Chambers: Rhodes Will Be Desperate to Score Against Us - Ipswich Town News

Luke Chambers will be looking to once again prevent Jordan Rhodes from scoring against him when he comes up against the Norwich loan striker in Sunday’s latest East Anglian derby clash at Portman Road.

The last four meetings between the pair have all gone Chambers’s way as former Kesgrave High School pupil and Town youngster Rhodes has failed to find the net, although he has scored twice in five games for the Canaries since arriving from Sheffield Wednesday in the summer.

Chambers said: "Jordan is a good player and he’s had a tremendous career. He’s bounced around quite a bit in the last few years and he’ll be desperate to score against us.

"I’m not sure everyone will be speaking highly of him after the way he has ended up at Norwich after starting out here, so it will be interesting to see if our fans cheer him or boo him at the weekend.”

The Town skipper hailed new defensive partner Toto Nsiala for the way he has settled in after following manager Paul Hurst from Shrewsbury, although as things stand Town will be without him as he starts a suspension following his dismissal at Hillsborough last weekend, a decision the club have appealed and are anxiously waiting to hear if it has been successful or not.

Chambers added: "If Toto’s not available for us on Sunday there’s something seriously wrong with football. I think he’s adapted well to the Championship and has all the attributes to be a very good defender in this division.

Rhodes nets his one and only goal for the Blues against Cardiff in April 2008

"He’s enjoyed the pressure of being at a new team at a higher level and he knows the manager inside out.

"He’s a leader as well, although maybe not as vocal as I am, and he just goes about his business. We’ve started to play very well off each other as well and I’ve enjoyed it so far.

"He’s probably more Christophe Berra than Adam Webster — very quick, strong, physical and likes to attack the ball. He just loves to defend and I’m not saying Webby didn’t like to defend.

"He’s surprised me at how well he’s done with the ball as well and he has all the attributes. The longer he keeps playing in this division, and hopefully without the break that a suspension would give him, the better he will become and I can see him being a very, very good player for us.”

Nsiala and Accrington Stanley loanee Janoi Donacien comprise 50 per cent of a new-look defensive unit and Chambers was asked if it had taken time for them to gel.

"I honestly don’t think it has,” said the skipper. "I think we’ve played pretty well and seven of the nine goals we have conceded have come from set pieces. I’m not sure anyone has got through us much.

"The goal Aston Villa scored came from a tremendous cross by John McGinn and that’s what can happen when you pay two or three million pounds for a midfielder.

"The set-piece goals can be avoided. Since Toto has come in I think we have been very solid and I don’t think it has taken too long for us to get to know each other at the back.

"I honestly think we have been playing quite well, unless people have seen the games and feel we have been playing rubbish. Feel free to tell me if that’s the case.

"It’s not just the back four that end up marking at set pieces. There are a whole lot of issues — you can have five or six markers, you’ve got people in the space or on the post, you’ve got your goalkeeper, you’ve got the edge of the box. There are a lot of things that can go wrong.

"If everyone does their job, potentially it would take someone just being outmuscled from a good delivery to concede a goal, but it’s not even that at the moment. It’s a catalogue of errors that has cost us.

"At the other end we are causing problems from set pieces but we haven’t put the ball in the net yet.”

Chambers understands manager Hurst’s intention to further bolster his defensive options with another centre-half.

"Yes, we need another one,” he added. "There’s only me and Toto as out-and-out centre-halves. Wolfie [Luke Woolfenden] has done brilliantly through pre-season but it’s a tough ask for someone so young and with little experience to come in if required.

"We definitely need numbers there and I’ve made no secret of that. In fact, we could probably do with two more because we want competition.

"I feel I’m playing well at the moment but I want to be challenged and I know the rest of the lads, in all the other positions, feel exactly the same.

"The gaffer has made no secret of the fact that me, especially, and the other lads who were here last season have to produce the goods for him and we’re trying to do that.

"I don’t think I’ve ever rested on my laurels as a professional. I think it’s my job to go out there and play very well, as well as I can and do the best that I can for the team and the club.

"I think the attitude throughout the dressing room has to be the same — if you have an opportunity you have to take it with both hands. If you don’t I think the manager has people waiting in the wings that he can bring in and change the team.

"I had a good relationship with Mick McCarthy but he didn’t sign me and he came in when we were struggling as well.

"As captain you’ve got to build a relationship with the manager and the staff, and I think we’re doing that.

"All the lads are in it together — we’ve made no secret of that — and with the new lads coming in it has been a breath of fresh air with their attitudes and approaches to some things.

"With the management and the staff we are moving forward. We are all cracking on for the manager and trying to put in place what he is asking us to do — and if we can beat Norwich it will be the ultimate pick-me-up.”

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