Please log in or register. Registered visitors get fewer ads.
Garbutt: We've Got to Dust Ourselves Down Ahead of Massive Game
Wednesday, 11th Dec 2019 09:51

Left-back Luke Garbutt says he and his team-mates have to dust themselves down and put last night’s disappointing FA Cup exit to Coventry City behind them when fifth-placed Bristol Rovers visit Portman Road for what he believes is a “massive game” on Saturday afternoon.

Garbutt came on as a half-time sub and netted Town’s late goal, his fifth of the season, as the Blues staged a late fightback against the Sky Blues but were ultimately unable to find an equaliser.

After the match, manager Paul Lambert pulled no punches in his assessment of the performance, which he said was the worst since he has been at the club.

But Garbutt says the display shouldn’t be taken in isolation with Town not having had too many similar evenings so far this season.

“Obviously we want to go into every game to win, but we’ve got to look at the bigger picture. We’ve not had too many bad days,” the on-loan Everton man said.

“The priority is this league, it’s a massive game on Saturday and we want to get back to winning ways.

“I think the lads have got to just dust ourselves down and be in a positive frame of mind going into the game. OK, we didn’t play well today, we’ve just got to put that behind us.


“Most of the time this season we’ve played well and got the result we wanted, so I wouldn’t be too downbeat but obviously it’s disappointing to go out of the cup.”

Reflecting on his goal and Town’s late push for a leveller, the 26-year-old admitted that would have been harsh on the Sky Blues, who had been the better side, particularly in the first half.

“We would have liked to have converted Judgey’s chance at the end, whether we would have deserved it is another matter, but football’s a weird game and sometimes you get things you don’t deserve,” he reflected.

“I think, on the whole, we just ned to regroup, the mentality is key going into the game on Saturday and trying to get the three points.”

He added: “We’ll probably have a meeting over the next couple of days, we’ll talk about a few things and obviously try and eliminate the things we’ve done badly tonight and go into that game with a full mindset of wanting to win and play well, of dominating the game and playing on the front foot, getting the crowd going.

“All the things that we’ve been doing most of the season, getting back to that type of style of football, which I’m absolutely confident we're going to do. We just need to forget about this game and move on.”

Having had a stop-start spell where there have been more FA Cup and Leasing.com Trophy matches than league games, the Blues, second behind leaders Wycombe by four points with a game in hand, now going into an uninterrupted run of five back-to-back League One fixtures.

“That’s football, that’s the Football League, it’s relentless,” Garbutt continued. “We’ve obviously had a couple of international breaks and we’re starting to catch up with all the games. If we can string a few really good results together that’s going to push us into a great, great position.

“We’re already in a good position as it is, so for me personally I will be saying to the lads that we don’t want to take this to heart too much.

“Obviously we don’t want to lose football matches and we don’t want to go out of the cup, but the league is our priority and we want to get out of this league and we want to play Championship football next year.

“The changing room tonight is obviously very down and that’s going to be the case because we didn’t play well, we didn’t really get a foothold in the game at any point, so it’s disappointing, but the overall picture of the season is looking really positive and we’ve just got to keep going.”

There were muted boos at half-time on Tuesday night and sarcastic cheering of a rare second-half shot on target but Garbutt expects the crowd to get behind their team on Saturday.

“The support’s been magnificent all season, in the league, and the away following’s been brilliant,” he said. “We’ve just got to keep that going, get the crowd onside, which I’m sure we will do, and play on the front foot and be positive.”


Photo: TWTD



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



Suffolkboy added 10:25 - Dec 11
Right on the nail !
COYB
2

Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 11:03 - Dec 11
Garbutt didn't let us down - unlike many of his team mates. But if we beat BR on Saturday, all will be forgiven.
2

SamWhiteUK added 11:20 - Dec 11
Garbutt is one shining light in what, at times, can look like a totally average pile of dross. If he continues the way he is, he will be able to hold his head up high at the end of the season no matter the outcome. Would love to be able to sign him on a permanent deal.
8

