x

Lambert: Probably the Story of the Season - Ipswich Town News

Manager Paul Lambert felt Town’s 2-0 home defeat to Hull City probably told the story of the season with the Blues again playing well but unable to turn their performance into goals and in turn points.

"It’s unbelievable, incredible, it really is,” he said. "I can’t quite put my finger on it. We played ever so well, we started the game well, we were really good.

"We lost a poor goal, it didn’t affect us, we kept going and kept going. The chances we have were incredible.

"We had two off the line, balls going across the face of the box, great balls as well, it’s not as if they’re just long, hopeful balls, they’re great quality and we’ve incredible chances.

"In the second half, Cole Skuse did great, it was a block tackle and they got the break and went and scored. But even then we still kept going. It’s the story of the season probably.”

Had either of the efforts which were cleared off the line from Kayden Jackson or Gwion Edwards gone in the game could have developed very differently.

"Goals change games,” Lambert added. "We play well, we play really, really well, the football’s really good. You can’t ask for any more on that side of it, it’s just that finishing, just the finishing touch which is probably been there most of the season.

"The football is really good, everything is really good but [we’re lacking] just that finishing touch.”

Regarding Jackson’s substitution in the second half, he said: "He had a problem with the back of his hamstring and so we thought we can’t take a chance. That’s another one injured.

"We’ve already lost Matthew Pennington and obviously Jon Nolan got hurt, Bish rocked his ankle the other day, so we couldn’t take a risk with him and again we couldn’t take a risk with Kayden. He’s been playing really, really well and was unlucky not to score.”

Defender Pennington has become the latest player to have his season ended by injury, the on-loan Everton man having returned to Goodison Park this week having suffered an injury in training.

Gutted that my season has been cut short by injury, not how I wanted it to end! I would like to say a massive thank you to the staff, players and fans of @IpswichTown for welcoming my family and I from the beginning, and making me feel at home in Suffolk. A proper football club! https://t.co/V4sFLwloBo

— Matthew Pennington (@mpennington94) March 31, 2019

"He has his operation tomorrow and he’s been excellent, Matty Pennington,” Lambert said. "I thought Toto Nsiala had a great game today.

"Matty is not our player but that lad’s been excellent and it was a nothing challenge the other day in training, there was nobody near him and he ended up rupturing ankle ligaments.”

Jon Nolan came off injured in the first half but Lambert wasn’t sure how significant his problem is.

"He’s been great,” he added. "I think it’s his achilles, it’s not snapped or done or anything like that. Whether he’s got a kick on it or felt it a little bit [I don’t know]. He’s another kid who has been excellent for us.”

Teddy Bishop missed out but the Blues boss says he should be back next weekend at Bolton: "He rocked his ankle, which can happen, in training. I could have taken the risk but I’d be risking his well-being and I didn’t want to do that because of his history.

"A fit Bishop would play because of the way he plays the game, the way he drives with the ball. We had to take that decision out of his hands. Hopefully he’ll be back for next week.”

Lambert again had praise for the Blues support who were still continued to sing at the final whistle despite the result.

"I’ve been at massive football clubs, massive clubs with massive fan bases,” Lambert continued. "What this club has got here is unique, without a doubt.

"I’ve never known this like this. I’ve never known it when a team’s at the bottom of the table and they’re singing the way they’re singing.

"All I can say is thanks to them for their support. I feel for them, I feel for the whole club, the people who work here, the staff, the supporters, ex-players, I was at the ex-players’ dinner last night.

"There were some top players there, top, top players that would grace anywhere and it’s their club as well.

"I think everybody sees that everybody is trying to pull together and we’re playing really well. It’s just the finishing side that’s hurt us.”

Did he feel some of the songs sung, which included Bob Marley’s Three Little Birds - "Don’t worry, about a thing, every little thing is going to be alright” - were an acceptance of relegation to League One?

"The pure cynic will say, ‘OK, Ipswich are down’ but as I always say to you until it’s mathematically certain [we’re not],” he insisted.

"Football is an incredible game at certain times. It’s going to take unbelievable effort, things to go our way, but that support, I’ve never known anything like this.

"I’ve said before, I’ve seen incredible atmospheres, I’ve played in front of incredible atmospheres, foreign and in Britain, it’s brilliant what they do here, absolutely brilliant.

