Damien Delaney has revealed how he stayed mentally strong, in order to forge his way back into the frame at Ipswich Town.

And the Irishman, one of the stars of the team recently, is now reaping the rewards after forming a rock-solid defensive alliance with Gareth McAuley.

The centre-halfs have been in uncompromising form and none more so than during Tuesday’s 1-1 draw with high-flying West Bromwich Albion at Portman Road.

But it was a different story at the start of the season when Delaney, then playing as left-back, came in for severe criticism from Blues fans.

He told the Gazette: "If we’re being honest, in that first month or two I think everyone was down and out." For the full story and more on Ipswich Town see today's Gazette.