Manager Paul Lambert hit out at “negativity attached to the football club” in his post-match press conference following the 0-0 draw at Oxford and accused the media of feeding it.

Asked for his assessment of the match, a game of few chances for both sides but with the home team having the better of them, Lambert said: “Really pleased because of what’s happening, absolute nonsense criticism, so for them to be the way they were. Half the team is kids, we’ve got nine injuries.

“I’m really pleased and proud of them with how they performed because the criticism the guys have taken I think has not been right and it’s going to make or break them.

“There are a lot of young kids there and if they don’t handle that, the club’s going to lose good players.”

Has the criticism bothered them? “You [the media] stoke it. I don’t read what you write or hear what you say. You stoke it. I know from their side that they feel it, without a doubt. They’re young kids trying really hard to play football.

“It’s not easy, the expectancy level at the club’s huge. It’s not right, there’s a lot of negativity attached to the football club, and it’s not right.”

When it was pointed out that much of the criticism has been from fans rather than the media, he said: “I’m not blaming anybody, there’s a lot of negativity attached to it. We’ve lost two games, we’re sitting in fifth, four points from first place. That’s not bad. And we’ve got nine guys out injured.

“You’re telling me we’re sitting fifth, four points off the top, OK if Hull win their two games [they’ll be further ahead], but there’s still a helluva long way to go.

“I’ll put that on record. You asked me a question, I’m giving you the answer. It’s unfair, you’ve got to watch you don’t break the kids.”

Lambert was asked whether he was concerned about his side’s lack of a goal threat with the Blues not having scored for three matches.

“Everything you say to me is negative,” he hit back. “I’d hate to be married to you! That [the players available] are what we’ve got, that’s exactly what we’ve got. They’re giving me everything. As long as they give me effort, then I’m totally fine with it.

“We’re up against brick walls with the guys that have been injured. At times we’ve lost guys from forward areas, we’ve lost a whole midfield, we’ve lost centre-backs, we’ve lost every position going. We’ve got nine players out at the minute.

“I’m not going to sit here and criticise the guys one iota. I’m the manager and I’m proud of them.”

Regarding Jon Nolan’s return after two games out with a groin injury, he added: “He shouldn’t have played, maybe he shouldn’t have played because he hasn’t done anything since the Shrewsbury game. But I had to play him because we don’t have Brett McGavin, he took ill during the night, so we had to play him.”

On Armando Dobra’s full league debut, he said: “I thought he did really well. Young kid, he’ll make mistakes like everybody else, really good.

“What you do get with Dobs is great endeavour, you’ve got a devilment there that’s going to stand him in good stead and hopefully he’ll be another good player at the club in the coming weeks, months and years hopefully.”

He said he was pleased with the clean sheet: “I am, I can’t ask any more from them. Half the guys are academy guys, young guys. The centre-backs, Woolfy’s 21, Mark McGuinness 19. Jack Lankester’s a kid, Andre Dozzell’s a kid, Dobra’s a kid. Liam Gibbs was on the bench.

“We’re so lacking in depth because of the injuries we’ve got but I’m really proud with how they played.”

The clean sheet was the first in the league for both Cornell and McGuinness since they joined the Blues.

“McGuinness, I’ve no problem with because I think he’s really good and could be excellent,” Lambert continued. “He’s strong, aggressive, he’s 19. Really, really good.

“Cornell, I thought was really good, he had one save here in the second half. I’m happy with him.”

Lambert was pleased with the impact subs Oli Hawkins and Kayden Jackson made in the second half.

“Oli gives us something different,” he reflected. “I thought Aaron Drinan and Jack Lankester did well for the first hour.

“We put Kayden on and he looked lively and Oli looked lively as well. I’m happy with how we played. We came to a difficult place.”

However, he is disappointed that Andre Dozzell will miss the trip to Plymouth having picked up his fifth booking of the season.

“That’s the way things are going,” he said. “But the point, it stops the run of two defeats. It gives us that point with a long journey on Friday and we go and try and win.”

Any chance of Emyr Huws coming back for the weekend, the midfielder having picked up a back injury in training.

“I don’t know, we’ve got too many [out],” he continued. “I’m not sure when they’re coming back. We’ll have to wait and see”

Reflecting further on an injury situation which saw 12 players - and then McGavin - unavailable, he said: “And we’re still sitting fifth, four points from the top.”

