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Garbutt: Win Gives Us Confidence Ahead of Sunderland
Monday, 5th Aug 2019 06:00

Winning-goalscorer Luke Garbutt believes Saturday’s 1-0 victory at Burton Albion will give the Blues confidence going into next week’s big first home game of the season against League One favourites Sunderland at Portman Road.

Garbutt’s deflected strike in the 11th minute gave the Everton loanee the first debut goal of his career and saw Town to victory in their first third tier game for 62 years.

The 26-year-old believes it was important to get a win on the board at the first time of asking.

“It gives us massive confidence that we can push on from this position of getting three points on the board,” he said.

“Our home fans will push us on again and we’ve got to start on the front foot like we did today and I’m fully confident that we can get a result on Saturday.”

Garbutt feels the Blues have what it takes to be contenders towards the top of the division this season: “If we work hard and do the basics well, we've got more than enough going forward to be a threat in this league.

“Taking care of the basics and doing the defensive duties well, I believe that we’re going to get more positive results than negative.”

However, he says it’s important not to get too carried away with one positive result: “Of course, we’ve just got to take care of what we can take care of and today was a case of getting the three points and moving on to Sunderland.

“We’ve just got to take it game by game and try and perform to the levels we know we can and if we do that then I believe we’ll win more games than most people in this division.”

Garbutt played in League One with Oxford United last season and therefore is in a position to know what the division holds in store.

“Last season the league had a few big teams and again this season there are a few big hitters in the league, so I think it’s going to be tight at the top," he added.

“The standard of football towards the top end of the division is going to be good, I think. But, like I said, we’ve just got to take care of what we can take care of, which is winning our games, not focusing on any other sides really, and I’m sure we’ll get more positive results than negative results.”


He added: “When you come away from home it’s not all going to go your way, so sticking together as a team and making sure you’re a solid defensive unit is going to be massive.

“And then getting those counter-attacks and that quality moving forward and making sure that we finish the chances we create is a massive part of the game.”

He says he's excited by the season both personally and from a team angle: “It’s a great club, it’s a big club. If we perform right and win games, the following’s going to be there.

“The attendances at home will be up there as well and we’ll get backed. That’ll push the club forward and hopefully we’ll finish in a place where we believe we should be.”

Garbutt believes the Blues have plenty of options, something illustrated by Alan Judge and Emyr Huws, probably two of the best players in the division, coming off the bench in the second half as they continue their comebacks from injury.

“We’ve got great strength in depth, especially going forward,” he reflected. “We’ve got a couple of centre-halves that are coming back in, obviously the skipper’s coming back next week, Toto’s probably not far off, so the squad is as probably as good as good as it gets in this division, I believe.

“So, we just keep moving forward, we keep training hard and we keep that mentality of trying to win every game.”

Garbutt was impressed by Town’s away following at the Pirelli Stadium: “It was brilliant, really, really loud, backed the lads 100 per cent. It felt like a home game and that pushed us forward and made us get a positive result.”

Regarding his goal, he insisted it was on its way into the net before it caught either team-mate Danny Rowe or a Burton defender, with video evidence suggesting the latter.

“I’m not sure [who it hit], it doesn’t really matter,” he said. “I got a good connection on it, I feel as though it was probably going in the bottom corner anyway even if someone hadn’t got a deflection on it.

“But I’m pleased to contribute to the team and moving forward I want to get more goals and more assists.”

He was happy with his display over the 90 minutes: “There was one cross at the end there [that was wayward] but overall I’m pleased with my performance and it’s something that I can build on and each game get more and more match fit. I’d like to think I’d be more and more of a force within the team.”

Having been primarily a left-back for most of his career, Garbutt moved forward to left midfield when at Oxford last season and has been given that role with Town in pre-season and on Saturday against the Brewers.

“I think most of the time I’ll probably be operating at left midfield but also I can play left-back as well,” he said when asked where he expects to play for the Blues.

“Wherever the gaffer puts me I’ll give my all for the team and make sure I contribute and do well.”

The Harrogate-born full-back or midfielder says his spell with Town is a good opportunity for him with his Everton contract up next summer.

“It’s a great platform for me to perform and show what I can do,” he continued.

“It’s a big club in this league, we're obviously looking to be at the top end of the league and moving forward, I think the focus is to play well and hopefully it’ll be a successful year.”

He admits he expects his future to be away from Goodison Park, having joined the Toffeemen from Leeds as a 16-year-old for an initial fee of £600,000.

“With a year left on my contract and I’m out on loan again, it's probably going to be away from Everton but I’m just focusing on the here and now and performing well for Ipswich,” he said.

Previously, the former England U16, U17, U18, U19, U20 and U21 international has spent time on loan at Cheltenham, Colchester, Fulham and Wigan in addition to his stint at Oxford last season and says some have been better than others.

“It’s been interesting, I’ve learnt a lot,” he considered. “Not all of them have been good loans, but all in all I’ve picked up a lot of experience.

"I’ve learnt a lot and moving forward hopefully I can take those experiences into this year and have a really positive year.”

Having moved forward into midfield and after scoring on his debut, there’s likely to be the expectation that he’ll notch a few more over the course of the season, however, he says manager Paul Lambert hasn’t given him a target.

“We haven’t discussed that type of aim,” he said. “But I base myself on being productive in the team, whether it be assists or goals, so moving forward I know the ability I possess.

"So if I can stay in the team and get a run of games then I’m confident I can pitch in with a fair few goals and assists.”


