Central defender Luke Woolfenden believes the Blues need to start playing more to their players’ strengths following the 3-2 defeat to his former loan side Swindon at Portman Road.

Woolfenden, who spent 2018/19 on loan with the Robins, felt Town began Saturday's live Sky game reasonably enough.

“To be fair, I think we started well, then I think we kind of went away from what we were doing,” he said.

“We had a lot of the ball but we do that every week, we need to start being creative in the final third and putting our possession to use.”

He added: “I think halfway through [the first half], we changed what we were doing, there were times where we were pressing in ones and twos and then we’d all press and then we’d drop off, and that can happen in games.

“But you’ve got to go in there with a clear mindset and know what you’re doing from the start.”

Asked whether the 25-day break for Covid and the virus itself had had an impact on those who had tested positive, the 22-year-old reflected: “Obviously that can affect anyone, I can’t speak for everyone about that, but for me I felt fine, I felt good, ready to go.

“It has been a while since we’ve played, but that’s no excuse, the fans deserve us to start putting in performances, start scoring goals, start keeping clean sheets, all of that.”

Swindon went into the game 23rd in the table with the win taking them up a place and Woolfenden says Town should be defeating most of the teams in the division, let alone those in the relegation spots.

“We’re Ipswich, I think we should be expecting to beat the majority of teams in this league,” he insisted.

“Or at least make it harder for teams to score, make them make last-ditch blocks and last-ditch tackles and things like that. Today, it just kind of floated by a bit.”

Town improved after the break following the half-time introduction of Flynn Downes and James Norwood, and after the striker’s 62nd minute goal the Blues might have looked favourites to go on and win the match.

“Maybe that’s a mindset thing as well, maybe we got the equaliser and we thought we’d just do what we did at Plymouth [when Town came from a goal down to win 2-1]. But you’ve got to earn the right to win games and we didn’t do that.”

The game was turned back in the Robins’ favour by Scott Twine’s 30-yard wonder strike five minutes after Norwood’s leveller.

But Woolfenden says Town knew all about the forward’s ability to score from distance having watched his goals during his loan spell at Newport, while he and Aaron Drinan both played alongside the 21-year-old at Swindon and Waterford respectively.

“I think he could have a goal of the season contest by himself, couldn’t he, that kid.” Woolfenden said.

“He was at Swindon when I was there. The frustrating thing is that we all knew that he’s got that in his locker. We’ve watched it on the video numerous times, I’ve seen all of his goals on Twitter.

“There is an aspect that when it’s struck like that there’s not really a lot you can do once it’s struck but before that you’ve got to get tighter, you’ve got to make sure he can’t turn.”

Regarding the third goal when Diallang Jaiyesimi’s left-wing cross made its way into the corner of the net, he added: “It’s disappointing, you’ve got to be tighter in the box. It’s those little inches that we’ve got to do.

“If you want to go up you’ve got to do them and at the minute we’re not, we haven’t been doing it for the past however many games.”

Woolfenden says the Blues are much better in training than they’re currently showing in matches.

“I think that’s the frustrating thing,” he said. “In training we train well, some of the football we play in training is unbelievable, but if you can’t put it out on a Saturday or a Tuesday night, it’s worthless.

“But I think we’ve got to start playing to people’s strengths, we had Nors on at the end and it wasn’t hitting him enough until the end. He was putting centre-backs on their arses and causing carnage and all sorts, so we’ve just got to start playing to people’s strengths.”

Woolfenden is pleased to have Norwood and Downes back from their injuries.

“I think when he’s fit and when he’s on it, he's a massive handful, that’s for sure,” he said of Norwood, whose goal was his first in the league since February last year.

“His movement, he’s aggressive, he’s not the biggest but he wins 90, 95 per cent of the balls in the air. We’ve got to make use of it.”

“When Flynn’s in there, we’re a totally different team, we have the legs to press, the energy and the aggression in there.

“I think Flynn was a big miss but now he’s back, hopefully he can stay fit and put that injury behind him and we’ll get the rewards for that.”

And Town have five more players closing in on their returns from injury with Kane Vincent-Young, Gwion Edwards, Jon Nolan, Teddy Bishop and Keanan Bennetts all due to join the squad for training on Monday.

