Please log in or register. Registered visitors get fewer ads.
Lambert: Second Half Was Outstanding
Tuesday, 5th Nov 2019 22:54

Town boss Paul Lambert felt his side was outstanding in the second half as they beat Rochdale 1-0 at Spotland, Danny Rowe the scorer of the game’s only goal in the 53rd minute.

“I thought in the second half we were brilliant, I thought we were excellent, we controlled the game,” he said.

“In the first half I thought we were comfortable, we hit the post, we hit the bar, they had one or two little moments themselves, which they’re entitled to have. They’re a decent little side themselves.

“The pitch was getting heavy, we’ve come here at the right time in the season probably but the team in the second half was outstanding.”

The home side may have felt they shaded the first half and Lambert made a change at half-time switching Alan Judge from the left wing to the right and Rowe from right to left.

“We just spoke about what we could do better,” Lambert said when asked about the dressing room chat during the break.

“I made the tactical personnel switch at half-time because I knew that the wide areas could maybe give us a bit of joy and Danny coming in at the back was excellent. The control of the game in the second half was first class.”

Regarding Rowe’s first goal for the club, he said: “I think it was great for him because he’s played ever so well for us. When he went out with his ear infection it was a bitter blow for him and us but he’s come back and he’s exciting. He makes things happen, Danny, that’s what he does.”

The Blues boss also had praise for Rowe’s defensive qualities with Rochdale’s impressive 17-year-old right-back Luke Matheson less effective once the former Macclesfield man took over on his flank.

“He had Judgey in the first half and then Danny in the second and then Anthony [Georgiou] came on against him. Listen, the young kid’s a good player, that’s for sure.


“But my own team, the chemistry between the guys on and off the pitch, it’s good to watch them play.”

Rowe has been at Town since January 2017 but this year is the first time he has really been given a chance in the first team and Lambert says the Mancunian is making the most of his opportunity.

“Yes, I think him coming and then going on loan did him the world of good,” he reflected. “He’s an incredibly talented footballer Danny Rowe and it’s just a matter of trying to get the right substance to him for his game to improve.

“He’s a confidence player, there’s no doubt about it, the little lad’s a confidence player but what he’s done at the start of the season has been excellent for us.”

He says Rowe’s well-taken goal is the sort of thing which is worked on in training: “We always work on it anyway, lads coming in at the back post or coming across, which is important. It’s no more than he deserves because he’s been playing really well.”

The win is Town’s seventh on the road this season with the Blues now having taken 22 points from 27 when on their travels.

“We’re in a good moment, we’re in a good place, the club is in a really good place and, as I’ve said before, still building things to try and make it better,” Lambert continued.

“It’s a long, long way to go to where you want to get to but the chemistry between everybody, the support, the players is absolutely brilliant.”

Rochdale had one or two chances but centre-halves Luke Chambers and Luke Woolfenden repelled everything which was thrown at them and keeper Will Norris wasn’t overly stretched.

“As I said before, we’re never going to come to games and teams aren’t going to get chances, whether that’s from a corner or a freekick or a shot at the goal,” he said.

“But we defending strongly, Will’s not really had a save and in the second half we controlled the game.”

Gwion Edwards played the whole game at right-back, although Lambert says the Welshman wasn’t always in his mind to play that role.

“No, not really,” he admitted. “I’ve got a game on Saturday so I’ll look at that. There are lads back at the training ground that will play. It wasn’t something in my head, we spoke about and then decided to run with it.

“He was excellent, really good. You know exactly what you’re going to get with Gwion. There’s never a moment when I think I’m going to get anything other than a lad that’s full of energy and gives you everything he’s got. He’s a terrific lad to work with.”

Despite the victory, it was a comparatively frustrating night for strike pair Kayden Jackson and James Norwood with the latter picking up a booking for a petulant foul.

“You can’t curtail that, that’s what’s made him what he is today", Lambert said. “He’s a handful, no doubt about it, he’s a handful and I’m delighted with him because he came back from an operation not long ago, so his progress has been really, really good.”

Lambert was pleased to be able to call on Cole Skuse with the veteran midfielder having been a doubt with the groin injury he suffered at Southend.

“He trained during the week, last week,” he said. “Cole, like Gwion, you know exactly what you’re going to get, that’s the beauty of Cole.

“He’s unbelievably consistent the way he plays. As I’ve said before, I wish I’d had Cole when he was 26 or 27 but I don’t I have him at the wrong age but what he’s doing for me has been absolutely brilliant.”

