Star George makes world of difference

Finidi George bids farewell to Ipswich for five weeks tomorrow hoping his absence will not be fatal for his side's survival hopes. Ipswich's mini-revival has owed much to the Nigeria winger, who will fly off to prepare for the African Nations Cup in Mali after the New Year's Day match against Charlton.

Saturday's 5-0 thrashing of Sunderland, a third straight victory for George Burley's men, was inspired by a George display which saw the Suffolk club four-up at the break and led to visiting skipper Michael Gray being withdrawn at half-time to save him from further embarrassment.

Chairman David Sheepshanks' criticism of the players in his Boxing Day programme notes was still ringing in the players' ears as Ipswich dismantled the Wearsiders.

Sheepshanks believed that his club had gone 15 matches without a win because of a lack of determination and felt that the influx of foreigners in the dressing room had affected morale.

If his words were meant to spark a response, they worked a treat.

George, who scored Ipswich's fourth goal with a sublime chip over Thomas Sorensen, said: 'I think everybody at this club wants to win, even if we come from different parts of the world - it makes no difference.

'I have played in Holland and in Spain and I have always been part of a football family. It is the same at Ipswich, everybody accepts everyone else and we all get on. We have just needed to get things right on the pitch and we are doing that now.' George - who plans to use the African Nations Cup as a platform for securing his place in Nigeria's World Cup squad - set up the opening goal on 15 minutes when his cross went through Emerson Thome's legs and hit Alun Armstrong before going in. Young Dane Thomas Gaardsoe then made it 2-0 when he headed in Mark Venus's corner and sparked a three-goal blitz in six minutes which saw further strikes from Armstrong and the irrepressible George.

With that, the game was over as a contest, although Jamie Clapham added a fifth near the end, leaving Sunderland boss Peter Reid apoplectic. He said: 'I've been a manager for 10 years and it is the first time I have felt like ducking out of a Press conference. We were outclassed, outpassed and outfought.' Striker Niall Quinn agreed, adding: 'We build the team up and build up the hopes of the fans and then we break their dreams. That was awful.'