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Hurst: Lads Showed a Lot of Character
Tuesday, 18th Sep 2018 23:04

Blues boss Paul Hurst praised his players for showing a lot of character as they came back to draw 1-1 at home to second-placed Brentford. Kayden Jackson headed a 73rd minute equaliser after the Blues had fallen behind in a first period dominated by the Bees, Neal Maupay netting the goal in the 31st minute.

The match was very much one of two halves, particularly from a Town perspective, with Hurst starting his side in a 3-5-2 system.

“We tried something different, clearly it didn’t work the way that we would have liked but at the same time, while I’m interested in our performance and what we can try and do, I have to say they are an excellent side,” he said.

“Going into the game I’ve watched a lot of them, as you do with every opposition, and it was a daunting challenge.

“I think them and Leeds [are the best teams in the division], and to be honest I’ve seen Brentford play well more often and in every game, they lost at Blackburn, but they shouldn’t have lost that game.

“So we came up against a team which is full of confidence and has got some excellent players playing at the top of their game.

“They’ll probably be disappointed that they didn’t get another goal when they were on top but we obviously changed things at half-time.

“The formation can help, but at the same time the lads had to show a lot of character tonight because there were some murmurings when some bad decisions were made on the ball.

“That’s part and parcel of being a footballer, but you’ve got to be strong enough to get through that.

“Big credit to the lads for staying in the game and then causing Brentford some problems as well.”

Regarding what was put to him as a brave move to switch to a system his team hadn’t lined up in previously against such daunting opposition, he said: “It can be deemed as brave, it can be deemed as stupid, the wrong decision, whatever. But if you don’t try, you never know.


“We wanted to try and have two strikers on the pitch, play a little bit more direct at times. Having watched them a few times we felt that was an area where they commit men forward and it’s on to perhaps break on them because they’re brave in the way they approach it.

“But we never got enough quality into them or looked after the ball. We knew that at times they were going to have the ball and we had to be patient, but when we got it back we didn’t take care of it well enough.

“We got sucked into that, we’d chase them, we’d get it and then we’d give it straight back. And that was something we’d spoken about.

“So it wasn’t working. I think it would have been suicidal not to have had three men in the middle of the pitch, so if we were going to play two up front, the two options were a diamond, which we weren’t convinced about, or the way that we went.

“I think we’ve got the players to do that but we came up against a team who were very good and still managed to cause us too many problems to continue with that.”

Despite still being without a win, Hurst believes the second-half display will provide a lift for his team, which still remains bottom of the table.

“I think it has to and that’s not trying to look for positives that aren’t there,” he added. “To be 1-0 down against that team on the back of what we all agree was our most disappointing performance at Hull, it could have been a really, really difficult night.

“But the message to the players at half-time, apart from obviously changing formation etc, was to show character and to hang on in the game as much as possible because I believed that we’d get a chance.

“We have a chance, we hit the bar, there’s a scramble and we don’t put it away and you think we’re not going to get anything from the game again.

“Then they hit the bar with a freekick and you think maybe we’ve got a chance. And I think in the end we scored a very good goal and after that it was difficult watch all night in some respects because of how well they look after the ball and the threat that they carry.

“But we managed to carry one going the other way as well and we probably had the best chance to win the game with some really good football and a slid pass through to Kayden, who will be disappointed he didn’t at least work the keeper.

“But at the same time he’ll be pleased with getting off the mark in the league and scoring a very good header.”

Hurst, whose side was watched by owner Marcus Evans, praised his players for not going under after such a tough first half.

“Yes, and I’ve seen that happen before, but one thing hopefully I’ve managed to create when I’ve been in jobs is a spirit, a togetherness,” he said. “There have been very few occasions as a team that I’ve managed has gone under, in a lot of games now.

“And that’s the minimum that I ask of them and I want to see that character and we’ll need that character, certainly in the situation that we find ourselves in.