The victory takes the Blues back to the top of the division but Lambert reiterated that he pays little attention to tables at this point in the campaign: “May, ask me in May, then we’ll see.”

Looking ahead to Saturday’s FA Cup at home to Lincoln, he says he’s not sure about the side he’ll field.

“I don’t know, I’ll wait and see,” he added. “Guys will play that have not been here. Guys who have not had minutes will play.

“We need everybody as I said before. We can’t play 46 games-plus with the same guys, it’s impossible. Whoever plays, I trust them to perform, I trust them to play. We’re in a good place.”


Photo: TWTD



Please report offensive, libellous or inappropriate posts by using the links provided.



Saxonblue74 added 23:09 - Nov 5
Winning? Yes. Top of the table? Yes. Outstanding? That really is stretching it!
2

OwainG1992 added 23:18 - Nov 5
How is the first comment tinged with negativity? He happy!
Our away from is tremendous so far!!
5

BartonBluee added 23:22 - Nov 5
Saxonblue74... cheer up you miserable so and so! It is outstanding, we are top of the league heading into November. It's certainly outstanding compared to last season. Great result tonight! COYB!
6

BurleysGloryDays added 23:27 - Nov 5
Will take that result all day long, brilliant stuff!

Well done boys, 3 points away on a Tuesday night to keep us right up there, and a second half where we weren't in too much trouble, control is exactly what we needed and had.

Outstanding, I agree.

COYB!
7

VanDusen added 23:37 - Nov 5
I really enjoyed that. Nothing better than a 1-0 away win despite the cold. Every game away in this league is a war of attrition, but we just seem to find a way to have edged most of them. That IS outstanding. Well done everyone!
6

Dozzells_Bobblehat added 23:58 - Nov 5
Professional was my take on the performance.
Fairly solid at the back , Chambers in particular in the closing stages.
I do like Garbutt, really hope we can secure him permanently. Rowe was busy with no end product first half but stepped it up second.
Quiet night for Nolan , Judge and Norwood.
Edwards did very well at right back and Jackson ran his socks off without any reward.
Ref was poor in general.
I didn't think they shaded the first half , I thought we deserved the win , I never felt threatened ,other than last few minutes when they were lumping everything into our box .
Another 1-0 away win. Well done all
6

ThaiBlue added 05:41 - Nov 6
Better yes,outstanding no.
4

delias_cheesy_flaps added 06:04 - Nov 6
When and if we do actually put in a cohesive and commanding 90 minute performance, where we can consistently string more than two passes together, then Lambo you can call it outstanding.

I'm getting cheesed off with the consistent over-egging of our performances by PL, this was in essence another lacklustre and at times, inept display for the majority of the match and against distinctly poor opposition, who in all honesty didn't look a million miles away from matching our so called "outstanding" performance!
4

barrystedmunds added 06:50 - Nov 6
Making a bid for their 17 year old right back would be outstanding!
2

Saxonblue74 added 07:01 - Nov 6
I'm certainly not miserable! I'm delighted with another away win and our position in November is something to celebrate. I'm simply being realistic! That performance was in my opinion worse than most toward the latter stages of last season! Like I've said before I love what Lambo has done for us but it hasn't fully translated onto the pitch yet and the spin is getting tedious!
6

Saxonblue74 added 07:03 - Nov 6
.......I said in a previous post prior to the game it would be tight, and I'd take a scrappy 1-0. We got it....I AM happy!😁😂
3

Dissboyitfc added 07:27 - Nov 6
Maybe, just maybe if he stopped the chopping and changing we would get that elusive 90 mins performance! I like Lambert, but i dont buy this too many games talk! Back in the day when fitness and medical care was virtually non-existent, players would play that amount and more! Hell they would even play two days running, Christmas day then the reverse fixture on boxing day!

I dont get it because the 2 oldest players, who should need the rest are the nailed on starters! It was better when we had the reserve leagues, players were ready to come in if required and the starting 11 were a settled 11.

We are top and like everyone else says we would have taken it before season started. but i have seen enough this season to know that if we go up we will struggle again!

WE need a settled team IMO for Improved cohesive performances!

Well done to the team for the 3 points! COYB's
9

tractorollson added 08:12 - Nov 6
We certainly werent outstanding, we are top and its these games that we need to pick these points up. The quality of football in this division is shocking, we need to get out of it quickly and bring a few players in that midfield.
2

TractorClarke added 08:15 - Nov 6
After what we had to witness last season I really cant understand how some people are not happy with what is going on with us this season.

Lambert has got a lot f the fan base back, we are playing better football despite some performances and better yet we are winning games and are top of the league.

