George condemns bore draw with Toffees

Honesty is a diminishing commodity in the modern world, particularly among those involved in football.

Quite apart from the barefaced lying which typifies dealings in the transfer market, laughable votes of confidence from the board and declarations of innocence from obvious cheats, there is the public self-delusion which players and managers employ to deflect criticism. Problems, what problems?

It is to be hoped that, in the case of IpswichTown, such public statements are merely a shield - and that behind the scenes, manager George Burley is conducting a truthful -debate about the way forward.

On current evidence, something must change if their UEFA Cup adventure is to progress beyond the formidable obstacle of Helsingborgs.

The Swedes visit Portman Road for the first leg of their second round tie onThursday, no doubt emboldened by their spying report on Saturday's 0-0 draw with Everton. Ipswich were not bad, as such. But, not for the first time this season, they simply did not seem a patch on the new arrivals who took the Premiership by storm last year. They might have lost to an adventurous Everton side playing with three up front and only really looked threatening themselves with the late introduction of Finidi George - dropped for the first time since his summer arrival. George, a European Cup winner with Ajax and already a cult hero in Ipswich, also offered an honest insight amid the usual reassuring stock phrases.

'Sometimes, when you don't win, there is a lot of pressure on the players,' admitted the Nigeria forward.

'We gave our best against Everton but it just wasn't possible to get the goal. 'It is a different ball game when it comes to European football, though, and we will approach Thursday's game in a different manner. What we do in the Premiership doesn't really enter into it. I think we will be focused.