Magilton tells players to walk the walk

Derek Davis

By Derek Davis

IT is no good talking the talking, now is the time for the Blues players to walk the walk.

Manager Jim Magilton is looking for a reaction from his squad after the calamity at Colchester and show actions mean more than rhetoric.

Magilton said: “Talk is cheap. You are judged by your deeds. You are judged by performances

“If they play well and we win they get treated accordingly, even if we lose a game but play well, they get treated accordingly. But if they lose a game and play badly then they will be treated accordingly.

“All I can ask is they play well, take responsibility if we lose after trying to perform I can accept that.

“If you are good enough you will win more than lose.

“After the dust has settled at the end of the season and if we haven't made it, then we can talk about the whys and wherefores. But at this moment we have to get these lads relaxed, focused and ready to play.”

The Blues players have had a clear the air chat in order to get their play-off challenge back on track.

The first team squad locked themselves into a dressing room following their poor showing at Colchester to thrash out all problems.

Magilton revealed the players took it upon themselves to hold the no-holds barred discussion.

He said: “The players have had a heart to heart. They had a chat because they knew what happened at Colchester wasn't acceptable and good for them.

“There is only so much the manager and coaching staff to do.

“The four walls of the dressing room are the most important at the football club because if the team is successful everyone benefits from that.

“Everything emanates from this four walls and if they decide, and only they can decide, that we are going up or not.

“The senior player inspire that and good for them.”

Magilton would not discuss what was said but was pleased that his players had taken responsibility.

He said: “I'm not privy to what was said, they are grown men and one they cross the white line it is down to them.

“We put the structure in place for them and ask them to go and play. If they don't perform we have the right to ask those questions and if they don't have the answers then woe betide.”

What was said will stay in the dressing room but Magilton revealed no players had come to him asking for a change to change the line up.

Magilton warned: “That is where I draw the line. I pick the team.”

With the players taking responsibility, Magilton has not needed to crack the whip this week.

He added: “I can't be over critical as I need them against Cardiff.

“We had the de-brief and we move on and not make the same mistake again.

“I'm sure they watched Palace on the telly and realise what needs to be done.

“We have everything to play for and while we don't want to put them under pressure but they know they have to go out and perform.

“I'm sure they realise that with two home games that we have to get over the line.

“I expect us to be better because at Colchester we were very lack lustre. It was never a question of motivation in a game like that. No player goes out and not been motivated.”

While Magilton was understandably not giving anything away in terms of team selection a couple of changes are expected after dropping five points in the past two games with the same starting XI.

David Wright could earn a recall while Tommy Miller is pushing for a return to a starting spot.

He still won't be able to call on Pablo Counago who serves the third of his three match ban, while Jon Walters, David Norris and Shefki Kuqi will all have scans at the end of the week and are not available for tonight's game.

Ipswich Town squad: Bywater, Colgan, Simpson, Wright, Sito, Harding, De Vos, Bruce, Trotter, Sumulikoski, Miller, Garvan, Williams, Haynes, Quinn, Roberts, Lee, Rhodes.

Cardiff City squad: Enckelman, Oakes, McNaughton, Capaldi, Rae, Purse, Loovens, Whittingham, Brown, McPhail, Johnson, Ledley, Sinclair, Scimeca, Thompson, Blake, Ramsey, Hasselbaink.