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Joe Praise for Subs - Ipswich Town News

Town manager Joe Royle praised the role of subs Jim Magilton and Shefki Kuqi in his side's 3-0 FA Cup third round win against Derby County.

Royle says he wasn't expecting Magilton to play any part in the game: "I didn't want to use Jim Magilton but I needed more order in midfield.

"Shefki has had his critics but today he ran behind their defence and chased for the team. It's nice when substitutions work out so well."

The Town boss also had praise for his defence, particularly John McGreal and Richard Naylor: "We looked tight at the back, except for one moment when we opened up like the Red Sea.

"In the first half there were not many dangerous moments but the substitutions made all the difference.

"I always planned to keep Reuser and Miller on the field for the full 90 minutes. Miller's season has been more stop-stop than stop-start but he proved today that he is a great finisher."

Former Town manager George Burley felt that his Derby side did well in the first half: "We knew it was going to be tough but we started brightly and more than matched them for 45 minutes. I felt that the first goal might settle the tie.

"When Ipswich took the lead we were punished for awful defending of a freekick, but all credit to Richard Naylor for his header."

Burley said his team thought they ought to have had a penalty in the first half: "My players claimed it was handball but the referee was in a better position than myself. There are ifs and buts in football but in the end the referee gives what he thinks is right."

Derby gave a debut to striker Manel, signed from Espanyol earlier this week. Burley felt the 30-year-old did well: "He showed a lot of good touches.

"We should have got more balls into the box for him. Even so he might have had a couple of goals and hit the bar with a header late on. I think he is going to be a good acquisition for the club.

"It was a cup tie so we pushed forward after we fell behind. The third Ipswich goal was keeper error but young Lee Grant has been outstanding for us. He is only 21.

"The first goal cost us the tie. It would have been a big bonus if we had got a result at Ipswich and I don't think anyone expected it.

"I am trying to strengthen my squad, which is a bit thin. We have been asking a lot of our youngsters but we can take heart from the way we matched a good side like Ipswich in the first half.

"We need to play like that week in and week out and cannot afford to make mistakes from dead ball situations."

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