x

Lambert: I Know That’s What They’re Capable Of - Ipswich Town News

Boss Paul Lambert says he knew his team were capable of playing the type of football which saw them score their 25-pass winning goal at Gillingham on Saturday from watching them every day in training.

Kane Vincent-Young headed his first Town goal at the far post from Kayden Jackson’s cross after a long spell of patient passing as the Blues won 1-0 at the Priestfield Stadium.

Asked whether a side scoring a goal in that manner makes a manager particularly proud, Lambert said: "Delighted for them and everybody else at the club. But I don’t get caught up in the euphoria or self-praise or anything like that.

"I’m delighted for everybody else, that’s where I get the joy from, not for myself. I get it from the support or the players and them getting the rewards, and the football club itself.

"I know that’s what they’re capable of because I see it every day in training that they can be really, really good.

"There’ll be times when they’ll need to do the ugly side, which they have done in the last couple of games, when we’ve needed to defend, we've had to defend.

"We also know when we have the ball teams are under pressure against us, because it’s relentless at certain times.

"But I’m happy with the way we play, happy with the way we keep going and at the minute we’re going really well.”

Having started most games this season in a 4-4-2 system, Lambert's team has begun the last two matches in 3-5-2 formations, presumably as he has sought to get three men in the centre of midfield.

"On Saturday I thought that was the right way to go because of the way the game could have gone,” he reflected.

"Against the MK Dons, we saw their team and thought if that happened [they played one up front] we could do that [switch from 3-5-2 to a diamond], so the adaptability in the team is really good in the team.

"As I said before, it doesn’t matter who I play, they seem to be taking to everything I’m asking them to do. I think their confidence is so high they carry it out.

"As I said before, it’s the principles, it’s not the system, it’s the principles. Everybody knows how I want to play, everybody knows what I expect of them, but that’s where the principles come to fruition - that’s is what I expect to happen.”

He added: "As long as the principles are still there, and they know the principles because I’ve told them what they are, they know exactly what I expect of them.

"Don’t go away from that, regardless of what system we play because the football club at this minute in time, it’s got a massive wave of positivity behind it, the support it’s got behind it.

"Every game we go to we’re a target. Every game, the atmosphere in the stadium, the size of the club, the name of the club, every team wants to beat us. If we play the way I think we can, it will be hard for another team to match us.”

What to read next:

U18s Beaten at Brightlingsea
Town's U18s were well-beaten 4-1 by Isthmian League North Division side Brightlingsea Regent at North Road in a pre-season friendly on Saturday afternoon.
McKenna: We Need to Expand Our Scouting Networks and Recruit From Different Markets
Town manager Kieran McKenna has spoken about his first two outfield signings, Azor Matusiwa and Cedric Kipre, who played a half each in today’s 4-1 friendly win at Blau-Weiß Linz, and says the Blues need to be in a position to recruit more players from overseas.
McKenna: Muric Close to Return, Slicker Set For Loan
Town manager Kieran McKenna believes Aro Muric could still have a part to play at Portman Road as he closes in on a return from injury, while revealing Scotland international Cieran Slicker wasn’t on the pre-season trip to Austria as he is looking at loan options.
McKenna: A Fair Bit Left in the Summer, I Think There'll Be Movement in Both Directions
Kieran McKenna expects movement in both directions before the transfer window closes on Monday 1st September.
McKenna: Friendly Win Finished Off Training Week Well
Blues manager Kieran McKenna felt this afternoon’s 4-1 defeat of Blau-Weiß Linz was the ideal way to finish off a “really good” week’s training in Austria.
McKenna: Interest in Omari Natural
Town boss Kieran McKenna says the interest in Blues forward Omari Hutchinson is no surprise with Brentford understood to have made multiple offers for the England U21 international.
Chaplin: Skip Has Been Brilliant
Town forward Conor Chaplin has paid tribute to Blues captain Sam Morsy, who is close to leaving the club to join Kuwait SC in the Middle East.
McKenna: Legend of the Club Morsy Will Leave With Everyone's Best Wishes
Town boss Kieran McKenna says “legend of the club” Sam Morsy will go with everyone’s best wishes should his move to Kuwait SC be confirmed.
Blau-Weiß Linz 1-4 Ipswich Town - Match Report
George Hirst scored twice and Ali Al-Hamadi and Leif Davis one apiece as Town comfortably beat Blau-Weiß Linz 4-1 at their Hofmann Personal Stadion at the end of their week-long Austrian pre-season training camp.
Blau-Weiß Linz 1-2 Ipswich Town - Half-Time
George Hirst has scored twice to give the Blues a 2-1 half-time lead over Blau-Weiß Linz at their Hofmann Personal Stadion.