Nobbysnuts added 12:00 - Dec 11
Has Lambert lost the dressing room????
0

midastouch added 12:23 - Dec 11
Downes is a must, we've not done very well overall without him in the team. No blame attached to Garbutt last night given he only the played the second half (and scored) so he was arguably the only one that could walk off the pitch with head still held high.
I thought Norwood and Judge would be very effective at this level but I'm starting to have a few doubts! Judge admitted himself he's been well below par this season. It was good to see him score the winner against Lincoln and I was hoping it would give him a boost and we'd be seeing more of that but he's not exactly setting the league alight. And neither is Norwood. He started the season brightly. The groin / injury niggles probably haven't helped his cause. Jackson has gone off the boil a bit too, he's definitely not suited to a lone striker when he's been asked to play in that role. We need somebody to start firing in some goals if not some of the closing pack are going to catch us. I'm glad Keane has scored a couple of goals as he looked to be a mile off before those two goals so that's given us some hope. I really hope Freddie can back (without rushing it of course and taking any silly risks) as the strike force have gone a bit stale. But strikers feed off confidence, and if Norwood, Jackson or Judge could nick a goal or two from somewhere it might be the catalyst to get them firing properly again. But if they don't start to deliver fairly soon then we may need to consider other options. I wouldn't mind Folami getting a few runs from the bench for example to give them some competition.
9

SouperJim added 12:34 - Dec 11
Nobbysnuts I'm pretty sure its still at the end of the tunnel, same as always
5

TimmyH added 12:41 - Dec 11
Just the other week we had PL telling us the Wycombe match was just another game now the Rovers game is 'massive' - make of that what you will. The toying around by Lambert and lack of wins over the last month or so has created this extra pressure to get 3 points under our belt.
6

alfromcol added 12:57 - Dec 11
Missing Chambers again, no one marshalling the defence. Looks like he won't be there again on Saturday
1

Saxonblue74 added 13:02 - Dec 11
Too many times recently we're looking at the next game to put things right. Tells a story.
4

herfie added 13:09 - Dec 11
The BR game can't come soon enough. So much to address, both on and off the pitch. In many respects I feel we have reached a tipping point regarding how the remainder of our season - and hopes - eventually pans out. But a massive amount of honest reflection, and obvious change to a failing footballing philosophy, required from PL and his team. Still think we have the resources to achieve what we all desperately want; but unless they are deployed to maximum effect then only disappointment awaits.
3

runningout added 13:19 - Dec 11
Players need to show up every game. Successful teams have strong mindsets throughout. Not amongst a few
6

norfolkbluey added 13:50 - Dec 11
I honestly believe this situation has been rumbling on for some length of time with our narrow squeak wins in which few have been convincing. You only have to look at our goals scored in comparison with some of our competitors at the top. I refuse to slag off our players as I think like many others its down to ridiculous amounts of rotation. How can players remember from week to week how and where players are likely to play. Looking at successful teams you can see in a settled side players know where to place passes without having to look because they are passing into a space where they know their teammate will be running into. For the love of God Paul, settle the team and don't worry about upsetting players. Let them fight for the right to play in a position. We have so many good players. I have been a supporter for 60 years good and awful years. The best managers stuck with a regular team week in week out. I think many will agree too many changes leads to confusion and poor results. Polish the good and polish the less good harder.
3

SpiritOfJohn added 16:43 - Dec 11
Would like to see Garbutt signed up in January and also given another go at left midfield, where he played so well against Sunderland.
5

jas0999 added 17:40 - Dec 11
Certainly is a big game because one win in nine is very poor, particularly at League One level.
8

TR11BLU added 08:58 - Dec 12
As a fan every game is massive.

Shouldn't just try to switch it off and on...doesn't work

Slowly losing faith
4

Bildestoned added 11:45 - Dec 12
It strikes that there is a contradictory element to the squad rotation argument, namely that it seems to make sense if you're consistently winning under that arrangement and avoiding injuries into the bargain, except that neither of these things is happening. With such a large squad it seems more sensible to me to make use of that undoubted asset by a) playing a regular, settled team allowing for tactical tweaks during a game if necessary and b) using that squad depth when individual injuries or loss of form do occur. Players then have to win back their place when form and/or fitness returns. What seems to be happening if that reshuffles are obscuring losses of form along with what might be called ‘fringe players' missing out on chances to halve extended runs. As I've pointed out here before PL seems to believe we are a diamond in the L1 rough and is constantly reshuffling to prove that's so. Unfortunately it appears it isn't. The irony is that, if this Saturday PL opts to play what seems like our First Choice Squad it'll necessarily be like starting all over abloodygain!
1

dirtydingusmagee added 21:44 - Dec 12
Garbutt has done well , we need the others to get to grips. The past couple of months has seen us falling back into same state as last season. People seem blinded by our league position, FORM shows we are failing, and if that dosnt change we will be overtaken soon. Things started going bottoms up when we had a break ,and has been made worse by postponed games , this has interupted momentum, the constant tinkering / rotation has not helped.Paul Lambert has changed a lot at the club, but he REALLY needs to change things now, because fans are rightly getting restless.
0


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