x

Chaplin: A Pleasing Day But the Focus Turns to Tuesday - Ipswich Town News

Hat-trick hero Conor Chaplin says the focus immediately turned to Tuesday night’s home game against Port Vale following today’s 6-0 thrashing of Charlton Athletic, which took the Blues back to second in the League One table, a point behind leaders Plymouth.

Chaplin netted the first three goals, his first treble for the club, to see Town on the way to their biggest win under manager Kieran McKenna.

The forward, who joined the Blues from Barnsley in the summer of 2021, has now scored 25 goals this season, 22 in the league.

"A good day all-round. A really good performance from the boys,” he told iFollow. "I thought we started the game fantastically well and carried it on throughout.

"I thought we were relentless, which is the way we want to be at home. Very proud of the boys today, but the focus moves straightaway to Tuesday. There’s no hangover from this, on to Tuesday straight away.”

Regarding his seventh-minute first goal, the 26-year-old, who has scored six goals in his last four games, said: "I probably should have shot a bit earlier when it opened up, took an extra touch as it was under my feet a little bit.

"Just found the gap somehow. Leif [Davis] finds me all the time, so I knew he was going to pick me out when I was in that much space.”

Regarding the second on 14 and third on 70, he added: "Broady [Nathan Broadhead]’s been doing that an awful lot. So much creativity in those pockets and when he drives through there’s so much quality.

"You can just run because you know he’s going to be able to find you, which is exactly what he did for the second two goals.”

The forward says the whole squad is more focused than at any time during the campaign: "Everyone has such desire to run towards the common goal at the moment. It’s been there the whole season but at the moment it feels different, everyone, it doesn’t matter who it is, everyone’s running for each other, everyone’s working.

"But it’s got to stay that way and I’m so confident that it will because we’ve got such a good dressing room. All the right messages from the staff as well. A pleasing day, but the focus turns to Tuesday straight away.”

What to read next:

Town Complete Friendly Programme at Auxerre
Town play their final friendly of pre-season against Ligue 1 side AJ Auxerre at their Stade de l’Abbé-Deschamps this evening (KO 6pm local time, 5pm BST).
[Podcast] Life's a Pitch TV - New Podcast Now Online
A new podcast from the Life's a Pitch TV team is now available.
[Podcast] Blue Monday - New Podcast Now Online
A new podcast from the Blue Monday team is now available.
Town Linked With Loan Approach For Spanish Striker
Town are reported to have made a loan approach to Serie A Como for Spanish striker Iván Azón.
Brentford 'Remain Keen' on Hutchinson
Brentford are reportedly expected to make a renewed move for Blues forward Omari Hutchinson.
[Podcast] Blue Monday - New Podcast Now Online
A new podcast from the Blue Monday team is now available.
Town Women Sign New Zealand International
Ipswich Town Women have announced their third signing of the day, New Zealand international right-back Grace Neville, who was previously with WSL new girls London City Lionesses.
Edwards: The Ball's in Hackney's Court
Middlesbrough manager Rob Edwards says the ball is in Hayden Hackney’s court as to whether the midfielder joins the Blues or stays with the Teessiders.
Town Women Sign Midfielder Dear
Ipswich Town Women have signed midfielder Jenna Dear following her release by fellow WSL2 side Sunderland at the end of last season.
Blues Target Guiu Closing in On Sunderland Loan
Blues target Marc Guiu is closing in on a loan move to newly promoted Premier League Sunderland.