GEORGE Burley's Southampton tonight face an angry backlash from Blues players stung by yet another away day failure.Ipswich striker Pablo Counago revealed that the dressing room is a simmering pot of frustration and hurt due to the lack of success on the road and they will take it out on teams at home.

By Derek Davis

GEORGE Burley's Southampton tonight face an angry backlash from Blues players stung by yet another away day failure.

Ipswich striker Pablo Counago revealed that the dressing room is a simmering pot of frustration and hurt due to the lack of success on the road and they will take it out on teams at home.

The Spanish star said: “The players are angry about how things are going away, so now we are at home we want to do really well.

“We know if you want to be in the top six then we have to win away games and every home game.

“At home there is no pressure although the longer we don't win away the more pressure there is on us to win at home.

“We have two important home games now and then we will see if we can finally change things away.

“We know we can beat Bristol City, although we feel we can beat any team in the division so it is about the mentality we take with us away. The solution rests with us on the pitch.”

Counago, who has hit six goals for the Blues so far since returning to Portman Road, puts the failure to win any of their 10 away matches this season down to a lack of confidence on the road.

He said: “We have won seven out of seven at home this season so the confidence is high but away from home we have not won at all so the confidence isn't high. It should not make any difference if we are playing at home or away but the confidence is a problem.

“What we need to do is change the habit and end the run. It is like a striker who goes through a long spell without a goal, as soon as one comes a lot more follow.

“That will happen with away games - we will win one and more will come.”

Counago admits he is less involved at other grounds and so finds fewer opportunities to score.

He said: “There are less opportunities away. You will see how little the strikers touch the ball and it is hard to explain because it is not down to one thing.

“It is not easy to explain and we have thought long and hard about it. For me it is down to confidence.”

While the away run remains a problem, home victories are flowing with the Blues chasing their 12th in a row tonight against a side managed by the man who originally brought Counago to Ipswich.

Counago said: “George Burley is a good manager and a good man. He won promotion here and did very well with Ipswich, taking them to the UEFA Cup.

“He did a good job at Hearts and Derby and now at Southampton.

“He would probably like to be nearer the top six but they are getting there.

“We know the Southampton side and the way George Burley likes to play.

“We will not worry about what they are doing, it is about us doing what we do best.”

And 11 angry players will start out at Portman Road tonight looking to make up for their inadequacies elsewhere.