Keeper Brian Murphy says Town would prefer to play more attractive football but that the battle to avoid relegation has meant a less pretty approach has been required this season. The Irishman was speaking having made it to Saturday’s game despite being stranded in Ireland by the cancellation of flights due to the Icelandic volcano.
Murphy said: "We want to play attractive football, but we’ve been at the wrong end of the table for that. We’ve had to dig in, work hard and graft in order to get the club going in the right direction.”
The 26-year-old says he only expected to be in Ireland for a day: "I went home on Tuesday after training. It was for personal reasons, to attend to a family matter. We had a day off on Wednesday and I was due to fly back that night.
"But with all flights cancelled I had to book the ferry and it was Thursday night before I was back in Ipswich."
Murphy refused to reveal whether he had been fined by manager Roy Keane: "I'd rather not say - that's between me and the manager."
Meanwhile, Town groundsman Alan Ferguson is due to be part of a delegation from the Institute of Groundsmanship (IOG) meeting with the FA and the Sports Turf Research Institute (STRI) today to discuss the Wembley pitch.
Ferguson was set to look at the troublesome current Wembley surface and give the FA and the STRI — who maintain the pitch — the benefit of his experience but it has been torn up prior to his visit.
Photo: ITFC