Player Reaction: LCFC

By Aston
February 12 2005

Reaction from Ipswich Town duo Ian Westlake and Jim Magilton as well as James Scowcroft after today’s game at Portman Road.

Reaction from Ipswich Town duo Ian Westlake and Jim Magilton as well as James Scowcroft after today’s game at Portman Road

Ian Westlake: “That was never going to be an easy game; they haven't lost for the past seven games so we knew that it was going to be tough. Even though we were at home it was going to be difficult to beat them. It wasn't a pretty game, much like last week at Sheffield United, but when you're top of the league and grinding out results like that it's got to be good. Great header by Shefki to give us an early lead and it's a shame that he's going to be out for some time but that early goal was important for us. The lads are happy with the result but unhappy with the way we played; we like to play football. The conditions were horrible today so it was difficult to play good football.”

Jim Magilton: “Shefki's injury is a blow to us, he scored with a great header but he's got a puncture wound on the inside of his thigh and will probably be out for a couple of weeks. We knew before the game that this was going to be pretty difficult but getting off to a good start was exactly what we hoped for but we lacked a bit of composure and didn't really get the ball down and play which was disappointing for us but at this stage of the season three points are really vital. We've got to be better than that, we simply did not play well. Kelvin made some great saves, particularly in the first-half and that kept us in it. Yet again our back four were really good and our 'keeper was outstanding. We're still winning games and that is the positive you take away from today.”

James Scowcroft: “We got off to a really bad start conceding an early goal from a set piece. When you come to a club like Ipswich the last thing you want to do is give them a head start; and a few minutes later we let in virtually an identical goal so it was an uphill task but we slowly got into the game and created a few chances. We said at half time that if we got a goal we stood a chance. From our point of view we disappointed that we didn't get a draw out of the game. Ipswich are top of the league and they've just got to keep out grinding out the results and they'll go up. When you come to this end of the season you're not so concerned with quality, it's all about results.

“It's nice to come back to Ipswich, it was home for a long time and the fans were really kind to me and gave me a really warm reception. I've heard the speculation and I really don't know where that's come from. I'm a Leicester player and I've had a really good three and a half years and enjoyed it. What will happen in the summer will happen but there's a lot of football to be played between now and the end of the season and I just want to stay focused.”

Source: Ipswich Town - the official website.

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