Blues boss Paul Lambert hailed his team’s first half display as “absolutely brilliant” and felt that they would have beaten Sunderland but for the error which led to the Black Cats’ second-half equaliser as the game ended 1-1.

“The first half was absolutely brilliant - chance, chance, chance, the play was excellent, the atmosphere, everything was great,” he said.”

“We got the goal, thoroughly deserved the goal. There wasn’t one problem in the game, not one. And then we lose [a goal] to a mistake, a terrible mistake.”

He added: “We were excellent, we couldn’t complain the way we played the whole game, if we don’t make that error, we win the game.

“Sunderland never really hurt us or created many chances, I never felt threatened in it.”

Asked what he said to skipper Luke Chambers about his error which led to Lynden Gooch’s 64th-minute leveller, he said: “That probably remains in the dressing room. He knows himself what’s happened.”

Town looked to be denied a strong call for a penalty in the first half - in addition to a number of other less convincing shouts - when Kayden Jackson was felled in the box and to add insult to injury was booked for diving but the Blues manager admitted he wasn’t sure about the incident.

“I’d have to see it again,” he said. “I thought he was going to pull the trigger at that point, so I’d have to see it again.”

Overall, Lambert felt it was two points dropped: “Yes, but we were playing well, that’s the beauty of it, we were playing well. It’s not bad sometimes when you’re disappointed with a draw.”

Another point on the board disappointed we didn’t win and hopefully the injury isn’t to bad great support today again we go again next week against petterbrough @IpswichTown 🔵⚪️🙌

— Luke Garbutt (@luke_garbutt) August 10, 2019

Regarding Luke Garbutt, who was subbed after suffering a knock later in the first half having scored his second goal in two games, he added: “I don’t know how severe it is. I don’t know, it’s his knee, we’ll have to see what the results are. He’s playing really well, him. Two goals in two games is a really good start.”

Garbutt, already halfway to last his total of four goals last season, was replaced by Alan Judge, who Lambert says is still a little way off his best having played little football in pre-season after suffering a broken wrist while away with the Republic of Ireland in June.

“He’d only played 81 minutes [prior to today], he was on probably on a lot quicker than I anticipated. He would have started against Luton on Tuesday but I don’t know, we’ll have to wait and see.”

Lambert praised the Town impressive and vocal Blues support with the attendance of 24,041, the biggest crowd for a game other than an East Anglian derby since the Newcastle United match in April 2017.

“Unbelievable, what a support we’ve got," the Blues boss enthused. "You’ve seen that for a League One game. Absolutely brilliant, we have to keep that and hopefully they’ll keep coming back and watching that type of football.

“As I said before, it’ll be up and down because we’ve got a young side but, my God, we’ve got incredible energy, which is great. If we can keep that atmosphere, that’ll be brilliant. The fans were terrific.”

He added: “Those fans have been like that since we’ve been in. The stadium has been rocking a lot of times since we’ve been in. The fans have been brilliant.

“What you see is a result of what happened last year, the momentum’s built and built and built.

'I can only speak for what’s happened in the months I’ve been here and the support has been absolutely fantastic, we’ve sold more season tickets than last season, the fans are coming back and that’s the beauty about it.”

Sunderland manager Jack Ross was scathing about his team’s display before the break.

“The first half was a long way short of where we need to be, a long way short of what we need to do as a team and a long way short of what I would put my name to,” he said.

“Ultimately, it always comes back to me. There was a frank discussion at half-time because we were a goal behind to a team that did the fundamentals a lot better than us.

“They were aggressive, competitive, physical. That have them a platform to go and create and we were deservedly behind. But he felt his team was better after the restart: “Second half we do that and take something from the game.

“A lot to contemplate, first half is a long way off. The second half was a huge difference, it emphasises that you need to do the basics to show the quality you have. We’ve got players with quality but you need to do the basics.

“It’s not very often I’ve said that in my time here, we’ve been frustrated by results at times but there’s been very few times when I can be disappointed with the application. That was the case in first 45 but credit to them, they turned it around.”

