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Lambert: One We've Got to Win
Friday, 1st Mar 2019 12:02

Town face 21st-placed Reading at Portman Road on Saturday chasing three vital points which could cut the gap to safety to six points plus goal difference.

The Blues remain bottom of the table with only 12 games left to play, currently nine points and a goal difference of 16 behind the Royals in the last spot outside the relegation zone.

Reading are ahead of Rotherham in 22nd, who they drew 1-1 with at the Madejski Stadium last week, by just a goal difference of five.

The Blues have still only won three games all season - just two at home - but are unbeaten in their last three matches, drawing each of those games 1-1. A bigger than usual Portman Road crowd is expected with Town running a ticket promotion at the match.

“If we win it’ll be great, it pulls everybody right back into the mire,” manager Paul Lambert said when asked about the importance of the game at his pre-match press conference. “The pleasing thing going into any game is that we’re playing well.

“I don’t have a problem with how we’re playing, sometimes you go into these games and everybody’s frightened to take the ball and there’s apprehension in the stadium.

“But the crowd are coming on Saturday and they’ll be absolutely jumping again. The atmosphere’s right behind us and there’ll be more than 20,000 people there.

“It’s going to be one helluva an atmosphere and everybody’s coming really vibrant and we’ll try everything we can to win.”

He added: “It’s one we’ve got to win really. If we can, it closes the gap to six points and puts us right in the fight."

Asked whether he has had to try to reduce the pressure on the players going into what is a crucial match in Town’s increasingly desperate attempt to escape the drop, Lambert said: “They’ve played with pressure all season. They’ve played with the pressure of being at the bottom of the table for most of the season.

“But it doesn’t show, that’s the beauty about them. Normally when you get a team at the bottom and it’s marooned and it’s only long ball, long ball, kick and rush football.

“But we certainly don’t do that, we try and play football and to be fair, they’ve been brilliant at it. They’ve been brave on the ball when they’ve had to and from the last three games we should at least have taken seven points out of nine in my opinion.”

Looking back at the 2-2 draw at the Madejski Stadium in November, Lambert, who will be serving the second game of his two-match touchline ban at the weekend, says the Blues really should have claimed all three points.

“I thought we should have been three-up at half-time,” he reflected. “If we’d walked out of that stadium with a win I don’t think anybody would have questioned it, I thought we were excellent for most of that game.

“We lost two poor goals but performance-wise it was really, really high. We should’ve taken more.”

Lambert admits that that’s been the story far too often since he took over as manager at the end of October.

“That’s where the frustration comes in because we have played really well in certain games and have walked away with nothing,” he added.

“That’s football at times but the performances have been really, really good in a lot of the games, we’ve just not got the just desserts we should have done.


“But that’s football, that's why the game is a great game. But if you keep doing what you're doing, you ultimately get your reward for it. As long as we don’t go away from what we’re doing.”

The Blues will go into Saturday’s game without in-form loan striker Will Keane, who will be out for a number of weeks with the hamstring injury he suffered at Wigan last week.

“We’ll still play the same way,” Lambert said when asked if Keane’s absence will make a difference to Town’s approach. “OK, the system might change but we’ll still try and play the level we play.”

With Jonas Knudsen suspended following his red card against the Latics, Lambert looks set to return to a back four on Saturday which would see skipper Luke Chambers joined by wither James Collins - who the Blues boss has said is close to a return after his hamstring problem - or Matthew Pennington.

James Bree, who caused Wigan innumerable problems going forward from right wing-back prior to Knudsen’s red card last week, will be at right-back with Myles Kenlock at left-back. Bartosz Bialkowski will continue in goal.

In midfield, the Town manager could bring back Cole Skuse in his regular deeper-lying role with two of Teddy Bishop, Trevoh Chalobah, Jon Nolan and Flynn Downes ahead of him.

Alan Judge is likely to be in his now familiar role ahead of the midfield and behind strike pair Collin Quaner and Kayden Jackson, currently the Blues only two fit senior frontmen.

Reading’s Portuguese boss Jose Gomes, who has led his side to only two wins in 11 Championship games since taking over from Paul Clement in December, says he believes Town have changed their approach in recent matches.

“The Championship is a really balanced league. All the teams can beat all the teams. You cannot say a team will win 100 per cent for sure,” he told the GetReading.

