Caretaker-boss Bryan Klug felt the Blues’ 3-0 defeat at Millwall summed up the team’s current shortcomings. New manager Paul Lambert and his staff watched from the stands and will meet the squad and staff for the first time at Playford Road tomorrow.

“I think the game probably sums up, how can I put this, it would show all our problems or shortcomings probably,” Klug said.

“Summing up the game, I thought we were in the game, I don’t think either team really had total control. But I thought Millwall always carried a much bigger threat than us possibly.

“We knew, everyone knows they score a lot of goals off set plays and we didn’t defend well enough on those occasions really.

“When you’re in a bad run and things go against you and you’re thinking that you don’t score many goals, it becomes difficult and the game became difficult.”

Town were once again made to pay for their inability to defend set pieces with 12 of this season’s 25 opposition goals having come via corners, freekicks or throws.

“They’ve got some big old players, some big old lumps,” Klug added. “It’s very difficult to win the first header.

“We have an organisation that should deal with it but you have to win sometimes the first ball, sometimes the second ball and they took their chances, they’ve got a goalscorer.”

As has been the case in most recent games, heads dropped after the first goal was conceded with Klug admitting that had an impact.

“If you’ve ever played football and you’re not sure you’re going to score many goals, that confidence does tend to drain away and I saw that,” he said.

“But I’ve no complaints with any of the players, I thought we kept going, there was no throwing in the towel and that’s got to be a good sign for the new manager coming in.

“The game’s alright between the boxes but it’s in the boxes that it matters and that’s what we’ve got to get better at and that can be achieved if you work hard at it and you get a bit more confidence and you buy somebody who can score 30 goals a season or something like that.”

Does he feel that a new manager coming in and the fresh start that brings will help boost confidence.

“I think from the players’ point of view that is the role. They’re all there, I’ve only worked with them yesterday and talked to them today and they see that, a clean slate is what they want.

“And they see that and they’ve realised they’ve got a manager who has got an experienced eye so they’ve got to impress him.

“Hopefully, I’m guessing that’s part of the plan, to have a bounce, but there wasn’t too much of a bounce today unfortunately, although if we’d defended set pieces we might be talking about some other things.”

He says Lambert is yet to speak to the squad and confirmed that that will happen tomorrow.

“No, Paul was at the game, I’ve not spoken to him yet,” he added. “He probably won’t want to speak to me now. We’re training tomorrow and the work starts. Everybody’s in.”

Asked what he thinks Lambert will have made of the performance, he responded: “You’ll have to ask him. I don’t know, he’s obviously got a very experienced eye. He’ll see things that he can grow, he’ll see things that he’ll need to eradicate.

“It’ll be interesting to find out. As I say, there are things that he might think are good but he’ll certainly, like all of us, know what’s blatantly obvious.”

Klug admits things have got to be turned around soon with Town bottom and five points from safety.

“Of course it does, it’s urgent,” he reflected. “I think when Mick [McCarthy] joined on November 1st [2012] we had seven points and we’ve only got nine now and we went on a fantastic run. We realise that.

“It’s not all doom and gloom, the players have got to stick together and we’ve got to fight. We know we’re in a fight but I was asking the players today to try and be a little bit brave on the ball and they found that difficult to do.

“I think some players found that more difficult than others, but we’ll get back out on the training field and find a way.”

Klug says the switch to 3-5-2 was specifically for Millwall rather than being what he believes is the system which best suits the squad in all circumstances.

“That was based on the way that Millwall played, we felt that was the best way to [approach the game],” he added.

“To a certain degree I thought the shape of the team was OK because we weren’t getting ripped apart in open play, we conceded at set plays.

“I thought keeping two up top, we hoped we’d get opportunities. We didn’t get too many, I get that.

“But that was not that we think that that’s the best way, we thought today that was the best way to try and get something but it didn’t work out.”

Klug says midfielder Cole Skuse was subbed at half-time as the ankle injury he was carrying from the Leeds game was getting worse.

Millwall boss Neil Harris felt a comfortable victory had been coming given his side's recent displays.

“I think it’s been due hasn’t it? I think with the performances. I’ll be honest, that wasn’t our best performance for a while," he insisted.

“I thought it was extremely possible. We could have played much better at 3-0 up, certainly. But I don’t give a damn about that, I wanted a clean sheet, the team wanted a clean sheet.

“I think it’s not easy for Ipswich with the position they’re in and where they are in that transition with a new manager coming in and being here today.

“It’s not easy for them, but it’s not easy for us either because you can’t prepare because don’t know who you’re going to face, what formation you’re going to face and it’s tough for the players as well.

“I thought, without being at our best, I thought we were clinical at key moments, we created some chances, not as many as we had done, but to get the clean sheet and give up very few opportunities was an excellent performance in the Championship.”

Photo: TWTD

Mark added 18:32 - Oct 27 Well, today left Lambert under no illusions about the scale of the task facing him. I only listened on the radio, but it seems I have listened for hours without Ipswich even creating a chance to score, we seem so utterly far behind the level of this league. With no goalscorer in the team it is hard for players to get any confidence, and the worrying thing is that cannot change until the transfer window opens. I hope Lambert can organise them, but if the players are simply not good enough even that will not be enough. I am now bracing for relegation and hoping for a miracle from Lambert. Evans - you have to your bit and provide proper funding in January, if anyone decent can be persuaded to come here!

