JELLYBEANS may have been the downfall of England cricketers but Ipswich Town players are hoping they can help bring them the sweet taste of success today.

By Derek Davis

JELLYBEANS may have been the downfall of England cricketers but Ipswich Town players are hoping they can help bring them the sweet taste of success today.

Many of the Blues players much their way through jellybeans and Jelly Babies before and at half-time during the game, with the substitutes generally having a few in their pockets during a match, to maintain energy levels.

Unlike the England cricketers, that sparked a furore by throwing them onto the wicket during a Test match against India, which their opponents then claimed spurred them on to victory they won't be throwing them at Sheffield Wednesday players today.

Owen Garvan, George O'Callaghan, Billy Clarke, Shane Supple and Alan Lee, are among those who enjoy their jellybeans and Town defender Alex Bruce insists they are put to proper use.

Bruce said: “Quite a few of the lads here eat jellybeans.

“The dressing room always has lots of energy foods and drink around the place including jellybeans, energy bars and Jaffa cakes. It is important that you hydrate properly.

“You won't see them all over the Portman Road pitch but hopefully they can help us to success.”

Town are hoping their sweet tooth can get them off to a good start to the new Championship season with victory over visitors Sheffield Wednesday, who they have earmarked as a team to bet despite being doubled by them last season.

Bruce said: “We have marked down games where we should get points and Wednesday at home is one we should win. If we don't we will be bitterly disappointed.”

Keeping more clean sheets will be paramount to Ipswich doing better than last term and Bruce is determined to play his part.

He said: “I'm looking to play a big part in getting this club back into the Premiership. When we play at our best we are capable of beating anyone so hopefully we can stick a decent run of form together and get promoted.

“I'm confident we can and will improve and against Panathinaikos and we have shown what are a good unit we are. We conceded too many sloppy goals last season and want to eradicate that and keep far more clean sheets.”

Manager Jim Magilton insists Town need to do better than last year when they failed to win the first five games of the season.

He said: “We had an awful start last year and it is very important for us to get off to a good start. You can't play catch up in this league, Sunderland bucked the trend, but psychologically it is vital for us to get off well.

“It will give us that wonderful ingredient of momentum and that is what we are looking for.”

Magilton has confirmed that Alan Lee is fine to play against Sheffield Wednesday even though the Blues striker was involved in a road accident earlier in the week when a cyclist was taken to hospital with a broken leg. Lee was uninjured and has since trained as normal.

Magilton said: “Alan was probably shaken up as anyone involved in an accident will know. His thoughts are with the cyclist and hopefully everything works out okay with him but we move on. “Alan will be okay to play against Sheffield Wednesday.”

Magilton reports no injuries ahead of tomorrow's game with only long-term casualties Richard Naylor and Gavin Williams ruled out.

TODAY'S SQUADS

Ipswich Town: Alexander, Supple, Wright, Harding, Bruce, De Vos, Wilnis, Legwinski, Miller, Garvan, O'Callaghan, Roberts, Walters, Lee, Counago, Clarke, Haynes, Peters.

Sheff Wed: Grant, Burch, Simek, Watson, Woods, Gilbert, Johnson, Hines, Whelan, Brunt, Tudgay, Clarke, Jeffers, Small, Spurr, Lunt, Lekaj, Beevers.