Glenn Roeder is urging his players not to ignore their defensive
duties at Ipswich.
"It is up to the players to do the job and show that desire once they cross that white line," he says.
"Why have we done so well at home and not away?
"Football is not an exact science and it is not easy to put your finger on it.
"But we have done sessions based on the defensive side of our game, we have looked at who we are going to play because Tomas is suspended.
"It is such a shame Tomas is not playing but at least we have no knocks from Wednesday."
Glenn wants no repeat of the last two away defeats in which 12 goals have been conceded and adds:
"We have got to be sensible; there were times against Blackburn when we weren't sensible.
"At 4-1 we still careered forward without giving any thought whatsoever about not conceding any more goals.
"In professional football there is a time when you have to tough it out, and at 4-1 you have to look at keeping the score down.
"It is not a question of going for the throat from the first moment at Portman Road; we have got to keep the door locked and not give them any encouragement to score.
"We certainly owe it to the fans to give a fighting performance; we owe it to the football club and that's what we'll be focusing on.
"Not all the supporters will be there; some will be watching on television and we have to please them, too."
At least the wins over Chelsea and Southampton have brought smiles back to the club, and Glenn adds:
"There was elation in the dressing room after both games at home, having had to face the music, as it were.
"We beat a very good Chelsea team that is almost certain of being in Champions' League next season.
"But I was brought up on the saying that one swallow doesn't make a summer, but we have got keep producing that sort of performance."
Glenn says he should be given time to piece together a squad in his own image, pointing to the example of Chelsea.
"It was difficult for Claudio Ranieri early on but he has come through it.
"That is a serious Chelsea team that we beat - but we have got to get our feet back on ground."
Glenn enjoyed the tactical battle on Wednesday night and adds:
"All credit to Ranieri, he caused us a problem.
"Things weren't going so well with a 4-4-2 but he is always happy to change things; he brought Zola into an almost free role and in the later stages of the first half we were almost hanging on.
"So we made a tactical change as we knew we had to, we withdrew Courtois, brought Defoe on which was a positive move.
"We got Di Canio to play around Jokanovic as a midfield player, Michael Carrick around Zola, Don Hutchison against Petit, and Trevor Sinclair around Frank Lampard to match them up in midfield, and it worked well for us."
But Glenn felt for Jermain Defoe when he missed after breaking through to be faced with a one on one with Mark Bosnich.
"I'd have been really pleased had Jermain knocked his chance in; 99 times out of 100 on the training ground he does.
"He is learning quickly and coming on in leaps and bounds.
"He is an impatient young man and in one respect I am pleased about that because it tells me he wants to get in the first team as soon as possible.
"We are still keeping the reins on him but sooner rather than later he will be pressing for a regular first team place.
"I'm sure one day when he looks back on his career he will appreciate what I have done by not letting him loose too soon because it is a very difficult league for any young player."
Meanwhile, Glenn is still looking actively in the transfer market and he adds:
"That part of the job will never stop; even when we become satisfied with the squad because things are forever changing in football and you have to be prepared for those changes.
"Players come and go a lot quicker than before and I don't think we will see too many ten year stays any more.
"It is an ever changing situation and you have got to keep on top of what players are available in your in price bracket.
"To be honest at the moment it's all about today and improving the team for this season; we obviously have an eye for the future but any money that is available will be spent on today's team."
"It is up to the players to do the job and show that desire once they cross that white line," he says.
"Why have we done so well at home and not away?
"Football is not an exact science and it is not easy to put your finger on it.
"But we have done sessions based on the defensive side of our game, we have looked at who we are going to play because Tomas is suspended.
"It is such a shame Tomas is not playing but at least we have no knocks from Wednesday."
Glenn wants no repeat of the last two away defeats in which 12 goals have been conceded and adds:
"We have got to be sensible; there were times against Blackburn when we weren't sensible.
"At 4-1 we still careered forward without giving any thought whatsoever about not conceding any more goals.
"In professional football there is a time when you have to tough it out, and at 4-1 you have to look at keeping the score down.
"It is not a question of going for the throat from the first moment at Portman Road; we have got to keep the door locked and not give them any encouragement to score.
"We certainly owe it to the fans to give a fighting performance; we owe it to the football club and that's what we'll be focusing on.
"Not all the supporters will be there; some will be watching on television and we have to please them, too."
At least the wins over Chelsea and Southampton have brought smiles back to the club, and Glenn adds:
"There was elation in the dressing room after both games at home, having had to face the music, as it were.
"We beat a very good Chelsea team that is almost certain of being in Champions' League next season.
"But I was brought up on the saying that one swallow doesn't make a summer, but we have got keep producing that sort of performance."
Glenn says he should be given time to piece together a squad in his own image, pointing to the example of Chelsea.
"It was difficult for Claudio Ranieri early on but he has come through it.
"That is a serious Chelsea team that we beat - but we have got to get our feet back on ground."
Glenn enjoyed the tactical battle on Wednesday night and adds:
"All credit to Ranieri, he caused us a problem.
"Things weren't going so well with a 4-4-2 but he is always happy to change things; he brought Zola into an almost free role and in the later stages of the first half we were almost hanging on.
"So we made a tactical change as we knew we had to, we withdrew Courtois, brought Defoe on which was a positive move.
"We got Di Canio to play around Jokanovic as a midfield player, Michael Carrick around Zola, Don Hutchison against Petit, and Trevor Sinclair around Frank Lampard to match them up in midfield, and it worked well for us."
But Glenn felt for Jermain Defoe when he missed after breaking through to be faced with a one on one with Mark Bosnich.
"I'd have been really pleased had Jermain knocked his chance in; 99 times out of 100 on the training ground he does.
"He is learning quickly and coming on in leaps and bounds.
"He is an impatient young man and in one respect I am pleased about that because it tells me he wants to get in the first team as soon as possible.
"We are still keeping the reins on him but sooner rather than later he will be pressing for a regular first team place.
"I'm sure one day when he looks back on his career he will appreciate what I have done by not letting him loose too soon because it is a very difficult league for any young player."
Meanwhile, Glenn is still looking actively in the transfer market and he adds:
"That part of the job will never stop; even when we become satisfied with the squad because things are forever changing in football and you have to be prepared for those changes.
"Players come and go a lot quicker than before and I don't think we will see too many ten year stays any more.
"It is an ever changing situation and you have got to keep on top of what players are available in your in price bracket.
"To be honest at the moment it's all about today and improving the team for this season; we obviously have an eye for the future but any money that is available will be spent on today's team."