RIVAL manager Peter Taylor has hailed Jim Magilton the perfect Ipswich Town manager.The Crystal Palace chief brings his side to Portman Road on Sunday for a televised Coca-Cola Championship match that kicks-off at 1.15pm.

By Elvin King

RIVAL manager Peter Taylor has hailed Jim Magilton the perfect Ipswich Town manager.

The Crystal Palace chief brings his side to Portman Road on Sunday for a televised Coca-Cola Championship match that kicks-off at 1.20pm.

The Londoners have gained four points from two games including a 4-1 victory at Southampton on the opening day, and former England Under-21 manager Taylor will be looking for Palace to become the first club to beat Ipswich in open play this season.

“Jim Magilton's probably a perfect Ipswich manager, because of their tradition and the way they play,” said Taylor, who has also been caretaker manager of the England first team.

“Ipswich are a very good footballing team, as they showed on two occasions when we played them last season.

“The first thing you've got to do is be solid and stop them playing.

“If you stand off and watch them, they'll just play around you.

“Alan Lee's had a great start to the season, scoring four goals. He'll be their main danger man, so we'll have to watch out for him.”

Former Town front man James Scowcroft scored a hat-trick for Palace at Southampton, and two of the Championship's in-form marksmen will be on show for what could be a Sunday lunchtime football feast.

Last year Palace doubled the Blues including a victory at Portman Road on the first day of the season.

Paul Ifill (hamstring), and Ben Watson (ankle ligaments), are both injured, while having scored twice in two games Clinton Morrison needs one more to notch 100 - in two spells - for Palace.

Ipswich will still be without long-term injury victims Richard Naylor and Gavin Williams while Fabian Wilnis is suspended.

Midfielder George O'Callaghan took a blow to his chest in training on Wednesday, but will be fit enough to be included in Town's squad.

Naylor has had surgery to repair cartilage damage around one of his toes and faces six to eight more weeks on the sidelines.

“The specialist has told me I have got to keep off the toe for at least a month, so the way to keep my fitness up is to use the swimming pool and run in the water about four or five days a week,” said the Town defender.

“I stay in deep water so my foot is not touching the floor and wear floats to keep my head above water.”