IPSWICH TOWN: Grant Leadbitter was today held up as a great example of fair play after his sending off in yesterday’s 1-0 home Championship defeat by Nottingham Forest.

Midfield dynamo Leadbitter will now miss big cup matches against Chelsea and Arsenal next week and also a league game at Millwall.

His lunge at Forest midfielder Paul Anderson was deemed dangerous play by the referee as his frustrations got the better of Leadbitter in stoppage time.

But experienced professional Mark Kennedy stood up for his team mate.

“I don’t have any children but if I did I would tell them to watch Grant on the pitch and in training,” said Kennedy.

“He’s a credit to himself and his club and is a fantastic pro.

“Grant is incredible committed and a great example to others in the way he carries himself on and off the pitch.

“He’s a great example of fair play although he’ll agree that it was not his best tackle.”

Although Town fans saw little to give them optimism that 2011 will prove any better than 2010, Kennedy agreed to differ.

“I’m out there on the pitch and I never felt under pressure at the back - even after Gareth McAuley went off,” added Kennedy.

“We matched Forest in every department.

“They are a good side who are real top six material, but we showed in my opinion yesterday that we are a match for them with their keeper much busier than ours.

“I’m not stupid I’ve been in game for a long while and I know a good team from a bad team.

“I tell it how it is and the lads played well. If we play like this we’ll win a lot more games than we’ll lose.

Kennedy says he is well aware of the importance of winning football matches and we explained:

“The bottom line is that we gained zero points.

“But if I was the manager I would see more positives coming out of yesterday than negatives.

“It’s no good papering over cracks - and I know that well enough.

“But the way the lads played - they could not have given any more. They gave everything they had for the cause.

“I’d take playing poorly and winning every time. But we deserved three points on Saturday at Coventry and at least draw yesterday.”