By Aston
October 27 2004

Ipswich Town manager Joe Royle believes there is no need to panic despite Towns rather poor defensive record so far this season.

Royle: No Need To Panic

Ipswich Town manager Joe Royle believes there is no need to panic despite Towns rather poor defensive record so far this season.

A third of the way in to the league season Town have leaked 20 goals so far this year which is the same as Rotherham who currently prop up the championship table but Royle believes that is no cause for alarm, saying: “At the end of the day we are third in the table - and we would have settled for that at the start of the season, if we can cut out our errors at the back we have a great chance of gaining promotion.

“And I am confident that we will. We are defending a lot better than last season and moving in the right direction.

“For 85 minutes on Saturday we defended very well indeed, but paid a heavy price for switching off at vital times.

“We will continue to work hard on improving our defensive record and keep reminding players of their individual duties.

“They are told who to mark before games at corners and free-kicks, but short of going on to the field myself there is not much more I can do when a match is taking place.

“Richard Naylor had a great game at Watford, but it was his man who headed the first goal. And Drissa Diallo did well at Stoke City earlier in the season, yet went walkabout for a while and his man scored as we lost that game.

“It is not just one person who is at fault - and we will get it right. We have two home matches coming up and an ideal chance to make up for the points we have let slip away recently.”

Source: Evening Star.

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