Town boss Paul Lambert admitted the Blues are having a hard time after they were beaten 2-0 at home by Charlton, following on from Tuesday’s 3-0 home loss to Hull City.

“It’s the same as Tuesday,” he said. “To be fair, I don’t think there was too much in the game. The first goal is vital in this league, they got it, they got a little break, they’re a strong team. We’ve so many injuries and the team is lightweight at the minute because of all the injuries we’ve got.

“We’re having a hard time, I don’t think there’s any getting away from that. But you’ve got to stick together.

“You have big moments and I always say to the guys, ‘It doesn’t matter if you do good, bad or indifferent, keep a level head. Don’t get too high when you win, don’t get too low when you lose’. That’s important because there are a lot of young guys out there.”

Town have now lost seven of their last 10 matches in all competitions. Reflecting on that run, Lambert added: “When you lose any game, it doesn’t matter if you lose one two or three, you always feel it.

“That’s football, they’ve got a chance to go and get a result on Tuesday, but we have to get some players back.”

Asked what his message is to supporters who might be losing faith, he said: “The fans are the most important people at any club, that’s always the case and it always will be.

“We just have to keep going, we have to keep going, there’s no point in feeling sorry for yourself or dwelling on it, it’s impossible, you have to move on. We’ve got a game on Tuesday.

“The lads are feeling hurt, there are no two ways about it. But a few weeks ago we were playing really, really well, a really strong team, but when you’ve that many injuries, it makes it tougher.”

Since Tuesday’s loss to Hull fans calls for a change of manager have grown in volume.

“I can’t do anything about that, that’s football,” he said. I’ve been in it long enough, it’s football. I was asked this question last time, I don’t have any problem because the club’s more important than anybody.”

Does he believe he can turn things around? “We need a bit of help, the squad needs to be stronger to be at the top end. As I said before, you look at the midfield, the midfield’s appearances, it couldn’t have been any more than 20 with [Andre] Dozzell, Gibbo [Liam Gibbs] and Brett [McGavin]. The three kids did really well, really pleased with them, but it was tough on them.”

Town can’t get any of that help until January when the transfer window opens. Does he fear that things could slide even further before then?

“It’s not a fear because football is never about fear, it’s about enjoyment and trying to win, it’s never about fear,” he said. “You can never have fear. And all the outside influences, as I said to the guys, whether you win, lose or draw, never look at the praise, never look at the criticism, crack on to the next one, and that’s important for their mindsets.”

"Explaining why David Cornell was given his league debut in goal in place of Tomas Holy, Lambert added: “We had to have a look at Dai [Cornell], because he’s good with his feet as well. Tomas has done really good, we lost 3-0 on Tuesday, we made a change. Dai had no chance with the goals.”

Liam Gibbs, 17, was also given his league debut having impressed in the U18s and U23s and also when training with the senior side.

“He’s trained with us, he’s handled the ball no problem, I don’t have a problem with Gibbo.,” Lambert continued. “He’s going to be a good one, give him time to develop and time to play, he’s going to be a good one.

“He has to learn, he has to thrive on it. A great moment for him to make his debut. Every player has to start somewhere, you need a manager brave enough to throw you in, to give you an opportunity and I don’t have a problem with that.”

Lambert confirmed that Emyr Huws had joined the injured list having injured himself in training.

“He hurt his back on Tuesday, it’s gone into his hamstring as well, we just found that out yesterday morning,” he said.

In addition to that both James Norwood and Toto Nsiala limped off during the game with what appeared to be hamstring injuries.

“I thought it was James’s knee because I thought he twisted it, But it’s his hamstring they’re saying. Toto, it’s his hamstring, the same. We’ll have to wait and see. Maybe Toto isn’t as bad, I don’t know.”

Quizzed on whether Town have a particular problem with injuries with so many players having spent time on the sidelines in the last few years, he reflected: “I don’t know. I don’t know what happened before. You need luck as a footballer, you need luck to ride tackles, you need luck to not get hurt.

“You get hurt, you hope it’s not a bad one, if you get hurt then you have to get back as quickly as you can. As long as you live the right way, you’ll get back. It’s part and parcel of the game.”

Norwood was replaced by Aaron Drinan, who was making his first appearance since the first day of the League One season, rather than Oli Hawkins or Kayden Jackson.

Explaining that decision, Lambert said: “Aaron needs some game time. We tried to get him game time. That lad’s did great for us until he got injured. Kayden’s still building up to speed, and I’ve not got many more players to pick from.

“The whole midfield are out injured and all your strikers are fit again. We just don’t have many players to pick from.”"

Asked what owner Marcus Evans might be thinking at the moment, Lambert said: “I spoke to him before the game and I’ve not seen him after it because I’ve not had time.