Photo: TWTD

TimmyH added 19:12 - Aug 10 Get use to it...if you keep playing Chambers Mr Lambert the errors will keep coming, other than that played well 1st half and should have won!
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tractorollson added 19:29 - Aug 10 Time to grow a pair PL and drop your captain, we cant afford mistakes this season, i dont want 17 seasons in league one please!
7

Bluespeed added 19:35 - Aug 10 SCHOOL BOY ERROR CHAMBO AGAIN!!!!!!
4

WhoisJimmyJuan added 19:48 - Aug 10 Chambers is very professional in his attitude and conduct and doubtless a great influence on the youngsters. Club ambassador maybe. I'm afraid the simple truth is we need another defender to compete with Woolfy and Nsiala for first team places, then Wilson next in line, and I'm afraid Chambers next. Gives me no pleasure to say it, but I've seen Chambers poor far more often than good. And it is true to say he immediately looks to blame someone around him when he c0cks up. More generally, we need a permanent decent central defender signing. £1 million range, and a higher level young striker on loan. Donacien and Emmanuel should be encouraged to really stake a claim to the right back spot. Left side is sorted as long as Garbutt is ok. Kenlock decent t this level.

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WhoisJimmyJuan added 19:58 - Aug 10 In September 1979, Bobby Ferguson suggested to Sir Bobby that Eric Gates could play in just behind Brazil and Mariner. Sadly that spelled the end for the legendary Clive Woods. But Town went from bottom of the table to 3rd that season and the rat is history. Sometimes you have to make the tough decisions. But you can do it with humanity and respect.
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speccybaz added 20:04 - Aug 10 Yes, Chambers made a mistake, but Judge was the main reason that we lost the initiative and lost two points.
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SheptonMalletBlue added 20:14 - Aug 10 One of McCarthy's top boys. Get rid!!!!
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IpswichT62OldBoy added 20:14 - Aug 10 To me he sounds pxss d off with Chambo.
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IpswichT62OldBoy added 20:20 - Aug 10 And Judge was pants, nowhere near as good as he thinks he is, demanding the ball at free kicks and unableable to hit the penalty area from a free kick, his passing was negative. Hopefully this is just lack of match practice.
3

runningout added 20:40 - Aug 10 Create and score plenty with ruthlessness, the odd error can look after itself
4

DifferentGravy added 20:44 - Aug 10 Strikealite - For crying out loud. If its one game and several mistakes in that game, you accept its a bad nights sleep(or whatever) and forget. if its 3/4 mistakes over the season you completely understand its human nature to make the odd mistake. If its three games on the trot you forgive but expect the player to be dropped and pull his finger out......Now watch last seasons games and see how mistakes he made that led directly to goals. Im just a supporter and I dont trust him on the pitch. Irrespective if hes having a reasonably sound game, Im waiting for the mistake that will cost us......and it did. If thats how i (and many others) feel, how are players supposed to respect and trust him. Jeez

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HackneyBlue added 20:45 - Aug 10 Just grow some balls Mr Lambert,drop him and you will not be giving headlines like this every other week-SIMPLES
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Pilgrimblue added 21:40 - Aug 10 i'm not sure about Judge. He wants the ball all the time and runs all over he pitch but without any benefit to the team. It seems that he wants to boss the team but to what end! Wish he'd gone to QPR. He needs to start scoring and finding his place in the team otherwise others should be ahead of him.
1

BtreeBlueBlood added 22:13 - Aug 10 We need a cb and a striker for the season loan at least
0

prebbs007 added 00:11 - Aug 11 Chambers AGAIN !!!!!! Go away very very far away !
0

Trueblue123 added 00:39 - Aug 11 Good performance today, just a shame that one mistake cost us the game by chambers, you could tell for the rest of the game that he was just replaying it though his head, if only I had just played the ball out, if only I was stronger in that challenge that lead to the goal . . Think the game should have been put to bed first half. Worst thing was the injury which lead to judge being put on, not sure if it's just me but I feel he just upsets the balance of the team, we had no one on left field and he just seems to have a free play role in midfield which leaves us bare on the flank . . Crowe looked promising which I'm pleased to see and I think he has a big future with us . . Front two looked ok, couple of link up plays came together but never really threatened the target but give it time I think they might gel . . Woolfenden done well at the back, seen him before and always thought he looked calm and composed, goalkeeper holy I'm just not sure, looked dodgy at burton and today didn't give me great confidence, flaps quite a bit and just isn't a ‘bart', would like to see Norris play as I hear very good things about this keeper . . All in all we played a good first half, should have taken a couple more of our chances, one mistake lead to a goal but to be honest we outplayed the favourite for automatic promotion this year who if I was in a Sunderland's supporters shoes would be worried at their teams performance today who created nothing apart from our gift

