IPSWICH Town midfielder Tommy Miller was not surprised that his former Sunderland team-mate Liam Lawrence should score a wonder goal that beat the Blues at Stoke City on Saturday.

Elvin King

IPSWICH Town midfielder Tommy Miller was not surprised that his former Sunderland team-mate Liam Lawrence should score a wonder goal that beat the Blues at Stoke City on Saturday.

“He used to do that kind of thing all the time when we were together at Sunderland,” said Miller, who joined Ipswich on a free from the Stadium of light-based club last summer.

“There was very little in the game, and that special strike won Stoke the points.

“Neither goalkeeper had a lot to do and we dealt with whatever they threw at us.”

And Miller called for the multi-ball system to be standardised after Town manager Jim Magilton was sent to the stands after a disagreement with referee Mike Jones following an incident when a ball was slow being returned to Alex Bruce.

“Sometimes the multi-ball system works and sometimes it doesn't,” said Miller.

“There were a couple of times in the game when I felt it worked against us.

“The problem is that some clubs use it and some - like us - don't. It should be a standard thing, so it's the same at every ground.”

Miller could be playing alongside his former Preston team-mate David Nugent when Ipswich visit Southampton in the Coca-Cola Championship on Saturday.

Having played with the free-scoring Nugent while on loan from Sunderland last season, Miller said: “If we can sign David it would be a huge boost for our promotion chances.

“David's a natural goalscorer and he did very well for Preston. I'd love to see him join.

“If he's not playing first-team football it must be good for him to come here, rather than just being stuck in the reserves at Portsmouth.”