IPSWICH Town manager Jim Magilton today said that his players have no excuse for turning in poor away performances.The Blues will be seeking to end a run of three comprehensive away defeats when they play Burnley at Turf Moor tonight.

By Elvin King

IPSWICH Town manager Jim Magilton today said that his players have no excuse for turning in poor away performances.

The Blues will be seeking to end a run of three comprehensive away defeats when they play Burnley at Turf Moor tonight (kick-off 7.45pm) in the Coca-Cola Championship.

“It is not as though they are asked to sleep in tents when they play away,” said Magilton. “They are put up overnight in high standard hotels.

“They are all well paid for what they do, and can have no excuse for failing to reproduce their Portman Road form on their travels.”

Town have gone a total of eight games without an away win stretching back into last season, including the Carling Cup 'draw' at MK Dons. Since they won 2-0 at Luton on March 17 they have lost four times and drawn four, although they subsequently lost to MK Dons on penalties.

Magilton says that he will tinker with his squad and possibly the shape of the team to try and obtain a much-needed away success after Saturday's 3-1 defeat at Hull City.

This is likely to mean a second start of the season for Sylvain Legwinski and a switch to 4-3-3, although Magilton confirmed that wide players Jaime Peters and Danny Haynes are both close to having a start.

Leading scorer Alan Lee could make way for Haynes while Shane Supple is pushing Neil Alexander for the goalkeeper's jersey.

Magilton saw more to his liking when watching a video of the game, and his criticism has mellowed from Saturday.

“I could not fault our effort,” he said. “And in the second period they had the best of intentions, but Hull cut off the supply to Pablo Counago and stopped our wide players from dominating.”

Magilton is looking for an early goal tonight - and for his players to stay awake at the back.

“We failed to score after cutting Hull to shreds early on - and you could see our opponents lifted by this,” said Magilton.

Ipswich fans can double their money if they take a successful punt on the Blues winning tonight. Corals offer 5-2 on a Town victory with Betfred 9-4 and William Hill 23-10.

Burnley, who drew at home with Crystal Palace on Saturday are quoted at 11-10, evens and 19-20 respectively.

Tonight's squads

Burnley: Kiraly, G Alexander, Carlisle, Caldwell, Jordan, Elliott, O'Connor, Mahon, Lafferty, Gray, Blake, Spicer, Jones, Akinbiyi, Unsworth, Jensen McCann.

Ipswich Town: N Alexander, Wright, Bruce, De Vos, Harding, Walters, Miller, Garvan, Haynes, Lee, Counago, Supple, Roberts, Legwinski, Peters, Wilnis, Casement, Clarke, Sito.

Referee: Mr C Webster (Tyne and Wear)

Case against the Town defence - see EdBlog at www.eveningstar.co.uk