IF it is good enough for Manchester United then it is good enough for the Blues.

Derek Davis

By Derek Davis

IF it is good enough for Manchester United then it is good enough for the Blues.

That is John Gorman's answer to those Town fans who have criticised Ipswich's system away from home.

Wolves boss Mick McCarthy had a swipe when he accused Town of showing no ambition by playing one up front, although they changed to 4-4-2 when Walters limped off with ruptured ligament that will keep him out for the remainder of the season.

Blues assistant manager Jon Gorman, taking the pre-match press conference in the continued absence of Jim Magilton, said: “I hate people saying we just play one up front, we play three up front. Do Manchester United play with just one up front? No. The top teams in Europe play that way too. It is a great way to play.”

Town having been deploying a tight midfield three with Tommy Miller sitting deep, Alan Quinn in the middle of midfield with David Norris licence to roam.

“Argentine wide man Luciano Civelli operates on the left with Jon Walters or Danny Haynes wide right and Pablo Counago to Kevin Lisbie the lone man forward, with jon stead also able to fit in anywhere up front.

“Luca is an out and out winger and Jon Walters is a recognised forward, so is Kevin Lisbie. It is not a negative way although we can change it when we bring Pablo Coungo in, he plays in the hole and Jon Stead can come in.

“It is a good system because we get the solidarity and we can break from it.”

Town could also change things at the back with skipper Gareth McAuley back after a one game ban although Pim Balkestein could keep his place with Iv�n Campo the one missing out.

Gorman said: “It will be difficult to make changes but Gareth is a good player and captain of our team.

“We will wait and see after training and see who we have.

“Campo had his first game back and did fantastic as did Pim. Campo gives us a coolness with his experience and calmness on the ball.

“He has just come back and we have three games in a row so there are things to consider.”

Gorman admits losing Walters is a blow.

He said: “Jon has done fantastic for us. I'm absolutely gutted for the boy and I have been through a similar injury and know what it is like.

“If there is one player who doesn't deserve to get injured it is him. He gives so much for the team and is a gutsy boy.

“It is a blow to us but more for him. We have got cover in the squad so we will be fine there it is not like we are short of players.”

As assistant to former Reading boss Alan Pardew, and with his son Nick working with the Royals community set up, Gorman knows Reading well but fancies Town's chances at the promotion challengers.

He said: “Reading were everyone's favourites to go straight back up but they are making harder work of it this time than when they went up before.

“As Charlton proved the other night then we can go there and get a result.

“We can go there with no fear especially after the way we played at wolves. We go there full of confidence although the pitch could be a stumbling block as it not as good as it used to be because they play rugby on it but we have to play the conditions.”

He also expects returning old boys Dave Kitson and Glenn Little to have a positive impact.

Gorman added: “It is always a boost to get a player in and they both know the club so will have no problems settling in.

“We know Reading are top of the table and we will give them respect without fearing them.

“It is usually the teams near the bottom that we fear most because they seem to pull out all the stops.”

derek.davis@eadt.co.uk