“We are expecting the best Ipswich side. They started the season playing really good football.

“In the last four games they have been playing a different style and have shown they are able to play direct football.

“This change is probably due to the points they didn't get. They've changed a lot in their past four games - their system, their philosophy - but we can't forget they started the season playing with a passing game.

“Now they are showing a different style of football. But the players haven't forgotten what they were playing so they can play both styles.

“They have quality players but sometimes winning and losing is down to such a small distance. Small details can make a difference.

“We are expecting the biggest and strongest Ipswich team and we are prepare to explore the weak points we have found in them.”

Gomes, who was inspired to manage in England by watching Sir Bobby Robson coaching FC Porto as a youngster, is confident his team, who have won one in their last seven and only once away all season at Preston in September, can avoid the drop into League One: “Each week that passes I am more convinced and secure we will get what we want.

“There is a very positive environment around the players, the intensity in training, the happiness you can feel in everything they do.

“All these are positive signs for games. We just need to be there, to arrive on Saturday, and play our game. It doesn’t matter we are away."

The Royals will be without midfielder Andy Rinomhota, who has an ankle injury, while Saeid Ezatolahi has had a quad problem. Sam Baldock (thigh), Anssi Jaakkola (achilles) and Jordan Obita (knee) are all longer-term absentees.

Town have just about had the better of the Royals historically, winning 26 times (25 in the league), drawing 11 (11) and losing 23 (23).

At the Madejski Stadium in November, Yakou Meite’s header six minutes from time prevented the Blues from claiming the first win of the Paul Lambert era as Town and Reading drew 2-2.

Gwion Edwards volleyed the Blues in front on five as the game got off to a frenetic start, Meite levelled with his first of the afternoon for the home side two minutes later before Sears restored Town’s lead on 11.

Reading improved after the break with Meite sealing a share of the spoils on 84 with his second of the game.

Last time at Portman Road in December 2017, first-half goals from Callum Connolly and Joe Garner saw Town to what in the end was a comfortable 2-0 victory over Reading.

Connolly’s low shot gave the Blues the lead in the third minute, then Garner headed the second on 27.

Reading midfielder John Swift had a trial with Town in November 2014 when a Chelsea player.

Like Swift, Dutch midfielder Van den Berg, who is on loan back home with NEC Nijmegen, similarly spent time on trial with the Blues, in September 2006 following his release by Heerenveen.

In April last year, Royals boss Gomes said his representatives were in "early negotiations" with the Blues regarding the Town manager’s job following Mick McCarthy’s departure.

Reading's former Colchester United keeper Sam Walker is lifelong Town fan who was a season ticket-holder when a youngster.

Saturday’s referee is Darren England from South Yorkshire, who has shown 114 yellow cards and five red in 30 games so far this season.

His last Town match was the 2-0 defeat at Blackburn in which he yellow-carded Chambers and one home player and also awarded Rovers a penalty after Callum Elder had hauled down Adam Armstrong.

Prior to that he was in charge of the 2-1 defeat at Nottingham Forest last April in which he booked Grant Ward and one home player.

England, who is in his third season as a Championship official, also took charge of the 1-0 defeat at Bristol City a month earlier, in which he booked Knudsen and one Robin, and the 2-0 win at Sunderland a month prior to that, in which he cautioned Garner and one Black Cat.

Squad from: Bialkowski, Gerken, Bree, Emmanuel, Spence, Kenlock, Pennington, Collins, Chambers (c), Nsiala, Skuse, Chalobah, Downes, Dozzell, Nolan, Bishop, Edwards, Dawkins, Judge, Quaner, Jackson.


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Karlosfandangal added 12:32 - Mar 1
A win will only prolong the pain, we need to be looking at only 3 points from safety and this game getting us out the bottom 3.

With Leeds and Sheff U WBA and Bristol to come it is faint hope we will stay up as we are not going to score loads of goals and are defence is poor.

