STEVE Foley today looked at the bigger picture and said: “We need to play catch-up.”The Ipswich Town technical skills coach played and coached at Colchester United for 20 years before working as a coach at Norwich City for ten years.

By Elvin King

STEVE Foley today looked at the bigger picture and said: “We need to play catch-up.”

The Ipswich Town technical skills coach played and coached at Colchester United for 20 years before working as a coach at Norwich City for ten years.

He is now in his second season with Ipswich - and confirms that he is loving every minute.

“It would be great for Ipswich Town to be East Anglian top dog this season,” said Foley,

“It would be even greater if we were to gain promotion.

“And it would be a great day tomorrow for us and our supporters if we were to come away from Carrow Road with three points.

“But there are 46 games in a league season - and 92 points would see us promoted automatically.

“This must be our aim, and this represents an average of two points per game.

“If you break it down in batches then that is ten points from each group of five matches.

“On this basis we are behind schedule with 21 from 12, so we need to do some catching up tomorrow.”

Foley moved to Ipswich after leaving Norwich - where he helped them gain promotion to the Premier League in 2004 - last summer upon the appointment of Jim Magilton as Blues manager.

“Jim is doing a great job,” added Foley. “Along with coach Bryan Klug he is putting the jigsaw together.

“They want to play the right way, and this is what attracted me to Portman Road.

“Jim was appointed manager the same time as Peter Grant at City. It has worked out for Jim in what has been a learning curve.

“It didn't work out for Peter, but that is not to say he won't turn out to be a good manager.

“Having been at Norwich I know what is required to get out of this division.

“But in derby games you never know what might happen.

“Something has to give - Norwich's poor run of results or our lack of away wins.

“We have a plan up our sleeves for tomorrow. A 4-5-1 formation has worked well for us away from home, but we have not won on our travels yet.”

Magilton, whose side drew 1-1 at Norwich last season thanks to a David Wright equaliser, said: “It will be a great day for us, and a great opportunity to send out a message.

“Norwich have under achieved to say the least, but have players who can hurt us on the day.”

New Norwich manager Glenn Roeder has confirmed that Martin Taylor, who was signed on a month's loan from Birmingham on Thursday, will partner Jason Shackell in the centre of defence.

Dion Dublin, out for the last three games with a back injury, has been back in training this week, but is not expected to feature.

City defender Adam Drury could be out until the spring after having a knee operation on Thursday.

Drury's absence has made the left-back position one he would have to fill, admitted Roeder.

“We definitely need to look at that position. I know that Simon Lappin can fill in there but he looks to me much more an offensive player.”