying to force his manager into giving him a transfer?
George Burley has expressed his amazement at Richard Naylor's misconduct charge. Naylor is in trouble after allegedly head-butting Birmingham's Darren Purse. Burley confirmed that Birmingham complained to the FA about the incident and asked "how many times could I complain to the FA about fouls against my players?". Quite a lot would be our guess.
The reserves today play against Colchester at Layer Road. In the Col U line-up is former Town man Neil Gregory after returning from a loan spell at Boston in the US. Included in the Town squad are new 'keeper James Pullen and South African trialist Justin Miller. Adam Tanner will again be watched by Millwall who are stilll considering whether to take him on loan. Town squad: Salmon, Wilnis, Kennedy, Niven, Tanner, Brown, J Wright, Holster, Axeldal, Logan, Friars, Inglis, Pullen, Moffat, O'Neill and Miller