21

BlueandTruesince82 added 18:33 - Oct 27 So Klug thinks we're crap too. At least he has the stones to say it. Might have put an appearance of gloss on it but still
13

Tractorboy1985 added 18:34 - Oct 27 Evans.. spend a few mill in January otherwise it's league 1.. FACT!
11

floridaboy added 18:36 - Oct 27 All any of us can say is to wish Paul Lambert all the luck in the world!
16

Stato added 18:38 - Oct 27 We are very lucky to have Klug
17

martin587 added 18:39 - Oct 27 Paul Lambert has an extremely hard job to get anything out of the squad he has inherited.From today's performance there was not one plus.It was lacklustre and confidence drained from all eleven players. Bryan done his best but I doubt he expected very much.Over to you now boss.
15

backwaywhen added 18:41 - Oct 27 Not many will fancy tomorrow .....according my mate in Norwich , he will initially ask the question...right who wants to play for me , any hesitation and they are out of the equation.
5

JohnyJohnson added 18:44 - Oct 27 Really hoping Huws becomes available soon. I wonder if Dozzell has ever played as a striker?
1

Lathers added 18:50 - Oct 27 Hard to hear, but an honest assessment. Poor in both boxes aka we are f***ed! You'd expect something from the players knowing Lambert was in the stands, but sadly that performance didn't materialise which just illustrates how poor we are. January can't come quickly enough, but will be too late and by that point Evans will be planning for League One. I actually think Lambert is a brave man to take us on. He has very little to work with. Sad, sad days.

12

Pip50 added 18:53 - Oct 27 “You are out of the equation” what bollix who is he going to pick ! Damage has been done over many years selling our better players and bringing in crxp. Play the youngsters but they aren't good enough. Smell the roses unless you spend good £ then this is what you get. Game will be over by Xmas irrespective of Lamberts talents.
2

SouperJim added 18:56 - Oct 27 The only way is up!
1

WaltonBlueNaze added 18:59 - Oct 27 The only positive is that despite being pants so far this season we are still only 5 points from safety. If PL can sort out the defence, stop leaking soft goals and then ME invests in Jan we can still survive. COYB
8

algarvefan added 19:05 - Oct 27 I honestly believe we have the players to keep us up, sadly most of them are out on loan. Paul Lambert must start with a clean sheet of A4 and be guided by what he sees on the training pitch. The real problem is lack of chances and no goalscorer which was always going to happen with the sale of Waghorn & Garner. I wish Paul Lambert all the best but feel the best thing for the team is a january clear out and some new signings.

4

jas0999 added 19:06 - Oct 27 Thanks to Marcus Evans and Paul Hurst we are faced with this shambolic situation. The only way we will survive is if by some miracle Lambert can get us to January just a couple of points from safety. Then, Marcus Evans - an owner who has made huge transfer profits from the past few seasons - must invest significant sums into this extremely poor playing squad. A squad, which in my opinion is mid League one at best. Evans can start with the circa £5 M he made from sales (minus signings) this pre season.

4

roytheboy added 19:08 - Oct 27 Five decent signings (at least) required in January, we do not have a goal scorer, even Sears doesn't achieve anything without good support, our defense looks very poor, Knudsen seemed very poor today, I would like Darren Bent straight away, surely his experience would help this present dire situation, I am delighted that Paul Lambert has joined us, however the overall general quality of our present players is simply not good enough to keep us in the Championship, massive mistakes were made by Mr Evans in the Summer recess, I hope he will address these with the greatest urgency.

3

Blueknight85 added 19:23 - Oct 27 I think Tommy Smith would win those 1st headers....is he back from MLS for the Winter? maybe can bring Wayne Rooney with him 😁
2

herfie added 19:33 - Oct 27 The unvarnished truth from BK - who, although employed by the club, is also a True Blue. The saying ‘you'd have to see it to believe it' will never ring so true for PL and his assistants, sitting in the stands. If there was any doubt about the size and complexity of the challenge that awaits them, then this afternoon's sub-standard performance, reinforced by BK's honest post match assessment, will have provided the mood music for tomorrow's meeting at Playford Road. However, with confidence already shot, there would be little to be gained from further negativity. Getting inside the players' heads - given all that's gone before - and starting to rebuild self belief and confidence, is probably the top priority in PL's rebuilding exercise. Certainly going to test his mettle in the weeks ahead. But we're now all in it: stronger together. COYB.

4

shakytown added 19:38 - Oct 27 We really need to go into the free agent market to get some men to replace out little boys. Too easily shoved around and they don't have the heart or experience for a real tough game. All of Hursts signings are lightweight and are out of their class and add to that most of the others are either past their best or just not good enough.
2

lightingblue added 19:42 - Oct 27 Hopefully a poor performance will give lambert a good insight into what is required
2

jjhbruno added 20:15 - Oct 27 I went, no more, that was enough to convince me to not waste anymore money on this club for a long time. I cannot believe they actually train to be better. Some of the passing today was embarrassing. Just utter utter crap from top to bottom. Good luck Paul, I think you're a good appointment but you are up s#%t street with this lot and will have to perform a miracle. We are so so so bad. Half the supporters left at the 70th minute. Says it all

4

Adnamsfarter added 20:17 - Oct 27 Anyone else notice Flynn Downes today? Class performance. Loads of energy and really nice on the ball in tight situations. MOTM. Good luck lads and good luck PL. COYB
7

drewcudders1963 added 20:35 - Oct 27 The future survival depends on some of our talented youngsters..... they play together in U23's and are used to where each is positioned.... add in Emyr (if he is ever fit?) and we have some good players.... what's happened to Edwards, starts the season on fire, now he's on the bench at best ? If we get behind the manager and players we have the team to get out of this mess.... COYB

3

Swn98 added 20:46 - Oct 27 This site really amazes me this was obviously going to be the outcome of the events of lasts seasons rise of fan power enough PROFESSIONALS warned you to be careful what you wished for.!!!!!!!
-10

Skip73 added 21:15 - Oct 27 Paul Hurst completely and utterly ruined the squad didn't he!
9

osseyseleven added 21:18 - Oct 27 EVANS OUT...........I cannot forgive what he has done to our club
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