Full-back Liam Rosenior says he expected a hostile reception from Reading fans on Saturday, having been booed by them while playing for the Royals last season. The 25-year-old, on loan from Saturday’s opponents for the season, was one of Town’s best performers at the Madejski Stadium and appeared to enjoy his role as pantomime villain.
Rosenior said: "I expected it. To be honest I was getting booed last season when I was playing for Reading.
"But I've got nothing but respect for the fans here. I had a bit of banter with them and I hope they don't take it too seriously.
"It was nice to come back and see so many friendly faces and Reading was a great club to play for."
The ex-Fulham man felt the Madejski Stadium fans got behind their team and expects the Royals to move away from the division’s lower reaches: "The fans were good. They weren't too happy about me but they stuck by the Reading lads and if they do that I'm sure that things will change.
"I wasn't out there trying to prove a point, though you always want to do well against your old club. I felt I played quite well when I was at Reading and showed I'm a half-decent player.
"I just wanted to do my best for Ipswich because we're in a similar situation as Reading."
Town paid Reading £200,000 for Rosenior’s services for the season and are paying his entire wage during the spell. The right-back is out of contract next summer and has no plans to return to Berkshire.
Meanwhile, Alex Bruce has revealed he played with an injury during Town’s 4-0 home defeat to Newcastle in September, something he now regrets.
The Irish international was subbed after 39 minutes with a groin problem which saw him miss the following few games.
Bruce said: "I made myself look a mug. I was struggling right from the start and knew within five minutes in my first sprint that I should not have played.
"I tried to carry on but couldn't. It dented my pride to come off when we were 3-0 down.
"I have learnt my lesson that you cannot take chances with muscle injuries like you can with knocks.
"I had kept the injury quiet, and it was frustrating and a massive disappointment to have to come off.”
Meanwhile, Bruce says midfielder David Norris isn't far away from returning from his knee injury: "David is looking great in training and it'll not be long before he is back.
"I can see him and Grant Leadbitter linking well together in the middle of the park, which can only be good.”