Assistant manager Stuart Taylor admitted the Blues’ performance first half performance wasn’t good enough as they were beaten 3-2 at home by Swindon but felt Town improved after the break.

Taylor was in charge in the dugout and of media duties with manager Paul Lambert having been unwell with Covid and watching from a box but in touch with the bench during the match.

“It wasn’t good enough overall, the way we started the first half wasn’t good enough,” Taylor said. “Almost unrecognisable in terms of how we want to go and play, what we look for in training during the week. We just didn’t start the first half like that and you can’t do that, no team can do that.

“I thought in the second half we did better, the last half hour, 20 minutes, we were very good and it was more like us.

“The lads were more like themselves, there was a purpose about their play and an intensity about it but we need to realise, well, we do realise, that that’s the way we need to start games.”

Asked whether the outbreak of Covid in the camp and the resultant lack of a game for 25 days had had an impact, Taylor said: “It obviously has an influence but we’re not going to use it as an excuse.

“They’re facts and certainly there were a lot of tired bodies out there, but certainly we’re not going to look at some excuse because we’re big enough and brave enough to take it on the chin when we don’t do well, and we didn’t do well in the first half, but the second half was better.

“And another positive was obviously Flynn playing the second half and Norwood playing the second half, so we’ve got them back fit.

“You can see how influential the both of them are. We were a lot better in the second half. They’re influential characters, they need to keep fit now and obviously the other five [Teddy Bishop, Gwion Edwards, Jon Nolan, Keanan Bennetts and Kane Vincent-Young, who are all due back in full training on Monday] we need to get them back fit as well.”

Quizzed on what was missing from the display, he said: “I don’t think it was intensity. It might come from not having a game for near enough four weeks.

“But we don’t want to touch on that because we don’t want to be seen to be making excuses, but it certainly does have an influence on it. We had the intensity towards the end of the game and we need to start with it.”

Norwood’s goal in the 62nd minute had seemed likely to see the Blues on their way to a win by Scott Twine’s wonder goal five minutes later turned the game back Swindon’s way.

“It was a fantastic strike, a wonder goal, probably up there with the goals of the season, and quite rightly so,” he said.

“But we were in control of the game at that point but that strike put us on the back foot again but it’s looking at the process of it and it needs to be better.

“Without a doubt [he should have been closed down more quickly], ideally we’d want people up against him so he doesn’t receive the ball in the first place.

“But things like that happen, they moved the ball across the pitch pretty quickly and it’s hard sometimes to shuffle across and be in the right position but it’s a learning curve and it’s something we’ll go and work on and make sure it doesn’t happen again. But it was a fantastic strike.”

Taylor admits the Blues will have to be better when they travel to face bottom side Burton Albion at the Pirelli Stadium next weekend.

“We’re always looking to see improvements, we’re always looking for a reaction from a poor performance even when you win,” he said. “But certainly with having a defeat, we’re looking for that, we’re always looking for a reaction.”

Photo: Matchday Images

Ipswichbusiness added 09:55 - Jan 10 A few days ago northstandveteran pointed out that 20 years ago we were fourth in the top division. Now we are mid table in the third tier and we can't beat the second from bottom team at home. After defeat the players come off the pitch laughing and smiling. The magangement and senior players (Chambers, Ward) blame the youngsters when they are the ones who should be showing leadership and taking responsibility. I can't understand Mr Evans. He must have a large amount of his personal wealth invested in the club, yet he seems happy to sit back and watch us decline.

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braveblue added 10:22 - Jan 10 He says they were tired but also started slowly and had a strong last 20 mins. Do they even know what they are saying. Playing 4-5-1 you are not going to start well and press teams. Awful display.
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barryblue added 10:26 - Jan 10 very disjointed performance, looked like they havent been coached at all. both dobra and dozzell seem to offer nothing defensively, miss skuse, hopefully they just a bit ring rusty, but u would hope they would have been chomping at the bit to play. too many not aware of whats around them and no running into gaps, nothing very creative, they keep passing to feet instead of into space to run onto. swindon are not a very good side and were there for the taking. norwood too isolated. hopefully will improve now they back playing, but burton wont be easy with clean sheet hasselbank back there. we look a million miles away from an automatic promotion side. after watching rotherham earlier who will strugglee in championship, they are on a completely different level to us. the gap between us and a poor championship side is enormous

