THREE games in a week was always likely to be a big ask for our squad and so it proved at Barnsley.

The first half was disappointing and although we were much better after the break we just couldn't find a way back into the game.

To go behind to an own goal is always tough to take, but I just think the amount of football we had to play in a short space of time showed a little bit.

It's something we will have to get used to as there are many weeks in the Championship where you have to play Saturday then Tuesday, but it's a lot to ask of our young players at the moment.

We have made good progress in the short time that I've been here but it just reinforces the point that I think most of us already know by now - we need to try and strengthen our squad before the transfer window closes.

I can assure you that we are doing our upmost to get players in. We are leaving no stone unturned.

We are looking at players on trial, we are looking at possible loan deals or permanent transfers.

There have been numerous deals that have come close but there has always been something that has scuppered the move. Either the player's wage demands were too high, or the deal hasn't been quite right for the other club.

At times it has felt a bit like pushing porridge up a hill!

But we completed the signing of young Stuart O'Keefe this week and, at the time of writing, we are closing in on striker Pablo Counago on a season long loan deal as well.

There has been much talk of Edgar Davids this week, but nothing is finalised on that one.

In the meantime, we have to continue with the players we have got.

The big positives from the Barnsley match were the return to action of David Wright and Neil Danns.

David has struggled with a hamstring strain since pre-season so to see him in action was a good sign. Neil is a very important player for us and will be a major part of my plans for this season, to have him available again is a boost.

Tomorrow's visit of Ipswich is obviously an interesting match for me on a personal level. I spent 22 years of my life at the club - 14 as a player and almost eight as a manager. For that reason it will always be a club that I look out for.

It's a great place to work. A real family club, with close ties to the local community and its supporters.

But at the end of the day it is simply another match and another chance for us to pick up three points. That is the way you have to look at it. Every game is as important as the next, it doesn't matter who you are playing, every match has the same amount of points on offer and the same importance.

I'm expecting a really tough game though. Ipswich chairman Marcus Evans has invested a lot of money into the club over the past couple of years and they have started very well this season.

I think anything less that a top six finish will be deemed as a failure, so we know we will have to be at the top of our game.

One advantage we've had this week is a full seven days to get the guys ready.

Players like Owen Garvan and Julian Bennett have been thrown into the side and done extremely well, but having this clear week just gives them an opportunity to bed in a little bit.

It also gives us a chance to look at one or two things and freshen the squad up for tomorrow's match. Hopefully we can get back to winning ways and give you another home win to cheer about.