Blues boss Paul Lambert didn’t mince his words after Town’s embarrassing 1-0 FA Cup defeat at League One Accrington, stating that the “club should never be in the state it’s in”, that it “needs to be rebuilt” and that “players are not good enough and without a doubt some will go”. Billy Kee’s 76th minute goal saw Stanley into round four which Town last reached back in 2010.

"Sometimes you've got to play football with desire," he said. "We never had that. I thought we turned up and thought we were going to be [the better team].

"There was nothing really in the game. We give too many fouls away, freekicks, and balls come into our box and, as I've said before, we're not the biggest of teams. We've got to defend it better. But we give so many crazy fouls away, it just puts pressure on everybody.

"The second half was mostly us, we had most of the game and should have scored a few chances, but you can't keep making the errors and think it's good enough."

Reflecting on Town's current situation - bottom of the table by 10 points and dumped out of both cups by lower division sides - more widely, he added: "This club needs to be rebuilt. Players are not good enough and without a doubt some will go. You have to hit that level.

"I didn't say we were outfought, it was the desire, but I never said we were outfought because we had a go in the second half, but they dealt with the crossed balls better than we did.

"You have to be clinical in both boxes and that’s what they did, it's part of the game. I know exactly what will happen here."

Asked whether he learnt anything from the match, he responded: "Not overly, I know exactly who lets us down and who doesn't but that's the reality of the game. The game won’t wait for anybody, you have to step up to the plate and hopefully one or two guys will come in and help us."

Lambert reiterated that he doesn't take cup competitions lightly and aims to win every match he is involved in.

“Anybody that knows me knows I was really successful as a footballer and I know what it takes to win things, to play in big level games and any competition you go and try to win.

“It's not right, we had unbelievable support today and to go out again, nine years is the last time the club was through to [round four].

"This club should never be in the state it’s in. It should never be in the mess it's in."

He added: "It’s an absolute disgrace what’s happened here. It should never have happened, it's too big a club. But it does happen to clubs if you take your eye off the ball.

“I’m not going to stand here and say it's a bed of roses because we have to get the club out of the position it’s in, that's the reality of it.

"All the niceties sometimes go out the window. I'll certainly not put up with that.

"I certainly won't put up with some of the things [I saw today]. It’s not good enough for this club and that’s the reality of it. I’m not going to hide behind any rocks or smoking jackets. It's not good enough. That’s the bottom line.

“We have to be stronger as a football club and get more nasty with it as well.

"It’s my job to get players in here that can help us. We can't do an influx because of the way it's happened but we'll try and get one or two in that actually know what this [level of] football is all about."

Were there a few home truths in the dressing room afterwards? "I’ll always tell them the truth in the dressing room. I protect them to an extent with [the media] but I'll tell them the truth in the dressing room."

Regarding the seven changes he made to his team: “We had one or two injuries. Trevoh [Chalobah] hasn't recovered from the knock against Millwall and Luke [Chambers] has had a bit of a calf problem, had been carrying it and decided I think [he needed a rest].

“Bart [Bialkowski], I was always going to play. Myles [Kenlock] has done great for us but I had to have a look at Callum [Elder], who I thought did well.

"I think Will Keane is going to be a really good player for us. I thought Andre [Dozzell] did well in the centre of the pitch. The team is mine, I pick it, no problem. Where we let ourselves down is in both boxes."

Lambert confirmed that Flynn Downes was subbed at the break as he was concerned that the midfielder might get sent off having been booked in the first half for a clash with Accrington's Sam Finley.

“I think if you raise your hands you give the referee a decision to make," he said. "I had to watch that situation so he didn’t get red-carded.”

Why did he wait until the 80th minute to add a second striker to his attack when Ellis Harrison was introduced? “We did it at the end but then it becomes this long ball game at certain times and I don’t want to be that type of team.

"But we had chances to score not just with two up top, we had chances in the second half without a two. We just never defended the box.”

Lambert says more new additions could arrive early in the week to come with Cardiff winger Anthony Pilkington believed to be among the players currently in discussions.