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ITFCBlue81 added 10:28 - Jan 10 Ward and Kenlock need replacing with the young tommy smith
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PinstripeBlue added 12:16 - Jan 10 I've said it before. And here it is again. Paul Hurst could have done a job given half the chance Paul Sherbert has had.
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Lightningboy added 12:29 - Jan 10 This obsession with Knocking the ball sideways inside our own half just kills any attacking momentum - it is the most dull brand of football i have ever seen us play - it's mind numbingly tedious. THe only stat that counts is the scoreline NOT possession percentages.
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drewcudders1963 added 12:34 - Jan 10 Played ball around nicely but no runners off the ball to allow many penetrating passes. Judge did it a couple of time and should have scored in first half. Huws is a quality player but looks so low on confidence it's unreal.... our centre halves looked good but full backs were both rubbish meaning centre halves were dragged out of position and therefore exposed. Why take off Dobra for Lankester when chasing a game at home ? Should have taken off a defender pushed Jackson up front alongside Norwood and had a right go against a team hanging on and likely to give. A goal of two away as they have done in most away games this season..... but then what do I know after rolling Ipswich for 50 years and coaching for 20!

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drewcudders1963 added 12:35 - Jan 10 Played ball around nicely but no runners off the ball to allow many penetrating passes. Judge did it a couple of time and should have scored in first half. Huws is a quality player but looks so low on confidence it's unreal.... our centre halves looked good but full backs were both rubbish meaning centre halves were dragged out of position and therefore exposed. Why take off Dobra for Lankester when chasing a game at home ? Should have taken off a defender pushed Jackson up front alongside Norwood and had a right go against a team hanging on and likely to give. A goal of two away as they have done in most away games this season..... but then what do I know after rolling Ipswich for 50 years and coaching for 20!

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brittaniaman added 13:13 - Jan 10 Just watched the FA cup games and I am sure we the way we are playing at the moment we would have a job to beat these lower league teams ?? Lambert the man who said he would not put round pegs in square holes ? well Lamby you are certainly doing Jackson no Favours by playing him on the wing ?? he is a Forward like the 9 and 10 use to be !!!!!!!! Just Perhaps with a new Manager we might get rid of this Silly passing in our own half of sideways backwards Habit even Chasing the game it started again when we should have been pushing Forward

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chepstowblue added 14:32 - Jan 10 I think that's a rather tame evaluation. We were appalling until well beyond the hour. Ive yet to see a slower, more predictable side over the last couple of seasons.Only when we went more direct did we look to threaten. A lack of individual pace and reluctance to move off the ball makes for pitiful viewing. It's all very well having 65% of possession, but when 95% of that is the back four piddling about with it for no meaningful reason stats become very misleading. I have no idea what our strengths are. Having watched Accrington on friday night, we have a lot of improving to do to reach even that level.

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Blue_Meanie added 15:54 - Jan 10 Come on Evans; roll the dice again. Even a loser in Vegas gets a winner every now and then, and you're on a massive losing streak. Get another manager in. Sixth time lucky!
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ChrisR added 15:58 - Jan 10 Lambert just does not care , just waiting for his pay off , we cant have 4 more years of this. He's also just plain stubborn , more 442 is called for the less likely he is to do it . PS Players are not so great either ,ITFC is slipping to oblivion with this bunch.
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Edmundo added 12:54 - Jan 11 I honestly think we'd be doing better had we stuck with Hurst now. And that's saying something. Pull your finger out, Evans, or sell up: take the debts with you and we can sort out a fans' consortium to run this place better than you.
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Billybobblue added 14:40 - Jan 11 Judge and Taylors interviews before and after the game saying about 25 days off is going to effect the team. How about we have had plenty of time to prepare and rested and we know what we need to do to hurt Swindon. Instead it was the same lacklustre performance, same boring tactics. We do play to peoples strengths "the opposition". Season ticket is cancelled until Evans Lambert and chambers all call it a day. One cant run a club, one cannot manage a team and the other should have been moved on three or four seasons ago, yet is still in our first team.

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