Coach backs Marshall to recover his form

By Dave Allard

IPSWICH Town keeper coach Malcolm Webster today said of axed stopper Andy Marshall: "During the 90 minutes something has been going astray."

The 27-year-old Marshall was told after training yesterday that he is being dropped for today's home game with Grimsby.

Twenty-year-old James Pullen is in for a league debut after an initial first team baptism earlier in the season as Middlesbrough were beaten 3-1 at Portman Road in the Worthington Cup.

Webster said of former Norwich keeper Marshall: "Training-wise he's been good, but little bits and pieces have seemed to be missing from his game when in action during the first team 90 minutes.

"The answer is inside Andy and we've got to work and work at it. Two or three per cent of his game is missing and I'll be doing my utmost to help him to get it back.

"Andy has taken it well. He's always worked well in training with James Pullen and I know that will continue."

Marshall, signed on a Bosman free transfer from Norwich the summer before last, was left out earlier in the season for a month after boss Joe Royle brought Paul Gerrard in from Everton on loan.

Gerrard was set to sign for a further period, but injured his knee and returned to Goodison Park.

Royle, whose side lost 4-2 at home to Wolves on Wednesday night with Marshall in goal, said: "Andy hasn't been at fault for all the goals we've been conceding recently, but certainly the first one against Wolves was down to him.

"I thought it was time to look at the goalkeeping situation. I felt it was time to take Andy out of the firing line. James Pullen did well against Middlesbrough in the Worthington Cup and he's been playing well in the reserves of late. He's shown he has no temperament problem."

The axing of Marshall comes ahead of the big Anglian derby against his old club Norwich at Carrow Road tomorrow week.