Preview: Burnley V Town

By Aston
November 5 2004

Ipswich Town travel to Burnley’s Turfmoor ground tomorrow in search of three points to keep the pressure on Wigan.

Ipswich Town travel to Burnley’s Turfmoor ground tomorrow in search of three points and a few goals to keep the pressure on Wigan.

Town go into the game a with a goalkeeping crisis, both first choice goalkeepers are fit and ready to go all Joe Royle has to do is choose if he gives Kelvin Davis a return to the first team after a back injury or if he sticks with Lewis Price between the sticks which ever goalkeeper gets the nod his defence is unlikely to consist of Jason De Vos who has a blood clot in his thigh.

Ipswich manager Joe Royle believes Burnley will try and defend again like they did at Portman road last month, Royle: “Burnley defended very well that day and I wouldn't be surprised to see them get plenty of men behind the ball up there, they have played one man up front before at home this season and may try and hit us on the break.

“They have got a fair few injuries as well but we know it will be a hard game for us whatever way they play it.

“We have not had a good record at Turf Moor over the last few years so we will remind the players of the job in hand but we go there full of confidence.

“The lads have been flying this week, as you would expect after two good wins and we want to keep the momentum going.”

Ipswich Town Squad: Darren Bent, Dean Bowditch, Aidan Collins, Pablo Couñago, Kelvin Davis, Jason De Vos, Drissa Diallo, Kevin Horlock, Shefki Kuqi, Jim Magilton, Tommy Miller, Scott Mitchell, Antonio Murray, Richard Naylor, Lewis Price, Matt Richards, Ian Westlake, Fabian Wilnis.

Burnley manager Steve Cotterill has four injury doubts and two certain non-starters for tomorrow’s game, former Town defender John McGreal and Louis Valois are both suffering with hamstring problems, Graham Branch has a calf problem and Richard Chaplow has a knee problem. Goalkeeper Danny Coyne is missing as is striker Ian Moore who is recovering from surgery on his knee.

Steve Cotterill has warned his players against basking in the glory of Wednesday nights win over Leeds United, saying: “We can't spend time basking in the glory of Wednesday night's win, because if we do we'll get a kick in the teeth on Saturday, It's on to the next one and, whilst it was a magnificent night against Leeds, we're hoping for many more magnificent nights this season.

“We know it's going to be a tough game on Saturday and it's certainly going to be tough for us with the way we are at the moment.

“If we rise to the challenge like we did the other night, that will be terrific.”

Sources: Ipswich Town and Burnley - the official websites.

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