Central defender John McGreal will make his first appearance of the season against Derby on Saturday, in place of the suspended Georges Santos. McGreal, who has been injured for most of the last year, will partner Richard Naylor at the centre of the Town defence.
Luke Hyam and new loanee Tyrone Barnett are set to come into the Town side which faces Nottingham Forest at Portman Road this evening. Midfielder Hyam will take over from Nigel Reo-Coker, who is out with a hamstring problem, while Michael Chopra will probably drop to the bench to allow Barnett to make his Blues debut.
Goal-shy Town recorded their 10th draw of the season as Sheffield Wednesday’s visit to Portman Road ended goalless. Tamás Priskin had a goal disallowed for offside, Alan Quinn missed a one-one with Owls keeper Lee Grant and neither Jon Walters nor Gareth McAuley could hook a loose ball over the line from point blank range.
Reserves 1-3 Derby Tuesday, 25th Feb 2003 21:42
Town s reserves fell to a deserved 3-1 defeat at home to table-toppers Derby County. The Rams, who included Craig Burley in their side, went ahead in the third minute and rarely looked in trouble against the Blues second string.
Keeper James Pullen was beaten for the first time while many of the 500 crowd were still taking their seats. Town centre-half Lee Chaffey clumsily put Adam Murray on the turf inside the area and referee Mike Thorpe pointed straight to the spot. Izale McCloud, who made his senior debut at Portman Road earlier in the season, beat Pullen from 12 yards.
Old Git Reserves Report Tuesday, 25th Feb 2003 23:03
Legendary TWTD reserves reporter Old Git is back and is missing all his regular second string pals.
TOWN RESERVES 1-3 DERBY COUNTY RESERVES
by OldGit@Reserves, still mourning Dale Roberts.
TEAMS: Pullen.bye,bye, then sort of three/four at the back: Thin, full-beaked Scott Mitchell, on the right; Big boss Hogg (sub Collins) and chubby Lee Chaffey in the middle and Matt Richards left wingback; In midfield: Neat but small Matt Bloomfield on the right - Matt is the new Darren but Bloomfield isn t the new Ambrose; Antonio Murray and Reuser (with a Will Young rug on top of his head) in the middle midfield and Ian Westlake on the left; And, up front, AA (sub Morrow) and exciting Dean Bowditch (sub Matt Robinson).