Walters' desire to get on the goal trail

By Elvin King

JON Walters left Selhurst Park battered and bruised, but with his desire intact to get on to the goal trail for Ipswich Town.

The recent signing from Chester City, gave a good account of himself in Saturday's 2-0 Championship defeat at Crystal Palace despite taking three heavy blows to his skull that saw him play with a bandage round his head for much of the match.

But he knows that goals are what his move is all about. And Ipswich are short in this department - failing to find the net away from home since Alan Lee netted at Coventry on Boxing Day.

“We can do with some goals, and they will come,” said the Republic of Ireland Under-21 international.

“I thought I had scored with a toe poke towards the end, but the ball spun away from the goal. If it had struck the post, Richard Naylor would have netted the rebound.

“The pace is no greater than I expected although the game is played differently with teams playing football to go forward from the back and using the midfield more.”

Walters explained why he looked so groggy as he left the field. “I took a blow on the left side of my head and as it was bleeding I needed a bandage. As soon as I went back I took another blow in the same place

“And soon after that I was struck on the other side of my head.”

Walters had two stitches but kept battling away and should be fit to face Leicester at Portman Road on Saturday.

Jason De Vos, who acted as summariser on BBC Radio Suffolk and was heard by his folks on line back in his native Canada, said: “It was a game that was disappointing to lose.

“David Wright did well and we defended well for a great deal of the time.

Owen Garvan said: “We should really have taken our chances early on. But we missed them and it went down hill from there.

“We played too many long balls forward and lost our fluency. We were all on a high after a gritty display at Stoke and wanted more of the same with a bit more attacking play. But it did not work out that way.”

Former Town striker Shefki Kuqi, who cost Palace £2.5million from Blackburn last summer, said: “It was strange playing against Ipswich. My days at Portman Road were the best of my career.

“It was a special time for me at a great club and with great players to work with. The Selhurst Park pitch did not help Ipswich as they like to get the ball down and play on the floor.

“I am really pleased for Jim Magilton. He has been given a chance and done very well. Who knows where he can lead Ipswich?”

HOW do you compare Shefki Kuqi with Alan Lee and Jon Walters? E-mail starsport@eveningstar.co.uk or write to: Sports Department, Evening Star, 30, Lower Brook Street, Ipswich IP4 1AN. Please include your name and address.