TWO-GOAL hero Alan Lee heard what his manager had to say then insisted: “I totally disagree!”But supporters need have no fear about a split in the ranks.

By Mel Henderson

TWO-GOAL hero Alan Lee heard what his manager had to say then insisted: “I totally disagree!”

But supporters need have no fear about a split in the ranks. The spirit in the camp is better than ever and the Ipswich striker's remark was totally tongue in cheek.

Ipswich boss Jim Magilton had earlier described Lee as “not the most fantastic trainer in the world” and the burly Republic of Ireland international wasn't about to waive the right of reply.

Lee, 28, said: “I had a double hernia operation in June and I came back a bit early, so it was always going to take time to get my fitness and be at my best in games.

“I've heard what the manager has said about me not being the best of trainers but I totally disagree with him!

“But seriously, if I'm not 100 per cent fit and working at full tempo it's hard for me to keep the weight off. The way I play, I need all my strength.”

Lee's all-action display to cash in on Sunderland's woeful defending made him look a tremendous bargain after previous boss Joe Royle paid Cardiff just £100,000 for him back in January.

He hasn't always shone but Saturday's display, when he was at his barnstorming best, marked him down as one of the most effective strikers in the Championship.

Lee said the team's disappointing start to the campaign, when they propped up the table after suffering three successive defeats, had not shattered self-belief among the players.

He added: “Even when we lost our first three games of the season we knew we were much better than that.

“We played very well on the first day against Crystal Palace and when we didn't win that game it was a real blow. We were terrible in the next two but it's clicked since then and we're bubbly after staying unbeaten in six.

“Our aim is the top. It always has been as far as I'm concerned. I can't see the point in starting a season saying 'We'd like to reach the play-offs'. I've always been aiming higher.

“The team spirit is great. This is a family club with a nice atmosphere and the lads get on particularly well.

“Everyone seems to fit in and there's no odd one out in the dressing room.”

Lee did not deny that his double blast came courtesy of disastrous defending by Sunderland pair Neill Collins and Stanislav Varga.

He said: “The balls fell for us today, although I still had a tricky finish for the first one. I could try that 20 times in training and it might never come off.

“For the second, I don't know if Varga tripped or if I pushed him over. I like to think it was a bit of opportunism on my part.

“We always knew it would be a bit of a battle. Sunderland were aggressive and it flared up a bit at times, but that happens in games.”

IPSWICH Town Reserves' match at home to Oxford Reserves, scheduled for February, has been brought forward today at the training ground, kick-off 2pm.

Ipswich Town's Suffolk Premier Cup first round match against Felixstowe & Walton United has been switched from Portman Road to Dellwood Avenue, with the game now being played on Tuesday, October 3, kick-off 7.45pm.