Please log in or register. Registered visitors get fewer ads.
Williams Returns at Cardiff
Williams Returns at Cardiff
Friday, 23rd Nov 2007 14:23

Gavin Williams is in the Town squad for the first time for Saturday's game at Cardiff City having missed the first three months of the season after damaging ankle ligaments in the pre-season friendly with Panathinaikos. Billy Clarke and Owen Garvan are also included after thigh and calf injuries respectively.

Williams, a Cardiff City supporter, has played two reserve games since returning to action and is unlikely to start at Ninian Park. The Welsh international will probably play some role from the bench in the second half, most likely at left midfield the position he was set to fill from the start of the season until he sustained his injury.

Boss Jim Magilton welcomed Williams's return: “Gavin can give us a big boost for the remainder of the season and his inclusion in the squad is a lift for him and for us.

“We won't be taking any chances with him tomorrow, but he is in the squad and that is great.”

Gary Roberts, who spent time playing in the League of Wales earlier on his career, is likely to start on the left with Billy Clarke having picked up a thigh problem in training during the international break. The Irish U21 international is in the squad but the Blues are unlikely to take a risk with him.

Owen Garvan returned to training yesterday after hurting a calf in the 6-0 home victory over Bristol City a fortnight ago. Like Clarke, Garvan missed out on international duty with the Republic of Ireland U21s but is expected to be OK to keep his place alongside Tommy Miller in the centre of midfield. Hat-trick hero Jon Walters will continue on the right of midfield.

Town will probably stick with the 4-4-2 formation which saw them score six against Bristol City with the 4-5-1 utilised away so far having failed to bring a win. The Blues will be out to end an away hoodoo which now stretches to 11 games in the league and 12 overall.

Goalkeeper Neil Alexander will be back at Ninian Park for the first time since leaving the Bluebirds after six years in the summer with many fans unhappy that manager Dave Jones allowed him to leave. Cardiff are yet to find a permanent replacement for the Scot with Manchester City's Kasper Schmeichel currently on loan.


The Blues are likely to be unchanged across the back four with Dan Harding on the left, David Wright on the right and Jason De Vos and Alex Bruce in the centre.

Up front, Alan Lee will be looking to net against the club which sold him to Town for £100,000 in January 2006 with Pablo Couñago alongside him.

Magilton wants a first away victory of the season to give his side a boost as they go into a busy period of fixtures: “We have been showing some promise away from home, and are looking to record our first away win.

“If we can take care of Cardiff, we then set our sights on Southampton on Tuesday and Barnsley on Saturday. It could be a pivotal week for us.

“While we should fancy our chances at Cardiff, they will look at our away record and see the game as a chance to give their campaign a kick-start.”

Cardiff boss Dave Jones, who was refusing to speak to the press earlier in the week after reportedly being given two games to save his job, says he and his players are fully determined to beat Town: “I am hurting, the players are hurting. That's the way it should be.

“I have the 100 per cent backing of the board and everybody here is fully focused on winning against Ipswich Town tomorrow. It's too easy just to say get rid.

“And anybody who says I should walk away doesn't know me. I have a job to do and I will do everything I can to achieve what we are trying to do.

“The tempo in training is good. Confidence is high. I want them to be positive against Ipswich Town.”

The former Southampton manager is expected to field a 4-4-2 formation with Paul Parry replacing either Robbie Fowler or Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink up front. Fowler recently flew to Germany for an injection to cure a hip problem.

Midfielder Ricci Scimeca is out of action until January, while striker Steve McLean is not yet ready to return to the first team, but otherwise Jones has a full strength squad from which to pick his team.

Town have a generally good record against the Bluebirds having won 14 matches between the two sides with Cardiff victorious eight times and nine games having ended in draws.

Last season the Blues won 3-1 at Portman Road with Jon Walters on the scoresheet twice and Franny Jeffers once, while Paul Parry netted for the visitors. At Ninian Park the sides shared four goals, Jon Macken and Gary Roberts (pen) netting for the Blues and Darren Purse scoring both for the Welshman, once from the spot.

Since Cardiff's return to the Championship in 2003, the Blues have won two, lost one and drawn one at Ninian Park.

The Bluebirds currently sit 20th in the table with a home record not dissimilar to Town's away form. So far this season the Bluebirds have won once, drawn three times and lost on four occasions at Ninian Park.

Fans travelling by road should be warned that the large car park next to the ground is not in use at present due to the building work on the Cardiff's new stadium. Street parking is available in Lawrenny Avenue, where a five-a-side centre also offers spaces. Arriving early is recommended.

The game kicks off at noon as there is a rugby union international at the Millennium Stadium later in the afternoon. Ticket prices have been cut to £10 for adults and £1 for concessions across the board and Cardiff are expecting a crowd of around 15,000.

Saturday's referee is Tony Bates from Stoke-on-Trent, who has shown 27 yellow and no red cards in 14 games so far this season. Bates's last Town game was the 5-1 home hammering of Barnsley in April.

Squad: Alexander, Bruce, Clarke, Couñago, De Vos, Garvan, Harding, Haynes, Lee, Legwinski, Miller, Roberts, Supple, Trotter, Walters, Williams, Wilnis, Wright.


Photo: Action Images



Please report offensive, libellous or inappropriate posts by using the links provided.


You need to login in order to post your comments

Ipswich Town Polls

About Us Contact Us Terms & Conditions Privacy Cookies Advertising
© TWTD 1995-2024