“We’re trying to do a couple and hopefully they will come at the start of the week. We’ll see,” he added.

“If I need to, I’ll get half a dozen players that know what this club needs to succeed in Championship football.”

Accringtn manager John Coleman was delighted with his side's winning goal and is now eyeing a trip to Anfield in the next round.

"Billy took his chance, it's something we have worked on in training and I am delighted for the lads," he said.

"The finances from a cup run, and a good draw, can change this club not only for this season but next season too.

"It means we can strengthen for this season if we do get a plum draw in the next round.

"As a Liverpool fan, Liverpool away would suit me but I would also like anyone at home. Realistically we are never going to win the cup, although fairytales do happen."

Photo: Action Images

beornioblue added 22:33 - Jan 5 If this all goes the way it's looking and ME the TW@ jumps ship too, our football club could be in real trouble of sinking as an entity. Lambert has the right idea it needs a rebuild starting with some of the worse performers we have .. Spence, Chambers and Knudsen. Lambert is the man for this and I believe is this clubs last chance to resurrect itself
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Kingfisher49 added 22:57 - Jan 5 If PL wants to avoid loans why not go for short term contracts to experienced players like Glenn Johnson, Robert Huth, and/or Darren Bent who are free agents. It may be a short term fix but short term answers are what we need right now. Huws and Skuse getting back are vital and perhaps a couple of others signings like Pilkington could just be the difference we need. PL is the right man and I know it is a horrible time for all supporters but whoever is selected he needs the fans support especially with Rotherham the next game when three points are needed.

5

Carl2588 added 23:01 - Jan 5 We should have battled for ross mcormack surely if motherwell can afford him on loan we could have he's the kind of player to get you 10 + goals in the second half of the season
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MickMillsTash added 23:12 - Jan 5 FIghting Talk - designed to get a reaction against Rotherham ? Interesting bus journey home Who is he talking about? Confidence plays such a big part but I have had enough of Pennington, Spence, Jackson, Nolan, Williams Jackson - what is he ?- does not have great pace, movement, strength - Nolan - not fit to polish Bishops boots Spence- just crap Williams - may come good but needs to step up Pennington - Wolfenden has to be better Bart was dodgy Elder promising, Nsiala -not good but has been so long out, Downes - needs to step up, Dozzell - better further forward. Bishop was decent

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algarvefan added 23:18 - Jan 5 I'll probably get marked down for saying this but Lamberts post game interview reminded me of Hursts after the Exeter City game. I'm not disagreeing with what he said but I'm not sure public comments like that are helpful to the team in the position we are in. Of course it's embarrassing to lose to Accrington Stanley but we haven't been a good cup team for a long long time. This situation has been a long time in development and comes about because of a general lack of investment since 2002. We are where we are and the team does need rebuilding but dare I suggest one of the main problems for the club has been the number of loan players being brought in. There is no team stability and far too many changes too often. As a club we have invested in our youth and despite Lambert droning on and on about needing experience we need to move up our younger players now to start preparations for next season. We are as good as relegated already and if the current system of playing the same donkeys week in and out continues we will learn nothing for next season, especially as the loan players will by then be gone. Above all folks the team needs to have some confidence and encouragement from somewhere, that is surely our job.

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Pedlarjak added 23:36 - Jan 5 My dad says that if I don't drink my milk, when I grow up I'll only be good enough to play for Ipswich Tiwn
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Edmundo added 00:03 - Jan 6 "it does happen to clubs if you take your eye off the ball." Evans you are a disgrace to our club''s heritage. Sell up. I'd rather Delia was our owner.
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Dissboyitfc added 00:25 - Jan 6 Mickmillstash.... Williams ??????
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DeepBlueSomething added 06:59 - Jan 6 There are a number of very valid comments here highlighting again the cloud hanging over our club. Evans who ultimately makes the decisions is our main cause for concern, the players who whilst lacking confidence aren't fit for purpose but the real issue lies with management. Lamberts has no track record of consequence, has made a raft of mistakes but finds it easy to accuse previous failings. He couldn't make it at more more lavish and wealthier establishments so why give him more funds to fail? His latest “loan” another classic example.

