Preview: Town - Saints
By Aston
September 13 2005
Team news and more ahead of Town’s championship clash against Southampton at Portman Road tomorrow night.
Town manager Joe Royle is with out Spanish defender Sito Castro who is serving a one game ban after picking two yellow cards against Sheffield United on Saturday, While Jim Magilton, Jimmy Juan and Jay McEveley are all doubts.
Town manager Joe Royle: “I have been slightly surprised at how well
“I fully expect them to be there or thereabouts come the end of the season.
“I think anyone would accept that we've been desperately unlucky with injuries so far, although we know that is part and parcel of the game, but we had very few last term, and I think we have had more already in 2005/06 than we did in the whole of the last campaign.
“All in all, I feel we've had a decent start considering some of the setbacks we have had and when you add that to all of the changes we had in the summer, I think the players have done very well.”
Town Squad: Dean Bowditch, Darren Currie, Jason De Vos, Owen Garvan, Danny Haynes, Kevin Horlock, Jimmy Juan, Jim Magilton, Dean McDonald, Jay McEveley, Richard Naylor, Sam Parkin, Jaime Peters, Lewis Price, Matt Richards, Shane Supple, Fabian Wilnis.
Saints boss Harry Redknapp will be without midfielder David Prutton who picked up a foot injury and is likely to be out for a month, new signing Kamil Kosowski could replace Prutton. Striker Kenwyne Jones is doubtful with an ankle injury.
“The game is all about good players and if you lose a few then clearly you are not going to be as strong as you were.
“You can't lose the likes of Darren Bent who is now scoring every week in the Premiership. I am sure he would have hit plenty in this league!
“It was always going to be hard for Joe Royle losing so many and they probably won't have enough to make the top two.
“But I am sure they will be challenging for a play-off place again and will be there or thereabouts.
“It has always been a tough place to go and it is a good club run by good people with a good tradition.
“They still have plenty of quality there. Jim Magilton can still play a bit. He can't run - but he can play!
“He is a terrific footballer who keeps passing to his own team and they have taken Sam Parkin from
"But we are playing well and I am confident we can go there and get a result.
“I thought we did well against QPR. We moved the ball about well and put together some good passes and created some chances. We just lacked the finishing touch in front of goal.
"I am happy with my squad though. I don't think we are going to get anyone else in but I am happy with how we have started.
“It is never easy when you go down. People can be downbeat and it takes a while to recover but we have played well and made a solid start.
“Now we have to keep it going. We have two tough away games his week but we have to believe we can win them both.”
Match odds from Coral:
Draw: 9/4
Talk about Town on our Message Board.