Richard Cresswell insists

[oatcakemate]

he and Jon Parkin will remain best buddies - whoever gets the nod to play up front at Ipswich tomorrow (3pm).

The two Yorkshiremen, daily travelling companions to the Britannia Stadium, are vying for the vacancy left by Mama Sidibe's departure to the African Cup of Nations.

Cresswell fancies a crack at playing in his strongest position after spending most of the season on the left flank.



But Parkin is hoping to win a rare place in the starting line-up after almost winning last Sunday's FA Cup tie when he was foiled by that remarkable goal-line clearance.

"On the way back home after the Newcastle game," says Cresswell, "he kept banging his head against the steering wheel.

"But, to be fair to Parky, it was only his second touch and he was unlucky. On another day the ball could have hit his backside and gone in.

"He's OK now, though. He keeps telling us the appearance money is worth more than the win bonus and that's why he missed, so we'd get an extra game in the replay.

"I enjoy playing up front, but at the moment I'm just happy to be fit and playing. And for me and Parky, it's just banter between us."

But he would prefer to play alongside Ricardo Fuller?

"I'm a professional footballer," he says tactfully, "and the gaffer puts me wherever he wants to put me. I will give 100 per cent wherever.

"The only game I've played up front with Ricardo (Fuller) was at Crystal Palace and I enjoyed it that night.

"You don't get as many chances out wide on the left, but I've still got a few goals and I'm happy with that.

"If you watch me, I do push up and get into the box anyway. Getting eight goals from midfield has been pleasing - and long may it continue."

Ipswich, for whom former Norwich striker Paul Dalglish has been training this week, have also tried to swell their ranks with the likes of £2m-rated Plymouth midfielder David Norris and Cardiff winger Paul Parry.

Chairman David Sheepshanks, who remains at the head of the boardroom table despite handing over ownership to multi-millionaire Marcus Evans, says there will be no promotion-or-bust spending by Ipswich this January.

"Marcus wants to take this club into the Premier League," said Sheepshanks, "but he wants it to be on a sure-footed basis. It is not promotion at all costs this season, but what I can say is that it is not a case of if we regain our place in the top flight - but when."

No-one, least of all Ipswich themselves it seems, can explain the astonishing contrast between their title-winning form at home and their relegation results away.

The Tractor Boys have won 11 and drawn two of their 13 league games at Portman Road this season - 0-0 draws with Barnsley and Burnley their only blemishes - and remain unbeaten in 16 league games in total stretching back to March last year.

On their travels, however, they have lost nine and drawn four of their 13 trips nationwide in the Championship this season - scoring only 10 and conceding 28 in the process - and have now gone 10 months since their last success on the road.

But Stoke travel to East Anglia with remarkably good form in those parts after winning 1-0 on their last visit, 13 months ago, and 4-1 on their previous trip in April 2006.

With four victories in their last seven meetings with Ipswich, Stoke now have 23 wins and 26 defeats from their 66 league meetings since the first in September 1954.

[Top Stopper]

On another day the ball could have hit his backside and gone in.

Tongue in cheek there Cressy?

;D

[realstokebloke]

On the other hand, had the roles been reversed and Taylor had fired it at Parky's arris, then there would have been precisely no chance of Newcastle scoring.

Porkin's backside must easily fill the goal.

[PotteringThrough]

RSB ;D