0

eddiespearitt03 added 01:09 - Aug 11 The error was keeping players here who consistently let the team down on matchday. Evans has learned nothing from previous seasons.
4

jas0999 added 08:40 - Aug 11 Sadly these errors are just an extension of last seasons disasters. This was a school boy error, wouldn't even see it at Sunday League. We have failed to address the defence which is the most frustrating thing - it wasn't good enough against League One opposition last season. Wolf is the best of a poor bunch. Chambers shouldn't be playing. He's way past his best. Good servant to the club but costing it dear. Hope for a new signing this week.

6

Dissboyitfc added 08:49 - Aug 11 This season we have to be more ruthless, both on the terraces and on the pitch if we are to challenge for promotion. People saying that it is just one of things, are wrong! It's one of many, I would like to think that if Chambers is as blue as the rest of us and cares as much about town, he will stop playing and do his coaching badges! Maybe keep registered for emergency's. The team looked superb first half, I am sure yesterday felt like a loss to the players as well, and will deflate the players if he keeps happening! Drop him, now!!!

2

dirtydingusmagee added 10:13 - Aug 11 Bert ,with respect ,its all very well having a good game, and perhaps making a mistake,BUT Luke ''Bungle''Chambers , makes far too many now and that ''one'' mistake has cost us a lot of points in past year. Gone are the days when we could rely on him ,gone are the days when he would score the vital goal, giving his all and leading by example. Thats fact, not being mean to him . He has been a loyal player,but never been a skillful player, now his mistakes are too frequent and undoing any work put in by the rest of the team.We dont score enough goals that we can afford to concede any .

1

ArnieM added 10:21 - Aug 11 The worst player in the pitch for Town yesterday was “ show boater Judge”! Wish he'd have gone to QPR, because he's only interested in Judge!!
0

HorshamBlue added 11:00 - Aug 11 We were totally in control in the first half playing great football with the back four virtually redundant. But, in the second we had a player wide left midfield who wanted to play everywhere else but there and the team had no shape. Why not bring Wilson on at full back and move Kenlock to wide left midfield?
0

cat added 11:16 - Aug 11 Indeed it was 2 pts dropped Mr Lambo. Defensive mistakes like yesterday's are something that have to be eliminated. We live in an era where ‘well being' in the workplace is high on the agenda and it ain't good to single out 1 player to take all the flak, even if it is the captain,but these school boy errors are going to prove costly come what May. Big decisions now at the back, Chambers is highly regarded within the club and it's gonna take a big pair of Scottish nads to make the decision, but actions have to be taken. Nonetheless we have made a positive start, but it could have been better. Reading reports etc it's good to see ‘The Woolf' stepping up, one of our own and a big prospect for the future.

2

Bergholtblue added 11:41 - Aug 11 Yes Chambers made a huge mistake but his continual talking and organising Wolfendn ensured that the lad had an outstanding game. More worrying to me was that for all the endeavour, our two forwards failed to score for the second game running. They do not work as a team, neither knowing what the other is doing. I suppose much is due to Jackson, who admittedly harries and closes down and chases everything, is like a headless chicken at times. They even got into each others way at times. Getting these two on the training pitch and playing as a unit is a must, because Norwood looked a long way off being the 20+ goal striker we thought he was going to be when he came. Holy had virtually nothing to do all game but still managed to flap at the ball on a couple of occasions, my jury is still out on him.

0

karls_dad added 11:51 - Aug 11 Having now seen Chambers error! It, unbelievable that a player with so many years experience can do such a thing? We are one nil up, Sunderland are pressing but looking like they could play until midnight and still not score! What is wrong with the man? Is he thinking he is much better than he really is? The obvious answer was kick it into row Z! Anyone with half a brain would do that? Clear the danger and move on. Liability now i,m afraid and will cost us again!

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