Page 33 - Conor Chaplin News Today

Town boss Paul Cook felt his side’s 4-0 demolition of his former club Portsmouth was as complete a performance as the Blues have put in this season.

South Africa are poised to dish out a double defeat to England in cricket and Rugby World Cup meetings between the two nations.

George Hirst is like any other striker – he wants to score goals and the more the merrier – but since joining Town he admits he has gained a new perspective from manager Kieran McKenna about his role in the side.

Second-placed Town return to action after the international break when they face Rotherham United live on Sky Sports on Friday evening aiming to return to the top of the Championship (KO 8pm).

Vaclav Hladky, Leif Davis and Conor Chaplin are all included in Who Scored’s top-rated Sky Bet Championship XI so far this season.

Town host second-bottom Shrewsbury at Portman Road on Saturday looking to put last weekend’s 2-1 defeat at Accrington behind them. The Blues will be without forward Bersant Celina as he is away with Kosovo but Cook says he knows the team he is going to field.

Nathan Broadhead says Town need to remain humble and keep working hard, despite the Blues’ outstanding start to the season which sees them second in the Championship going into the October international break.

Blues boss Paul Cook says striker Joe Pigott did exactly what he should do in order to stake a claim for a place in the team at Gillingham on Tuesday night - as Janoi Donacien did at right-back earlier in the season - but says at present eight-goal top scorer Macauley Bonne has made himself undroppable.

Goals from Conor Chaplin, Brandon Williams and Nathan Broadhead have given Town a 3-1 half-time lead over Preston North End at Portman Road.

Blues boss Kieran McKenna says virtually any club in world football would be happy with Town’s 28 points from their first 11 matches, let alone a team newly promoted to the Championship, but says Town will need to keep working hard to improve and maintain that form.