“The most important thing is the football club. That’s the most important thing. Whatever decisions the club make, as I said to you last season when there was talk I was leaving, that sort of thing, it’s not a problem because I can’t do anything with it.

“We try our best, we try with the guys we’ve got to make them better. They’re better players, it’s just that they need a bit of help.”

Looking ahead to the week to come when the Blues have trips to Oxford and Plymouth, Lambert said: “Long trips, but there’s no time to dwell. As I said before, you dwell on it, you can’t dwell on it too long or it’s going to hurt you.

“As I said before, the guys, I stick up for them that way, because they give me great effort, I can’t argue with that, but they need a little bit of help.”

Photo: TWTD

slade1 added 09:23 - Nov 29 mib (6 posts up) your comments are 100% accurate and one of the only people on here with anything sensible to say. There is not a team in this league that can cope with the amount of first teamers out injured that we have, not one. One person says Lambert out and you all jump on the bandwagon thinking its clever. The injury situation will get better. Support your team even more so through these hard times, get behind the manager while his hands are tied with team selection, we have no divine right to win every game or any divine right to get promoted but with support it would help.

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MickMillsTash added 10:15 - Nov 29 mib- I have sympathy with Lambert and the injuries. The Lambert out campaign however is not based on the last 10 games - Last year turned out to be a shambles, this season is going the same way. Lamberts hands may be tied by the finances at the club but for sure he is not making the most of what he has to work with. The team suffers from Continued defensive lapses, massive holes in the midfield for the opposition to run through and a game plan that does not result in having a shot - all of these could be solved by good management and is in place at smaller clubs who we compete against. We have been poor for a year and we are worse now than we have ever been before! If I employed a manager who had this track record and it was obvious he was not up able to make the changes necessary I would reluctantly make the big decision. Lambert OUT!

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planetblue_2011 added 10:42 - Nov 29 Mr Evans needs to take a look at what they are doing up the rd & how well you run a football club. Sorry to say it but Norwich look like they are heading to the premiership again with their form. They have togetherness running throughout the club with ownership, players to manager, they perform week in week out. We don't we loose a couple of games and crumble and can't get back to basics. I seriously blame Evans for all of this happening to ITFC he doesn't have a clue taking this club to the next level. He never gives the manager money to spend on decent players. His football knowledge is awful, he can't run a football what so ever. Ok he is keeping us a float it's only because he's minted. We have had about 6 managers from him taking over & big Mick has been our only decent manager in his time. Super Jim probably would of been if he gave him a chance. The running of the football is all wrong, it has to be or we wouldn't be in this situation. We need an owner who knows what he is doing and football minded, they watch every game like Delia does at Norwich she is Norwich thru & thru, where is Evans when you need him??? Enough is enough he is the man the club needs to get rid of, we need an intelligent businessman with a football brain to take this club back up the leagues and where we belong.

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runaround added 10:55 - Nov 29 I don't really understand what he says about the squad needing some help as it's the same words he used before the January window in the relegation season but it makes no sense. Any “help” in terms of additional players cannot come in until the window by which time a lot of the injured players SHOULD be fit in any case (although probably injured again) We are led to believe that, salary cap wise, we are close to or at the limit so any additions will have to be under 21 or we will need to sell some of our older players to give us wage room. It's not going to happen. The best help the squad can get is a manager and coaching team who can motivate, organise and coach the players in to a TEAM who are equal to or more than the sum of their parts with tactical nouse and adaptability. Also a fitness & training support where they can play Saturday, Tuesday, Saturday without pulling hamstrings! Lambert going would be the best immediate help!

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jazzy added 11:30 - Nov 29 'were having a hard time' No sh**! So are us fans and have been for years
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portmanteau added 11:37 - Nov 29 PL has to go but it will not happen for another four years by which time we could be a non-league club. I think we are heading for L2 anyway this season. Some thoughts: If ME is using the club solely to suit his tax purposes you would think that doesn't meet the "fit and proper person" ownership rule.... Assuming he is genuinely interested in owning a successful club there surely has to be a point where the continued lack of success causes him to either do something about it or get out. The question is how long will it be before he decides one way or the other?

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mib added 11:38 - Nov 29 slade1, many thanks for your comments. what a pity more posters on this forum dont see it in the same light.
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Dockerblue added 12:26 - Nov 29 Yes we,re having a tough time with injuries but some of the more senior players are not giving their all, Sears and Judge have been pitiful this season and Chambers yesterday was ball watching as usual for both of Charltons goals, same against Hull, their second goal he let the scorer get across him, then had a go at one of the young players. Muppet! No wonder he,s never injured, he never tackles anyone, worse Captain in my 55 years watching Town, no leadership or example. These players are letting the club,manager and fans down. One other observation, is the reason Dobra isn't in the picture because he wouldn't go out on loan when PL wanted, instead saying he,d stay and fight for a first team place?

