AFTER getting lowly Brighton out the way, Ipswich Town goal hero Martijn Reuser is relishing facing the bigger clubs as the climax of the season approaches.

By Derek Davis

AFTER getting lowly Brighton out the way, Ipswich Town goal hero Martijn Reuser is relishing facing the bigger clubs as the climax of the season approaches.

The Blues have dropped 14 points against three of the bottom four clubs – Grimsby, Stoke and Brighton – and yet have taken 11 points already from Portsmouth, Leicester City and Sheffield United, the leading three teams in this morning's table.

Reuser salvaged a point for Town, who first led against Brighton before finding themselves 2-1 down with five minutes to go.

But he admits Town will rue dropping so many points to lowly opposition. He said: "Once again this was a game we should have won. We can still make the play-offs but if you look at the amount of points we have dropped to the bottom sides you can see how we could already be in the top group. We have dropped 14 points and if we had saved even half of those we would be in a strong position."

Ipswich now face leaders Portsmouth and play-off contenders Nottingham Forest at home with resurgent Wimbledon also coming to Portman Road, while making trips to mid-table sides Coventry, Derby, Rotherham and Gillingham. Reuser added: "On paper we should win against the lower sides, but we definitely do better against better sides.

"There are probably two reasons for that. The lower sides will just come to defend deeply and we have problems breaking down the defensive wall on the edge of their area.

"Also, better teams come forward and there is more space for us to play and we do better then."

Reuser slammed home his first senior goal since January last year after Darren Bent had missed a chance to put Town level from the penalty spot. Reuser's crucial equaliser came five minutes from time after Marcus Bent nodded the ball down to Tommy Miller who played it for the Dutchman to drill in from 25 yards.

Reuser said: "Tommy did brilliantly to put it on to my right foot and not the left so I was able to hit it first time and I struck it well.

"It was a fantastic feeling as it was my first goal for some time. It is also some time since I played three games in a week, so to top it off with a goal was great.

"Hopefully I will continue to get a run in the team and get on the scoresheet even more often."

And he added with a smile: "I have scored penalties for the reserves a couple of times this season so perhaps I should have taken that one against Brighton too."

Reuser's strike was his 14th since joining Ipswich in a £1 million move after an initial loan spell from Vitesse Arnhem, and his first since January 19, 2002, when he grabbed the third goal in a 3-1 win at Derby last season.