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norfolkbluey added 07:12 - Jan 6 I agree with Kingfisher and Carl but I have great concerns that our club is imploding. The amount of differing opinions about a variety of players concerns me as to their credentials. Its easy for us to criticise but PL has a great deal of experience and expertise where we have not. I trust PL and I wonder if he is as frustrated with the current owner as the fans are. The lack of willingness to fund the club in the current financial football world where ten million pounds for a player is a drop in the ocean is perhaps beyond ME's comprehension. If its getting too hot for him he should consider backing out and try selling to a foreign owner with greater resources and willingness to spend when its needed. Fans for 15+ years have put up with under investment. This was particularly evident when Joe Royle was here. He begged for £200.000 to buy a decent winger which would have almost certainly got us into the top flight again but the money wasn't made available and despite having Bent and Kuqui scoring 40 goals we just lost out. Investment is key because without it we will be just another lower division club. "Money money money not so funny!"

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buryblue77 added 08:51 - Jan 6 Got to love these fans calling for Evans to go, go where? Evans is fully to blame for the mess we find ourselves in, he owns the club and I'd love nothing more than some other very wealthy person to come and and make him an offer but in the state we're in, who'd want to buy. The only good thing Evans does is help keep us afloat with the required investment each year to run the club, but unfortunately that's where it stops and it seems to be assumed we can do miracles on the pathetic budgets we've had each year. I'd always said, had Evans backed McCarthy with some decent funds, he'd have probably gotten us promoted and whilst his football was terrible and lost the fans from a points and league position point of view who can argue with what was achieved on such a budget. I think it seems to me that possible Lambert doesn't want to work under such constraints, but then to to the job that he's identified needs doing, to not allow him a decent budget will only mean that our fall carries on. Whilst I'd love to be an Evans out person, the reality is who's going to come in? So the reality is, Evans, back Lambert and stop the tight fisted approach to running this once great club!

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geminimustang added 09:12 - Jan 6 Dear Paul,thank you for all your hard work and advice.Please find enclosed your P45.It's cheaper to get rid of you than try and sell this team that nobody would want.Thanks,again,ME
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brendenward35 added 09:13 - Jan 6 Think PL has now realised that Marcus is not going to release the money he needs to turn around the club. You can tell by the frustration in his voice his starting to get fed up and not a happy bunny. Would surprise me if PL either walks or ME sacks him as Marcus wants yes people and I don't think PL is one of those.
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Bluespeed added 09:16 - Jan 6 The pressure on Evans to spend money on transfers has to come from us the supporters at the games, our voice was heard & acted on eventually with the MM saga NOW is the time to let the hierarchy of our dying club know how we feel, this can be done without being obscene or vile as we are known throughout football to have a good humoured following, so come on North Stand as it was in my day get those vocals going !!!

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martin587 added 09:51 - Jan 6 I have supported Ipswich for over 57 years and Very rarely missed a home or away game in my time and I can now honestly say with hand on heart this is the worst team I have ever witnessed to put on a blue and white shirt.It hurts me to say this and I'm sure there are many more who feel the same as me. From the top to the bottom this club is an utter shambles and Mr.Evans should be ashamed of himself and his staff for letting this happen to a once great club. The club has been slipping slowly for the last seven seasons and bringing in Hurst was the last straw.He totally single handily ruined the squad. It will take a monumentas a out of work and investment to claw this club back to where it deserves to be. I just hope we can hold onto Paul and he will receive the necessary support he deserves to try and salvage something from the rest of the season. I ask this question : does the owner not care anymore and does it concern him that we are on the brink of relegation and will loose millions in revenue which will mean he has to hand out even more money for us to servive as gates will drop advertising,sky tv and whatever else will disappear. I really dispare for the my club and cannot see any improvement on the horizon in the near future.I'm now dreading Saturdays match as I fear the toxic atmosphere could well return,something this club does not deserve. Well I've had my rant lads.

