x

Joe on Defence - Ipswich Town News

Town manager Joe Royle says he and his staff will continue to work on the defensive side of the game as they seek to reduce the number of individual mistakes. Two errors at Watford on Saturday handed the Hornets a point they hardly deserved.

Royle said: "We will continue to work hard on improving our defensive record and keep reminding players of their individual duties.

"They are told who to mark before games at corners and free-kicks, but short of going on to the field myself there is not much more I can do when a match is taking place.

"Richard Naylor had a great game at Watford, but it was his man who headed the first goal. And Drissa Diallo did well at Stoke City earlier in the season, yet went walkabout for a while and his man scored as we lost that game.

"It is not just one person who is at fault - and we will get it right. We have two home matches coming up and an ideal chance to make up for the points we have let slip away recently."

Royle says that keeper Lewis Price will have gained experience after making an error on the second goal: "Lewis has done exceptionally well and he will be the stronger for it. When keepers make errors they often prove fatal."

The Town boss says he is still looking for loanees but denies he has enough cash available to buy a player: "I have a loan budget, but not a budget to buy someone. The market I am dealing in is small but I am working on it. It is a case of the right player becoming available."

What to read next:

[Podcast] The Naked Football Show - Listen Again
This week's Naked Football Show is now available online.
O'Shea: Right-Back is No Problem For Me
Town captain Dara O’Shea says centre-back remains his preferred position after being used at right-back during the opening weeks of the Premier League season.
[Podcast] Blue Monday - New Podcast Now Online
A new podcast from the Blue Monday team is now available.
Town Women Grab Late Leveller Against Forest
Ipswich Town Women left it very late to salvage a 1-1 draw from this afternoon’s WSL2 opener, Megan Hornby’s rocket in the 93rd minute gaining the Blues a point against Nottingham Forest at the JobServe Community Stadium.
Mthunzi Named in Provisional Zimbabwe Squad
Town U21s defender Corbin Mthunzi has been named in a provisional Zimbabwe squad ahead of their opening two Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers later this month.
Ademiluyi Starts as England Draw U20s World Cup Opener
Town Women’s striker Princess Ademiluyi was in the starting XI as England drew 1-1 with Canada in their opening group game at the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup in Poland.
U18s Win at Birmingham
The Blues’ U18s beat Birmingham City 3-0 at the Midlanders’ Knighthead Training and Academy Grounds this afternoon.
Wright: We Want to Build on Last Year and Keep Moving Forward
Ipswich Town Women get their WSL2 season under way on Sunday when they host Nottingham Forest at the JobServe Community Stadium in Colchester (KO 2pm, live on YouTube) and TWTD spoke to manager David Wright ahead of his first full season in charge.
Palmer: The Target is Definitely Promotion
One of fifteen new signings made by Ipswich Town Women during the transfer window, Aimee Palmer believes that promotion to the top tier is a realistic ambition for the club this season after successfully avoiding relegation at the end of their first campaign in WSL2.
Diop: You Always Learn from the Best
Town defender Issa Diop expressed his desire to learn from players like Virgil van Dijk following the Blues’ 2-0 defeat to Liverpool at Portman Road.