WITH one FA Cup winners medal safely secured, Richard Wright would love the opportunity to win another.

Derek Davis

By Derek Davis

WITH one FA Cup winners medal safely secured, Richard Wright would love the opportunity to win another.

But more immediately and arguably more important at this stage, is the confidence going on a good cup run would give the Blues in their bid to close the gap on the top six Championship teams.

Wright helped Arsenal win the FA Cup in 2002 when they beat Chelsea in the final at the Millennium Stadium but after playing against Liverpool, Gillingham, Newcastle and Middlesbrough, in all the previous rounds, he missed out on playing in the final and was on the bench.

Although that took the gloss off the occasion slightly, Wright is immensely proud of the medal.

He said: “It is tucked away in a safe.

“For me it was fantastic to win an FA Cup medal. I played in every round building up to the final, missing that was disappointing for me. Even so how many people can say they have an FA Cup winner's medal?

“I'm delighted with that and if we can go on a good run that would be fantastic too.”

Wright remembers the feeling of invincibility the Gunners felt at the time and is looking for Town to replicate that feeling.

He said: “With that team we were on a roll and going into games knowing we were going to win those games because confidence was so high.

“If we can get a win against Chesterfield we can get on a roll. There is a belief at this club. If we can get consecutives wins in the Championship we will bounce up that table.

“This cup tie is very important to us. It is another chance to go out and win another game of football and winning breed confidence.

“Everyone knows our main priority is to get back into the Premier League but no one ever takes the FA Cup lightly or wants to lose games.

“There is always pressure and expectation. We like to sit on a Saturday evening and watch the FA Cup highlights and wants to see a lesser team beating a top team.

“This is the time for us to go out and put on a performance. We know it won't be easy but we are at home and it is a game we know we can put on a performance and get a result.”

The Town keeper dismissed the notion that their preparation had been affected by the long-running saga about who they would actually play.

Wright said: “We have had so many games over Christmas that we have been focused on those so the saga that has gone by really.

“We have been preparing in a professional way. We have a good bunch of players so if one or two are out others can come in.”

Those preparations have included new Ipswich number two John Gorman who Wright has worked with before at Ipswich and England and welcomes the 59-year-old Scot.

Wright said: “It is a fantastic appointment. Anyone who knows the character that he is will know how brilliant it is. John knows how to get players up and going for it. When he came in previously he did very well and I was with him with England as well so I know how good he is

“He has a lot of experience. He is good on a one to one and he is good for a team.

“We some great coaches at this football team and great togetherness but sometimes a new face can be like a new signing, it can give everyone a boost and is great for this football club.”

Wright will make his 320th appearance for Ipswich today, should he play with Shane Supple looking for a rare outing.

derek.davis@eadt.co.uk