Asked whether the criticism has bothered him, he said: “Did you see what happened at Celtic the other day? The protests outside. I’ve played in front of that, I know exactly what it’s like. Does it bother me? No. Does praise bother me? No.

“I’ve played with big clubs, I’ve been a manager at big clubs. I’ve had a career when the pressure’s incredible, absolutely incredible. I’ve never wilted once and I don’t expect to wilt again, unless Marcus says something different. And that’s no problem.”

Lambert said he’d spoken to Marcus Evans after the game but said the owner hadn’t ventured into the dressing room.

“No, he wasn’t in the dressing room,” he said. “He’s pleased, we had a good chat. No problem, no stress, nothing. He was happy.”

Seven of the side were aged between 19 and 22, which Lambert feels puts the result into context when playing against a more senior Oxford side, who may be down in 20th at present but had a much better 2019/20.

“We don’t have anything else, we have to play the guys,” he said. “And we played against a really experienced team. They’re a good team, they were in the play-offs last year. Karl’s got a good team, so the point was good.”

The other side of that is that Oxford hadn’t kept a league or play-off clean sheet since February, 19 games ago and the Blues managed their first shot on goal in the 90th minute.

Is it fair to say his team didn’t create enough chances? “Yeah, but we’re doing everything we can. The big thing for us was not to lose, definitely not to lose.

“We gave it everything, that little bit of quality is maybe just missing at the minute but the endeavour and the work-rate and everything that goes with it, I’m really pleased.

Coming back to the criticism, it was pointed out that in the last 42 league games they have lost more than they’ve won in a division in which a club of their size ought to thrive.

“You’re one of he guys that the players have got a gripe with because of the negativity you write is incredible,” Lambert responded.

“I don’t read your stuff. You’re probably better hearing it from them. But they’re certainly not happy with you. And I get it because the negativity attached to it is incredible.

“They’re at a big club, some of them are young, some of them have come from different teams. It’s a massive club Ipswich Town, but the negativity attached to it is huge.

“That’s just my opinion on it, but there are a lot of young guys in there, who have to perform.”

Does he feel the criticism is unfair on young players? “And the older guys.”

Last week Lambert was asked about claims he had been harder on younger players himself, something he dismissed before turning back to the summer furore regarding a number of young players not being included in the first-team photo call.

“No I wasn’t,” he insisted. “I’ll tell you what, I’ll tell you right now. You want to go on record here? The photo thing that you wrote or one of your colleagues wrote was a load of nonsense because the kids got told [they weren't involved], and [assistant manager] Stuart Taylor told you what actually happened - we couldn’t get them in because of NHS stuff.

“But you go and write a negative thing about them and it filters right through. How does that work? Tell me how it works.”

It was pointed out that the players - Dobra, McGavin, Drinan, Idris El Mizouni, Corrie Ndaba and - weren’t in the squad photo.

“Exactly, and you still go ahead and write it,” Lambert continued. “Because they couldn’t be because NHS is only three letters [the players and staff formed the letters NHS in a socially distanced team photo]. Am I right or wrong?”

Lambert added: “You go and write negativity, it goes right through the club. I’ll tell you what I will do, I’ll stick up for them, I’ll stick up for every player in the dressing room, every guy in the dressing room, I’ll put you in your place because what you’re writing is garbage. I’m telling you you’re creating something that’s incredible.”

When Lambert came in as boss just over two years ago he spoke about the negativity and apathy at the club at that time.

“There was no anger because people had switched off from supporting the club,” he recalled. “I spoke to the Blue Action guys, they told me about the apathy here. I spoke to them all.”

Does Lambert believe the media are feeding or reflecting the negativity? “I think you’re feeding it. You can have a go at me all you want. I’ve been in the game a long time and it’s not helping the guys, it’s not helping them.”

Photo: Pagepix

Barty added 08:29 - Dec 2 This once great club is in turmoil and there is no easy fix but the first step must be to bring in a new manager NOW.
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martin587 added 08:37 - Dec 2 Lamberts comments regarding the press and fanzine personnel are a total disgrace and he should not be allowed to get away with it.The players are his responsibility and one can only assume they play to his instructions.He is now totally devoid of ideas and lost the plot completely.I watched the match and to be honest it was an embarrassment only one shot on goal and that in injury time.OK we have terrible injuries something the club needs to address but last night there was more passion in a passion fruit than the complete team.There was no leadership,nothing.In other words it was a shambles and PL said he was pleased with the result and performance. Surely the owner can see.Fail to win on Saturday lamberts days are surely numbered.The team morale is zero from what I can see.MARCUS EVANS get a grip please.

