By Derek Davis,Chief Football WriterONE who got away will be wearing Cardiff colours today as Lee Bullock patrols the midfield.Ipswich were keen on signing him on a free transfer from York City during the summer but as soon as Cardiff went in with cash their interest ended.

By Derek Davis,

Chief Football Writer

ONE who got away will be wearing Cardiff colours today as Lee Bullock patrols the midfield.

Ipswich were keen on signing him on a free transfer from York City during the summer but as soon as Cardiff went in with cash their interest ended.

Striker Alan Lee is doubtful with a neck injury, while Robert Earnshaw is struggling with a knee problem. Daniel Gabbidon is also a concern with a knee problem. But all three are expected to start, with Lee still the biggest concern.

Swap a few names here and there and John Robinson's warning to his Cardiff City team-mates could well ring true for Ipswich Town too.

The Bluebirds have shipped four goals in their first three league matches with Lennie Lawrence's side proving alarmingly vulnerable at set-pieces.

City - who faced Crewe, Coventry and Plymouth in their opening three matches - have collected four points out of a possible nine.

At Portman Road today, midfielder Robinson knows City must improve defensively if they are to get a result.

He said: “Our squad is as good as any other in this division.

“I thought that was the case last season as well but we need to be more consistent. We don't seem to be learning from our mistakes. Teams think they have a chance of scoring against us whenever they get a set-piece.

“If we can stop giving away goals from corners and free-kicks then we will be a good side.”

The Crewe penalty that opened the scoring in the 2-2 draw with City a fortnight ago, stemmed from a free-kick.

Coventry, who were beaten 2-1 at Ninian Park, scored from a corner, so too did Plymouth who left South Wales with a 1-0 win.

Robinson admitted: “We are letting the manager down. We all have players to mark at corners and free-kicks.

“He puts 11 players out in every match and they've got to produce the goods.

“But we keep conceding bad goals and they are happening at crucial times in the match. We've got to cut out the mistakes.

“We need to do what Norwich and West Brom were doing last season. They were capable of grinding out results and winning 1-0. That's what we've got to do.

“The number of points we've got so far is disappointing. What makes it even more frustrating is that no one has outplayed us.

“No one can tell me that Crewe and Plymouth are better than us. They're not and I don't mean that disrespectfully. We've got better quality players than those teams.

Plymouth got a goal from a set-piece and then defended their lead with their lives.

“No matter what division you play in, when you go 1-0 up that gives the whole team confidence so we've got to stop giving goals to the opposition.”

The former Charlton winger believes Cardiff could figure in the promotion race this season. He said: “I think we've got a good opportunity of going up. This division is a hard one, but there's nothing in it that should worry or scare us.”