KEY defender Dan Harding today admitted that there will extra pressure on Ipswich Town when they entertain Bristol City at Portman Road on Saturday.This follows last night's disappointing 3-1 Coca-Cola Championship defeat against a mediocre Sheffield United at Bramall Lane.

By Elvin King

KEY defender Dan Harding today admitted that there will extra pressure on Ipswich Town when they entertain Bristol City at Portman Road on Saturday.

This follows last night's disappointing 3-1 Coca-Cola Championship defeat against a mediocre Sheffield United at Bramall Lane.

Why Ipswich can beat all-comers in their own back yard but fail to catch the eye outside of Suffolk is a mystery that Blues boss Jim Magilton is rapidly trying to solve.

With just four points out of 24 on their travels, Ipswich look as though will have to depend on their home form to maintain an interest in the promotion race.

They have won the last ten at Portman Road, and must extend this to 11 if they are not to drop down to mid-table.

With three of their next four matches at home they could be back in the top four by the end of the month.

Harding was unhappy at the marginal penalty decision that put the Blades back in the lead last night, and he said: “We did not have the run of the ball.

“But we also paid a heavy price for some slack play.

“It now puts a little more pressure on us for Saturday's game against Bristol City.”

Ipswich have now gone 12 away games without a win, but Harding said that two games in three days did not play a part.

“We are a young fit side, and we train hard most days of the week. We should be able to cope with this.“

While full debut-making Liam Trotter was adjudged to have fouled Nick Montgomery for the penalty, Harding conceded a free-kick a yard outside the box minutes earlier.

“I slipped and I was pulling at Keith Gillespie's shirt all the way from the half-way line,” explained Harding. “But I stopped as we reached the area. He then went to ground.

“It was right to award a free-kick outside the box.”

Goalscorer Jon Walters said: “I took a gamble that the ball would bounce between their defenders - and it paid off with my first away goal.”

Walters had to explain to Trotter why the penalty had been given. “Liam was baffled what was going on,” said Walters.

“He didn't see how it could have been a penalty.

“At 1-1 we should have shown some more composure and been more relaxed. We gave the ball away took easily.”