Skipper Luke Chambers admitted that Friday’s 5-1 defeat at Reading was “very, very hard to take” and says that there can be no repeat of that result if the Blues want to be in the promotion shake-up come the end of the season. Town have the chance to bounce back from that loss when they travel to Leeds on Tuesday evening.

“If anyone thought that this season was going to be ours and was going to be easy for us then I think Friday night showed that is not the case,” Chambers told the club site, the Blues having dropped to eighth having been top of the table just over a fortnight ago.

“We’ve shown that we are a good team in the division throughout the first five games so people could have easily thought that, but we have never been complacent.

“We’ve got to bounce back. We’ve always had a good mentality in the squad so the result is one that we have to learn from quickly.

“That’s two defeats in a row so we need to stop that at Leeds and we’ll be looking forward to getting ourselves back to having smiles on our faces.

“We’ve found ourselves on the end of something that’s very, very hard to take at Reading and if we want to finish near the top of the league then it’s something that can never happen again.”

Photo: Action Images

ArnieM added 09:15 - Sep 14 Time to stand up and be counted now lads. GET IN THERE & COYB's
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Guthrum added 09:21 - Sep 14 If we draw one, win four, then lose two for the rest of the season, we'll be in the right area for automatic promotion.
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cartman1972 added 09:56 - Sep 14 That's because you were shocking. Captain or not you need to be dropped
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Gilesy added 10:03 - Sep 14 Sometimes a heavy defeat can be a blessing in disguise. Look at our 9-0 against Man Utd - just 5 years later we won the play-offs!
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bluelodgeblue added 10:08 - Sep 14 Defence has been shocking for months so its nothing new!!!!!!
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Lightningboy added 10:14 - Sep 14 Chambers is not a right-back..seems that everyone can see that apart from Mick..very frustrating. Not sure whether it's stubborness or stupidity on McCarthy's side..I think stubborness.
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RobbieBobson added 10:18 - Sep 14 Luke, I hate to say it but you are part of the problem.... As captain, you are always first on the teamsheet whether you are playing well or not. We have conceded 8 in the last two games and they are relegation statistics. It's well known that you are not a natural right-back, so perhaps it's time, as Captain, to stand up to MM and get him to play you (and others) in your natural position. You weren't around the last time we were humiliated by Man Utd at old trafford, but if you guys don't fix the back 5 in the next week, you will be part of the next one... Its no coincidence that (generally) the better the goal difference, the higher up the table a side finishes.... based on that we are 14th, which I think is a fair reflection of where we will end up if we don't fix our defense immediately.

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SouperJim added 10:31 - Sep 14 I do think the Reading scoreline was a touch harsh on us, we should have had a goal or two more ourselves and two of theirs were excellent finishes that we could do little about. No excuses for the defending on the other 3 though, pathetic. On paper we have a very good defence but some of the goals we concede are shocking. People keep moaning about Chambers, but for me until Knudsen is making far more errors. Until he is up to speed, Parr should be playing if fit.

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ArnieM added 10:37 - Sep 14 I think we have a very slow defence. One that is often easily turned and easy to get behind. We also do not have a decent , solid GK amongst the two senior GK's that we have. We have brought in two new defenders , but they are having to adapt to the English game : this will take the first half of the seaosn , at least.
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blueherts added 11:16 - Sep 14 Pace and width is something I have wanting for years - we noe have that - but I was hoping the part that MM had built was also staying ! Our defence this year - since H=January has been very poor - if you look between Aug and Dec last season and compare to Jan - May - we struggled to keep goals out The writing was on the wall vs Brentford and as much as I and all of want the expansive football - we need a bit of bite at the back ! Start with the keeper move Chambers into middle Unfortunately we have no Bru or Bish so Skuse and Parr ? will be a better option that Douglas I am sure we will always score goals - although on Friday we did not convert our chances Need a BIG response

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GiveusaWave added 12:07 - Sep 14 Agree with everything ArnieM has said. Defence is far too slow. Like so many others have already said, Our quickest defender by far is too young (Cathline) but he's not yet ready for first team action. Quick strikers and wingers beat our defenders far too easily. Emmanuel is pretty quick but the rest are all pretty sluggish when it comes to intense sprints. This puts huge pressure on the keeper. Yes, Gerken had a really bad game, but any keeper would struggle given the lack of support at the back. Berra seems to be our best and he's all round (apart from pace) good. Smith is good at corners (sometimes) but has no pace and Chambers isn't a right-back. Knudsen looks solid but needs to get used to the Championship. Not looking forward to Leeds and Man U.

