Town boss Paul Lambert admitted the Blues’ last-gasp 2-1 defeat at Blackpool was a “sore one” believing his side deserved to take all three points let alone draw the fixture.

Joe Nuttall headed the winner deep in injury time to add to Town’s continuing frustrations.

“It’s a sore one because I don’t think we even deserved to draw the game, I thought we deserved to win the game,” Lambert said.

“I thought we should have had a penalty in the first half, Freddie Sears has got his body between the man and the ball and everybody knows if you’re in front and there’s a slight touch that’s a penalty.

“It doesn’t matter if the referee thinks there’s not enough of a touch, that’s wrong, it’s still a penalty. If that was outside the box I think it would have been a freekick.”

Sears, who scored Town’s goal on his first league start of the season, might have won it for the Blues seconds before the Tangerines’ winner.

“I thought Freddie was excellent, I don’t know how much he had in the tank, but I thought he was excellent,” Lambert added.

“It was a great goal he scored and you thought when he went through there that he was going to poke it by the goalkeeper.

“Their goal, the ball travels 70 yards and we should have dealt with it. We should have stopped the cross, Garbs should have stopped it travelling that way anyway. Josh Earl should have stopped the cross but it goes in the box and anything can happen from there. That was gutting.”

Blackpool’s first goal was even worse from a Town defensive perspective, Lambert admitted.

“I don’t know what Garbs is thinking there because he’s trying a flick at the edge of this box, it’s like a roll and a flick," he said.

“That’s not professional football. Professional football is exactly what it is, professional, it’s not five-a-side, it’s not for fun, it’s a professional game.”

Overall the game was the same story as plenty of other recent fixtures - plenty of controlled possession from the Blues but with their chances not taken while the opposition took their opportunities.

“It doesn’t matter how well you’re playing, the lads know they’re playing well, we ask them their opinions on how they feel and they feel comfortable, playing really well,” Lambert continued. “They know themselves, they can't defend that way and expect to win games.”

Lambert admitted he’s becoming as fed up as fans of Town’s games following the same pattern and him making the same post-match assessment.

“I’m bored of saying it, I’m actually bored talking to you about it,” he said. “It’s the same stuff I’m saying to you. You may as well just wheel me out and say the same stuff, it’s exactly the same.

“Number one, you can’t defend that way and do silly things like that, number two you can’t dominate games as much as we do and not score.

“The lads have given us everything, you can’t ask any more than that, playing well, but you’ve got to be ruthless in both boxes to win games. That’s why it’s called the professional football game.”

How is that fixed? “We’ve just got to keep working with the guys, keep them upbeat and hopefully that turns. You’ve got to work in training, you’ve got to work in the games, you’ve got to work hard, you’ve got to be ruthless with a lot of stuff.

“I’ve never been involved in football where some nice guys win things, you’ve got to have that nasty streak in you and we’ve got to get that out of them.”

Does he feel the squad lacks that edge? “There’s got to be a nasty streak and not an acceptance then your career will go far. If you think you’re just going to play football for 15 or 20 years and be a footballer, that’s not what you want, you want to win something.”

Town are now five points off the play-offs with 10 left to play with their season in danger of being over well before the final weeks.

“That’s the thing, I just said to them, ‘You’re in a really good position still to do something but you cannot defend the way we defended there and have the dominance of the game and not take chances’,” Lambert added.

Is the pressure starting to get to them? “Yes, but I’ll go back to it, if you don’t want pressure, don’t play for the football club. The football club brings that. You embrace it or you get frightened by it. You have to embrace it, it’s a big club and you need big people to step up to the plate and now is the time to step up to the plate.”

Do they still believe they can make it? “Aye, because they’re playing well, that’s the thing, they’re playing [enough] to do it. Coming up here, I thought we should have won the game. We had some really good chances to get a few goals but they never materialised.

“The young kids came on and did well for us, Freddie back is a bonus, Bish back is a bonus but you’ve got to start taking chances.”"

Town next host Fleetwood and Coventry at Portman Road and Lambert is in no doubt about what’s required from those games.

“We have to win and if we do that then we’re right back in it, but we have to win,” he said.

And Town will be without Flynn Downes for those games with the midfielder having picked up his 10th league booking of the season.

“That was a strange one because I thought the referee gave us the foul initially and I don’t know why he changed his mind," he said. “He gave us the foul then booked Flynn, so I don’t know what he saw there. Flynn will be missed for those two games.”

Asked whether the current form is solidifying his thoughts on what might need to be done to the squad over the summer, he said: “This club has to improve. I’ve said it before, and I’d say it even if I wasn’t here, the club is that big that it should be better than what it is, that’s for sure.

“The football club generates a massive support behind it and it needs big players to stand up. I said before, if you can’t handle pressure, you shouldn’t play for the football club because the football club demands that and you have to thrive on that.”

Town have now lost five of their last seven and have won just four of their last 23 in all competition over 90 minutes.

