Walsall 1-3 Ipswich - Manager Reaction

Last updated : 17 March 2004 By Site Editor
Ipswich Town manager Joe Royle revealed he was delighted with both the result and the peformance his side gave in the 3-1 win and said it was even better considering the injury problems that the blues have faced this week.

"I was delighted. I thought the performance was excellent, particularly as in training I did not know who was going to be fit. Richard Naylor played with a broken toe and after having two injections, and it was a shame we conceded one goal from a free-kick.

Meanwhile Royle was also happy with debutant Matt Elliott who has joined the club on a months loan from Leicester: "Matt was super. He steadied us, nothing flash, but he headed the ball clear and passed it well. Initially we have Matt for a month but I hope to persuade him to stay longer."

Also attracting praise after the game was Hat-Trick hero Darren Bent who was in inspired form for the blues: "He has got a good scoring record but is still a bit naïve in the game. His natural asset is pace, and with finishing like that he could go to the top.

"We had one good break in the second half when Paul Merson missed the chance at the far post which could have put a bit of pressure on us. But our midfield men dominated the game and we have done that in many games this season. Only Wigan have overrun us."

Meanwhile Walsall Boss Colin Lee felt his side did not deserve to win, but felt blues striker Darren Bent was the difference between the two sides: "We came up against a team who are a little bit better than us.

"I think we probably played better than on Saturday but this time we were playing against a better team - and I have often been an admirer of the young boy Bent. Put him in our team and we would probably have won the game. He has pace and can score goals."

Lee however thought the referee did not have the best of games when he denied the Saddlers a penalty in the first half after Fabian Wilnis handled in the box:  "I thought it was a diabolical decision. I thought their defender was playing in goal."