The rotation policy in my eyes is absolutely required, the main reason is for the past few years most of our injuries happened during our training, and most of the time the injuries were pretty serious meaning that player would be out for a while. Other than the groin niggles etc I think you will find that the turn around and a bit more tlc at the club has meant that players are coming back and so far staying back.

Emyr Huws prime example just could get back to playing football, but with things done right and the training ground being sorted out he is back and able to play, all be it out of the team because of other players, and prob being a bit careful with him.

I also disagree with the opinion of going to struggle if we go back up, I think that's totally wrong. I would say, and I am not saying this is right or acceptable, but I think some of the performances are down to the teams we are playing.

We deserve to be where we are no doubt, last season, or event that last few years have not been acceptable, but when you are playing teams where the home attendance is not much more than we have away fans, its not exactly atmosphere football.

My thoughts if we go up are that we will strengthen because evans will have no choice, it is proven that with some good prospects mixed with good experienced players you can win games.

After the last 10 or so years of absolute rubbish fo rthe most part that we have had to put up with, seeing our club slowly descend to where we are now, just be a bit happier at the fact we are winning games and talents such as downes, woolfenden et al are coming through and looking really good, and this experience will only make them and the club better.

COYBS and stop the moaning its boring, its as if we have to have something wrong, that mentality is dead and buried, the future is bright and I for one am excited until proven otherwise.
5

TractorClarke added 08:19 - Nov 6
Also to add to my comment above, promotion teams are the ones that can win the ugly games, and it shows we have confidence as we have won 7 out of 9 away games this season.
2

martin587 added 08:55 - Nov 6
Dissboyitfc.
Spot on with your assessment I agree 100%.This league I believe is harder than many thought and being a big club we do have a target on our back so teams will up there game but having said that we are big enough to overcome this.
I feel confident we will get promoted this season but the gap between this and the championship is far bigger and we we need a much stronger team.
Having said that I'm very pleased with the way the season has gone so far.Also well done to us supporters at the game,we certainly make a big difference.👏👏
2

planetblue_2011 added 09:01 - Nov 6
I'll take that result any day another outstanding away performance 😂
Thing is people keep saying you haven't seen the best of us yet, can't wait to see even better performances from us. Top of the league Keep it up. COYB⚽️👏
2

BettyBlue added 09:56 - Nov 6
Is Paul Lambert really going to try and win promotion by playing the greatest number of players, the worst football and scoring the fewest number of goals?
-5

norfolkbluey added 12:01 - Nov 6
Get real BettyBlue.
One Premier player could buy the whole of our players on mass. We are getting out of this league with PL and that's what counts.
1

itfckenty added 12:31 - Nov 6
I think we're never going to please everyone and someone will always have a negative comment, but lets face it - it's a great improvement on last season and we seem to have much more confidence.

I do think we need when it comes to next season (if we are promoted) we will need something a little more to keep us up there, but in reality I can't see why we can contend next season with our current squad.

COYB.
1

Barty added 12:59 - Nov 6
Decent performance - especially second half . Hit woodwork twice so could have been a more comfortable win but we are back on top and I honestly think that the best of us is still to come. Only 3 teams have scored more goals than us so far in this division and we have conceded the fewest . The negative posts on this site are quite frankly unbelievable but I notice that whatever we do there are some that just have to criticise -yes your prerogative but ffs - we are top [ cant get any higher than that !!!!! ]
2

Bildestoned added 14:40 - Nov 6
This was a game where the frustration surrounding Andre Dozzell's performances was always at the back of my mind. Against Rochdale his ability could have been a game-changing, game-controlling feature but..... starting him seems a risk. I wish I knew the answer.
0

Saxonblue74 added 16:55 - Nov 6
Barty, there's a difference between negativity and reality! Every Town fan on here will be delighted with where we are right now but surely you can agree that despite results our performances of late have left a little to be desired?
2

Palestine added 17:26 - Nov 6
Great to get a win. But I really don't like to see PL throw out these superlatives when on the whole the performances are so disjointed and bad. In most games the opposition have the better chances, and if they could finish would have won. Whereas we can take the odd chance and can scrape a win. I also don't think they should do the holding hands armwaving thing until they actually play well.

COYB
2

Barty added 08:49 - Nov 7
Saxonblue74 - Fair point but as I said the best of us is still to come imo , and the reality is that we may not be playing at our best but we are still top .
1


You need to login in order to post your comments

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls

About Us Contact Us Terms & Conditions Privacy Cookies Advertising
© TWTD 1995-2024