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Hurst: Probably Our Poorest Performance of the Season
Saturday, 20th Oct 2018 19:06

Town boss Paul Hurst admitted the Blues put in probably their worst performance of the season as they were beaten 2-0 at home by QPR. Town are still without a home win this season with their last victory at Portman Road the 1-0 defeat of Barnsley back in April in Mick McCarthy’s final match in charge.

“We weren’t good enough, bottom line,” Hurst said. “We were second best. It’s another game where ultimately we certainly didn’t help ourselves yet again and a combination of that and not a good enough reaction overall to going behind made for a very disappointing afternoon.”

Asked whether the type of defensive errors which again led to both goals are tough for a boss to take, he said: “At the end of the day I’m the manager and we all know that whoever’s the manager of the team gets criticised and that’s part and parcel of the job. I understand that and I can accept that.

“Those things, the mistakes, I’ve never been involved in a season - and we’re not even a third of the way through yet - where there have been so many mistakes in that period of time, as a manager or as a player, certainly from memory, admittedly my playing days were some time ago.

“That just makes the task more difficult. And ultimately goals do change games or change moods, change feelings, outlooks, everything.

“There were 77 minutes left plus injury time today were still left when we scored, so there was still lots of time left.

“The penalty was certainly a kick in the teeth right on half-time, not that we had particularly shown signs of getting back in the game, but while it’s 1-0, we’ve had games here where that has changed [from that scoreline] and we’ve seen a much different second half.

“In the second half today, there were naturally some moments which were slightly better but nowhere near enough in terms of realistically getting back in the game.”

He admitted that having got the first win of the season at Swansea, the defeat was more disappointing, although he pointed out after the win at the Liberty Stadium that result wouldn’t be a panacea.

“Obviously sat here now, I certainly wish would have played sooner to see if it would have been any different but overall the mood’s been good,” he said.

“As I said at the time, one victory doesn’t suddenly make you a good team or change everything, but you certainly hope it would have given the players a little bit of confidence and it felt that way around the place looking at them.

“But it didn’t reflect looking at it today, a lot of the same sort of things were happening, misplaced passes, miscontrols, but I have to say today I just felt even the absolute basics of football we were second best.

“We didn’t win enough headers, and I don’t mean as in Freddie Sears, I don’t expect him to out-jump the centre-backs, but in the middle of the pitch.

“How many tackles did we win? How many times did we drive with the ball compared to them to get to those second balls? We didn’t do enough of that, so it was going to be a massive ask to try and get anything from the game when I think there were a lot of things wrong in truth.”

The crowd showed their frustration with boos at the end of each half, which Hurst says he was aware of but feels the Portman Road faithful are far from the harshest supporters.


“Of course, I’ve heard that a couple of times but nothing that players shouldn’t be able to handle,” he added.

“That was just mentioned in the dressing room downstairs. I think the lads that have been around a little bit know that the crowd are far from the worst that they’re going to play in front of in terms of adding pressure and being really disgruntled.

“They show that they are but a lot of them show it in a certain way and not like you get at some places.

“So from that point of view, if they can’t play here then I think they’ll really struggle pretty much anywhere because I think they are willing the team and the players to do well.”

Quizzed on whether that adds pressure going into the next four games ahead of the November international break, he responded: “We’ve got to try to make sure it doesn’t. It doesn’t put us in the best of spirits going to Leeds on Wednesday but ultimately that’s football.

“There’ll be lots of teams good and bad that have days like today in terms of the performance where they just have a bad day and things aren’t right.

“Again, it’s how you react to that, how often it happens. You can look at the table and look at the results, but I genuinely, don’t think we’ve been that bad that often to be where we are in the league, I’ve said about coming out on the wrong side of things. So today was disappointing from that point of view.”

Hurst admitted it was the poorest display of the season at Portman Road if not anywhere: “Certainly the worst at home and probably overall as well. I think at Hull we had a spell where we were better, in truth, and could have quite easily got back in the game. I understand there was frustration today, 100 per cent.”

