At LBJ's place

Richard Naylor

The Tractor Boys are still trying to sort out some of their defensive frailties but are certainly firing on all cylinders going forward and are currently the leading scorers in the division.

There haven’t been too many additions to the squad from last season, just two in total. The first of these was Jason De Vos who was signed from current league leaders Wigan whilst shortly afterwards former Burnley target Kevin Horlock arrived from West Ham.

To counter this there were some departures, with Joe Royle too busy earning a bit of extra money with the BBC during Euro 2004 to know anything about some of them. That included the Clarets signing defender John McGreal and he will be making his first return to Portman Road tomorrow.

It is a pity for Ipswich that LBJ was away at the time because he has admitted this week to missing the Clarets’ central defender. “I never wanted to lose him and of the eight players who left the club in the summer he was my biggest regret.”

Some of the others in the eight were Marcus Bent who went to Everton for £4.5 million along with Jermaine Wright, Georges Santos, Chris Makin, Chris Bart-Williams and Alun Armstrong who went to help reduce the wage bill.

Long Ball Joe is often complaining at the lack of money available to him, but he would have had a lot more to worry about had the club not been able to wipe out massive debts via administration.

They have lost just the two league games this season, both away and both with 3-2 scorelines, against Derby and Stoke and they went into the break two weeks ago with a 2-1 win at Coventry that was somewhat fortunate.

They looked winners after Dean Bowditch gave them the lead but then saw Patrick Suffo equalise for the home side. It took a bizarre own goal from youngster Matthew Mills three minutes from time to give them all three points.

Click HERE to see all Ipswich’s results this season.

There’s been a late blow for Ipswich ahead of the game with De Vos rated doubtful after suffering from what could be a fractured toe. He’s having a scan and although not ruled out as yet it is now unlikely that he will play.

If he doesn’t make it then that will mean a debut for one of the Ipswich youngsters. It could be Scott Mitchell who would play right back with Drissa Diallo moving into the centre or either Jerrome Sobers or Aidan Collins could come into the centre of defence.

All three are academy players and they will be joined by two more in Antonio Murray and goalkeeper Shane Supple in the sixteen.

Also ruled out are goalkeeper Kelvin Davis and forward Darren Bent with back and hamstring injuries respectively whilst Fabian Wilnis is out suspended following a sending off against Plymouth.

Ipswich are expected to line up: Lewis Price, Scott Mitchell, Driss Diallo, Richard Naylor, Matt Richards, Ian Westlake, Jim Magilton, Kevin Horlock, Tommy Miller, Dean Bowditch, Shefki Kuqi. Subs: Shane Supple, Jerrome Sobers, Pablo Counago, Aidan Collins, Antonio Murray.

Clarets’ boss Steve Cotterill, yes that’s right he is manager of the Clarets and he hasn’t gone to Leicester, could have just about a full strength squad to select from with Lee Roche back in training following the hamstring injury he sustained at Wigan.

Roche is unlikely to play though although if considered fit enough he could make it onto the subs bench. Other than that, it should be just about business as usual and it would be no surprise to see the team made up of the eleven players who have played the most this season.

That being the case the Burnley team will be: Danny Coyne, Michael Duff, Frank Sinclair, John McGreal, Mo Camara, Ian Moore, Richard Chaplow, Tony Grant, Micah Hyde, Graham Branch, Robbie Blake. Subs from: Brian Jensen, Lee Roche, Richard Duffy, Amadou Sanokho, Jean-Louis Valois, Matt O’Neill.

Last season’s trip to Portman Road was not a happy one for the Clarets who turned up without both David May and Andy Todd and suffered as a consequence with Branch and Roche in the centre of defence.

We had a torrid time in the second quarter of the game, conceding five goals in a twenty minute spell from which there was no way of recovering. The defence were opened up with ease and Jensen behind them had a poor night.

It ended 6-1 with Delroy Facey scoring for the Clarets in the second half – a night to forget as we ‘threw one in’.

The teams were,

Ipswich: Kelvin Davis, Fabian Wilnis, George Santos (Gerard Nash 75), Richard Naylor, Matthew Richards, Jermaine Wright, Jim Magilton (Ian Westlake 77), Chris Bart-Williams, Alan Mahon, Pablo Counago, Shefki Kuqi. Subs not used: Lewis Price, Alun Armstrong, Dean Bowditch.

Burnley: Brian Jensen, Dean West, Lee Roche, Graham Branch, Mo Camara, Richard Chaplow, Paul Weller, Gareth Farrelly, Robbie Blake, Ian Moore, Delroy Facey. Subs not used: Tony Grant, Joel Pilkington, Luke Chadwick, Matt O’Neill.