JIM Magilton is set to make just one change when Ipswich Town take on Cardiff City in the Coca-Cola Championship at Portman Road tomorrow (kick-off 3pm).

Elvin King

JIM Magilton is set to make just one change when Ipswich Town take on Cardiff City in the Coca-Cola Championship at Portman Road tomorrow (kick-off 3pm).

And this will be an enforced one, with club captain Richard Naylor stepping in for Alex Bruce.

The latter's appeal against his sending off on Wednesday is being heard at lunchtime, but he is not expected to get off and is likely to be starting a lengthy suspension.

Owen Garvan, now fully recovered from the virus he suffered a fortnight ago, will be pushing for a return to the first team but Blues manager Magilton is expected to keep to the same midfield that had almost complete control over Bristol City.

Up front, Pablo Counago has to stay after his magnificent display in midweek and, although there was something awry with Jon Stead's radar when shooting, his general play was impressive, having a hand in two goals.

Many good judges insist that Jon Walters' best position is on the right of midfield and he was at his best against Bristol despite being criticised for a bad miss that could have altered the outcome of the derby at Norwich last Sunday.

Walters said: “The Norwich result could have been different had I taken my chance.

“Obviously I thought about that opportunity a fair bit afterwards, but you reach a point where you have to move on and dismiss it.

“It's important to be mentally strong and, if I'd gone out against Bristol City in a negative frame of mind, it would have shown.”

Magilton has also had his knockers this week but Walters was quick to join his team-mates in backing his boss.

“People were saying the manager was under pressure but emotions run high on derby day and we'd been on a decent run before the trip to Norfolk,” added Walters.

“Certainly, the lads are still very much behind the boss.

“Every game is massive for us and the same applies to tomorrow's match with Cardiff.

“The Bristol win has set us up nicely and now we've got to push on.”

Tomorrow's likely squads

Ipswich Town: R Wright, Volz, Naylor, McAuley, D Wright, Thatcher, Walters, Shumulikoski, Norris, Garvan, Ambrose, Miller, Quinn, Campo, Stead, Counago, Lisbie, Haynes, Supple, Bruce.

Cardiff City: Enckelman, McNaughton, R Johnson, Gyepes, Kennedy, Routledge, Rae, McPhail, Ledley, Bothroyd, Chopra, Parry, E Johnson, Scimeca, Comminges, Heaton, Purse.

Referee: Mr K Woolmer (Northamptonshire).