harriers-online carling cup 1st rd preview
12th August 2003 
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Ipswich Town
At Portman Rd
Wednesday
13/8/03 7:45pm
On paper the Harriers are going to be like sheep led to the slaughter when they go on the trek across country tomorrow evening to take on the, once was mighty, Ipswich Town.

As in previous years we have had another difficult draw in this cup.  Worthington has now made way for Carling as the sponsor but it makes no difference, we still seem to get drawn away.

Following last seasons 4-0 drubbing at the hands of a youthful Nott'm Forest side we can only hope that we will have taken something from that and this time not be so overawed.

We got the season away to a good start on Saturday, beating Mansfield 2-1, while at the same time our hosts tomorrow were grasping a draw from the jaws of defeat at Reading.  A last minute penalty from the ex Hartlepool man Tommy Miller saved the Tractor Boys skin.

We had no injuries after the Mansfield game with the only non-starter tomorrow being Matt Gadsby, still out with ligaments.

Bo Henriksen, although he was carrying the effects of his pre season injury on Saturday, should be fit enough for Ipswich.

Town's manager, Joe Royle, is recalling Martijn Reuser and Matt Richards back to the starting line-up after sitting on the bench against Reading and there could be a place too for the transfer listed Alun Armstrong after a hip injury that has kept him out all pre-season.  Derby, the club where former manager George Burley is now in charge, are thought to be interested in his signature.

He has doubts about Tommy Miller and Jim Magilton.  Miller has a sore back while Magilton has an ankle injury, although neither is thought to be serious.

Their 18yr old defender, Matt Richards, is being linked with a move to Southampton who have already had a £3 million bid turned down by Royle.  At the same time Town are said to be interested in the Bournemouth defender Carl Fletcher and are supposedly preparing a £1 million bid for him.

I love this money talk!!

Will we win tomorrow night?  Bearing in mind the odds are loaded totally in favour of the home side in this competition I don't really think we can.

We can play our little hearts out for 90 minutes and then for a further 30 minutes of extra time.  After that comes penalties.

The fairer option of a replay doesn't even come into it.

Teams

Harriers from:
Brock, Danby, Stamps, Coleman, Willis, Ayres, Smith, Hinton, D Williams, Parrish, Flynn, Heath, Bennett, Ward, Shilton, Henriksen, J Williams, Bishop, Lewis.

Ipswich from:
Marshall, Davis, Price, Wilnis, McGreal, Makin, Richards, Naylor, Collins, Diallo, Magilton, Bloomfield, Wright, Miller, Reuser, Armstrong, Murray, Westlake, Santos, Counago, M Bent, D Bent, Bowditch.
Previous games against Ipswich Town
Harriers score first
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2002 - 03
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2001 - 02
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2000 - 01
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