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Hurst: We Deserved the Point
Saturday, 4th Aug 2018 19:04

Boss Paul Hurst felt Town deserved to get something out of his first Championship game in charge, Tayo Edun’s injury time goal having seen the Blues and Blackburn to a 2-2 draw at Portman Road.

“Lots of emotions,” Hurst said when asked how he found his first match as boss. “In the end, I was pleased to get something out of the game.

“Obviously the later it goes, you’re questioning whether that’s going to be the case. Very proud, as I said I would be, of the team for the first game at this level for myself.

“I was delighted with the start that we made. Then the other side of it. I was disappointed with the goals we conceded, soft ones from our point of view.

“I think that knocked us, it knocked the players, it’s the first real test that we’ve had because in pre-season, as much as we push them and ask for the commitment and all that, it doesn’t give you that situation when it really matters.

“And I thought the response was good. At half-time, we said about being brave, having a go and if it wasn’t good enough then so be it.

“But don’t come in thinking, ‘I wish I had done this a bit better’. Far from a great performance but what I would say there was a lot of character shown by the players and I think they kept going.

“Clearly an exciting end to the game and I think overall, personally, I thought we deserved the point.

“Blackburn had one chance to make it 3-1 where we got ourselves in a little bit of mess but overall, I think a point was probably a fair result.”


Admitted Edun’s goal had an element of good fortune about it but felt the ball was put in the right area and Town had created a couple of opportunities.

“Ben Morris had one in particular, a great bit of skill, he did well when he came on. Gwion Edwards was certainly a threat the longer the game went and one that seems to have caught a lot of people’s attention this afternoon.

“The goal, it is fortunate on one hand, but it’s also exactly the right delivery. If you’re putting in an inswinging ball from that area you’re wanting it to hit the back post and it creates difficulty for the goalkeeper.

“Clearly it’s one of those where he’s wondering if someone will get a touch, it didn’t get one and when it did hit the post, thankfully it went the right side of it for us.”

Regarding his five debutants, he added: “I think overall, we speak about patience and a work in progress, I’ve used that and I feel I’m a little bit silly using it, we’re one game in.

“But it will take time and that’s not excuses. I think anyone with half a brain can see that that’s a fact.

“I think a lot of them did well. Donacien only joined this week. I started him in a position that I don’t believe is his best one.

“It was a tough call to leave Woolfy out, who’d done OK, but although he hadn’t played in the Championship, I felt on the opening day I wanted to go for a little bit more experience in the backline.

“Chalobah has obviously been away and came in and certainly showed moments of the real player that he can be.

“And overall there are some that standout to me that clearly need a lot more work to get to the levels I expect from them, we expect from them as staff.

“But I still think we look pretty strong overall, we were pushing for that equaliser without creating numerous chances, but we were certainly pushing Blackburn back.

“If we were going to get caught it would have been on the break, which sometimes you have to accept but at least we were trying to be positive and trying to something about the scoreline.”

Hurst says Jordan Spence was subbed as he was feeling unwell: “I think he was feeling a little bit sick, probably a little bit groggy, not what you want.

“Woolfenden coming on did well and was unlucky not to start given pre-season and the minutes that he’s had.

“But that’s why I get paid, to be the manager, to make those tough calls, I suppose. You’re never quite sure whether they’re right or not.

“Going on to the pitch I just said to him, ‘Go and prove that I was wrong to leave you out’ and overall I thought he did pretty well apart from his last couple of minutes when he couldn’t move.

“Which again, wasn’t an ideal way to end the game with near enough 10 men. I thought the one he kicked up in the air, I thought the crowd were excellent overall, but that was maybe one time when they could have cut him a bit of slack because he could really move to pass it any better.”

Hurst said Tristan Nydam and Josh Emmanuel were both left out of the squad but aren’t injured.

“No, they were just left out,” he confirmed. “That was the decision I made. Unlucky probably a little, but I went with the players who were in the 18 and those lads were the ones that missed out.”


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floridaboy added 19:17 - Aug 4
Honest assessment from the manager. Like how he speaks and talks about things.

Breath of fresh air IMHO. Get the targets in and while it may take a few games to get them up to speed and how Hurst wants to play think fans will start to enjoy going to Portman Road again
12

floridaboy added 19:17 - Aug 4
Honest assessment from the manager. Like how he speaks and talks about things.

