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Lambert: I Said We'd Have Bumps and Bruises Along the Way
Wednesday, 23rd Oct 2019 23:07

Blues boss Paul Lambert was disappointed with his team’s second 2-0 reverse in four days, Rotherham United having left Portman Road with all three points following the loss at Accrington, but was keen that the defeats shouldn’t be overplayed having anticipated “bumps and bruises” somewhere along the line and with Town second on goal difference with a game in hand on new leaders Peterborough.

“We started well, had a couple of chances to go one or two up, but then they hit us with a sucker punch and from thereon I think we kind of fell short,” Lambert said, reflecting on the 2-0 loss to the Millers.

“But that happens in football. I’m happy with the team, they way they’re going, but disappointed with the last two games.

“I said before, we will have bumps and bruises along the way, but we’re still up there. It’s not what happens now, it’s what happens in May, that’s the main thing.”

Asked whether he was concerned not to have got a reaction to Sunday’s defeat at Accrington, Lambert responded: “Hang on a minute, how many games have we played? Thirteen, we have won the majority of them.

“We’ve been beaten twice. If you’re sitting where you’re sitting, feeling doom and gloom about it, then my God, we’ve got a major problem.

“I’m really happy with the team. Pressure is when you don’t have a job, you’re not working. You’ve got the greatest job in the world, I’m really happy with the guys, we’re in a really good place, I’ve got some really good players, I don’t have one problem with the football club and the team. It’s going really well.

“We’re a big club, with an expectancy level which a lot of clubs don’t have in this league. So I’m not going to be all doom and gloom.

“Disappointed to lose, yes. Disappointed for everybody but we’re well in it and football is a great game, it can take you to great heights but we’re well in the mix and will be.”

There were a few moans and groans around the ground during the match and some muted boos at the end, but Lambert felt they shouldn’t be overstated.


“You’re way off scale off here,” he insisted. “The crowd are brilliant, and they have been brilliant since I’ve been here.

“I’ll never criticise Ipswich supporters, they’ve been brilliant. They come in their thousands, 20,000 whatever it was tonight and they pay a lot of money to come.

“They want to have a good time and enjoy themselves with their families and everyone. We try and give them everything we’ve got to try and win a game but we won’t win every game. That’s normal in football.

“As I said before, if you can give me one guy who has never lost a football game, then I’d love to meet him. This is a brilliant club and it’s going the right way, for sure.”

Why did he feel his team struggled to make an impact having gone behind in the 11th minute, despite having started positively? “Credit to Rotherham, they played a good game, they were strong, resolute and limited us to not so many chances.

“You’ve got to give them credit for the way they’ve played. But my own team, I can’t fault them. OK, the last two games we lost, but we’re still sitting in a really good place.

“It’s not now you have to worry, it’s May. The start has given this position and we have to go and win on Saturday.”

Regarding the fitness of some of those who started, he added: “Will Keane is obviously coming back, Emyr Huws as well, two lads that have been coming back that have been out for a long time but are doing really, really well.

“James Norwood coming back from his operation is a good sign. Flynn Downes could possibly have played but I didn’t want to take a risk with him.

“James Wilson’s come back. Kane Vincent-Young, that’s his first game in three weeks, so he’s not really done much. They’ll be better for it, that’s for sure.”

Lambert is now looking for his team to bounce back at Southend on Saturday: “That’s it, you can’t be too critical of the team, they’ve been playing at a really high standard and at a really high level. The club’s going really well but you will get bumps and bruises along the way. I’ve had them before and I’ll certainly have them again.”

Millers boss Paul Warne said Town’s change of system caught him out and caused him to have a rethink. Asked whether that switch was in part to give the Rotherham manager something to think about, he said: “Yeah, I just try and pick a team that’s going to try and win a game and the personnel, I’ve got no problem, they adjust to it and they adapt to it and they give me everything they’ve got.

“That’s all I can ask, is that they give me everything. I’m really happy with the team. Two games we’ve lost back to back but that’s certainly not a crisis, that’s for sure.”

He admits the swift change from a long unbeaten run to two defeats on the trot is a test of his players’ mettle.

“Yes, but as I said before, there were 20,000 people here, it’s a big club, that’s what it is,” he said. “They play under that scrutiny all the time, but that’s what happens when you play for a big club, the actual feeling that the club has got is great.

“The test for the lads, OK, we’ve lost two, now it stops. We have to kick on and try and get another run going. But we’re going to be there or thereabouts, that’s for sure.”

Rotherham manager Paul Warne felt his team played as well as they have away from home this season, although admitted he was wrong-footed by Town’s system switch.

