Saturday gives us the opportunity to get up and running

Last updated : 15 August 2008 By Tony Scholes
Ipswich boss Jim Magilton spoke ahead of the game and admitted that he had made up his mind on their starting eleven. "The mentality of us at the moment is that we should be very hard to beat and pick a team accordingly," he said.

"We have a problem when we haven't got the ball, at times we switch off. Collectively we probably put more pressure on our goalkeeper and back four than we should and that's something we have to sort out.

"We brought in experienced players that will help and we have a decent squad now. We have options but I know my side for the Burnley game, I knew on Tuesday night."

That side could include new signing Ben Thatcher and Magilton said of him: "Ben will give us something extra in the dressing room and on the pitch. He will help the youngsters as well. The lads know him from the Northern Ireland trip and he was a great help out there. He is probably a little short on match fitness but he will come straight into the squad for the Burnley game."

Looking at Burnley he added: "It probably shocked them last week going to Sheffield and losing. They will be looking to bounce back," he added before admitting he would have liked to have signed Martin Paterson.

"Paterson is someone who I would have probably gone in and tried to get but Burnley beat us to the punch. He was very lively here last season with Scunthorpe and scored two goals. He can be a real threat.

"Burnley had a good win in the cup like us and I'm sure they will hope to come out of the blocks firing on all cylinders. We have to withstand the early pressure, be strong and get a result."

Owen Coyle meanwhile has asked his players to go out and reward the Burnley fans by getting a win. "It's our first game at home and a chance for the fans to get behind us and hopefully we will reward them with three points," he said.

"Saturday gives us the opportunity to get up and running. The fans were brilliant at Bury this week, singing their hearts out, and the players respond to that. We'll get more of that on Saturday I'm sure and I want the players to go and reward the fans with three points."

Speaking about the game he added: "There is no doubt it will be a tough game because there are no easy games in the Championship. We have to be at our very best to win games and that's a collective effort from back to front. We will look to do that on Saturday and try to kick on from there.

"Ipswich were very unfortunate to lose at home last Saturday. By all accounts they dominated the game and lost to a couple of wonder goals. We know they are a very good side who have invested heavily in their squad.

"I have no doubts that come the end of the season, Ipswich will be up around the top six. They have some very talented players and it has all the makings of a good game."

He acknowledged that he had some difficult decisions to make with players returning to the squad after suspension and injury but said: "That's the nature of the job and it is a nice dilemma to have.

"Id rather have that problem because people are putting themselves in the frame to play, as opposed to the problem that they are not doing well enough. Long may that continue and we'll pick the best team capable of beating a good Ipswich side."