Ipswich Town (H) | Foster's Preview

After a superb 2-0 win at Middlesbrough last weekend, the Argyle squad were allowed a couple of days to bask in the victory.

Many took time away to recharge some batteries following an intense period of fixtures, and ahead of another week where three games will be played in eight days.

The players reported back for duty on Monday, in good spirits, with the victory in the North East still in their minds. The lack of a midweek fixture also meant that Head Coach Ian Foster had an opportunity for a little more time on the training ground to implement some of his philosophies.

“We gave the players a little bit of a breather,” said Foster. “The schedule was to allow the players some time at home. A lot of the players, directly from the Middlesbrough game, went to see their families, which was nice for them. They were able to switch off and just have some well needed rest.

“They've been bright this week, since they've come back in. They look really refreshed, really focused. It's been nice to get some more work done on the training ground, which has been almost impossible during the run that we've had.

“It's been a really positive week.

“I felt like there was a little bit of pressure on the players to raise themselves and put in a performance worthy of the club and the supporters, and I thought the bounce back was terrific. It was probably our most complete performance.

“If you ask any coach, they want a huge block of work in the beginning of the season, pre-season, in order to establish your playing style and principles. For a coach coming in January, it's quite hard to do that. You've got to do some of it bit-by-bit. That's why sometimes our performances aren't complete performances.

“It's very nice when they when they do come off. We had to start somewhere, and we've started from a structure where we we’re trying to get to a place where we're really difficult to beat, because we know that we carry that threat the other way.

“We've got to take that momentum into the home game now, against one of the favourites to get promoted.”

The week ahead begins with a home fixture against Ipswich Town at Home Park on Saturday, a renewal of a rivalry from last season, where Argyle and the Tractor Boys filled the top two spots in Sky Bet League One. Not only that, games between the two sides, including a 3-2 at Portman Road earlier this season, have been action-packed, exciting affairs.

Ipswich are third in the Championship, are the second-top goalscorers in the division, and are on a four-game winning run. It will be a tough proposition for Argyle, but off the back of an excellent result of their own last weekend, Foster says there is a positive atmosphere heading into Saturday.

“It's another wonderful challenge for us, one we'll embrace, one we're looking forward to,” said Foster.

“They've lost four games in the league this season, which is the least of any club.  They’ve scored 68 goals in 34 games, so they're averaging two goals a game.

“They're obviously a really efficient unit, where they score a lot of goals and don't lose many games.

“They've got a wonderful coaching staff. They've got some really good players. I've worked with a few of the players - more than a few, actually - across my time as a coach, so I know how capable those guys are.

“They’re really well organised. They carry a threat when they transition from one shape to the other, which gets some really exciting players into some dangerous positions.

“We've got to be aware, and we are aware, of the threats they pose, but we're at home and the emphasis is on us to go and put in a really strong performance. Let’s see if they can deal with our threats as well.

“There's a little bit more on this game. even as an outsider, if you like, from what went on last season, you get a sense from the players who were here, the staff who were here, that this means more.

“It just adds that little bit of spice to the game, which is brilliant. That's what football's about. We're in the entertainment business, and we want our players to go out and give a really good account of themselves.”