Defender Tommy Smith says there is no reason his New Zealand side can’t pick up a win during their World Cup campaign. The 1-1 draw in their opening Group F match against Slovakia has given the All Whites confidence going into their games against Italy and Paraguay.
Smith said: "I think we’ve learned that we can match anyone on our day, we can score goals and if we hold our own at the back, there’s no reason why we can’t win games."
Sunday’s 3pm kick-off against the Italians will prove the biggest test with most pundits expecting a comfortable victory for Marcello Lippi’s men, but Smith says he and his team-mates "want to prove them wrong”.
The All Whites complete their fixtures on Thursday when they take on Paraguay. The group is currently all-square with both matches having ended 1-1.
Meanwhile, away from the World Cup, Middlesbrough look set to sign reported Town target Nicky Bailey with the Teessiders having agreed a fee of £1.5 million for the Charlton midfielder, according to reports this morning.
Town first team coach Tony Loughlan is currently away on an applied management course at Warwick Business School, which is aimed at enhancing the business knowledge of the aspiring football manager. Loughlan, who has worked with Roy Keane at Sunderland as well as Town, would ultimately like a management job of his own.
Elsewhere, Watford keeper Scott Loach says he is looking forward to the Hornets’ Christmas visit to Portman Road: "As an Ipswich fan I don't mind the Boxing Day fixture at all, I'll take that!
"But whether you are away or home on Boxing Day, you are well into the season by then and we will be in full-flow by that time so it won't affect the lads. It's a nice ground to go to and a good pitch as well. We'll just take it as it comes.”
England U21 international keeper Loach, 22, was a schoolboy in the Town academy between 1997 and 2000 before moving away from the area and joining Nottingham Forest.
Ex-Town striker Nicky Forster has rejoined Brentford on a free transfer after a short spell with Charlton at the end of last season. The 36-year-old was previously at Griffin Park between 1994 and 1997.
Former Blues boss George Burley says he will do all he can to keep Darren Ambrose at Crystal Palace: "I brought Darren through as a kid and gave him debut at 17 at Ipswich. I think maybe he was too young when he left Ipswich for Newcastle.
"He scored 20 goals last season and he is a player I want to keep. He's a top player and we will be trying to get him to extend his contract."
And finally, Steve Cotterill, somewhat implausibly linked with the Town manager’s job recently, has been named the new boss of Portsmouth.