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dirtydingusmagee added 12:28 - Nov 29 Slade ,what makes you think the injury situation will get better ? we have several players that have just recently returned , back on the injured list, its not going to get better we have players that just cant keep fit ,ive said before those players wont stay fit long , we sign players that are risky and it bites us on the a#se.
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BettyBlue added 12:28 - Nov 29 If only Skuse was fit.
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Linkboy13 added 12:34 - Nov 29 Why does he set up team's not to score. Two up front get the ball forward quicker and press. It looks like Lambert is hoping for the sack so he can get another big payoff for failure.
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BettyBlue added 14:42 - Nov 29 "Are you having a hard time, Paul?" "Me, the manger? are you kidding I'm taking home £20,000 a week no matter what the team does. if I get sacked I still get the £20,000 as long as I don't get another job. And I think I've taken care of that."
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62WasBest added 16:51 - Nov 29 Didn't see the game but for the life of me, I don't see why modern football seems to make an essentially simple game so difficult. Scoring goals isn't hard. It just requires passing and movement and coordination and a lack of fear of failure, coupled with a bit of accuracy. I listen to Lambert and I always get the impression he is unable to generate a passion for success. That is what the players seem to reflect as a team. Honest endeavour but little else.

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North_London_Blue added 17:25 - Nov 29 YOU'RE having a hard time???? What about the long suffering fans?
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Kingfisher49 added 18:06 - Nov 29 Will Ipswich Town push the release button like Sunderland have done and let PL go, or as I have suggested before on here get the help PL is asking for in the shape of free agents. Tom Huddlestone or Andy King on a short term contract if ME would release the funds in this injury hit times. Something has got to be done as the present is not acceptable.
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norfolkbluey added 19:18 - Nov 29 I had a look at the EFL games on telly today and made a comparison with Town's performances and others and I was genuinely shocked at how mediocre we looked. I can see little hope of us progressing up the league again. The quality of some of our opposition in this league is way higher. We are in the main very poor and no wonder we are being continuously beaten. What on earth has happened to my ITFC? Paul Lambert! He appears to be constantly repeating his mistakes at all the clubs he has managed since his time at Norwich. However a little budgie told me it was Ian Culverhouse who was the strategus during his tenure there. Look what he has done at King's Lynn. Amazing stuff. So Paul I really think your time is up. By the sound of your report I do think a visit to a psychiatrist for help to bring you out of your depression. You have run out of ideas and certainly do not have the strategy to get us back on track just like your previous clubs, it's time to call it a day. Ce la Vie !

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Daniel72 added 20:56 - Nov 29 I was surprised Armando Dobra didn't get a chance on Saturday.. to me that was shocking.. I am no expert but.. it seemed incredible.
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londontractorboy57 added 21:34 - Nov 29 Not that i am worried one way or the other when Lambert first came here he was the reborn Messiah, mended a broken club, said all the right things brought the adoring fans a pint now hes no better than MM let me tell you something it was the numbskull fans during the MM era that broke the club and it will be the same for any future manager as a club we are finished thank goodness i witnessed the great times.

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Len_Brennan added 05:18 - Nov 30 Sunderland's sacking of Parkinson is significant development here, particularly if they appoint Paul Cook as his replacement. They are in a very similar position to ourselves, only they've had an extra season in this league already, and recognise that they couldn't go on as they were & risk missing out on giving themselves the best shot at promotion. They beat us, a top 6, presumed promotion rival, a couple of weeks ago.

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Razor added 10:32 - Nov 30 If we are going to make a change it needs to be done pretty quickly to give the new guy a chance. No doubt we looked better on Saturday with 2 up front and Drinnan and Bennetts give me hope. I think we need to look ar Dr Bob and his medical team and our training methods-----surely it cant be just bad luck or coincidence!?
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Marinersnose added 13:55 - Nov 30 I'm not backing PL but, to me MM,PH,RK, PJ all failed to inspire in fact they all failed in the same way PL has failed and this is clearly down to the way the club is run. We haven't got a quality squad but a bunch of ageing pros and a littering of young talent. I would question whether Klopp would succeed under this regime. We sell any decent player albeit the club resisted with Downes and Woolfenden mainly as the price wasn't right. We sold Waghorn McG and Garner at a time when we needed firepower and this is the Modus Operandi for ME. Our scouting appears poor with the occasional exception and we cannot attract good players. ME has to decide what he wants to achieve and for me he decided along time ago that promotion was not a high priority even when we were in the Championship. It's very hard to take , and watching the inept performances is actually tedious. Maybe someone like Joey Barton would stand his ground and make a fist of the job. I don't know. ME is on one hand a massive problem and on the other hand is keeping this fantastic club afloat.

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Marinersnose added 14:19 - Nov 30 Razor intended to hit the up arrow 👍🏻
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