“I thought they were going to play like they have been playing, 3-5-2 really, so when the team came out that caused massive problems for us,” he said.

“Then after a few minutes it looked like it was more like a 4-2-2-2, which again caused us problems.

“I thought we conceded a penalty [when Danny Rowe looked to be fouled]. From where I was stood it looked like a penalty, I don’t know whether it was.

“But from my angle, and my angle was full of anxiety, you always think the worst. But then, after the first 10 minutes, I thought we played quite well and caused a lot of problems.”


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MVBlue added 23:16 - Oct 23
Better pull your finger out Paul. True, very level headed of you to point out May is the time to worry about consecutive defeats. But now it stops.
3

ArnieM added 23:22 - Oct 23
Play a settled team and stop postponing bloody games . Continuity gets lost ! And it shows!
16

algarvefan added 23:25 - Oct 23
I have not seen so many of our players have a bad game in one match before tonight, it happens, move on.
Having said that our song could have been 'strangers in the night' tonight. Stop all the rotation changes Paul and play 4-4-2 and the players will get used to each other and the system.
1

Pezzer added 23:27 - Oct 23
Bobby Robson and George Burley would never play rotation. Get your best 11 and stick to a winning formation in this league!!!
8

Carberry added 23:58 - Oct 23
What happened to bouncing back Paul, you told us you always do that. My BS meter has gone into overdrive, I'm really, really, really happy with the team, the club, the crowd and of course myself. Never seen so many unconnected statements, gibberish. And by the way it is what you do now, no good leaving it until May. Maybe 2 defeats aren't the end of the world but can the manager stop treating us like morons who hang on his every word, continuing to spout the same self serving claptrap every week. We can see through it.
8

shakytown added 00:47 - Oct 24
Spot on Arnie.
0

peaky69 added 01:25 - Oct 24
Long, long away from panic stations, agreed. In fact still ahead of any mark you could fathom to gain automatic promotion, let alone a play-off spot.

Having said that, if we only start worrying in May it is too late. Let's see where we are in January and assess from there.
3

pennblue added 06:27 - Oct 24
Last 2 games we lost because the other teams wanted it more.
2

OwainG1992 added 06:33 - Oct 24
We are still in a tremendous position which we would have gladly taken at the start of the season.
That being said we HAVE to beat Southend on Saturday and could do with a solid win by 2 or 3.
A nervy 1-0 wouldn't be ideal.
4

Saxonblue74 added 06:35 - Oct 24
Posh putting 4 past a team with a goalkeeper who didn't make a save against us 3 days prior, haven't done my research but guessing they have a pretty settled starting 11?
1

Cakeman added 06:55 - Oct 24
We all want the best for our club but we must look at the proverbial glass as being half full not half empty. Paul Lambert says the right things and long may it continue. We all have different opinions and views on who should be playing and in what formation. That's the beauty of the game but we must let our Manager do what he believes to be the right thing and support him with it.
Every team will have a sticky patch but good teams always quickly get through it.
Hopefully when all our players are back to being as near as possible to 100% fit then we will be fine.
0

speccybaz added 06:56 - Oct 24
Let us play and we're probably better than most teams in this league. But Rotherham didn't let us play. They made it difficult by closing us down and winning everything in the air - often unchallenged. We need to address, adapt and overcome this as there are probably a number of Rotherhams to come. 3-5-2 may be the answer???
2

Knightsy added 07:11 - Oct 24
I agree with some of callers that was on Radio Suffolk last night, there's some arrogance at the Club that was that was shown last night, in some of the places player, and the Manager, thinking we was going to win before kick off. Welcome to League One, some of the Fans think we've won the league in October, that doesn't happen, wake up, last night for the 2nd time in 2 games we actually do look like a league one side. Hopefully we'll be thereabouts in May.
2

Nobbysnuts added 07:51 - Oct 24
Come on paul who are you kidding? 2-0 accrington 2-0 rotherham?? Absolute garbage. We should not be losing these games. No way I'm not accepting it.
5

Only_1_MarcusStewart added 07:53 - Oct 24
Well I'm still looking forward to Southend, only problem is, no tickets! Anyone got a spare? Otherwise I'm going to look like a ticket tout asking people at train stations and pubs :-D Help!
1

brendenward35 added 09:08 - Oct 24
Like I said on the chat last night rotating the squad is no good as players need to bond so they know what there doing. Proved the case several times last night with players falling over each other. Why leave Georgio on the bench all game should be starting. Rotherham well and truly out muscled us last night they won 65% of the headers but the team continued to hoof it up get the ball on the ground the only way we were going to score.
1

tractorollson added 09:39 - Oct 24
We dont have a strong squad, we have about 7 or 8 fairly good players, we need a settled side. People like Rowe shouldnt be in the firs team, we are missing experience in our midfield and centre backs put Wilson and Woolfenden there and leave them there. Judge needs to be in the side we need his experience.
1

