Ipswich Town defender Leif Davis spoke to the press ahead of the upcoming trip to Leicester City. Alex Jones reports...

Ipswich Town’s 4-0 defeat to Arsenal was tough for Leif Davis.

The left-back was picked to start, but he only lasted 32 minutes against the Gunners before receiving his marching orders for a mis-timed tackle on Bukayo Saka, raking the winger’s leg with his studs.

It was a painful challenge, one that was worthy of a red card upon reflection. In the moment, however, Davis didn’t realise how bad it looked.

“At the time, personally I didn’t think a lot of it,” he explained. “I thought it’d be a yellow card, fair enough.

“I’ve done that tackle quite a lot of times. I did it in the Newcastle game against [Tino] Livramento at home and won the ball. I did it earlier on against [Martin] Odegaard and [Leandro] Trossard and won the ball.

“I saw a gap between his legs and thought I could win the ball, but he stepped across.

Leif Davis was shown a red card for a challenge on Arsenal star Bukayo SakaLeif Davis was shown a red card for a challenge on Arsenal star Bukayo Saka (Image: Ross Halls) "With the quality of the player, he’s quick with the ball at his feet. He took that extra step, so by the time I committed, I committed to hurting his ankle, which I never meant to do.

“I was disappointed. I apologised straight away to my team-mates at half time for putting them in that situation. Obviously missing the next three games, it felt like I was letting the team down.”

These moments are part and parcel of football. There was clearly no malice and Davis didn’t intentionally set out to hurt Saka, but it never takes much for emotions to boil over.

Some Arsenal fans took to social media to aim abuse and vitriol at the 25-year-old. A few took it a step further by contacting him directly, forcing him to take a step back and block the outside noise.

Leif Davis apologised to his team-mates after the red cardLeif Davis apologised to his team-mates after the red card (Image: Ross Halls) “It wasn’t pleasant at all,” he revealed. “Things I was getting on social media, messages like that.

“I just came off social media for a little bit because you’re going to get those kinds of messages from people who’ve probably never kicked a football in their life, saying stuff like that.

“It wasn’t just about me, it was about family stuff as well, who I’m close with. I’m a real family person.

“It did hit me quite hard, but that’s when I realised that it’s people who haven’t been in the situation I’ve been in, playing in the biggest league in the world. I should just look and laugh at it really, the comments that were made.

“I came off social media. It wasn’t a tackle where I wanted to go in and hurt the player, I never would do that in a game of football.

“It was just one of those moments that happen, a tackle like that happens quite a lot in a game, say if a midfielder turns out and gets stood on.

“I just went in a bit more harshly. I didn’t mean to go in with that much aggression to go and hurt the player.

“It was a tough couple of weeks but I feel ready to go again.”

Arsenal fan Piers Morgan called Leif Davis 'a thug'Arsenal fan Piers Morgan called Leif Davis 'a thug' (Image: PA Sport) One high-profile case saw celebrity Arsenal supporter Piers Morgan take to X, where he criticised the Ipswich fans who booed Saka following the tackle, labelling Davis a ‘thug’.

“A lot of people could say the same about him,” the Town man chuckled. “It’s comments, isn’t it? It’s what people think. He can say that all he likes, but I know I’m not that kind of person.

“I don’t know him personally. People could say that about him, but he could be the best bloke in the world, you never know.

“You never judge a book by its cover. I’m not one of those kind of people.”

Davis’ three-match ban came at the worst time. The first game he missed was against Newcastle United, the club he grew up supporting.

His dreams of finishing the campaign with a trip to St. James’ Park were dashed, but he was never going to miss the game, even if he was unable to step out onto the pitch to face the Magpies.

Leif Davis was gutted to miss the trip to Newcastle, his boyhood clubLeif Davis was gutted to be banned for the trip to Newcastle, the club he supports (Image: Ross Halls) “That was the game I had an eye on at the start of the year when the fixtures came out,” he admitted. “It’s football, things happen in football, you can’t control that.

“Hopefully it’s not the last opportunity I get to play there. Hopefully I get to play there in the future.

“It’s a team I’ve supported all my life. I’d love to play against them or play for them, anything like that. It was a disappointing one, but that’s football.

“I did travel up with the team. I wanted to be involved with all the games while I was suspended, but I had to get my work done back here, like when we played Everton.

“But that was the one game where I told the manager I wanted to go, experience it all with the team and be there because it was relegation, so I wanted to help them and make sure everyone was good together.

“The reception we got at the end from the fans was incredible. Every single one of them sat there at the full-time whistle, clapping us on. It shows how passionate they are for the club.

“Hopefully we can give something back next year, for what they have done for us this year.”

Leif Davis returns from his ban this weekendLeif Davis returns from his ban this weekend (Image: Steve Waller) Davis’ absence looked like it would be a major issue for Ipswich, who have been without an out-and-out left-back for three games due to Conor Townsend’s hamstring injury.

In their moment of need, however, Jacob Greaves stepped up, having played a few games in that position while at Hull City.

What started as a necessity ended up being one of Town’s strong points, however, with the centre-back excelling against Everton and Brentford by offering some defensive resilience in wide areas.

“Greaves, I know his quality,” Davis said. “He’s a very good defender. He lacks what Conor and I give going forward, but in this league, the way the games have gone, having him at left-back has been a better option for us. We’re defending a lot of crosses and he’s better than me defensively.

“He’s done really well. I can’t fault him for anything, he’s given his all every time he’s played there.

“He’s enjoyed it as well. When I spoke to him at training, on the pitches, to help him along and position him where I would be as well. I’ve pushed him going forward a few times, which he didn’t like, I don’t think, because he was blowing at the end of it.

“He’s even said to me that it’s harder than it looks. It was the first full game he did it [v Newcastle], although he did it against Arsenal. The next morning he said he couldn’t walk. I was saying, ‘I told you!’, it’s a tough position to play.

“He’s done excellent. He dug in well and it’s another position he can play.”

Jacob Greaves has filled in for Davis Jacob Greaves has filled in for Davis (Image: Ross Halls) There will now be a debate about who starts tomorrow afternoon against Leicester City – a game between two sides who have already been relegated from the Premier League.

The big talking point will be Jamie Vardy, who will play his final game for the Foxes against Town. He’s currently on 499 appearances and 199 goals, but Davis is hoping that the Blues can spoil his farewell at the King Power Stadium.

“He’s had an incredible career,” he stated. “I think it’s his 500th game? I’d dream of playing 500 games.

“It’s going to be one where he’s raring to go to score in his last game for Leicester. We’ll have to do everything we can to keep him quiet.”

It should be a feisty game, as the previous meetings have been. The last three matches between the two sides have all ended 1-1, with late equalisers in each. We’ve a red card and plenty of drama, which Davis believes is natural in fixtures of this nature.

Town's last game against Leicester City was controversial, with the penalty that never wasTown's last game against Leicester City was controversial, with the penalty that never was (Image: Steve Waller) “You’ve seen the games against Southampton, which are a similar comparison,” he detailed.

“Those games have felt more like a derby because we were the closest teams to going up, we were always fighting against them to see who would go top, who would go second and who would go into the play-offs.

“That’s why those games are what they were like – intense, good atmosphere, both teams playing good football.

“Sunday will just be another game like that.”