But he says those two matches aren’t typical of the season as a whole: “Not overall, but at the same time, we’ve got to try and make things happen, haven’t we? As a group, as a squad and I was hoping that having had the victory at Swansea, not changing everything, but getting that monkey off our back that we spoke about, having that confidence and belief to try and make things happen.

“I’ve opened it up in the dressing room and we’ve had a discussion and people have got their own opinions.

“I’ve had my say in there naturally. One thing that came from the players is we can’t keep making it hard with the mistakes we’re making.

“No one goes out to make a mistake but at the same time it does make it a lot more difficult. And when you’re in that sort of run you don’t seem to get too much the other way and it’s difficult to stop that from happening.”

Regarding the mood of the dressing room discussion, was it frank and loud or a more measured debate? “A bit of both some measured, some a bit louder, some look as though they’re a bit in shock almost.

“But let’s not kid ourselves, we were second favourites to be relegated at the start of the season, so we are clearly are not the best team in the Championship.

“We’ve got to do everything we can to make it extremely difficult for the opposition first and foremost to give ourselves a chance of winning games of football and at the minute all we’re doing is giving teams a helping hand more often than not.

“Even at Swansea we showed a much better reaction but the first goal was more a freak, an own goal that I don’t think JD could score again if he tried.

“We’ve got to change that and it’s only the players that can do that because we’re obviously in a hole and we’ve got to try and do everything we can to get out of that.”

Hurst dismissed the idea of a senior figure more experienced at this level coming in as a director of football to help the Blues get out of that hole.

“I find the level thing is not what this is about, that’s my personal view,” he said. “I can accept people have opinions.

“Again, if it was an experienced manager sat here or upstairs, does he suddenly stop the mistakes happening? I think if that did happen, it would be coincidence rather than anything else. No, I don’t really see personally any reason to do that, so I can’t see that happening.”

With the fans starting to get on the team’s back and the team back to bottom of the table, is he worried about his job? “No, I’m kind of past that stage. I know what I’m doing and the effort and also just generally, ultimately working with the group of players that I have got to try get the best out of.

“Are we managing to do that? Clearly at the minute, no. As I said, we’re all in this together, I’ll take my responsibility but the players have to take theirs as well and I think a lot of those, if they were honest and were sat in front you, they would say that they can do better than they’re doing at the minute. That’s part and parcel of football.

“You’re reliant as a manager, when things are going well, the lads are playing well, when things are going bad, they’re not playing well. It’s that kind of give them that confidence or give them that kick up the backside to do better because we certainly need to.’

QPR boss Steve McClaren was pleased with his side’s victory, although felt they had chances to have won more comfortably.

“Very professional, that’s what we said at the beginning, that this is an opportunity and if you’re professional and do your job we’ve got a chance of winning and that’s what they did right from the first whistle, they were ready,” he said.

“We controlled the game, got the goals and saw the game through. A clean sheet, two goals, should have been more and we’ve started the week well. Recover, Tuesday.”

Regarding the first goal McClaren was adamant it should be credited to corner-taker Luke Freeman rather than as a Dean Gerken own goal.

“It’s Freeman’s goal, it was direct, it was going straight in without him [Gerken] touching it.

“[Assistant coach] Matty Gardiner and [assistant manager] John Eustace work really hard on set plays. They’re very important in this league, for and against.

“And with [goalkeeper-coach] Gavin Ward they work tirelessly and we work a lot on set plays and every time we get one we turn around to Matty and Jon and every time we defend one we turn round to Gavin and say, ‘Well done boys’.

“They can make a massive difference. How many games do you see at a weekend and the first goal or the most important goal is a set play? You saw that in the World Cup with England and in this Championship it is very important.

“[The second goal], the same again [from a Freeman corner], it was a definite penalty, well done to the fourth official for spotting that.

