x

Joe Pleased With Defence - Ipswich Town News

Town manager Joe Royle was particularly pleased with his side's backline during their 3-1 home victory against Cardiff City.

Royle said "I was pleased with our defensive performance overall.

"Bar one mistake, it was our best defensive performance for a long while.

"We have not given them a sniff. Lee cost them a lot of money and Earnshaw may go for a lot."

Jason De Vos played despite being sent back from international duty by Canada after a scan revealed a hairline fracture. However, Royle says Town's own scans have failed to show the injury: "We cannot see the stress fracture that the Canadian FA can see, but there is deep bone bruising.

"Jason was terrific. He won't be risked on Tuesday [Brentford in the Carling Cup] but we can't rest too many because we have not got that many players."

The Town manager also had praise for striker Darren Bent: "He is a bit of an enigma - his pace is exceptional. He scored a goal for us and he had a hand in two.

"His goal record is terrific - it is one in two which is terrific for a lad still learning the game.

"We are always on at Darren to use his pace more. He has not really got going yet this season - that was his best half so far in the second half. He has now got two in four for us."

Cardiff boss Lennie Lawrence kept his players back for a tongue-lashing after the game and was unhappy with his side's defending: "We didn't start too well.

"I was disappointed with the first goal, although it was a well struck shot.

"We spoke about it at half-time and got a good equalising goal from Alan Lee.

"We made wrong defensive decisions for their second goal and after that we were chasing the game."

What to read next:

Fans of Town's Women's Team Asked to Complete Survey For Yearbook
Writer-publisher David Moloney is working on a women’s football fan yearbook and is after input from supporters of Ipswich Town Women.
O'Shea: I'm Fully Committed to Town at the Moment
Central defender Dara O’Shea says he’s “fully committed to Ipswich at the moment” and wants to get the Blues back into the Premier League, the Republic of Ireland international having been linked with Wolves, Leeds United and a return to Burnley this summer.
U21s to Play Friendly at Bury Town
Town’s U21s will play a friendly against Cole Skuse’s Bury Town at Ram Meadow on Tuesday 29th July.
Clarke: Slicker Will Bounce Back, He Has a Big Future
Keeper Cieran Slicker is one of three Town players who could win senior caps this evening - along with George Hirst, also with Scotland, and Nathan Broadhead with Wales - with Scots boss Steve Clarke having given the 22-year-old his backing for “a big future” following his tough international debut against Iceland on Friday evening.
TWTD Questionnaire 2024/25
Welcome to the annual TWTD Questionnaire, your chance to look back in judgement on Town's 2024/25 season
Huni Camp to Lodge Appeal After Wardley Defeat
Justis Huni’s manager Mick Francis says his team are to launch an official appeal to the WBA regarding the manner in which referee John Latham ended last night’s fight with Fabio Wardley at Portman Road.
Brentford Linked With McKenna Move Should Frank Depart For Spurs
Town boss Kieran McKenna would be targeted by Brentford should Thomas Frank depart for Tottenham Hotspur, according to various reports.
Wardley Wins!
Fabio Wardley won his Portman Road fight in sensational style, knocking out Justis Huni with a huge right hand in the 10th round to claim the WBA interim Heavyweight title with the Australian looking on course for victory.
Pitts Wins Second Malta U21s Cap
Town youngster Josh Pitts won his second Malta U21s cap in this evening’s 2-1 friendly win away in San Marino (KO 5pm).
Waiting Over For Wardley
The waiting is finally over for Fabio Wardley, with the Town-supporting boxer’s long-held ambition of a Portman Road fight set to be fulfilled this evening.