 | ROYLE'S VIEW |
Ipswich manager Joe Royle has backed his side to win promotion to the Premiership despite missing out on an automatic place on Sunday. Royle's side drew 1-1 with Brighton, while rivals Wigan won, leaving Ipswich in the play-offs.
But Royle told BBC Sport: "Wigan, along with Sunderland and us, have been in the top three of the Championship pretty much all season.
"I feel we deserve to go up and we now have to prove that."
Ipswich will meet West Ham in part one of their two-leg semi-final next weekend.
While he backed his side to win the tie, he added: "Anything can happen in a game - it may be down to a ricochet or a linesman or referee's decision - who knows.
"But we have the second leg at home which hopefully will make a difference."
Ipswich had gone into their final league game of the season level with Wigan on points but behind on goal difference.
But the Latics ensured automatic promotion to the top flight with their 3-1 win over Reading.
Royle said: "I expected Wigan to win today - no disrespect to [Reading boss] Steve Coppell and his team.
"Wigan are a strong side and hard to play against, so congratulations to Paul Jewell."
MMIX
E-mail this to a friend 
Printable version 