BlueySwede added 09:51 - Oct 24
No crisis, but a little worrying that some things are resurfacing from last season, inability to create chances (we are lacking a striker or two in my opinion) and letting in soft goals. I love Lambert and what he has contributed to the club, but I feel that sometimes he gets the system and choice of personnel wrong. Yesterday was an okayish lineup and formation (needed more width though), but Sunday was a prime example of a line up where I think most supporters felt it was the wrong one from the start. Not sure about the rotation policy, like Mick Mills said last night, it can be hard to get partnerships and understandings all over the pitch if there is constant chopping and changing. Another thing, that has been evident all season, when it comes to winning headers we are often second best, so to get ANYTHING out of those situations we need to win second balls.
Let´s get back on track on Saturday! COYB!
2

Churchmansforever added 10:00 - Oct 24
Carbon copy of Accrington match really. We are not the most physical team, and looks like when we come against big strong sides who shut us down and stop us playing down the flanks, we do not have a good answer to it. We need to find the answer, because that is what is going to crop up right through the season. We are still lightweight up front, and worryingly look a bit jittery at the back now. Rotherham could have had several more goals last night. We need more of a physical presence and somebody who can get on the end of high balls in their box. COYB.
1

herfie added 10:14 - Oct 24
Simple truth is that for two successive games we were incapable of dealing with the type of physical, direct and effective League 1 standard football played by AS and Rotherham. We may have technically superior individuals, they had far stronger, more cohesive, teams.

The immediate challenge for PL is to conduct an honest review of his team set up and tactics, then decide what his strongest starting 11 is, then stick by both decisions from here on In. Would suggest, at this level, and given what we have just experienced with much of the same to come, he reverts to 4-4-2. Simple, high intensity, maximum off the ball movement, football designed to create chances. Not the tepid, we can outplay you, approach that's clearly been well sussed by opposition managers. COYB!
0

TractorClarke added 10:30 - Oct 24
From start to finish everytime an Ipswich player got the ball, 1 or 2 Rotherham players were on him to win the ball back, we also didn't not get any of the second balls all game.

I saw the starting lineup before the game and the formation, and I wont lie I was happy with it, but what was quickly evident is the lack of width we played with. When Rotherham are in your face all game you need some pacy wingers able to beat a player and put balls into the box, this didn't really happen at all entire game.

I am with those supporting 4-4-2, get some width, get norwood back up top with Jackson, and hopefully have downes back in midfield, someone who will go box to box all game.

I don't want to panic but the last two games have shown us to be the Ipswich of last season, and that concerns me, I don't want to feel that we have been sold a lie fo the star of the season which I am sure we can all agree has been very very good considering where we had come from.
3

planetblue_2011 added 10:36 - Oct 24
Yes we will loose games this season but it's just the way we have lost the last 2 games.
We were awful Sunday & last night is an understatement of that. We were top, come on show us the passion & fight of a top of the table team. The last 2 games it hasn't been there at all, it's got to change against Southend or there is gonna be a problem.
Just get back to how we were playing hard to beat & hard to break down. We should see us getting results again!!
We can do this COYB👍🏻
1

Lightningboy added 10:44 - Oct 24
As has been said above (and we all know hindsight is a great thing) but we should've just played during the international break & kept the momentum going..we've mossed key players anyway so it really didn't make sense to me to postpone.

Other than that,fantastic turn out again last night and still lots to be happy & hopeful about.

Stick by the team & manager 💙
0

Pilgrimblue added 12:10 - Oct 24
Ok we're joint top with game in hand but hardly convincing PL!
We're struggling against tall physical sides that just love to see Holy punting highballs that are dealt with so easily and enable them to put pressure on our over worked defence. What's the point of 20 players crowding on one side of half way, the tall guys win every time!! For goodness sake PL get back to passing out and building up attacks from out wide or through the midfield.
Both Downed and Woofly must play this Saturday and have two strikers receiving balls on the deck plus have width to get some crosses over for out two best forwards
0

ChrisFelix added 12:41 - Oct 24
Before Sundays game although winning we were not playing well. But we where getting the rub of the green plus a few pro rather anti referees.
In the last 2 games against big physical sides that good fortune has deserted us.The first goal in both games was crucial, as was the first bad tackle (on Vincent Young) which could have resulted in a red card. Watching the game Rotherham looked unbeatable with their massive defenders blocking everything. We do have the squad but similar to the Robson days even good teams have off days.You cant win them all
1


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