“And arguably there’s no bigger test than tonight, being 1-0 down playing against a team that are on top of their game and doing very well.

“It’s probably the first time some of the lads will have experienced a few murmurs when they’ve made the wrong decisions but overall I thought the crowd were good and they were just frustrated but stayed with it and created a really good atmosphere and you see that at the end when they stayed a clapped the team off.

“Yes, overall everyone wants more than just hard work but I think people are always a little bit more allowing with their feelings when they see a team put the effort in and the commitment.

“We saw some great blocks, some good saves, some really hard running and some better football in the second half.”

Regarding Teddy Bishop, who limped off with a hamstring injury in the U23s’ win at Watford yesterday, he said: “I don’t think it’s anything too bad but he has got a hamstring injury.

“We think it’s only what they describe as a grade one, which is as minor as it can be so I wouldn’t envisage him being out too long.”

Brentford manager Dean Smith felt his team should have won: “It’s a feeling of disappointment, I feel like we’ve lost two points today. I thought in the first half we were outstanding and as good as we’ve played for a while.

“I think to go to any club in this league away from home and dominate the game as we did in the first half [is impressive] but the important thing is taking those chances and we didn’t take them today.

“If we’d have got the second goal it would have been game over but unfortunately we expended a lot of energy in that first half.

“In the second half they’ve changed shape, got a bit more direct, put the ball down the side of us, put balls into the box and were quite effective at it and they ended up getting the goal from the cross.”


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BraveDave added 23:16 - Sep 18
I get the feeling that Hurst and the fans are starting to recognise our best starting eleven. It's taken a while, as we knew it would, but Hurst is learning all the time and tonight will have answered a lot of questions for him.

I just hope that he now has the belief and conviction in his best side, and that the fans support him/them as they now start to properly bond. Still a long way to go, but tonight was a huge step.
26

itfchorry added 23:22 - Sep 18
Play Andre Dozzell
-13

Mr_Evans added 23:29 - Sep 18
Based on that 2nd half, we need to line up for Bolton as:
Gerks
Donacien - Pembleton - Chambers - Knudsen
Skuse - Chalobah
Ward - Edwards
Jackson

Although I'd be happy to see Downes/Dozzell drop in for Chalobah. Be interesting to see where Huws will come in - maybe for Ward?
3

Mr_Evans added 23:30 - Sep 18
Doh! Missed out Nolan.
-1

BcarefulwhatUWish4 added 23:31 - Sep 18
We'd lose a lot of ball with that formation Mr Evans. Donacien and Chalobah were shocking for large periods of that match.
-4

StochesStotasBlewe added 23:32 - Sep 18
BraveDave. Quite agree. Came away at the end feeling fairly optomistic after the 2nd half performance against an excellent Brentford team. That system, imo, is the one i hope PH perseveres with now.
11

aas1010 added 23:43 - Sep 18
💩
-12

FromIpswichToPhoenix added 00:00 - Sep 19
Drop Spence and Chalobah, they were terrible today. Ward played much better in the second half. I think you know your starting 11 Saturday.
2

have_a_word_with_him added 00:03 - Sep 19
Very early days, and a lot of this looks pretty insightful and reasonable comment from Hurst. It would be a surprise to see him try that formation again unless with players who are obviously much more suited to it, as he acknowledges the starting 11 didn't work. However, his reasoning as to what he was trying to do is pretty convincing, he tried to identify a potential weakness in Brentford's style and set up to focus on that. Decent homework if you ask me. Give him and the new players time, we'll survive this year and press on next.
16

ronnyblue added 00:20 - Sep 19
mr hurst

please do the honourable thing , admit the job is too big for you AND RESIGN before too much more damage is done !
after your showing in the transfer window ( behaving like a kid being let loose in a sweet shop ) it is currently the worst crop of managers choices this club has ever seen ! I hate to say it but Paul Jewell did better ( he had more points on the board ) .For all your talk of using the academy players you have been found wanting by either not using them or even worse shipping them out on loan when they are actually better players than those signed in the transfer window .
-39

MyBlueHeaven added 04:18 - Sep 19
@ronnyblue - shame you didn't get the job when Evans was looking to replace McCarthy. Was it the second interview that let you down?

