Town target return to European glory days

"Nobody remembers semi-final losers," George Burley admitted ahead of tonight's Worthington Cup first-leg with Birmingham at Portman Road.

Yet Ipswich have painful recent memories of falling as the final hurdle approached - three failed play-off seasons were overturned in 2000 with Wembley success.

Town have also twice been knocked out in the last-four of the League Cup, a competition they have never won.

John McGreal is among the number that have suffered the semi hoodoo elsewhere - the centre-back, who is struggling to be fit following a knee injury, having lost four times at this stage of competitions with Tranmere.

And the 28-year-old Scouser believes Town's luck can change for the better and provide Ipswich with their first domestic Cup since 1978.

"I was in four semi-finals, including the play-offs and the 1994 Coca-Cola Cup and we didn't win any of them," recalled McGreal.

"We were well on top against Aston Villa in that Coca-Cola match in the first leg, but they scored late on and the tie ended up going to penalties, which we lost 5-4.

"So it was ironic that Tranmere finally got to Wembley the year I left - still I had my turn a few months later.

"We have to fancy our chances of reaching the final, even though we know how tough it will be against Birmingham.

"But we are full of confidence and getting to Cardiff for the final would be great.

"At the moment, we just can't wait to get out there and play our next game. The spirit in the side is fantastic and we are determined to keep progressing."

Burley was at the club for their two semi-defeats in the 1980s - one to local rivals Norwich - and believes his new-look Town are ready to emulate the great side he graced with a return to European action.

The Worthington Cup winners will once again be handed a Uefa Cup berth and Burley is keen to relive his playing days as a manager, when he was a winner of that latter competition during a spell of nine out of 10 seasons during the 70s and early 80s on the Continent.

"I'm a typical Scot - always believe in your ability, nothing comes easy and you are always striving for better. I had standards as a player to try and improve. Now we are trying to emulate that team.

"Man for man the quality of the players were better than they are now, we had 13 internationals. But the application from my squad is second to none.

"We had a tremendous record for bringing young players through in that period and we have that again now.

"We have a number who have come to us from lower league clubs, people that have come to us because they weren't getting games and we are very proud at how we've produced some of the best young players in the country."

Kieron Dyer, who has since moved to Newcastle, and Richard Wright have progressed to full England level from the Portman Road ranks while James Scowcroft and Titus Bramble have represented the Under-21s.

"There's two teams keeping us from Europe," said Burley.

"This is our best chance for qualifying, but I haven't given up on the FA Cup or the league.

"I have told the players to savour the game because you don't get too many major semi-finals in your career."