Tony Mowbray insists Ipswich Town are ‘in good hands’ under Paul Hurst and is impressed by the business being done by his former club.
Ex-Blues’ favourite Mowbray – who played, coached and was caretaker manager in Suffolk – returned to Portman Road as Blackburn Rovers boss on Saturday, the two clubs playing out a 2-2 draw at the start of the new Championship season.
Rovers were pushed all the way for automatic League One promotion by Hurst’s unfancied Shrewsbury Town last season,
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“I think the club’s in good hands,” said Mowbray. “Having managed in a league where he managed last year, and with total respect Shrewsbury Town is a very small club even in League One, he performed miracles with that team.
“Time will tell as the season unfolds how he deals with this league, but I obviously have an Ipswich mind having been here for nine years and want them to do well.”
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He continued: “They’ve got some good players. Ellis Harrison will score goals; he runs, he chases, he’s in the box, he can head a goal, he can shoot off his right foot particularly. He’s a handful for any defender. And Gwion Edwards looks like Billy Whizz!
“And I know Paul hasn’t got the team he wants at this moment. I see some of the names he’s trying to sign and there’s some talented footballers there too.
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“Jon Nolan is an exceptionally good footballer, Toto Nsiala’s just a big, athletic centre-half, Kayden Jackson never stops running, is fast as lightning and just keeps chasing the ball.
“I think they’ll be fine and take no notice of what the bookies might say (putting Ipswich among the favourites for relegation).”
With Edun Tayo’s stoppage-time equaliser having denied Blackburn an opening day win, Mowbray added: “The dressing room is very disappointed and frustrated, they’re all discussing what we might have done to prevent that at the end.
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“It’s a massive disappointment for us. And yet would we have taken it before hand? Away from home on a scorching hot day at Portman Road with a new manager and crowd up for the game before kick-off? Probably.
“Hopefully we can both have good seasons.”
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