Dean: We trained too hard during break
DEAN Bowditch spelt out the reasons for Ipswich Town's dreadful display against West Brom - and looked ahead to a heartening victory against Preston at Portman Road tomorrow.
By Elvin King
DEAN Bowditch spelt out the reasons for Ipswich Town's dreadful display against West Brom - and looked ahead to a heartening victory against Preston at Portman Road tomorrow.
Striker Bowditch, who could well start against the Lancashire-based side as manager Jim Magilton must surely make changes after a 5-1 Championship hammering, looked back on two weeks of hard training when the Town squad often had double sessions.
He said: “There were tired legs out there on Saturday. We worked really hard over the international break.
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“I am not taking a dig at our training methods, but we were unable to respond in the way we wanted.
“Watching from the bench in the first half the game was scrappy but I thought West Brom were there for the taking.
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“But in the end we were hammered, and they proved to be the better team with a top quality striker in Kevin Phillips.”
Former England international Phillips, who was once on the point of signing for Ipswich before he went from Watford to Sunderland in 1997, scored a hat-trick and Diomansy Kamara weighed in with two as Town suffered their biggest home defeat since losing to Wimbledon in 2003.
Albion manager-elect Tony Mowbray was watching from the directors' box and the former Town defender and caretaker boss must have been impressed with what he saw as Albion won away for the first time since January.
Bowditch, who came on for the final 36 minutes, looked ahead with confidence to tomorrow's encounter against a Preston side that had a thumping win over Sunderland on Saturday.
It could be the lowest Portman Road attendance for years, but Bowditch forecasts a big night. He said: “We have the players, the experience and the energy to put things right straight away.
“All the lads were distraught in the dressing room and it is a bonus that we have a chance to put things right so soon.
“We must show that we have the grit to make an impact on the Championship. And I am sure we will.”
