THERE maybe a certain inevitability to the tag but Martijn Reuser is adamant: “Don't label me a supersub.” writes Derek Davis.

THERE maybe a certain inevitability to the tag but Martijn Reuser is adamant: “Don't label me a supersub.” writes Derek Davis

Reuser helped provide the inspiration for Town's 4-2 victory at Coventry City on Saturday after Ipswich trailed 2-0 at the break, when he replaced an injured Richard Naylor.

Two weeks earlier, Reuser came off the bench to help Town come from behind to beat Gillingham 3-1, and earlier in March he provided the late free kick for Naylor to head the equaliser at Wolves, just two minutes after replacing Fabian Wilnis.

But the Dutchman has also played a big part in wins at Sheffield Wednesday away, at home to Reading and scored in the home 2-2 draw with Brighton, showing he can make a vital contribution from the start.

He said: “I don't want to be a supersub, I want to start every game. Hopefully the manager doesn't see me that way. I want to do a good job so the manager wants to start me every game.”

Reuser was out early to warm up at half time and so was spared the manager's paint-peeling wrath but revealed the players were determined to put things right after going behind to goals by Matt Jansen and Dean Gordon.

He said: “I was delighted to be involved in a side which produced a great fightback. It was not just down to me at all. Every one of the 11 players out there knew this was our last chance and we said we had to do whatever it took to get back and that is what we did.”

Town's first goal owed something to the sort of fortune that often favours the brave. Quick-thinking Jim Magilton played a clever free kick to the unmarked Reuser, whose 30-yard shot deflected off Marcus Bent's posterior and looped over stranded keeper Gary Montgomery.

The former Ajax forward will not try to claim the goal after seeing a replay on the coach journey home. He said: “If Marcus had not got that touch off his bum I don't think it would have gone in, so it is his goal.”

Bent went on to grab his 12th goal of the season with a brilliant finish from an equally superb Jim Magilton chip-pass but the former England Under-21 failed to grab his third career hat-trick when he missed a relatively simple one-on-one with the keeper.

Pablo Counago took his total tally of the season to 18 with two goals, which makes it 14 in the league. The first came from a long goal kick by Andy Marshall which was flicked on by Bent for the Spaniard to burst through two defenders and put the ball home.

The former Spanish Under-21 grabbed his second after a clever short corner by Reuser found Tommy Miller, whose shot was hooked in by Counago.

The victory leaves the Blues three points behind sixth-placed Reading, who have two games in hand. Town will rue last week's home defeat to Forest - if they had beaten them they would today be a place behind Town.

Reuser said: “We are still piling the pressure on but imagine where we would have been had we won. We know teams have to play each other and points will be dropped. If we keep winning our games the pressure will build even more on those teams directly above us, especially Reading.

“We have played really well in the last few weeks and you have to credit the lads for the way we have come back from behind in three of our last four games. Believe me, the spirit in this team is brilliant.”

Town will check on Naylor today after he limped off at half-time with a twisted knee. Magilton, who set up the fourth goal, was also replaced as a precaution after suffering with a groin strain.

Remaining fixtures

Reading: April 15 Preston (h), April 18 Forest (h), April 21 Portsmouth (a), April 26 Grimsby (h), April 30 Watford (a), May 4 Stoke (a)

Ipswich Town: April 18 Portsmouth (h), April 21 Rotherham (a), April 26 Wimbledon (h), May 4 Derby County (a)

Norwich City: April 19 Walsall (a), April 21 Wolves (h), April 27 Leicester City (a), May 4 Preston (h)

Wolverhampton Wanderers: April 19 Millwall (h), April 21 Norwich (a), April 26 Sheffield United (a), May 4 Leicester City (h)

Nottingham Forest: April 15 Sheffield United (a), April 18 Reading (a), April 21 Burnley (h), April 26 Millwall (h), May 4 Rotherham (a),

Sheffield United: April 15 Forest (h) April 19 Preston (a) April 21 Leicester City (h) April 26 Wolves (h) April 29 Bradford City (h) May 4 Watford (a