Grant Ward is looking forward to returning to Ipswich Town when Bristol Rovers travel to the Tractor Boys for the third round of the Emirates FA Cup.
The midfielder, who made 94 Championship appearances across three seasons at Ipswich, has come off the bench in both of Rovers’ FA Cup outings so far. Ward netted the third goal in the Pirates’ 3-1 victory over Weston-super-Mare in the first round of the competition before helping his side overcome Barnsley in the following stage to set up an attractive tie away against Premier League opposition.
The week has provided a rare fixture break for Rovers, who played games every few days since Iñigo Calderón was appointed as the new head coach on Boxing Day. The Spaniard collected his first win in charge in the Gas’ 1-0 away win over Cambridge United in Sky Bet League One last time out, with eight days separating the outing in the third tier and FA Cup.
Ward stated that he has enjoyed getting on the training pitch with Calderón, who is starting to implement his style on the team.
“It’s been a good week,” he said. “To work with the gaffer for a proper week has been good to watch him implement his style. To be honest, it’s been a tough week, but it’s been good, and I think the boys have enjoyed it.
“With the Christmas period, we didn’t really do much training because there’s a game, recovery day, light training session and match again. So, it’s been good for us and him to both see what he wants to implement.
“I like him. He’s passionate, he’s intense, and he knows what he wants to do. Hopefully, we can do that.”
Ward has been one of the main beneficiaries of Calderón’s appointment. After a spell in and out of the team, the 30-year-old has started the last two matches and has been a calm figure in the middle of the pitch, replacing the injured Kamil Conteh.
The former Blackpool player insisted that the new head coach has given everyone a clean slate to impress.
“That’s what you get with a new manager,” said Ward. “They want to look at everyone, and obviously, if you can impress, hopefully, you can get in the team. So, I think everyone has a clean slate, and it’s been good.”
Ward scored for Rovers in the FA Cup last campaign, netting the equaliser in a 1-1 draw with Norwich City at Carrow Road in the third round in the previous term. With three goals in 12 FA Cup appearances in his career, he likes the magic of the competition.
“It’s a competition I enjoy,” said Ward. “I’ve got a few goals in the FA Cup, so hopefully I can get another one. But it’s a good competition. It’s the magic of the FA Cup, as they say, you never know who you’re going to get in the next round, so it’s a good competition to be in.
Ward is returning to Portman Road for the second successive season after playing the entire game in Rovers’ 2-0 loss to the Tractor Boys in the Carabao Cup last term.
Kieran McKenna's men had only just been promoted to the Championship then, but back-to-back promotions mean they are playing in the Premier League for the first time since 2002. They are only inside the relegation zone on goal difference, with Ward excited to return to his old side.
“It’s nice to go back there, see a few familiar faces and see the fans,” he said. “It will be a good experience, and hopefully we can get a result.
“They had a bit of an up and down time when they came down to League One and they were stuck in League One for a little while, but they’ve bombed on and looked good. They are holding their own in the Premier League, so hopefully, they can stay up.
“I think we have to go up there with no fear, but I wouldn’t say a free hit as such. But we have to go there with no fear, and hopefully, if we can do what we want to do and our game plan, I think we can go up there and get a result.”
