By Aston
August 13 2004

Ipswich Town travel to the east midlands for the second time in a week tomorrow to take on George Burley’s Derby County side at pride park.

Derby Preview

Ipswich Town travel to the east midlands for the second time in a week tomorrow to take on George Burley’s Derby County side.

The rams will be looking to pick up their first points of the season after a tough start against Leeds united and a derby against Leicester City on Tuesday, but they will have to do it with the services of Mo Konjic who is out with a knee injury and Jamie Vincent misses with a thigh injury, third choice keeper Andy Oakes and midfielder Paul Boertien are also out but other than those Burley has a fully fit squad to choose from.

Burley expects Dean Bowditch play tomorrow after the poor showing of the Town front men at Derby’s other east midlands Nottingham Forest, Burley has said that: “I expect Dean to play and he is a smashing player who has developed well since I first watched him, I am certain he will turn into a really top class performer,”. George is expecting a tough game against Ipswich, adding that: “We have yet to win a point, but we faced a tough opening against Leeds and Leicester and we have another tough one against Ipswich.

“I have been encouraged by the way we have played, but disappointed in the results.

“Last season we were not strong enough at the start, but this time I have a squad that can compete at this level.”.

Ipswich manager Joe Royle only has Jim Magilton out with a tear in his thigh muscle and may have to go without defender Jason De Vos who has been carrying a knee injury since the friendly against Osasuna. Royle has been criticised for not playing Dean Bowditch at the city ground on Wednesday night and hasn’t ruled out his involvement tomorrow, Royle has said that: “Dean comes into contention with Pablo Couñago not able to find his form yet. Some people were surprised when Dean was left out of our starting line-up against Forest on Wednesday, but I can assure our supporters that we know what we are doing with our young players.

“I will see how Tony Dinning is, he probably got through Wednesday's game on adrenalin after being out of first team action for a while and tomorrow's match could come hard fitness-wise for him.

“We have had good reports on Derby and they were unlucky in their opening two games. It will be very tough for us but it is important we keep the momentum going with another good result.”.

Expected Ipswich Town squad: Kelvin Davis, Drissa Diallo, Jason De Vos, Richard Naylor, Matt Richards, Tommy Miller, Tony Dinning, Kevin Horlock, Ian Westlake, Shefki Kuqi, Darren Bent, Dean Bowditch, Fabian Wilnis, Pablo Couñago, Scott Mitchell, Scott Barron, Lewis Price.

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