x

Schumacher: We More Than Deserved Something From the Game - Ipswich Town News

Plymouth manager Steven Schumacher felt his team more than deserved to take something from the 1-1 draw with Town at Portman Road.

On-loan Norwich full-back Bali Mumba’s deflected injury time equaliser claimed a point for the visitors after Wes Burns had given the Blues the lead.

"I really enjoyed it,” Schumacher said. "It's two teams whose styles match. It was a great game early on in the season at our place and we expected something similar here.

"I'm glad the players have showed the courage that we asked them to. We were aggressive and tried to be positive and get on the front foot against what is obviously a really strong Ipswich Town team.

"I'm pleased for them that they kept being positive and they got something from the game, which I felt we more than deserved.”

He added: "I think a lot of the teams that come to Portman Road sit in and try and be compact, but eventually they wear you down and you get beat.

"We just felt the best way for us today was to try and take the game to them, try and be on the front foot, go man for man, force them into mistakes if we could and then create opportunities and pass the ball.

"If I'm being ultra-critical about our team I think they could have played a few more shorter passes, just to open a bit more space up, but that's me being nit-picky I suppose.

"But the attitude and the belief the players showed was good. I know we went behind from a great finish from Burns but we didn't let that affect us. We kept going, we were positive and I think in the end we got what we deserved.”

Regarding on-loan Norwich man Mumba netting against Town for the second time this season, Schumacher added: "It shows the quality he has got. He has got real ability, especially going forward.

"He still makes mistakes, as you saw early on in the second half and put us under mad pressure trying to do a skill on our byline and it goes out for a corner.

"He's a young player and young players do that occasionally. I will never give him stick for that. He has got loads to learn defensively but he has got so much quality going forward.

"He has done it before against Ipswich. I'm sure the Norwich City fans will be delighted to get two goals against them, but I'm just pleased that someone scored and we got something from the game, which I felt was probably right.”

Schumacher revealed that Mumba’s goal wasn’t the Canaries’ only contribution to the Pilgrims’ point, the visitors having flown to Norwich airport and allowed to use their training ground.

"We’re getting a relationship with Norwich. We got Bali off them, we signed Saxon and we’re keeping in contact with them because they always produce good players. We’ve got a good relationship with Stuart Webber and Andy Hughes the loans manager there and Neil Adams.

"We had this plan a while ago, it was actually when Dean Smith was still in charge. We met David Wagner yesterday, who was really welcoming, so that was good. Obviously that’s Ipswich Town’s big rivals.

"We appreciate it because it’s not easy doing what we do, and everyone know that. That’s helped us, I’m sure.”


What to read next:

Young Watches Son as U21s Beat Needham
Former England star and apparent Town target Ashley Young watched his son Tyler feature as a trialist for Town's U21s on Tuesday evening as they beat 10-man Needham Market 2-1 at Bloomfields in a pre-season friendly.
Young Watching Town U21s at Needham
Veteran former England international Ashley Young is watching Town’s U21s in friendly action at Needham Market with his son Tyler on trial with John McGreal’s squad.
Blues Beaten By Hammers in Behind Closed Doors Friendlies
Town played two 60-minute behind-closed-doors friendlies with West Ham United at their Rush Green training ground this afternoon.
Halajko New Director of Football Operations, Chenery Appointed Academy Manager
Dmitri Halajko, previously Town’s academy director, has been appointed the new director of football operations, TWTD having revealed Gary Probert’s departure for a job at Liverpool a fortnight ago, while Ben Chenery has been named academy manager.
Town Women Sign Striker Dean
Ipswich Town Women have signed striker Rianna Dean following her Southampton exit at the end of last season.
Chaplin: Opener at Birmingham One to Look Forward To
Ipswich Town’s season opener against Birmingham City is a clash that the whole squad are looking forward to, according to forward Conor Chaplin.
Fourteen Sign Contracts Ahead of WSL2 Campaign
Town have confirmed that 14 players have signed new contracts with the women’s side for the WSL2 season ahead.
U21s in Action at Needham
Town’s U21s are in friendly action against Southern League Premier Division Central side Needham Market at Bloomfields this evening (KO 7.45pm).
Town Women to Host Villa U21s in Friendly
Ipswich Town Women will play a friendly against WSL side Aston Villa’s U21s at the Martello Ground in Felixstowe on Sunday 17th August (KO 2pm).
Town Yet to Open Young Talks
TWTD understands Town are yet to open talks with veteran former England international Ashley Young, but there is interest.