JIM Magilton is looking to ruin his close mate Iain Dowie's first away challenge as the new Crystal Palace manager and try to soothe some hurt Town feelings at the same time.

JIM Magilton is looking to ruin his close mate Iain Dowie's first away challenge as the new Crystal Palace manager and try to soothe some hurt Town feelings at the same time, writes Derek Davis.

Magilton is still smarting after last week's home defeat to Norwich City and knows the Blues owe the fans a big win.

They went someway to making up for the loss by beating West Ham yesterday with two goals from Pablo Counago as they hit back following a Jermain Defoe opener for the Hammers.

The Ipswich skipper said: “People will be rightly disappointed with our last home performance. Derby days are always difficult and although there was not much in it we didn't get the rub of the green.

“Now we have to be positive.

“We went to West Ham and got a result, now we have to carry that on at home. We need to go into the Palace game with the same intensity.”

Dowie's first game in charge at Palace ended in a 1-0 defeat by Millwall and Magilton is looking to compound his fellow Ulsterman's misery.

He said: “Iain is a very good friend of mine and while I wish him all the best at Palace I don't want that to be until after Sunday.

“I certainly don't want him getting his first win for Palace against us.

“He was right not to take the Northern Ireland job. He definitely harbours ambition to manage his country but he wants to put that on the back-burner and gain more club experience first.

“It is a big challenge at Palace with a chairman who likes to hire and fire but Iain knows the game and had a good grounding at Oldham where he did a good job.

“I wish him well after Sunday and I'll will buy him a drink after the game.”

Magilton led his side to yet another come-from-behind win and once again hailed his team-mates' ne'er-say-die attitude.

He said: “We showed great character and went about our business fantastically well.

“We came out after half time feeling we were in charge of the situation but the Gaffer did warn us that they have players capable of turning games.

“We were on the attack but one bit of quick thinking by the keeper demonstrated that as they went up and scored.

“When you are playing against that calibre of player that can happen. But again we showed our strength and came back to get our just rewards.”

The midfielder hailed the difference substitutes Pablo Counago and Martijn Reuser made to the result.

He said: “Pablo gave us that extra something in the penalty area. For all our possession we didn't have have that cutting edge.

“If you get the ball to Pablo's feet he is a very dangerous player. He likes people getting physical with him because he can roll them.

“Pablo has not been too happy about not starting but has taken his chance and again showed what a good player he is.

“I was delighted for Martijn Reuser as well, he came on and made a difference as well.

“He has fantastic qualities and it shows how strong our bench is that we can count on these lads to come on and make a difference.”

And the skipper adjudicated on who gets credited with Town's winner.

He said: “It was one of those freak goals. Martijn claims it was a dangerous low near-post shot, I reckon he mis-hit it and Pablo got a touch then the defender.

“It doesn't matter, it went in and on the balance of play we got the result we deserved.”