Baker has a hungry appetite
LATE developer Carl Baker says that his hunger to play professional football was fashioned during his days playing Sunday football.The 27-year-old Coventry City midfielder arrived at the Ricoh Arena from Stockport where he was a big hit, and he's in line to start today's Championship game at Portman Road (kick-off 3pm).
Elvin King
LATE developer Carl Baker says that his hunger to play professional football was fashioned during his days playing Sunday football.
The 27-year-old Coventry City midfielder arrived at the Ricoh Arena from Stockport where he was a big hit, and he's in line to start today's Championship game at Portman Road (kick-off 3pm).
“I appreciate this side of the game 100 per cent because I've seen the other side of it,” said Baker, who is set to start if Sammy Clingan and Aron Gunnarsson are unfit.
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“I played Sunday league and carried goalposts and put flags out, so to move to Coventry and see the stadium and the pitch and the staff, it's surreal to be honest.
“I appreciate every single moment.
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“And hopefully that will be reflected in my game and work ethic. I think even if things aren't going well the fans will still get behind you if you give them 110 per cent.
“I think it's really important to have a good relationship with the fans and if things aren't going well they won't see me with my head down. I'll be giving everything.”
Coventry manager Chris Coleman admits that it will take a massive effort from him and his coaching staff to repair the morale that was shattered by a goal in the final few seconds of a 2-1 FA Cup defeat to Portsmouth after extra time on Tuesday.
“The players are gutted,” he said. “When they trudged off the pitch they were devastated after going so close.
Bottom of Form
“Psychologically that was very tough to take and now I'm concerned about the aftermath.
“I hope that it's not going to take its toll on us because we've been in great form in the league with 12 points from our last five games and we have to keep that going, keep climbing the table.
"We've had some fantastic results of late and we must maintain that by bringing something back from Portman Road.”
“It's not going to be easy because this game won't have helped in terms of fitness or freshness and on top of that the players are all desperately disappointed.
“But it's up to us to pick them up and I've told them that they've got nothing to be ashamed about after the way they played.
“They couldn't have given me any more.”
Today's likely squads
Ipswich Town: Lee-Barrett; Bruce, Rosenior, McAuley, Delaney, Balkestein, D Wright, Peters, Leadbitter, Norris, Colback, Garvan, Edwards, Quinn, Walters, John, Wickham, McLoughlin, Priskin, Counago.
Coventry City: Westwood, S Wright, McPake, Wood, Barnett, Cranie, Bell, Clingan, Gunnarsson, Deegan, Baker, McIndoe, Morrison, Eastwood, Best, Hall, Madine, Grandison, Konstantopoulos, Hussey.
Referee: Mr M Oliver (Northumberland).
