George Burley says his players need to show more "appetite and desire" as they face Brighton on Tuesday night in the Worthington Cup. He stressed the importance of getting back to winning ways against the Seagulls after Sunday's disastrous display against Stoke.
Burley is without Matt Holland and Mark Venus who are suffering with injuries. Venus has a calf problem while Holland has taken a knock to his knee. Holland's injury is rated as more serious, but the club are hopeful he will be OK for Saturday against Derby.
The only other concern is Alun Armstrong who missed training today with a flu bug, however, it is hoped he'll be all right for Tuesday.
Burley says that a win is imperative against Albion: "It's important to get back into winning ways, simple as that. It's going to be our third game in five days which is a lot to ask from them, but that's the reality.
"We're looking to win, we were very disappointed with our first half showing yesterday, and it's important to put that right. We need to start the game off with the right sort of appetite and desire and that's what we'll be looking for from the players tomorrow night, no matter what the competition is.
"We have a pride in a shirt and we can't start as sloppy as we did on Sunday and wait 45 minutes before we start getting amongst teams.”
"I'm sure for the first 45 minutes fans were thinking ‘what's going on here?', there was no tempo to the game and it's important we lift it and now is the time we've got to put it right.
"That's what I said to the players after the game; you've got to have passion and desire from the kick-off and then other things will fit into place, and that's what I'll be looking for tomorrow.
Tuesday's opponents haven't had the greatest of starts to their season either, but Burley currently seems more concerned with his side: "We've had Brighton watched a couple of times and any side that come to Portman Road they make it difficult for us, but, it is important for us to get things right.
"When I look at the game on Sunday again we had loads more chances and plenty of the play but if you don't do it for 90 minutes and are sloppy at the back you get punished. It's important that everyone plays their part in all departments and be very focussed and show the commitment needed to win games.”
Burley has called youngsters Matt Richards and Ian Westlake into the squad, with a debut for Westlake looking on the cards. The central or left-sided midfielder has impressed in the reserves this season. Left-back Richards made his debut at Avenir Beggen earlier in the season.
Squad: Marshall, Pullen, Wilnis, Clapham, Hreidarsson, McGreal, Brown, Gaardsøe, Magilton, T Miller, Wright, Ambrose, George, Couñago, M Bent, D Bent, Armstrong, Richards and Westlake.