Ipswich Town
Preview: Town – Barnsley
By Aston
September 30 2008
Town will be looking to score three points against a struggling Barnsley side at Portman Road later tonight. Town could be missing defenders Moritz Volz and Pim Balkestein who have hamstring and groin injuries respectively, Tommy Miller is also a doubt with a dead leg.
Town manager Jim Magilton: "Teams are going to come here and make it very difficult as Crystal Palace did. They will play with the one striker and crowd the midfield to make it difficult for us.
"We know these things but what we need to do is be better and move the ball better than we did last Saturday.
"We recognise that Barnsley will enjoy coming here and the players are a bit frustrated and looking for a result.
"Heinz Muller coming back has helped them. He is a very good keeper and they have experienced players like Darren Moore so we know they will come and try and shut up shop.
"I want us to get into the game quickly. We were building up a wee head of steam after two successive away draws and the confidence and self esteem is still growing and a win would help.
"Nobody died, we are still rolling and if we get a win against Barnsley I'm sure the place will lift.
"There is an air of pessimism around the place but I'm sure the players want to get a win."
Barnsley will have teenagers Reuben Noble-Lazarus and Jamil Adam in the squad as they look to score goals against Town tonight. Brian Howard might not be involved as he is subject to an ongoing transfer saga.
Barnsley boss Simon Davey: "We have a big game against Ipswich Town and that is all we are concentrating on.
"We are looking ok at the moment and have had a boost today with Maceo Rigters coming back into training. He is available for the game. We are also taking two youngsters down to Ipswich with us in Reuben Noble-Lazarus and Jamil Adam. They will both come down with us and could be involved some way.
"Jamil has scored a lot of goals for the Academy and reserves in the last year. He is another I have given the chance to in the first team and another we have high hopes for.
"Reuben has just turned 15 but I had his with me in the Academy. I gave him his first game with the U18s when he was just 12. He scored a hat trick for the U18s against Sheffield United last weekend and is an exciting prospect. After getting a hat trick it is probably the ideal time to give him the chance with the first team tomorrow. We are taking a squad of 19 with us to Ipswich Town and both could be involved on the bench.
"I though our performance against Norwich was the best we have played all season. We had everything apart from the goals. We dominated possession, looked solid at the back and created chances. It could have been three or four at half time but we need results at the moment.
"We have to look at what we have in the squad to get goals. We have Maceo back with us and we have to give our strikers time to get the goals we need. However, I have to be fair to everybody and I will have to change it if the goals do not come."
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