x

Joe: Town Excellent - Ipswich Town News

Boss Joe Royle hailed strike partnership Shefki Kuqi and Darren Bent and midfielder Tommy Miller after the Blues defeated Derby County 3-2 at Portman Road. Town now sit in third position of the Championship, level on points with Wigan who face leaders Sunderland on Tuesday.

Royle felt his side were slow out of the blocks: "We started so badly but by half-time we could have been 6-4 ahead.

"We took over in the second half and should have scored four, five or six. Then, as usual, we conceded a late goal and survived a nervous final eight minutes. Overall we thoroughly deserved our victory.

"Some of our play was excellent. Our passing was good and we had two off the woodwork, two off the line and missed a couple from three inches."

Tommy Miller has been praised by Royle on a number of occasions recently and again pleased his manager: "He is a more rounded player this year. He is timing his runs a little bit better and gave Derby problems."

Royle felt that frontmen Bent and Kuqi were back to their best: "They have been taking criticism in recent weeks but provided the greatest possible answer today.

"Nobody worked harder than our front pair and Derby always had problems when the ball was played in behind their defence."

Former Town manager George Burley said errors cost his current side the points: "We made mistakes which meant we were going to be punished, but we started brilliantly, scored a good goal and might have had two more.

"I cannot explain the second goal we conceded, it was incredible really. At the end of the day we gave away bad goals, but it was a cracking game which was a credit to the Championship.

"There were loads of chances at both ends but all credit to Ipswich, we had to work hard for our goals but made it easy for them.

"Our two young centre-halves struggled a bit against the pace of Ipswich, but we were without Mo Konjic and Michael Johnson, our regular central defenders.

"We are looking for four wins and two draws to guarantee a play-off place. Our fans have had five seasons of fighting against relegation and no one would have predicted our present position at the start of this campaign, when we were one of the favourites to go down."

Burley was pleased to receive a warm reception from his old fans and says he hopes the Blues make it into the Premiership, while his Derby team reach the play-offs: "I had 14 successful years as a player and seven-and-a-half as manager at Portman Road. I have massive respect for Ipswich and they have respect for me, which is great.

"Fingers crossed Ipswich gain automatic promotion and we reach the play-offs. We have a lot of quality in the side and I am hopeful."

What to read next:

Klug Joins Norwich as Academy Head of Coaching
Veteran former Town academy director and assistant manager Bryan Klug has been appointed head of coaching at Norwich City’s academy, TWTD having revealed that the 65-year-old was set to join the Canaries’ youth set-up back in May.
Ames: Wark Book an Autobiography, Anthology, Encyclopaedia, Visual Celebration and Love Letter
Town supporter and The Guardian’s European sport correspondent Nick Ames says He’s Here, He’s There, the new book about Blues legend John Wark, is “an autobiography, an anthology, an encyclopaedia, a visual celebration and a love letter”.
Ipswich Town v Charlton Athletic - Predictions
Have you predicted the Charlton score yet? Ninety four per cent of TWTD members are predicting a Town win this evening, five per cent a draw and one per cent an away win. The most commonly predicted result is a 3-0 win to Town with Philogene the first scorer but what do you think?
McKenna: Awkward Charlton Will Be a Tricky Opponent
Town host Charlton Athletic at Portman Road on Tuesday for the first of two back-to-back home matches and looking to put Friday’s 2-1 defeat at Middlesbrough behind them.
McKenna: Hirst Still Has My Trust From the Spot
Town boss Kieran McKenna says George Hirst retains his trust from the penalty spot despite the Scotland international missing his last two kicks.
McKenna: Feels More Like Game Five Than Game Ten
Town boss Kieran McKenna says he doesn’t see the 10th game of a season as a particular milestone and this season feels it’s still very early in the Blues’ campaign given the late transfer window business.
McKenna: Matusiwa's a Loss But We've Other Players Who Have Played the Deeper Midfield Role
Blues manager Kieran McKenna admits Azor Matusiwa’s absence through suspension when Charlton visit on Tuesday is a loss but says there are a number of players in his squad capable of playing the deeper midfield role, even if not quite like-for-like replacements for the Dutchman.
McKenna: No New Injuries But It Won't Be the Same Team
Town boss Kieran McKenna has no new injuries but confirmed there would be changes to his team for Tuesday’s home game against Charlton Athletic, one forced with midfielder Azor Matusiwa suspended after reaching five bookings.
[Podcast] Blue Monday - New Podcast Now Online
A new podcast from the Blue Monday team is now available.
Town Women Lose in League Cup at Palace
Ipswich Town Women levelled twice but fell to a 3-2 defeat away to Crystal Palace at Sutton United’s Green Gander Lane in the Subway Women’s League Cup, the Eagles netting the winner six minutes from time.