Breath of fresh air IMHO. Get the targets in and while it may take a few games to get them up to speed and how Hurst wants to play think fans will start to enjoy going to Portman Road again
1

MrTown added 19:29 - Aug 4
Honest assessment; won't see any drastic changes in game 1. But there is certain more emphasis to to use direct wide men. Lack ball control in central midfield. Chalobah as the pivot wanted the ball, but Skuse and Downes were playing more advanced an I dont think its their strongest game to collect the ball from Chalobah, create and attack forward. Think our ideal midfield three will be Chalobah, Nolan and Huws.

Need some more signings drastically though; Nolan/Nsiala/Tilt/Another striker and another winger.
7

jas0999 added 19:40 - Aug 4
Refreshing change from what we had become used to.

Honest. Correct. Can't disagree with any of it.

With outgoings looking inevitable, it's now a big week for the owner who MUST seal multiple deals for new permanent additions. It's essential.
6

billlm added 20:07 - Aug 4
Not a 100% sure I agree on we deserved a point thought we looked assured till Bart's clanger then an uphill struggle
-3

muhrensleftfoot added 20:15 - Aug 4
Nydam not even in the 18? Dozzell didn't feature. Sorry but these two were standouts against West Ham last week. We didn't look creative today. You are going to have to.up your game Paul Hurst before you get my vote.
0

Maltster added 20:31 - Aug 4
I thought that todays match looked like 2 mid table league 1 clubs. The team which played the first half against West Ham looked streets better.
Playing one up front will never get us goals. We badly need Waghorn up there otherwise it's Legue one here we come!
2

luckydiddy added 22:28 - Aug 4
“And overall there are some that standout to me that clearly need a lot more work to get to the levels I expect from them, we expect from them as staff." ... who??
1

madmouse1959 added 22:59 - Aug 4
Just hope Paul Hurst saw what we did today. I just pray he makes the changes necessary because some of the stuff that went on today reminded me of last season and the season before that.
3

bobble added 23:07 - Aug 4
mowbray 1 hurst 0
0

Brockleyblue added 23:18 - Aug 4
Well, that made a nice change. To read an entire post-match analysis from an Ipswich Town manager without encountering a single swear word. A very welcome development.
1

algarvefan added 00:43 - Aug 5
I think we may be in for a few months of swings and roundabouts but I am very impressed with the new management team, given time and a few more players I think we will do well this season. Chambers for me was excellent today as was Edwards, overall a good start but I cannot believe that some merchants of doom are moaning already.
Seems Waghorn is going, would like to see the Shrewsbury pair and Tilt come in and a striker to play alongside Harrison.
13

Cakeman added 09:05 - Aug 5
Well said algarvefan. Irrespective of results at this stage of the ‘new era' there should be much to look forward to.
Paul Hurst is a breath of fresh air and also the management team he has assembled.
Patience required even if it takes the entire season to develop and establish the new team.
7

BlueJohn added 09:23 - Aug 5
Good start to the new era of Paul Hurst. Great atmosphere and good to be at Portman Road with a positive attitude all round the ground. Definitely a work in progress but still hugely optimistic for the season ahead. On a less positive note, I think it's time Freddie Sears moved on - for his own benefit as well as the clubs. MM brought in a great player and broke him. He needs a new start and a new club. I don't think we will ever see the Freddie Sears of old.
1

terryf added 12:48 - Aug 5
Thought that Hurst made a mistake not playing Woolfy at centre half because clearly Doncien is no centre back. Also surprised we didn't see Dozzell as the midfield lacked that spark of creativity.
That said early doors and if we can get in our targets by thursday and up the fitness levels we may just see the pressing game we've been expecting and which was sadly missing yesterday. Thought Harrison and Edwards were the pick of the bunch and like the look of Edun. May of got hold of a winner there?
1

TractorBeezer added 16:57 - Aug 5
A useful start. Busy week ahead for Paul and management. Edwards brilliant in patches...more of an orthodox winger who took his goal well. We need more midfield incisiveness....Dozzell if fit? Also more help at the sharp end and tighten up defence a bit. Not sure what the problem was with Bart for their first and for the second no one picked up Zack .Brilliant atmosphere and entertaining game.



As some suggest still work in progress.
1

itfckal added 08:48 - Aug 6
It's nice to see us get a draw by going for a win, this is how draws should happen.

Not the old ways of the dark ages...
0


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