Lee Johnson has given his verdict ahead of Ipswich Town's visit to the Stadium of Light in his notes in this Saturday's edition of Red & White matchday programme, sponsored by Signature Truck & Van.
Welcome back to the Stadium of Light ahead of today’s game against Ipswich Town.
We also extend a warm welcome to Paul Cook and his players and staff, and to the Ipswich supporters that have travelled to the North East this afternoon.
I would like to start by offering my condolences to the family and friends of academy coach Mac Woodley, who sadly passed away last week following a short battle with illness.
Although I never met Mac personally, his impact on all of those associated with our football club cannot be understated and those that knew him have not only lost an esteemed colleague, but a trusted friend.
We are honoured to welcome Mac’s family to today’s game and are thoughts are with them at this incredibly sad time.
The international break came at a good time for us, as it was clear that we had some challenges to overcome both physically and in terms of our recent form.
We have focussed on ourselves and we have healed as a team, so I’m really looking forward to this opportunity to prove our worth against a strong Ipswich side.
Whenever you lose a league game, you need to ensure you take a controlled aggression into the next fixture and we head into today’s game full of energy and full of vigour.
We have seen the power of collective positivity throughout the season and it will be vital during what is an incredibly important period for us, with 33 points on offer between now and the 2 January.
We need to respect our oppositions accordingly, but we feel this is a run of games whereby we can really stamp our authority on the division.
As supporters, I know you will continue to drive us on and keep us honest.
We all feel your passion for the club and your commitment to the cause, and we will do everything we can to continue building your trust in us.
The starts with a strong performance today.
Thank you for your support,
Lee Johnson
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