1

BigHibbs added 12:33 - Sep 14 Ipswich need a new goalkeeper , Bart is better than gerks but isn't the solution, other than that Ipswich aren't far off . I am the only person in Ipswich who thinks Tommy smith is out best defender, for those saying chambers should be playing centre half ! Did you no go to the Brighton game he was the worst player on the pitch in the first half. Only gets in the team coz he's skip. Knudsen will settle in nicely and when bru and bish are back not to mention hyam Ipswich will once again have depth. (Insert new goalkeeper here) Parr Berra smith Knudsen Ainsley MN skuse bish Fraser Mcgoldrick murph Sears (couldn't pick two) so am aware this is a 12 man team haha

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Lightningboy added 12:45 - Sep 14 Not sure that Chambers is captain material tbh..he didn't sound too "inspirational" in the pre-match intreview. All very well with the fist-pumping etc but anyone can do that - a captain needs to have a bit more in the brain department and know how to organise things on the pitch. Berra for me.
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StowTractorBoy added 12:51 - Sep 14 Chambo I am afraid talk is cheap and you are one of the main culprits (not all your fault) as opponents know our weakness as Lua Lua discovered. If you are going to play right back for goodness sake go in hard further up the field instead of waiting for the opponent to take you on. Stearman would never let attackers pass him by fair means or foul and we need that sort of defending. You Chambo are an inspirational chap and been tremendous for the Club in more ways than just playing but at the moment you are not coming up to the mark.

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rinkydinkpanther added 13:02 - Sep 14 @BigHibbs Love it! This made me laugh, whether or not it was meant to intentionally. There you go McCarthy, the answer to all of your problems. Take heed. Play an illegal 12 man team and make sure to pick your theoretical, non-existent goalkeeper. It's so simple!
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BackTheBlues added 15:03 - Sep 14 People calling for Chambers to be dropped need shooting! He was the best of a bad bunch playing in an uncomfortable role. Berra - nowhere near the player he was last year, he was solely at fault for the 2nd goal (running away from his man) and the fourth goal (let his man run across him and Tommy was never making the ground up to save him) Knudsen - baptism of fire for him! He's not very mobile, but I think he will learn! Tommy - puts his heart and soul in, but when those around him are shaky he certainly is! Chambers - did he get beaten for one of the goals, maybe, but skuse should have cleared it, bar that for a guy not know for pace he didn't do a bad job on a lightning winger. If anyone is to lead this team out of the rut it will be him! Defender first captain second I saw someone write on a previous page... NO! Captain first defender second! Because he can make the other 10 play well before worrying about his own performance. Let's get him back in the middle though! Let's get the Polish lad in too!

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runningout added 16:31 - Sep 14 nothing seems to have changed and wont I guess for too long.. All you need to do to against our slow defence is show some high energy, and your through.. If the atmosphere is decent amongst the playing staff, it may help if it was also more professional ... I'm staggered at my own prediction of where will be come May, with no large change, and you don't want to know......

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sereneblue added 17:50 - Sep 14 Right Back
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HackneyBlue added 18:05 - Sep 14 Sorry Luke but you are the weakest link in the back four,not your fault your playing in the wrong position,goals 3,4 were down to you defending at school boy level .Have another chat with MM and tell him you will not play their anymore,he will put you in the centre and then you can do the job your here for.
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battyblue added 19:07 - Sep 14 Captain or not plain truth you are a liability who should not be in the starting line up what sort of message does that send out when you are starting every game when we have better options for right back
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Warkys_Tash added 19:46 - Sep 14 Souper Jim, well said. Knudsen has been poor. For all those that were chuffed we sold Mings, think again. He is a massive miss.
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