Photos: TWTD/PagePix



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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 06:16 - Aug 5
We can do with all the positivity and confidence we can get at the moment, and Luke seems to have both.
8

Dissboyitfc added 06:51 - Aug 5
Hopefully we can get a run going and with the players with have to come back who knows!
4

meekreech added 07:37 - Aug 5
The staff have been lax as they have not yet informed garbutt that we do not score in the first half let alone in away games!
0

ITFCsince73 added 08:48 - Aug 5
After results from the weekend.
The Sunderland game being massive, is the biggest under statement of the year.
3

ThaiBlue added 09:12 - Aug 5
Why do we keep worrying about Sunderland let them worry about us,they are not as good as people make out think 3pts is important but really all the games are.
9

ITFCsince73 added 10:21 - Aug 5
Thai blue. Sunderland have the players to beat any team in this division. If we win Saturday, and go 5 points in front of the title favourites after 1st 2 games.
That will then have teams worrying about us.
We have to earn that right 1st.
2

Nobbysnuts added 10:21 - Aug 5
Dont get the concern with Sunderland. They failed last year and they are a poor side. They should be worried about playing us. Chambers back which is a massive boost. Flynn downes playing excellent and norwood looking superb. Coyb.
1

ITFCsince73 added 10:38 - Aug 5
Got to the play offs and check trophy final. Missed out on automatic promotion as they drew to many, but still undefeated in many.
Invested in the squad over the summer.
Still have premier league parachute payments in case they need to invest more.
And there a poor side??
1

IpswichT62OldBoy added 10:39 - Aug 5
I suspect there will be 23, 000+ on Saturday
Exciting times.
2

ITFCsince73 added 10:41 - Aug 5
If we have Chambo strolling back in the side Saturday, that will be a negative. And leave either the Wolf or Wilson scratching there heads. And Sunderland eager to exploit.
0

RoyalAscotBlue added 11:23 - Aug 5
Pretty sure it was Danny Rowe's goal myself but I guess it doesn't really matter in the slightest.

Hopefully Garbutt will have a good season for us, and then potentially be happy to sign for us permanently? He would be free, so we could afford him.

1

Nobbysnuts added 11:43 - Aug 5
Itfc you answered your own statement. They failed. Dont get caught up in the big club mentality. they will be under even more pressure this season and it's a great time to play them. Have faith in your own team and stop telling us how good the opposition are or you might turn into mick McCarthy Sunderland 1 oxford 1. Poor.
3

bluemay77 added 11:56 - Aug 5
Sunderland are an ordinary side nothing sp
ecial at all and certainly are very beatable
Bring on Saturday coyb!!
3

Nobbysnuts added 12:06 - Aug 5
Itfc I should of hit the down button.🤪 sausage fingers!!!!!
-1

ITFCsince73 added 12:28 - Aug 5
Lol Nobby. That's coming from you, who in recent weeks has said Freddie Sears is crap and didn't deserve new deal. And Teddy Bishop is a liability who we need to out ASAP....
Sunderland aren't favourites for nothing, if Ross don't have them top by end of September.
They will get someone in who will.
As for us, we need Freddie and Teddy back ASAP.
Even though you don't rate them...you need to get behind our players nobby.
2

Nobbysnuts added 12:44 - Aug 5
Itfc. We will carry on this discussion on Saturday after we have given Sunderland a damm good stuffing.
2

ITFCsince73 added 12:47 - Aug 5
Hope your right Nobby.
Although that would mean the sack for Ross, 6 weeks sooner than I've stated.
0

ITFCsince73 added 13:17 - Aug 5
Can't read anything into Sunderland's result from Saturday.
There possibly won't be such a high pressure game in L1 this side of Xmas.
1st game at home, with nearly 35k supporters expecting nothing but a high win, already made clear favourites to finish top....
To come away undefeated was a good result, and make there supporters more realistic and appreciate that it won't be 5 nil every week.
If we can take a point. That will be 4 from 6. And any Town supporter would have happily taken half that last Friday.
0

runningout added 13:31 - Aug 5
not expecting the world Saturday just a 4 nil win nothing less. Plus hoping Mr Evans has improved his transfer negotiations out, or remove obstacle in the way!
0

ITFCsince73 added 14:17 - Aug 5
With Chambo back I'm going 4-4. Otherwise would have made you right Runningout.
1

DifferentGravy added 14:44 - Aug 5
Should never be a sense of entitlement. Respect every team and earn every win.

Town should be concentrating on their own game. If we defend well, dont gift the opposition goals and take a couple of the chances we create, then there is every chance of beating Sunderland. That statement doesnt sound quite so fanciful/wishful given Saturdays performance.

Not sure if Jackson is contributing to the team as a forward expected to create chances/score. Anyone enlighten me after the weekend game?
2

RRanger added 17:33 - Aug 5
Jackson played pretty well in my opinion and his pace will frighten a lot of Lg 1 defenders.If he can score 10 -15 goals and Norwood 15 -20 we'll have a very good season. The defence played well enough - Burton never really tested Holy - the nearest Burton got to scoring was when Holy dilly dallied on clearing the goal and it bounced of a Burton player trying to close him down and missed going in the goal by about a yard. Woolfenden had a very good game and the rest of the defence were ok.
2

DifferentGravy added 17:50 - Aug 5
Thanks RRanger, appreciated. He has tremendous pace and would like to see him creating chances/shots on goal.
0

ringwoodblue added 19:44 - Aug 5
1-0 was a great result against Burton but we need to create and convert more of our chances as better teams will score against us for sure. 3-2 and 4-3 is much more entertaining anyway!
0


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