Blues boss confident crowds will improve

By Derek Davis

BUOYANT Blues bosses are confident that Ipswich Town's recent run will soon see attendances soar and have praised the supporters' role in the double home success.

While Tuesday's night's crowd of 19,465 was the lowest in six years at Portman Road chief executive Derek Bowden is confident those missing out will soon be back.

The club have budgeted for crowds of around 22,500 but twice this season the crowd has dipped below 20,000.

Even so, Town's attendances have compared well with their Championship rivals, and Saturday's win against Southampton attracted more than were seen at Premiership clubs Portsmouth and Bolton.

Bowden said: “We were second-highest in the Championship on Saturday and Tuesday and higher than a couple of Premiership clubs at the weekend.

“Currently our budget for attendance is higher than we are averaging but we have a lot of night games to come.

“We have Sunderland on a Saturday next time and we still have Norwich, Southend and Colchester to come.

“Away fans make a difference too. Palace brought around 2,200 while Coventry only brought around 200 on Tuesday evening.”

The atmosphere has been noticeably better of late and Bowden believes the crowd and players are working together to get each going.

He said: “The people that were there on Tuesday and Saturday are those who really want to be there the most and who appreciate the style of football Jim Magilton is bringing back to the team.

“The fans have been getting behind Jim and the team and seem to enjoy the passing and attacking play. That style of football excites them and that gives them an expectation that the team are going to put in a committed and professional performance so get going that much earlier.

“The team are playing with passion seem to have an expectation now and the atmosphere has been very good.”

Town visit Birmingham on Saturday with less than 20,000 at St Andrews last week to see them beat Hull City.