Page 4 - Jermaine Wright News Today

Town fell to another home league defeat, their second in a week, this time to Crystal Palace. The Blues went behind to an Andy Johnson goal but got on back on terms as Darren Ambrose headed his eighth goal of the season. However, Danny Butterfield gave the points to the South Londoners late in the day.

Town failed to get any points from the last of four games which were seen as crucial to the Blues season. The matches against Everton, Fulham, Southampton and West Ham were games where Town should have added to their paltry points total, unfortunately three draws and a loss have hardly helped matters.

Town fans left Portman Road angry and depressed once again as Gillingham took three points back to Kent. A Mamady Sidibe goal in the first half, again after Town had failed to defend a corner, was enough to take Andy Hessenthalers side to victory.

Rampant Town demolished Burnley 6-1 with a rip-roaring display as they climbed to seventh. A stunning first half saw the Blues go in 5-0 at the break. The second half was always going to be an anti-climax with Shefki Kuqis sixth the only addition while Burnleys Delroy Facey grabbed a consolation.

Town got back to form on Sunday with a 2-1 victory over fellow promotion candidates Manchester City. Town made several changes from the side that drew 1-1 with Crewe in the week with Manu Thetis, Fabian Wilnis and Jermaine Wright all returning to the starting line-up and Matt Holland starting at sweeper in place of the suspended John McGreal. Richard Naylor, Wayne Brown and Jamie Clapham all dropped to the bench whilst Gary Croft came in for his debut. The new boy was to have quite a game.

In a shock move Town striker David Johnson has declared himself Welsh. The 23-year-old striker has in the past appeared for both the England B team and the Jamaican full side as well as spending a game on the bench for the England U21s, however none of these games tied him to any one country and he can still choose which nation he wanted to represent.

Unlucky Town came within a few minutes of beating Arsenal in a pulsating encounter at Portman Road. The game finished 1-1, but Town were one up for forty minutes of the second half after Marcus Stewart had headed home past David Seaman. A late Denis Bergkamp goal evened the game.

A pulsating climax to the East Anglian derby saw Pablo Couñago grab an equaliser for the Blues in injury time from a Darren Bent missed penalty. Prior to that, the game had taken much the same pattern as recent derbies, Town having most of the play before conceding, and once again there was more than a little controversy.

Away supporters will be chuffed to hear that Town have drawn Crewe at Gresty Road in the Worthington Cup Third Round. The tie will take place in the week commencing October 8th.

Town manager Joe Royle has several injury problems as he goes into Saturdays game at table-topping West Brom. Chris Makin, Tommy Miller and Martijn Reuser are all out while Jermaine Wright is a doubt.