ALL of Richard Naylor's goal instincts came rushing back as the Blues defender popped up to bang in the goal to spark Town's revival at Crewe.Trailing 2-0 at half-time, Naylor was up for a set piece when he poked in the Blues' first goal, with Darren Bent then firing in the equaliser.

By Derek Davis

ALL of Richard Naylor's goal instincts came rushing back as the Blues defender popped up to bang in the goal to spark Town's revival at Crewe.

Trailing 2-0 at half-time, Naylor was up for a set piece when he poked in the Blues' first goal, with Darren Bent then firing in the equaliser.

By strange coincidence, all three of Naylor's goals this season have come after being interviewed by the EADT as part of the pre-match build-up.

The previous two were against Gillingham on the opening day of the season and Sheffield United at the beginning of November.

That goal in the 5-1 win against the Blades helped set him up for a magnificent month when he was named the Ipswich Town player of the month in the EADT/Powergen sponsored award, based on match ratings.

Naylor joked: “You'd better interview me before every game.”

Although three goals for a central defender is not bad going in 22 games, the poacher turned gamekeeper is looking to keep his hand in by bagging even more this season, especially at such important moments.

He said: “I would like to score even more than I am but if I keep getting into the area I get the chances, and it is a case of taking them.

“I was in the box and got a bit of a toe to it, it was just reaction really. It was good to get us back in the game because we needed it then.

“The longer the game goes on you start wondering where the goals are going to come from, but we got one fairly early and that gave us the platform to go on from.

“We were sloppy all over and didn't play particularly well, although we created a lot of chances.

“Even at two down, the game was still there for us and we knew if we kept plugging away we would get something.”

Naylor admitted the defence did not cover themselves in glory in the first half but made up for it later.

He said: “Our shape was not particularly good for either goal and Kelvin is disappointed with the first one because it went through his legs, which sometimes happens.

“We played really well second half. We dominated and had enough chances to win a couple of games.

“The gaffer said we played well, but really we are all disappointed. We have dropped two points but we have got QPR on Saturday to try and make up for it.”

After that game in West London, the Blues have five matches in the space of 12 days, something the club's longest-serving player is relishing

He said: “It is a lot of games but that gives us a chance to put some space between us and those chasing. The more points you accumulate in that period the nearer you are to achieving your goal.”

Naylor praised plucky Crewe, who have lost just one of their past seven games, with Dean Ashton topping the Championship goal charts with 17 strikes.

Naylor said: “They are a difficult side and it is a tough place to come at the best of times, and then to give them a two-goal start was not the best way of going about things.

“Ashton is a quality payer who took both goals really well.”

Naylor has started in every game for Town this season and is fast approaching making his 250th appearance for the Blues.