Asked whether how there is an element of self-reflection during runs of this type, he added: “Yes, there always is, even when I win, there’s always things, I never do anything other than try to get the team to win.

“The good thing is the guys give me everything, I can’t ask any more than their commitment and their effort and the way they play, but you’ve got to be ruthless in both boxes. But I’ve always done that from the day I started playing football.”

He added: “I used to be horrendous losing games and then I went and spoke to an old manager and asked them how they handled defeats and he gave me the best bit of advice I’ve ever had from a top manager, which was to analyse it for 24 hours and if you let it go any further than that it’s going to kill you and it’ll kill your team and it’ll kill everybody else.

“And I understand what he meant by that. That was the best bit of advice I think I’ve ever had.”

How does he put belief into fans and players in the current circumstances? “Winning, that’s what’s going to turn it around. The lads I can’t fault the way they play, they come here and dominate most of the game, they have chances to score, they play well but as I said before you cannot defend that way, it’s not right defending.”

On a positive note, 18-year-old striker Tyreece Simpson made his league debut from the bench and made a positive impact.

“He did, he’s a strong, strong kid with a nice touch as well,” Lambert said. “He’s only a kid, but I thought he and Dobra did well when they came on.

“He’s one for the future, Tyreece, as is Dobra is and other guys, but they need time. They need time. But I agree with you, I think he did well.”

Photo: TWTD

bernie added 19:55 - Feb 29 Not as bloody sore as it is for us fans , what the hell is going on at our great club ?? Say if we don't win another game this season are you telling me that he will still be here next season 😩 and to all the people getting on chambers back give him a break yeah the legs might be going but lamberts formation don't help he's still one of the better ones we have
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lonelyblue added 19:57 - Feb 29 When he first arrived here, he said he would never dig out his players. It's not the first time he's done it either. Good managers never* do that to their players publicly. I don't like it and I don't like him. *Mourihno does, but I don't want to concede that he's a good manager, so my point remains...
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BettyBlue added 19:57 - Feb 29 "Lambert Not Giving Up on Top Two Finish." Friday, 28th Feb 2020 10:58 Have you finally worked out the maths, Lambert. 100% Plonker. Should be sacked for that idiotic comment from Friday.
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midastouch added 19:58 - Feb 29 The difference being Paul you get paid handsomely to watch us getting done over, imagine how sore you'd feel if you had to pay for the privilege, or more like pay for the insult!
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SickParrot added 20:06 - Feb 29 Yes Paul, you do keep saying the same thing but nothing changes. 4 wins from the last 19 league games, you should hold your head in shame. You may have won things as a player (as you like to remind us) but your record as a manager since you left Norwich is dire. You're all talk. Just go and give someone else a chance to get more out of these players.
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anditractor added 20:18 - Feb 29 I agree with JCblue. We have a strong squad, looked great first 15 matches and thought straight back up again......... o how I was wrong. Unless something great happen between now and the end of the season its league 1 again. All the chopping and changing earlier didn't help either. Come on PL sort this mess out and after myself supporting my beloved team for over 50 years get us back to where we belong

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MickMillsTash added 20:18 - Feb 29 Actually thought that was one of his better interviews if we lose the next 2 games and without our 3 better players it's probable- what the hell happens ? get some cash on lambent being the next sacked manager
1

Swailsey added 20:19 - Feb 29 Get out of my club.
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norfolkbluey added 20:20 - Feb 29 dropping down dropping down dropping down again. Is this ever going to be reversed? PL's record at this club is a scandal. Why is he allowed to continue. True he has been let down by his players especially Luke Garbutt today. As an old farmer once said to me, you have to be as tight as a cow's arse in autumn at the back. We hardly ever win with Skuse in the team. He went down with his previous club which says it all as a pairing with PL. I hate being negative but its wearing thin now and nobody in their right mind can see us getting into the play offs in this form, so we are consigned to this division for another season which in someways is a blessing because we will not be humiliated by Norwich who looked destined to return to the Championship next year. Will PL still be with us next year? You can bet your bottom dollar he will be! ! Five more bl***y years. Thank ME. We can hardly score or now defend for a matter of minutes. Positive note, well done Sears for scoring and well done for the young lads playing today.

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dirtydingusmagee added 20:48 - Feb 29 time for Evans or his mouthpiece O'Neil to step out and talk up next seasons big dream, [sorry con ] Lambert should feel ashamed for accepting the extended contract and for taking his wages for achieving NOTHING AT ALL . I hope the fans dont cave in again after this failed season, Time [again] to make our feelings known.
1

r2d2 added 21:13 - Feb 29 I dont read this cr@p anymore. Lambert is clueless as are the players, playing staff and owner. The club is rotten. I hate to say it as l love the club, but it is doomed. Evans you are a bellend.
2

DifferentGravy added 21:19 - Feb 29 Am as fed up a the rest of you..... but thanks R2D2, at least your last sentence made me laugh out loud :-)
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dirtydingusmagee added 21:21 - Feb 29 Lambert, you are a rubbish manager SIMPLES ! Yer we know youve been with HUGE CLUBS but it cuts no ice now , YOU HAVE DONE f##k all since joining ITFC , All your incoherent ramblings are now just annoying . You dont deserve your wages let alone a 5 year contract.I find it incredible that Evans is happy to let you stay on another 5 days let alone 5 years.But then Evans dosnt give a flying F anyway.Wont pay for decent players but happy to pay a useless manager.

