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Joe: Great Performance
Joe: Great Performance
Monday, 12th Apr 2004 18:42

Town boss Joe Royle hailed a great team performance after his side defeated fellow promotion challengers Sunderland 1-0 at Portman Road.

Royle felt his team had deserved more than just Tommy Miller's first half injury time penalty: "It was a great team performance and we might well have had a second goal.

"I was pleased to keep a clean sheet and haven't been able to say that much this season.

"We had a plan and stuck to it. There have been times when we have played better football but lost. Today we were strong and showed togetherness.

"Two more wins from our final four games will give us a strong chance of a play-off place but we are not past the post yet.

"Sunderland are sure to be in the play-offs while Norwich and West Bromwich have ground-out results better than any of their rivals this season.

"Our goal record has been cavalier in the extreme but we have had 11 different centre-back partnerships. Now we have John McGreal and Matt Elliott together so maybe we can get a bit of continuity."

Mick McCarthy had no complaints regarding the penalty conceded by keeper Thomas Myhre: "In the first half we were the better side and created chances but it was a psychological blow to concede a penalty just before the interval,
especially after we'd played as well as we had.

"The penalty gave Ipswich a huge boost and they were the better side after the interval.

"I have no complaints about the penalty. When Myhre went to ground he had to get the ball. What disappointed me was the way the ball came into the box because we had been in possession.

"After you concede a penalty sometimes you start to feel tired legs but my players have been excellent over the past few weeks."

McCarthy had praise for the Town support after former striker Marcus Stewart was given a huge reception on his first return to Portman Road since joining the Black Cats: "It was nice to see a player returning to a club and being appreciated for what he has done there. I expected it from the Ipswich fans. It was nice."


Photo: Action Images



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