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Dissboyitfc added 09:58 - Jan 6 its gone from "all the guys are great, we just need a little help" to "the club needs rebuilding, some players will go" I am not Evans biggest fan nor am i his biggest critic but this rebuild is gonna be costly, has Evans got the stomach for it? probably not! Wonder how sheepshanks feels? Why does he keep on persisting with players like spence? Josh is better, could of got him back! words cant express my sadness!

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geminimustang added 10:30 - Jan 6 Please can somebody explain to me why everybody appears to want to keep PL? 0.55pts per game average,playing people out of position,playing people who consistently make game changing errors,playing tactics that supporters are struggling to understand,makes strange and puzzling substitutions often too late in the game.PL doesn't seem to understnd you need to create a defence before you can attack.I accept he took on a team of no-hopers but he knew that before he accepted the queens' shilling.I think he'll either walk or be sacked and i,for one,wouldn't be bothered.Cue the down arrows!

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SUPERBLUE59 added 10:45 - Jan 6 Looking at the bigger picture, we are 100 million in debt, we don't even own the ground, have been asset stripped of players of any value, I am not a Marcus Evans fan BUT without him we could be as good as finished within 3 years, playing in the Vanarama south league, when we get relegated to Div.1 because our wage bill is 115% of income (and thats championship income) we will contravene fair play regulation and will need to pay off players contracts or basically give them away. the club is of no interest to any prospective buyer. our only hope is for M.E. to stick with us and continue the bail out whatever. FFS get real!

1

IpswichT62OldBoy added 11:32 - Jan 6 Trying to make sense of this from MEs perspective, he is not an idiot and makes a lot of money. He seems uninterested in where the Club is but surprisingly we do seem to generate a regular income from developing young players and turning round previously unimpressive players, eg Murphy, Waghorn. Perhaps this keeps it ticking over from point of view, actually maybe done alright, Cresswell, Mings etc adds up to quite a lot. His failure to invest when near the play offs under Royale and M Mc doesn't make much sense otherwise. It is hard not to get emotional about this, Ipswich Town is so much more than the football club, it is the soul of Suffolk, something that unites us from Lakenheath to Lowestoft, Beccles to Bures.

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davidsc1971 added 11:39 - Jan 6 Sad days. But look at the positives - today's support was exceptional given the distance and (let's be honest) the likely chance of getting beaten - we're not down yet but will be if PL walks. So lets continue the fight as the 12th man and do our best to assist on a few wins. The table is only right on the last day of the season: In Lambert I trust. COYB. Evans out
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inghamspur added 11:49 - Jan 6 Hopefully that's the end for Spence, Knudsen, Chambers, Spence, Nolan, Edwards, Spence, Spence & Spence!! One thing I'm worried about next season is my seat in the BR upper ie will I lose it & have to go elsewhere as they'll close parts of the ground due to crowds dropping a la cup games?
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buryblue77 added 11:53 - Jan 6 @IpswichT62OldBoy ME wasn't the owner when Joe Royle was working his miracles, we had a similar lack of investment then under the final years of Sheepshanks, however the money wasn't there to invest and we'd been in administration and had to sell many of our assets such as Stewart, Holland, Bent etc for not a lot of money. Had Joe been allocated the sort of money Keane wasted I'm sure things could've been a lot different. It looks like Evans financial management to me (this is just my opinion, no fact in this at all) could be down to either one of two things. Firstly, Keane wasted the money so badly, Evans has had his fingers burned and doesn't want others wasting money, or more possibly, Evans may not be cash rich, and gave Keane what and all he could on a gamble that didn't pay off, now, apart from the money which is really just investment for cash flow, there just simply isn't enough money available for funding player purchases.

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IpswichT62OldBoy added 12:14 - Jan 6 Buryblle77, thanks, that view makes sense.
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coolcat added 12:52 - Jan 6 Well said Mr Lambert. Takes time to rebuild. He has to do emergency repairs first to get us out on the road. He said shortly after he came here and again recently, we have lost our identity as a club. We have acquired some absolute shockers. Refreshing how he speaks his mind. Really like the guy.
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dirtydingusmagee added 13:01 - Jan 6 well done footballmad, youve beaten Swn 's down mark record, you must be well chuffed .
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