By Aston
December 22 2005

Ipswich Town manager Joe Royle is hoping that Town can kick-start their season with a win against Crystal Palace on Boxing Day.

Back in 2003 Palace ran out 3-1 winners at Portman Road to give Iain Dowie his first win as Palace manager as they then went on to lose just four times in the next 21 games which saw them not only reach the play-offs but gain promotion to the premier league and Joe is hoping this time Town can do the same.

 

Joe: “That achievement is like a promotion template to the rest of us - proof of what a decent run in this division can do for a team.

 

“Palace were even further behind at the time than we are now and what they managed to do is an example to everyone else. There are clubs below us at the moment who still believe they can finish in the top six and Palace have demonstrated that it really can be done.

 

“For example, Coventry won their first away game of the season at QPR the other night. Straight away there was talk of them making the play-offs and they are one place and point behind us.”

 

It is common knowledge that Joe is not a big fan off the play-off system but he can see its merits: “There is no question that it keeps the season alive for most clubs.

 

“We have been there in each of the last two seasons and we want to be there again. This league is so tight that any team stringing together three wins can soon start to climb it.

 

“We want to do it for our fans. You only have to look at the attendance figures to see what tremendous support we are receiving this season.

 

“They are desperate to see us do well and return to the Premiership, and we have never lost our ambition to do exactly that.”

 

Source: EADT

 

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