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BaddowBlue1 added 08:41 - Dec 2 Even the opposition managers and press find Lamberts post match comments delusional so why have a go at the local ones you worked so hard with to get on board to help rebuild the relationship with the fans is beyond me. My frustration is that we see managers and teams with far less resources than us produce top 6 or even promotion winning sides, while we struggle to compete with any side in the top 6. Long term injuries with Huws and Bishop have now been replaced with two newer signings of KVY and Norwood so we have a lot of flawed things in our set up. I do wonder what Burley, Wark, Butcher and Brazil make of the current situation.

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Michael101 added 08:53 - Dec 2 Oh dear,just like the last days of mad minutes all going to e f in tears,things can't carry on like this.Evans sort this sorry mess you created out of foxtrot Oscar.
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stiffy501 added 08:57 - Dec 2 The negativity stems from years of failure, fans have been starved of any sort of success in any competition, hopes have been raised through management changes but alas come to nothing again and again. So basically it's just frustration and lack of belief on the part of the fan's and follower's of this once great football club !!!!
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bluearmy4life added 09:02 - Dec 2 Just leave Paul.
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Michael101 added 09:03 - Dec 2 Listened to the interview on radio Suffolk ,thought he was going to give Brenner a Glasgow kiss, he was that angry.
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KMANSers added 09:23 - Dec 2 This is a merry-go-round situation that will not go away until ME has gone! Another crap Manager appointment and another disappointing season, decline, decline, decline. AND THATS BEING POSITIVE- don't waste your time asking for ME to wake up and do the right thing- the bloke has no interest in doing anything positive for this club. If this was a normal large business the owner would have no alternative but to wrap it up! Falling revenue, negative growth and declining customer numbers through shocking products and no feedback! The only people that need waking up are the fans who think ME is going to change.

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Bradleyblue89 added 09:25 - Dec 2 Paul Lambert 10 days ago- "Young guys always get protected, always. I was a young guy myself and when I made horrendous errors, the guy next to me got the blame because he's older and that's wrong because you're in a team." “It's very easy for younger players to hide behind older players and say ‘They're older', but no, that's not the way it works. “You have to take responsibility. If you're in a man's world and you're playing professional football, you can't be young. Young now is maybe 16 or 17, but when you hit your 18, 19 or 20s you start to become a little bit different, or you should be looked upon a little bit different. “So I think that's an easy target to blame older guys and it's a team and anybody that knows me, I've never been an individual where I always think about myself or anything like that, it's the team that is the most important thing.” Paul Lambert yesterday "There are a lot of young kids there and if they don't handle that, the club's going to lose good players.” Has the criticism bothered them? “You [the media] stoke it. I don't read what you write or hear what you say. You stoke it. I know from their side that they feel it, without a doubt. They're young kids trying really hard to play football." “It's not easy, the expectancy level at the club's huge. It's not right, there's a lot of negativity attached to the football club, and it's not right.” What a mess...

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BettyBlue added 09:35 - Dec 2 I don't get the neagtivity? OK Paul Lambert's tactics of possession and and not shooting limits the chances of winning but that discounts a penalty, and own goal or a ref mistake. we should continue with his tactics of playing in our own half even if it is just to add a new formation to the record books. keep poloughung tha lonely furrow. Paul
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cantona11 added 09:37 - Dec 2 I have been so annoyed everytime I watch such negative football but you have to look at what our forward players are doing the passing is atrocious so many wayward passes I thought we were alright last night better than the last five games with Dobra,Drinnan,Bennetts it will come I like there endeavour and they will all get better we bought Nolan as a fwd thinking midfielder haven't seen it yet and you could see he wasn't quite right last night fitness wise and reading Lambert's comments made me think we are 5th, four points of top and with all those injuries we are not far of it and if we can keep all of these players fit and do our best till we have some of our better players back well be alright !!!! I am writing this though gritted teeth as I hate the negative football we are playing I think we should just go for it attackingly we have to take risks more overlapping on the wings and get those crosses in there as Drinnan or Hawkins will get goals and we need to make more of bl***y corners and free kick they have been rubbish you look at teams that do well they score deadball situations where's Reuser when you need him lol