“We were a little disappointed not to see the game out easier than we did. You’re always susceptible to conceding one goal which could have lit the fire but credit to the organisation of the team, we kept a clean sheet but we do need to score more goals from the opportunities that we’re creating.”


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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 19:08 - Oct 20
A pretty accurate assessment by PH, I would say.
10

BlueMachines added 19:11 - Oct 20
3 of our back 4 playing out of position, a second rate keeper in goal and one up front. No wonder we are struggling.
63

Zico added 19:12 - Oct 20
He has to go, he is way out of his depth! Yes his report is spot on, we were terrible!
19

Bluearmy_81 added 19:12 - Oct 20
Our poorest performance? And that's going some...
21

Pencilpete added 19:13 - Oct 20
If you don't expect Freddie Sears to win headers against 2 big centre halves, why are we continually lumping long high balls up to him then ??
57

RegencyBlue added 19:22 - Oct 20
Completely out of his depth and doesn't have a clue how to turn this around.

Watched him on the touch line today, just sat there and showed no passion whatsoever. Awful first half but no substitutes at half time. He has to go, and very soon!
34

algarvefan added 19:22 - Oct 20
I had to go away and take a deep, deep breath before writing this!

I am one who advocated giving Hurst the time to build a side but today I have had my faith shaken to the core in 50 years as a supporter I don't think I have seen a more inept performance, if we had lost by 5 goals we could not have complained. The trouble is it is same old, same old, week in and week out with no sign of change. We were lucky to win at Swansea.

Where is this super fit side, competing for every ball, wingers and attacking progressive football?

The players must take their share of the blame, but they don't look like they have been properly instructed, the 'dilly dallying' on the ball is shocking and the decision making of players is rubbish. Either the players aren't good enough or the coaching isn't? Even when the Dark Lord was here I didn't worry about us going down, but now I can't see another side worse than us currently and we will go down without further change.

I wasn't MM's biggest fan but this wouldn't have happened under him, we need an experienced coach in now and we need action in the new year window, we also need to playing some of our younger players, Lankaster was a breath of fresh air when he came on.

Come on Mr Evans before we get cut adrift and all the confidence goes, I'm not sure we will return from Division One for a long time. I am heartbroken to see the team I love playing like this!!!
66

floridaboy added 19:24 - Oct 20
The buck stops with the manager. He picks the team. He picks players out of position. A RB playing LB. A 3ft nothing up top. A CB who is a liability.

Not a big fan of Knudsen but he should have played today unless the injury he picked up on Wednesday was an issue. Where is young Edun?

Far too much pressure on Dozzell.

He has to go or we are shafted. Dread to think what will happen at Leeds especially as they will be smarting after losing today
47

parkinshair added 19:24 - Oct 20
No probably about it. Today's football made the football under Mick look practically mouthwatering.
15

EssexTractor added 19:24 - Oct 20
Is this report verbatim,?
Quote:
" I know what am I doing"
End Quote..

Oh dear...

"
11

dirtydingusmagee added 19:24 - Oct 20
listening to him is as bad as looking at our league position, what the hell did he do to convince Evans that he was the man for the job.? Evans said he was going to try something different ! presumably that was give up trying to get promoted,and get relegated instead. Hurst & Evans alias Hapless & Hopeless. BOTH HAVE TO GO.
15

karl1426 added 19:26 - Oct 20
Yes, he is right! PH is the poorest Manager we have in the history of this Football Club. For years, we do not have any international players, now we have 2 sitting on the bench! What is happening to our beloved Club? He has a group of L1 players and he is indeed a recognized L1 Manager. If we stick to him, there is only 1 route...L1! For goodness sake, please step down and go back to your Strawberry Town! Pleaseeee
16

WaltonBlueNaze added 19:27 - Oct 20
Come on ME please put him out if his misery, he is so uninspiring and unmotivational, he has not got the respect of the dressing room. The players he has brought in are good players but for league 1 and 2 not the championship!
16