Having said that the team are playing some good football and with the young lads looking good, if we can keep hold of them then next season in League one holds no fears and will only put them in good stead for our return to the Championship

3

midastouch added 12:33 - Mar 1
Can't wait! Big opportunity for either Quaner or Jackson to make a name for themselves tomorrow. It's win or bust time!
2

rossi added 12:41 - Mar 1
Why do you - in your previews - always assume that Skuse will play? You were wrong last week, and I suspect you will be wrong again this week. We have better options in midfield.
5

Bluearmy_81 added 13:25 - Mar 1
The Blues have still only won three games all season - just two at home

#Evansshame
2

ChrisFelix added 13:29 - Mar 1
I agree Rossi, Skuse may have been a proper bloke but we ain't going to win games with him in midfield. Our midfield is so much more fluid with him on the bench.
I also don't think our defence will stop conceding until we see the end of Chambers as well
7

inghamspur added 13:45 - Mar 1
7 points behind with a win with our shocking goal difference - so still at least 3 more wins than currently Reading over the next 12 games.
1

ITFCsince73 added 13:46 - Mar 1
Chris felix. That day cant come soon enough imo.
3

tractorboybig added 14:10 - Mar 1
well paul..stop talking a good game just get a result?????
2

goat_man added 14:48 - Mar 1
Well said Chris Felix, and actually, just imagine how much better our midfield may have looked over the last 5 years without Cole Skuse shackling it all the time.
3

Carberry added 14:53 - Mar 1
Weird isn't it that opposition manager informs us we have been playing a different, more direct style for the last 4 games and our own can't. Personally I'm really getting tired of the same old stuff being peddled by Lambert, which is very similar to McCarthy. Look at me, look at what I've done, don't mess with me and I always go out to win. A bit of honesty, enlightenment and transparency would be nice but there again that needs to come from the very top too and there's no hope of that.
-1

bluemike1969 added 15:05 - Mar 1
Its a shame we don't have the same fighting spirit we had in May 2000 when Big Jim scored against Bolton in the 2nd leg of the play off semi. The crowd was rocking, the team were up for any fight and even when we were losing we ALL felt we couldn't lose in the end. At that time we had a manager that bled blue blood and we had a team that played for each other.
Now, its disjointed, heads go down at the first goal against and we have players that are just happy to show up and pick up their pay advice slip. Its all very well listening to "we have to win" from the manager, off course we do but we have been hearing this since he turned up. Face it we are down and no amount of sugar coating can prevent this. It will be a lack lusture performance because they don't care, and please don't tell me otherwise because we all know its not true. We are a total disgrace and a laughing stock. I have followed the town (up or down) for 44 years and I am disgusted with the so called performances this season.
Is P.L the man to take us back up? Not on this seasons performances (since November) and although I agree with my fellow supporters about M.E and his lack of funding, I think it could and should have been so much better than it has been. Very little to cheer about other than the admirable support from the crowd willing the team on. Do the team deserve this support, I think not.Reading will be up for it so much more than us and at the very most, we may scrape a draw. Prove me wrong Town!!!
3

Scottie9 added 15:17 - Mar 1
A must win game tomorrow, it's down to the wire now. We've had a lot of must win games this season but this one is crucial if we have any hope of survival. We've had quite a few games this season where we've let a winning position slip so it's up to our players to try and get an early goal then go and get another, wherever that may come from. The players must look at Reading's away record and believe we stand a good chance of coming away from tomorrow's game with a win. Hopefully Quaner and/or Jackson can step up and poach a goal. I don't care how we win, we just need goals from somewhere and not to concede early on. COYBs, I believe in you.
1

OliveR16 added 15:58 - Mar 1
Arrrgggh! Did I just read 'a must win game'? If so, please accept that if we (when we) don't win you promise not to use this nonsense cliche until next season? Thanks.
We have 12 games left. If we average 2 points per game (e.g. 6 wins 6 draws) we will get a total that would only have kept us up once in the last four seasons. We really need 30 points more (lol) which means 10 wins out of 12. Now I'm off to take my unicorn for a walk.
2

dirtydingusmagee added 16:25 - Mar 1
Dont get me wrong , im on board with PL, BUT lets get real we may just beat Reading, wouldnt put my shirt on it, and if by some chance we manage to scrape 3 points, we will still lose most remaining games,thats how it is now, the nitty gritty is we down ,no where near good enough for Championship now. People will defend Evans.. ,each to their own opinion , i personally believe Evans has been bringing this situation on for years, its just now ,too late ,people will realise,it . Lge 1 NEXT SEASON, and get used to it ,it could be a long a stay
2

Northstandveteran added 16:35 - Mar 1
Excellent post Bluemike

Couldn't agree more.