"And, as I’ve said, I can’t thank them enough. And I think they recognise what’s happened here. They’re not silly, these fans, they’re definitely not silly.

"Even at half-time, I felt they felt the way I felt walking down the touchline because they knew the chances we were creating.

"I have exactly the same feeling as them, people who pay hard-earned money. My God, this football club has got an incredible set of fans, that’s for sure.”

One piece of positive news over the weekend was yesterday night’s news that Flynn Downes had signed a new contract which secures his services until the summer of 2022.

"I think it’s vital,” Lambert said. "As I’ve said before, I think the club will go that way. If I had a crystal ball and I could see a few years’ time, it could be unbelievable with all of them.

"I think Myles Kenlock even today was outstanding, the way he played. I thought Andre Dozzell had a good game when he came on. Idris came on, they’re kids, teenagers.

"There’s so much goodness here, an unbelievable future for the club and for those guys. There could be a right good side here, if they’re just given a wee bit of time to grow and nurture but there some really good things could happen here.”

Hull manager Nigel Adkins was pleased with the win, despite feeloing his team didn't play at their best.

"The importance for everybody was clear to see, we needed to get the three points," he said.

"I thought we started the game slowly, I thought Ipswich looked very bright but we scored an excellent goal on 14 minutes.

"Kamil Grosicki scored an excellent goal. A good bit of play the way we built it all up, it was a good goal.

"He scored with his left foot which was pleasing because we have a bit of banter with him that he doesn’t use his left foot, so that was good. I was really pleased with that one.

"And what a wonderful run by Jarrod Bowen that led to Kamil’s second goal.

"I thought in the first half we actually should have capitalised on a few chances we’d had in the attacking third but give Ipswich credit, I thought they played well today.

"Someone said it was industrious, but it was about getting the result. Our away form of late, we haven’t been picking up enough points.

"We’ve played some really good football this season. Today we didn’t play great football but we’ve picked up the three points, got a clean sheet and that puts us within five of the play-offs, which is the important thing at this stage of the season with seven games to go.”

What to read next:

First Fans' Forum of the Season Tonight
Town’s first Fans’ Forum of the season takes place this evening in the Sir Bobby Robson Suite, 7pm-8pm.
Hirst, Nunez and Walle Egeli Among Those Set For Caps
George Hirst, Marcelino Nunez and Sindre Walle Egeli are among the Town players who could add to their international caps today.
Wardley Crowned WBO World Heavyweight Champion
Town-supporting boxer Fabio Wardley has been crowned the WBO world heavyweight champion after Oleksandr Usyk vacated the belt.
[Podcast] Blue Monday - New Podcast Now Online
A new podcast from the Blue Monday team is now available.
TWTD on Tractor Noise Podcast
TWTD’s Phil Ham and Kallum Brisset joined the Tractor Noise podcast to assess Town’s position as it stands at the season’s third international break and their expectations for the rest of the campaign.
Foodbanks Group Calls For Advent Calendar Donations
Ipswich Town Fans Supporting Foodbanks is encouraging the Blue Army to continue their vital community support at Saturday’s game against Wrexham with a festive call for advent calendar donations to brighten December for the most vulnerable in the local community.
Town Women Beaten By Palace After Leading at Half-Time
Ipswich Town Women conceded two second-half goals to lose 2-1 at home to Crystal Palace having been 1-0 up at half-time, and find themselves further adrift at the foot of the WSL2 table as they fast approach the midway point of the season.
O'Shea: This is Special, I'm Just So Proud
Blues skipper Dara O’Shea admitted he’d never experienced anything like the Republic of Ireland’s astonishing 3-2 last-gasp victory over Hungary in Budapest this afternoon to claim a place in the World Cup qualification play-offs.
[Podcast] Blue Monday - New Podcast Now Online
A new podcast from the Blue Monday team is now available.
O'Shea, Taylor and Ogbene Win Caps in Sensational Irish Victory in Hungary
Dara O’Shea, Jack Taylor and Chieo Ogbene all won caps as the Republic of Ireland sensationally scored in the sixth minute of injury time having come from behind twice to beat Hungary 3-2 in Budapest in their final World Cup qualifier to secure a place in the play-offs, former Blues loanee Troy Parrott scoring a remarkable hat-trick.