ChrisFelix added 19:28 - Oct 20
Game over once Gerken gave them the opening goal. After then there was no way the team set up was going to score
At least I expect Bart back on Wednesday & Pennington back in the centre with Knudsen restores to the team. I would recall Morris first thing Monday morning.
19

speccybaz added 19:30 - Oct 20
He says ‘I know what I'm doing' so how come that so much of what he does suggests that he doesn't? Every week there are baffling team selections that don't work and tactics and formations that not only fail to stop the opposition but don't create anything either. It's easy to be melodramatic after witnessing this latest loss, but this team would struggle in League 1 and possibly even League 2.
21

ericclacton added 19:31 - Oct 20
The man is clueless.
14

Tractorboy1985 added 19:32 - Oct 20
Get out of our club you pathetic northern monkey and take that bully doig with you!!! Clueless!!!
-2

jas0999 added 19:33 - Oct 20
Unfortunately there are plenty of candidates. Hull away, Middlesboro at home. Bolton at home. Derby away.

Hurst is out of his depth.
21

baxter7 added 19:34 - Oct 20
Sorry but it's time to go you had a go but like others have said you are out of your depth get Burley and butcher in Evans before it's to late
9

Mark added 19:35 - Oct 20
I want it to work for Hurst, but the alarm bells rang loudest for me today. A centre back at right back? A right back at left back? Sears on his own up front may have worked at Swansea, but when it so clearly was not working today why did we not make changes at half-time? Hurst's most expensive two summer signings on the bench, and the signings that did play did not impress at all (even the usually decent Edwards).

Marcus Evans, maybe time for another interview for the fans to see? Are we going to sleepwalk into League One?! We let Webster, McGoldrick, Celina, Waghorn and Garner leave in the summer - bringing in big money and reducing the wage bill - but the replacements have not worked, so what is the plan now? The side badly needs investment.
28

Tractorboy1985 added 19:37 - Oct 20
MARCUS EVANS.. you have ruined this club and employed a numpty and a bully!! Couldn't even speak to paying public at the golf day you pathetic little man and your bully number 2... F OFF!! OUT OUT OUT
9

herfie added 19:44 - Oct 20
Frank dressing room discussions between players and manager/coaching staff invariably ends in only one outcome. Almost inevitably not a case of ‘if', but ‘when'. And to give us a fighting chance, probably better for the ‘when' to be sooner rather than later. Whilst a difficult situation to confront, over to you ME to act in the best interests of the club. Based on what we witnessed today - a shambolic, limp and shapeless performance - hoping things will eventually turn around is an exercise in futility.
9

TimmyH added 19:45 - Oct 20
A fortnight break, refreshed players with renewed confidence after their first win at an ex-Premiership outfit away and what do we get the 'worst performance of the season'...even the poor dark lord after his 13 game win less streak in 2009 managed to pull some wins together thereafter but with this here and now bunch of getting past their best mixed with ex-league 1 and 2 players it doesn't fill anybody with confidence we'll even match anything Keane did in that season and that was a poor 15th.

So we've gone full circle in near on 10 years the difference now with Evans being Mr Scrooge as opposed to having some ambition back then but sadly a very poor choice of managers!
15

Zondervantheman added 19:50 - Oct 20
Just watched the second half of the Derby- Sheffield United game. Tom Lawrence running at defenders, Martyn Waghorn hassling defenders in to mistakes Jack Marriott scoring with an instinctive finish. David Mcgoldrick looking absolute class with the ball at his feet. In the the words of Jim Bowen here's what you could of won!!!
19

carsey added 19:51 - Oct 20
Frankly we were not very good today. Gerkin is a disaster, how is he keeping Bart out? The rest of the team selection and tactics are totally baffling. Freddie Sears playing up front on his own and having the ball lumped up to him is bizarre. Where are these fit attacking wingers we were told about? Please get this man out of my club before we are beyond redemption.
I'm not sure what anyone can do about the problem with all these League 1 players we now have but I'd certainly rather see our own players in there trying to play football.n
16


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