TRACTOR BOY LUKE IS DETERMINED TO PLOUGH ON AT THE SUMMIT
IPSWICH Town have made a quick-fire start to life in League One – and defender Luke Garbutt insists the Tractor Boys will keep their foot on the gas.
Heading into this afternoon’s clash at lowly Accrington Stanley, the table-topping Tractor Boys had won eight and drawn three of their 11 games, scoring 21 goals and conceding just five.
It gave them a four-point advantage heading into the weekend, meaning they were guaranteed to remain at the summit.
It’s all in stark contrast to last season when the Blues finished rock bottom of the Championship, winning just five of their 46 matches.
It’s 62 years since Ipswich last played in English football’s third tier – and all the signs are they don’t intend on hanging around for a moment longer than necessary.
Garbutt didn’t suffer last term’s disappointment – he was on loan at Oxford – but is relishing the chance to help the famous old club get back on track.
Motoring
The 26-year-old, on a season-long loan from Everton, has chipped in with three goals from five games so far this term and would surely have made an even bigger impact if he hadn’t suffered a knee injury in the second game of the season against Sunderland which ruled him out for more than a month.
Now back in action, he’s loving life at Portman Road.
“Overall, the start of the season has been absolutely brilliant,” he told The FLP. “For me personally, I had a little hiccup with the injury against Sunderland, but I’ve maintained the form I started the season with and the team has been doing really well. I couldn’t be in a better place.”
It’s not always easy to turn results around following the heartbreak of relegation – just ask Huddersfield – and Garbutt believes the opening day victory at Burton was crucial.
The Tractor Boys ground out a 1-0 victory at the Pirelli Stadium with Garbutt marking his debut with the winner.
“The first game of the season set a trend,” he said. “Following a disappointing season before, getting relegated and losing a lot of games, it was a massive result away at Burton.
“We won the game and kept a clean sheet. It showed the lads are in tune with what the manager wants to do.
“We can’t really ask for any more so far this season, but our focus and mentality is to keep it going. We know what we want to achieve – promotion.”
Sometimes long unbeaten runs can become a burden. Teams may go out with an attitude of not wanting to lose to protect their record rather than going all out for the victory.
But Garbutt says there’s no such concern in the Blues camp.
“For any football player, confidence is key,” he explained. “As a squad of players and individuals, you can’t really get more confidence than from winning games, staying unbeaten and being top of the league. “Now the vital thing is to maintain the mentality and not rest on our laurels. The lads’ mentality has been spot-on so far.” And Garbutt insists they will take that approach into today’s game at Accrington, who would love to be the first side to take their scalp this season. “Listen, we won’t go up there thinking it’s an easy game,” stressed Garbutt. “They are going to be in our faces and you have to earn the right to win. “We will try to execute whatever the manager wants us to do and we are fully equipped to do that. “It’s going to be tough but we’re on a good run of form and keen to continue that.”
Garbutt has only positive things to say about boss Paul Lambert, left, who took the reins a year ago following Paul Hurst’s unhappy spell in charge.
The former Norwich boss couldn’t prevent relegation to the third tier, but has successfully changed the mood at the Suffolk club.
“It’s the first time I’ve worked with him and I’ve been impressed,” said Garbutt. “My relationship with him is good and I’m enjoying my football.
“He’s given me the freedom to play and I think I’m repaying him. Hopefully there is a lot more improvement to come – I believe I can do even more.” Garbutt has taken to the left wing-back role with aplomb this term, but believes it’s a work in progress. “In my career I’ve mainly played as a left-back or winger,” he said. I’ve played just a few games as a left wingback, but, in theory, it’s the perfect position for me. “I’m working on it and trying to perfect it. When you are winning games, it’s easier to make the transition.” This season is an important one for Garbutt. He’s been at Everton for a decade, but firstteam chances have been few and far between.
Renaissance
He has notched up a dozen appearances for the Toffees, including playing in the Premier League and Europe, but his last games were back in the 2014-15 season.
Since then he has been out on loan at Fulham, Wigan, Oxford and now Ipswich (he also had earlier loan spells at Cheltenham and Colchester).
With his long-term Everton deal coming to an end next summer, it appears more than likely he will be moving on. A
Our focus and mentality is to keep it going. We know what we want to achieve - promotion Luke Garbutt
good season for Ipswich won’t do his cause any harm.
“Right now I’m really enjoying myself at the football club,” said the former England U21 international. “It couldn’t have gone any better.
“I’m settled here, I enjoy living here and the lads are really good.
“From a personal point of view, I just want to keep playing well and see what happens. It’s hard to give a definite response, but I need to focus on playing well and the rest will take care of itself.”
Of course, Ipswich being in the Championship would make them a more attractive proposition if and when Garbutt has a decision to make at the end of the season.
But there is a long way to go before that and you can understand why the Harrogate-born defender is keen to take things step by step.
“What the future holds I’m in control of if I keep doing well,” he added. “Right now we’re in a great position and looking to maintain that. The important thing is that I’m enjoying my football here and being at the football club.”
We won’t go up there thinking it’s an easy game. They are going to be in our faces Luke Garbutt