Will you be reapplying if the position becomes available again?
13

benknight73 added 07:05 - Sep 19
ronnyblue, what's the point in being so negative?

Ultimately, one of the issues we've had is that the players haven't received enough support over the last few years. Are you really saying that you'd like to re-visit a days off Michael Chopra and Lee Martin??
Feel as if certain fans have short memories. PH has come in and made wholesale changes, not only to the playing staff, but to the facilities as well. These changes were based on what he had scene at his previous league 1 & 2 clubs. What does that say about our previous management?

To come from behind against one of the best sides in the division, who have spent a considerable amount more shows that there's something there and I believe that in time, things will come good.

In short, support your team.
8

Europablue added 07:06 - Sep 19
Looking at the comments about the halftime score and the fulltime score, there is a huge difference. There are different names too, it's almost as if certain fans revel in failure and love nothing more than to call for someone's head.
Very rarely a new manager is just out of his depth and it is clear after 4 or 5 matches that it isn't working out. When you look at our performances which have been good except for against Hull and results that have been pretty close on the whole. We've had some poor refereeing and bad luck, both of which should even out eventually. There are many positive signs with us playing some more attractive football so there is cause for optimism.
I feel like the fans can decide how we do this season. If we get behind the team, then I have every confidence that we will stay up while building a good foundation for next year, but if we turn on Hurst, I can easily see that resulting in us getting relegated and probably lost looking for another manager.
7

Bezzer added 07:20 - Sep 19
The league table doesn't lie! If we don't pick up 3 points on Saturday, then I can't see us staying up. There is only so much patience one can have and PH and his merry men are living on borrowed time. Happy to give it Saturday's game for things to change, but if we can't win that, then we need to re-evaluate. No more excuses, no more hard luck stories and no more wrong players/formation, it's becoming tedious!!
-9

tractorboybig added 07:54 - Sep 19
Lets be honest we were out classed by Brentford who threw the game away rather than us salvage it. 8 games in and there are still people saying its early days??????????? 8 games and a striker has scored a goal???? a system and players not good enough for the championship the table don't lie and something needs changing quick. O and I have a good laugh at those that say going down will help us build for the future.. prats,
3

Surco72 added 08:00 - Sep 19
Brentford were in the same position as us this time last season they didn't panic and sack their manager they let the be a side settle .
Hurst is still learning about His new squad and last night will have shown him a number of things . Gerken ok at shot stopping but doesn't command area and kicking out is woeful , Spence is awful and doesn't seem to have the heart for the fight , Donacien can only play right back , without Nolan in side we have no one else at present who wants the ball to move forward , Edwards has to play .
Am hoping Huws , Bishop and Dozzell can add some actual class to the side if ever fit and that Jackson's goal will give him the confidence to move on from here
12

carlo88 added 08:04 - Sep 19
Watched it on Sky and thought we were an embarrassment first half, second half very promising which should give Hurst some clue as to his best team. We defended quite well too. However I feel our downfall this season is that we don't have reliable goalscorers.
4

bobble added 08:05 - Sep 19
we are ipswich...they are brentford !........... and our manager says we showed some( character) to draw 1-1 at home with them ?..............does anyone else have a problem with this attitude ?
6

CraigEdwards added 08:09 - Sep 19
Disappointing first half as I felt we gave them to much rest but second half we showed a better fight of it and really could have nicked it at the end.
Only a couple of disappointments were the boos at half time and so called supporters buying loads of programs leaving the club to sell out very early only to see txxts selling them on eBay this morning. Hang your heads in same your not supporters and the real supporters like myself didn't get one . Disgusting
3

naa added 08:23 - Sep 19
Regarding his initial formation and what he was trying to do it was interesting to hear Mick Mills say pretty much exactly the opposite. That he was exactly the opposite to what we should be doing against Brentfords formation.