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Pencilpete added 09:44 - Dec 2 7 Defeats in 11 Games 10 points from 9 League Games haven't scored a goal for 3 games slowly dropping to mid table in League 1 Yeah FFS Everyone - why all the negativity ... we should be happy about this !
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jonbull88 added 10:16 - Dec 2 Lambert out!!
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brittaniaman added 10:17 - Dec 2 Evans must have seen his CV SURELY ??? Which must have read Villa Failed, Blackburn Failed,Wolves Failed and Stoke Failed ?? Ipswich ........... By the way Look at Wolves now What a Dramatic Change, now they have a decent Manager ??
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Seri added 10:37 - Dec 2 ME is really bad, Lambert is worse, but our passing is worst. It puzzles me how our boys, professional footballers, constantly fail to get those passes right. Every attack breaks down due to this. Off course we can't score.
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brassy added 10:39 - Dec 2 most of the negativety is aimed at you mr lambert not the players
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Bert added 10:46 - Dec 2 I get the fact that negativity towards players is counter productive and part of a Manager's role is to protect players to some extent. However, what Lambert has done is commit the cardinal sin of attacking the media and indirectly the fans. For this alone, Evans should be showing him the door as he has brought himself and the Evans brand into disrepute. That by itself does not solve the problem until the players themselves produce on the pitch with or without our catalogue of injuries.

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stewartm added 10:50 - Dec 2 'The Negativity Attached to the Club is Huge' yes one shot at goal last night and this headline has literally taken the words out of my mouth.
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planetblue_2011 added 11:20 - Dec 2 What do you expect Lambert our football is 💩 the media have had enough with it just like us fans. Yes we have injuries but whatever team you play it's the same, the players are not up for it & looks like they don't want to play for you anymore. We need change! The truth hurts😫
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Gcon added 11:21 - Dec 2 I'm no fan of Lambert's but he's not the real issue here. If people called Evans out we might get somewhere rather the relentless merry-go-round of calling for manager after manager to go. Until the owner changes we will continue the decline but for some bizarre reason people won't accept the truth of the matter and hence, as fans, we are our own worst enemies. Every club finds a buyer. He's not stupid - he knows he cant expect to make anything other than a loss when buying a club fresh from the prem and selling it on as a mediocre League 1 club. He just needs a little pressure in realising he's overstayed his welcome...He's more than happy for you to be distracted by the Lambert issue.

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Ipswichbusiness added 11:37 - Dec 2 I have some sympathy for Mr Lambert in the sense that there is an horrendous injury list at this club. Also, we do have quite a few inexperienced young players in the team (there aren't many managers who have the balls to sign a young centre-back like McGuinness on loan and play him regularly). That said, blaming journalists and/or supporters is just plain daft (in the case of supporters, we haven't even been in the ground for months!). If they don't like what they read then they should turn off the social media, ignore websites like this and concentrate on winning some football matches.

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jabberjackson added 11:40 - Dec 2 Any mental energy focussed on "Evans out" is totally wasted Someone will need to stump up a lot of money for a sinking ship and that isn't going to happen However... LAMBERT OUT
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runningout added 11:41 - Dec 2 Marcus Evans needs decent advice. So far his advice has come from Walt Disney!!
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Razor added 11:47 - Dec 2 I think we have now come full circle----when Lambert first arrived he did a brilliant job in removing the negativity at the club then and making it a happy place -----now all the nrgativity has returned and if you can not see why Paul then I really worry about you. Lets try and be positive---we stopped the bleeding kept a clean sheet and Olly Hawkins had his best 20 mts in a town shirt-----so on Saturday start him and Jackson together with Bennetts wide putting in loads of crosses-----not rocket science. AS an aside thought the blue kit looked fantastic and if we can get our performances to match that then promotion is assured!!

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itsonlyme added 12:02 - Dec 2 I have not seen nor heard any criticism of our young players? Indeed us fans are extremely proud when our youngsters come through the system and make it to the first team. Our criticism is with an owner who has overseen a cataclysmic decline in the affairs of the club and a manager who seems incapable of coaching the team to create chances and ultimately score goals which is fundamentally the name of the game. Get real Lambert.

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