Walker's Change Of Luck

GOALKEEPER Jimmy Walker will be hoping for better fortune in the Play-off semi-final second leg, but the popular stopper is confident Hammers can secure the win they need at Portman Road on Wednesday night.

Walker described the moment at the end of the first-half when Tommy Miller's free-kick came back off the post and struck the helpless 'keeper, diverting the ball into the net.

"It was just one of those things," he said. "The free-kick has come off the side of the wall and hit the post. Then the ball has just hit me on the back and gone in.

"It was a harsh goal for us, because we were really on top at that point and Ipswich had been struggling to get into the game. Nothing seemed to go for us at the end of the first-half, and it was a blow that we couldn't recover from in the second-half.

"The second goal was just a bit of over-eagerness between myself and Anton. We've both gone up for the ball and Anton has got there to head it. Unfortunately, it dropped to Kuqi and he put it away.

"After the game we were all disappointed, because it felt like we had lost the game after giving away a two-goal lead. But we didn't and we're still very confident we can go to Portman Road and get a win."

Walker reveals that the Hammers squad have recovered quickly from the disappointment of losing their two-goal cushion in the first-leg. And the 31-year-old goalkeeper believes mental strength will be vital in second leg.

"It's going to be a huge atmosphere at Portman Road and we've got to make sure we keep our concentration and focus," he said. "We've got the ability to win there, but it'll be all about which team handles the occasion better on the night.

"We've got to make sure that team is us."