FORGET the games consoles, new bike, pants and socks, that many got for Christmas, Neil Alexander is determined to deliver the present all Blues fans want this festive period - an away win.

By Derek Davis

FORGET the games consoles, new bike, pants and socks, that many got for Christmas, Neil Alexander is determined to deliver the present all Blues fans want this festive period - an away win.

The Ipswich Town keeper was helping his four-year-old daughter Holly and baby Olivia open their gifts from Father Christmas at home yesterday before going to a morning training session.

He and his Town team-mates then went home for their Christmas lunch before meeting again to travel to Leicester last night.

But after talking about who got what, there was one present the players would love to get before the year's end.

Alexander said: “I'm sure an away win is on many Ipswich Town fans' Santa list this year. The manager has mentioned it a few times, too, but I'm convinced that the away win is just around the corner and it will come sooner rather than later.

“If we can go to Leicester and pick up points we can then go to Coventry on Saturday full of confidence and pick up two away wins on the trot.”

The Scottish keeper accepts there is no logic with football and just because Town beat City 3-1 three weeks ago it doesn't follow that this will be a sure-fire three points this afternoon.

Alexander said: “It will be a different game at Leicester. We saw at Bristol City how different home and away games work and we know this will be tough. We did fantastic at home but Leicester do well at home as well, while we have been struggling, so it promises to be a good game.

“It is a nice stadium, with a good pitch, so if we can go there and do as we have at Portman Road then we can pick up that away win.

“We have nothing to fear because we beat them once and we know their strengths and weaknesses so we can go to their stadium and upset them.”

Despite the early-morning call yesterday Alexander accepts travelling over Christmas is all part of a footballer's life and ensured Holly had a special treat in the lead up to the period.

He said: “My wife took her to Lapland a couple of weeks ago so she has been excited by Christmas

“On the professional front, though, I have to take care of myself and prepare for the game correctly.

“My wife knows what to expect and knows what I can and can't do.

“We trained and travelled on Christmas Day but I have been lucky in the past few years at Cardiff when we usually got home games on Boxing Day.”

It will all be worth it if Town can get just their third away win of the year today.