Boss Jim Magilton was delighted with his side's performance as the Blues romped to a 6-0 thrashing of Bristol City. The Town manager singled out hat-trick hero Jon Walters for especial praise.

Magilton said: "We knew we had to start brightly and not allow them to settle into a pattern or routine.

"They have come up from League One and been very good on their travels, but we started very quickly.

"The third goal was crucial. We spoke about it at half-time, the next goal being the key. If we got it, the game was won, if they got it, they were back in it.

"Once Danny got clear, they were never going to catch him. I felt sorry for the lad getting sent off, but with Tommy scoring from the penalty and Bristol down to 10-men, it was going to be a long way back for them.

"We passed the ball really well, I was as pleased with that as anything. We kept the ball going and we talk about that every day in training. We scored some great goals as well.

"I was delighted with all of them. Jon Walters will get the headlines and rightly so. I was thrilled for him that he got his hat-trick. He works really hard for the team. He's a really dedicated lad who wants to improve all the time."

Magilton says that the injection of cash from proposed new majority shareholder Marcus Evans will have a major effect if used in the right way: "It will give a huge boost to the whole area. It is important that if and when we get the money we spend it wisely and get the right characters in the building."

Jon Walters was chuffed to celebrate his first Republic of Ireland B call-up earlier in the week with another milestone: "It's my first hat-trick and it couldn't have gone any better really.

"I was getting space down the right and I could have scored before I did, if my finishing had been better.

"The team played really well from the first whistle and we started both halves strongly. That gave us the platform to build on.

"With the Ireland call-up, it's been a great few days for me and hopefully I can go away with the Republic and take my chance if it comes along. I'm not sure whether I am going as a midfielder or a striker though!"

The Town players not joining international squads are off to take advantage of the spas and body treatments available at the Whittlebury Hall Hotel in Northamptonshire on Sunday and Monday, giving them a chance to relax after three games in seven days.

Bristol City manager Gary Johnson admitted his side were very much second best: "Nothing went right.

"We did not start right. They started off like a house on fire and we didn't handle it.
"We are always humble in victory and we will be resilient in defeat. It was poor all the way through and I would be cheating people if I said any different.

"We have to hold our hands up and say well done to Ipswich. They played very well and we weren't able to cope with them.

"This international break coming up is actually a good thing for us. It gives us a chance to get back on the training ground. We've got to get the simple things right again.

"Our season starts again at home to Leicester in a fortnight's time and that's the important thing."

Photo: Action Images

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