He had written notes before the game saying what he thought we'd struggle with and proved to be correct.

To me that's a bit worrying. I'd like to think our manager would have realised the same.

However, glad he realised his mistake and changed things for the better. Hopefully it's a lesson learned. Much improved second half, but we could still do with some flair instead of Chalobah. I never liked to see two defensive midfielders at home when Mick played it and I still don't like it now, especially as Mick at least played two strikers.
2

Popeye added 09:04 - Sep 19
Keeps changing formation/personnel like he doesn't know what his best starting eleven is. Changed it at start of second half and then looked a different team. Has to start with that formation against Bolton. Let other teams worry how we are gonna set our stall out, MM was forever sending out a team to stop the other team playing which then in turn stopped Town from playing. PH needs to stand by his convictions and play the way he wants to play, making sure rounds pegs in rounds holes all,over the pitch.
6

RoyalAscotBlue added 09:07 - Sep 19
Interesting to hear the reasoning behind the changes to formation and personnel. Also good to see that PH is honest enough to hold his hands up admit that he got it wrong. The 4-2-3-1 formation is what we should stick to, for now, end of discussion.

The second half performance was good. Jackson took his goal well and, although he could have done better later, I believe we should stick with him up top.

Chambers and Pennington did well and Knudsen defended well too, but he isn't good enough going forward.. Donacien did OK but I think we should get Emmanuel back and lose Spence. How did Kenlock not get in THAT starting 11?

Skuse and Chalobah did OK, as did Nolan. Ward was good in the second half but should not be used as he was in the first. I'd like to see Dozzel in there, and if we could get Huws fit it would make all the difference. Walters should be utilised as one of the wider players with Edwards, who has to start every game.

And Bart needs to put things right and get back in the team asap. Gerkin cannot kick and cannot command his area.

I still haven't lost faith. I enjoyed the Norwich game and I enjoyed the second half last night. We will come good.
4

scants_itfc added 09:20 - Sep 19
I watched this on Sky last night, and I have to admit, I almost didn't want watch the 2nd half. Whether rebuild means survive this year and push on or drop down a division and push one, we wont be competing in league 1 with that first half team. It was utterly woeful, possibly the worst 45 mins of football I have ever seen from town, and I think we were lucky to still be in the game at half time.

However the second half was an improvement, it still wasn't as great as some people are alluding to, but its good to see the manager recognising how awful we were and changing it.

My biggest issue is we are easy to score against and easy to defend against. I like Jackson's work ethic and the goal will do him good, but is he really going to get more than 6 or 7 goals this season? Harrison wouldnt fit into a national league team to be honest, he's a total waste of transfer budget. Spence is getting a lot of stick, he was poor last night, but I think he is generally a better player. The only players who showed championship quality last night were Skuse and Pennington. We have to start with Edwards every game and Nolan, although he usually takes 45 to get going.

The problem is we cannot score enough goals and we dont look anywhere near keeping a clean sheet, doesnt make for a winning formula no matter how long we give it
-1

Lightningboy added 10:15 - Sep 19
They showed plenty of much needed character in the 2nd half..as for the 1st,that was totally unacceptable.

8 league games in and we're setting up to counteract Brentford at home..not the new dawn I was hoping for from our new messiah.

Must do better but are these players capable of better?
4

TimmyH added 10:58 - Sep 19
Yes agree Lightningboy...somewhat more optimistic after the 2nd half for the up coming match against Bolton. I still don't see a creative side particularly from midfield and from open play we don't like getting that many chances - a long way behind a small budget Brentford side in passing terms, hopefully the return of Dozzell and maybe Huws in the month or so ahead might change things.
2


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