Yes what a game.

That was what supporting Ipswich was all about!
2

Kirbmeister added 17:00 - Mar 1
Whatever happens tomorrow we were dead and buried before PL even took over. Forgot the thought of staying up, it just isn't going to happen.
2

warktheline added 17:30 - Mar 1
Are there still some foolish enough to have faint hope of Championship football next season! Mind boggling !
2

ITFCsince73 added 19:03 - Mar 1
When you have 2 players such as Skuse and Chambers. The 2 godfathers of the club with so much clout and influence,it must be difficult for PL. The 2 most senior influential players at the club can only play 1 way, they only know 1 style. Until these 2 have left the club, it will never move on.
Deadwood is a understatement.
4

herfie added 22:07 - Mar 1
Although it's part and parcel of the game, and given that managers and players have to display public optimism, I think most of us recognise reality in terms of players' quality and ability, and have accepted that relegation is all but inevitable. The reasons for which have been discussed extensively. So let's beat Reading tomorrow and just enjoy the feeling of a pretty rare victory - and let it be part of next season's journey to recovery.
2

Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 08:06 - Mar 2
If players like Keane and Judge get better offers, I expect they will be off, leaving us with just the yoofs. That's great in one way, but it may not be enough.
1

bluemike1969 added 08:22 - Mar 2
Many thanks Northstandveteran but apparently RRanger doesn't agree with me on it! Perhaps he wasn't privileged to go to what I would call the best overall game I have ever seen at PR. Perhaps he didn't see (as I did) the Bolton fans next to us congering in the aisles saying they were going to Wembley and they had beaten us again. Jim had passion, the whole team had passion and they fed off the crowd of 28k willing the ball into the net. It still sends shivers down my spine when I replay this on YouTube and watch back the DVD of the semis and the final.
3

Northstandveteran added 08:51 - Mar 2
It was also your assessment of the current team that I also agreed with Bluemike.

A mismatched bunch of individuals with no desire to fight for the shirt.

They certainly aren't playing as a team, as a unit.

I started supporting Ipswich as an 8 year old in the early 80's. It was soon apparent following relegation that they weren't a Manchester utd or a Liverpool but they were always an exciting team pushing for promotion.

The team Lyall put together on a shoestring that won promotion were a joy to watch. That day we won promotion at Oxford as a young teen will be engraved in my memory forever. Especially Lyall coming out, seeing the town fans run towards him then legging it back down the tunnel 😂.

I know my posts are becoming increasingly negative but this situation is awful.

We as Ipswich fans should expect nothing less than instant promotion next year.

Not only will this not happen but many on here are already in acceptance of this.

Sad sad times for this once iconic club.
5

bluemike1969 added 09:02 - Mar 2
Couldn't agree with you more Northstandveteran. Yes, I remember that year when we became one of the 'original' premier league teams. Neil Thompson's free kicks and the goals from 'fox in the box' Chris Kiwomya! Craig Forrest in goal and so many more unsung heroes including Steve Whitton and John Walk (again). I don't think we as town supporters are asking too much of our team. It just seems to me like there is no desire to work together. Too many so called professionals trying to 'showcase', their own talent as they are on loan and not worried what happens to the team as a whole. And don't get me started on Cole Excuse, Luke Chambers and calamity Knudsen
3

Northstandveteran added 09:28 - Mar 2
Billy the fish, shakey Milton, craigy show us your bum ( I got his glove that day ) kiwomya my lord, Warky putting his face in Palmers giving him the full hairdryer for bottling a challenge in front of the north stand!
One of the many teams I have had the pleasure of watching over the years.
Teams that you wanted to watch!
I hope Lambert turns it around next season. I know these aren't his players and the loans/signings he has had to bring in are not his first choices but so far not been impressed.
Perhaps that's a little harsh but I just want to support a club and a team that I am proud of.
2

ITFCsince73 added 10:17 - Mar 2
Thanks for the memories Bluemike and Northstandveteran.
They were all great times to be a town fan.
On the Lyall promotion season, I have great memories of the last home game of the season v Brighton. And the 5000 plus on the pitch at the end of the game. Dozzell on the shoulders of a friend of mine.
It certainly makes the majority of the MM era and of course this season look so depressing.
I'm sure better times are around the corner.
2


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