2

alfromcol added 21:22 - Feb 29 Evans doesn't give his money away readily. I can't believe he has given Lambert a 5 year deal without some sort of get out. Like promotion or he can pull the plug?
2

dirtydingusmagee added 21:26 - Feb 29 I hope you are right Alfro, it would be insane otherwise .
2

tractorboy2421 added 21:48 - Feb 29 Your bored of saying it !! ... How about saying something different then .. stop trying to B/S us long suffering fans. Enough is enough .. we can't handle 5 more minutes let alone 5 bloody years of your crap management skills ... SOD OFF
1

Lightningboy added 22:15 - Feb 29 Been far too much wrong with our club for far too long. Sacking Lambert won't change anything - it'll be same sh1t,different manager - he knows things are very wrong but probably isn't capable of putting them right under this owner. Too many players just not up to it even at this level & far too many need shifting on asap - the face of failure Cole Skuse plus Chambers,Nolan,Judge,Edwards,Kenlock,Keane,Huws etc etc - just sick of this lot now,they're not good enough to represent ITFC - embarrassing how far we've descended..we've become a club with no ambition and players who are failures. The owner is the biggest problem - he's been the absolute kiss of death & needs to move on otherwise this downward spiral will continue.

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dirtydingusmagee added 22:26 - Feb 29 Lightningboy you could be right, he may know whats wrong and isnt capable of putting it right under Evans, but he wasnt shy when offered a longer contract, nooooo it was a case of fill your boots Paul, a nice long contract on the back of failure , cushtie my son ! .If he had any principles or belief in his own ability he would have sorry Marcus ,i can do better elsewhere.Bye bye .

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herfie added 22:32 - Feb 29 PL = Emperor's New Clothes. More of us now realising that beneath the elaborate PR spiel there exists a very naked football coach/manager. Note that in his post match interview he seemed to be standing, detached, from the team. Talking in terms of ‘you' and ‘them', rather than ‘we' and ‘us'. Small point, perhaps, but one that perhaps highlights the dressing room relationship.

5

Vanisleblue2 added 00:06 - Mar 1 We have great players, playing really well, deserve to win. So proud of them, give me everything. the players are doing great. There are lots of points to play for lots more games, we are in a good place, we are only xx points away from the top. We are a young team (?????). Just SHUT UP I am sick to death of all of this vomit. We are a bang average third division side with a Premier league fans and they all deserve better. Oh well only 3 more days until the next defeat

3

runningout added 02:48 - Mar 1 The surprise amongst ALL when we manage to score more than one ie: as our apparently performance of season v Burton (not a clean sheet) says it all. We are the embarrassment of League 1. The rest of this league are all doing themselves justice
1

dirtydingusmagee added 09:05 - Mar 1 a few weeks ago : Evans, ''how we doing this season Paul,?'' Lambert '' really well ,really well, the team really well ,me really really well, yes really wel''l.. Evans ,'' thats good Paul, .,where are we in league ?. Lambert ,''we are up there , yes we are up there, we are the hunters now, yes really doing well, really really well , Evans oh thats good Paul sign on the dotted line for another five years.'' .Lambert '' oh thats good of you ,Marcus, really good of you ,really really good of you thats absolutely brulliant..money for old rope,. ''

0

Dockerblue added 09:15 - Mar 1 So Chambers is one of our better players now is he? Well once again the facts are there for all to see, he had let the winning goalscorer get goal side of him, not the first time this season he,s cost us, you only have to go back to the Oxford game when he ran towards the ball instead of staying with the player who had a tap-in. I notice PL blames Garbutt but doesn't mention Chambers who costs us on a regular basis! At least Garbutt has had good games & weighed in with a few goals this season.

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martin587 added 10:03 - Mar 1 PL why blame Garbutt.Should you not be looking at your inept Captain who gets caught out of position almost all the time then he has the Gaul to blame everybody else around him.Drop him and play Wilson.I dare you.!
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Billericay12 added 10:25 - Mar 1 Why do some think we have the best squad in League One ??? We have a couple of past it old pros, some mediocre league 1 & 2 signings and a few promising youngsters, some of which are not fulfilling their promise. You could put Pep Guardiola in charge of this lot and I still don't think we would win the League ! Lambert does seem to be struggling to turn things round after a decent start but for me it is simple. Not enough investment from Evans and the further we slide down the Leagues the harder it becomes to attract decent players. Would be nice to see ME have one last crack at things. Chuck in 6-10 million for new players and if it doesn't work sell up.

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