Cole Skuse has confirmed that he and his Town team-mates are desperate to eliminate the memory of a rock-bottom display against Rotherham when they take on Wolves at Molineux tomorrow.

The 1-0 home defeat by the Millers almost a fortnight ago will be remembered for supporters’ reaction, easily the angriest in boss Mick McCarthy’s three and a half years in charge at Portman Road, and the players will be out to make amends in the West Midlands.

Skuse said: “You can’t beat about the bush. In the last week or so I’ve bumped into people, at the shops or out and about, who have told me how poor we were against Rotherham. We can’t deny that — we were poor and any one of the players would say that.

“But if you look at any team in the world — maybe bar Barcelona — they all have their off days. In our case it just so happened to be against a team that are lower than us in the league and we know we can’t really afford to have off days at this time of the season when we’re chasing the play-offs.

“But it’s football and part and parcel of the job and the game. No one, regardless of what job they are in, goes to work every day and has a brilliant day. It just so happened that on that day against Rotherham we had a poor day.

“We deserved to come in for some criticism — it might not have just been the result but people questioning the way we were playing. One guy I met this week, he didn’t use the word boring but I can’t repeat the words he did use. I had to hold my little girl’s ears!

“He didn’t enjoy the way we played but we haven’t overly changed the way we play in the three years I’ve been here.

“We’ve had success, or partial success by getting into the play-offs last year, and we’ll be trying our hardest to redeem ourselves at Wolves on Saturday with a good, positive result.”

Meanwhile, Skuse also remains confident that he, Luke Hyam and Jonathan Douglas can form a midfield partnership, despite the widespread criticism aimed at the trio following Town’s defeat at home to Rotherham last time out.

He added: “That is something that has been spoken about. People questioned why the three of us played in midfield but you can’t just label everyone as a defensive midfielder.

“Of the three of us we’re not just defensive midfielders — we’re midfield players and there’s no difference to three of us playing there or two of us playing there.

“There wasn’t much said when there was the two lads playing in midfield so I don’t see why three of us can’t play in midfield.”

The progress of a batch of Town midfield youngsters, including Andre Dozzell, James Blanchfield, Kundai Benyu and Adam McDonnell has encouraged Skuse, even if it also reminds him that he is approaching the twilight of his own playing career.

He said: “They are great kids and the fact that they get call-ups to play for their countries speaks for itself.

“They will come and train with us on a regular basis and some are a bit too sharp and quick at times — but they get told. They are great players and it’s not just the midfielders.

“If you look at the strikers there’s Ben Morris, who scores for fun and has been called up by England.

“We’ve got some real good kids but there is an abundance of good midfielders coming through. They are quite sharp and quick but I try my utmost to give them a little kick during training.

“On the flip side, though, if they ever want to pick my brains or just ask a few questions — not just about football but off-the-field stuff as well — I’m more than happy to help them.

“They are keeping us on our toes and I’ve just recently turned 30 so I know my career is not going to go on forever. I’m getting to a stage now where people are thinking of putting me down!

“It’s refreshing to see the young kids coming through and it keeps me younger. I think I’m old at 30 — you can say that, I don’t mind — but I’ve got two young kids and they make me feel like I’m still 22. I’m a big kid myself so I’m not thinking about it.

“Don’t get me wrong, I don’t feel old and I’m not on that rollercoaster heading down, but it’s a fact that I’m not getting any younger and the chance to play in the Premier League needs to happen soon.

“On average a player’s career ends around 35 so I’m a lot closer to that than I am 20. It needs to happen soon and we’re all keen to test the waters in the Premier League.”

Photo: Action Images

Flewitt85 added 06:36 - Apr 1 We deserved to come in for some criticism — it might not have just been the result but people questioning the way we were playing. One guy I met this week, he didn't use the word boring but I can't repeat the words he did use. I had to hold my little girl's ears! “He didn't enjoy the way we played but we haven't overly changed the way we play in the three years I've been here. That poor little girl having to hear that! Yes we played poor but there is no need to shout at our players in public like that especially with there children! Shame on the person that did that, have some respect!

2

Mick_Mills_Tache added 06:53 - Apr 1 Flewit, where does it say that he was shouting at Skuse? I like Skuse as a person. As a player, he's just an average defensive midfielder who breaks up play and that's it. I think he was a bit of an unsung hero last season doing that and would be fine this season if it was just him played and not the trio. The three offer no width, no attacking threat, no creative flair and are very slow. What happened to Hyam? I thought before his injury he played a more attacking role?

3

therein61 added 07:27 - Apr 1 So you, douglas and hyam can make a midfield trio eh!!! yep in the national league if anyone would want you!!! Mr Skuse you are as deluded as the manager.
4

prebsa added 08:14 - Apr 1 Skuse you honestly believe that you Hyam and Douglas can form a midfield 3?!?! You can join MM in the deluded bunch of people at this club then! There is no way all three of you should or even deserve to be playing at the same time. 1 of you should be starting (in order of Skuse, Hyam then Douglas) with 1 other creative midfielder and 2 wide midfielders. If the 3 of these are picked again for Wolves then that really is just Mick sticking his middle finger up at the fans!

5

blueconscience added 09:04 - Apr 1 I think the " make good midfield trio" part is an April fools joke.
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Bluebell added 09:12 - Apr 1 I think it is dreadful that 'fans' approach players and rant and rave at them. Let's face it, Mick picks the team and Cole is only saying what he thinks he should say. For all we know he agrees that having Douglas and Hyam beside him is suicide but he probably doesn't want to say anything against Mick for fear of being dropped. Wouldn't everyone support their 'boss' if put in a position of having to answer questions like that?

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Flewitt85 added 09:24 - Apr 1 Mick_Mills_Tache- he says he had to cover he's little girls ears so I'm guessing someone was shouting abuse at him. Read my post again.
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WeWereZombies added 09:49 - Apr 1 Mick_Mills_Tache- I'm backing Flewitt85 here. Swearing in front of children is inexcusable (inexSkuseable?) and not going to build a bond beween the team and supporters.
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TimmyH added 12:44 - Apr 1 Refreshing for Cole to say this but most of the criticism has to lay on Mick's shoulders, soon as I saw the starting line up my heart sank. Not the first time Mick has got the line up wrong this season either! Why he didn't start with Skuse, Foley, Pringle and Feeney in midfield is beyong me and many others!
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Tractorchef added 10:00 - Apr 2 "There's no difference with three of us playing there or two of us playing there" That's surely the whole problem, may as well just have two of them and free up space for some creativity!
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