“That was the benefit of the break, a few boys are now only a couple of days or a week away from being up for training with the lads,” he said.

“Listen, when our squad’s fully fit and firing, it’s probably one of the best in the league, if not the best, so we need to starting showing that out there.

“When everyone’s back, no time for excuses, we can’t have that ‘Oh, we’ve got a few players out’, that should become a load of bollocks then.

“When everyone’s fit, there’s nothing to hide behind, we’ve all got to go. And we need to start showing that against Burton next week.”

Photo: Matchday Images

therein61 added 15:46 - Jan 10 Quite a revealing insight from the young man mind you as in previous comments he's shot himself in the foot with Mr paranoia!!(who appears to be messing about with the goal keeping situation this rings an alarming bell from a previous manager) it is quite obvious that things off the field are in total chaos we seem to have a load of well paid(managerial team) headless chickens running our once proud club the only success they have had is turning us into a laughing stock!! oh as an add on @tetchris don't bank on the terrible twosome(who have had a very negative effect on this club more on the park than off) leaving they think they are the next management team God help us!!.

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ChrisR added 15:55 - 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 so great either ,ITFC is slipping to oblivion with this bunch.
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eddiespearitt03 added 16:04 - Jan 10 We can,t even put in a shift when in front of the SKY cameras. We can,t maintain momentum towards the play offs. We NEVER have a good result in any cup competition and yet we are expected to keep throwing money at watching this lame limp every season. Just look at the determination of LEAGUE 2 Crawley when they battled for 90 minutes to beat Leeds. Just look at the emotional BBC 1 interview of the Crawley player after the game when he was close to tears and that is after a WIN !!!!! Evans has screwed this club and the wall of silence is usually the response.

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herfie added 16:04 - Jan 10 Speaking a very basic truth to power! PL are you listening! Dogmatic adherence to a system the players clearly do not believe in, or are capable of making work, will condemn us to long-term mediocrity. LW's perceptive and honest comments let a chink of light into what's really going on within the club. ME take careful note!
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TractorBeezer added 16:29 - Jan 10 Well spoken Wolfman. Play to strengths, Find Norwood who makes his presence felt. Try two up front. Recognise when oppo can beat us for pace and adjust defence accordingly.
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Tractorboy58 added 16:52 - Jan 10 No longer fully read or pay attention to any of this tripe !
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Tractorboy58 added 16:53 - Jan 10 Joke team, joke manager..joke club. All we have is history 'Those were the days '
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PMK added 17:22 - Jan 10 He's basically saying players are being played out of position and in a system and formation that they don't like. Oh and also that Lambert is a useless c**t.
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norfolkbluey added 17:33 - Jan 10 A very honest assessment by Woolfy. Unfortunately we need more than just words. The young Crawley team that played today against Leeds put us to shame and gave us an insight to see how far we have dropped our standards. How can we continue with PL as a manager after his succession of failures. Tony Pulis in my opinion is just what this team needs to put some steel in our backbone. Players laughing after defeat as they leave the pitch has to be the lowest point possible for a team. They wouldn't be laughing if Pulis was in charge. Its so embarrassing living in Norfolk and supporting Ipswich (which I will always do) especially after performances like last night. I am pleading for PL and his staff to just do the right thing and clear their desks. ME you need some backbone and tell PL its just not working, you must leave. COVID or no, we have had enough now. Your history should have told us something about your personality. Sticking to a system come what may, stubborn and tunnel visioned. You are a nice guy but that's not getting us out of this division! One up front is a joke. We just don't have the quality of a single front man to hold play up and an attacking midfield to support him. So, off you go please.

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smurfsareblue added 17:34 - Jan 10 Biggest issue for me is right and left backs are old and have no legs. because we do not play 4 across middle there is no cover in front of them. When an opposing team breaks away down the wing the have one person to beat, a so called wing back. We should either play 3 at the back with 2 wing backs ( KVB amd one other ....Gwion?) or play 4 4 2. Historically When a new manager is appointed they start from the back. sort defense. get 4 in midfield to win ball and help defense. Do not concede. Then push up as a team attack as a team and defend as a team. Get some shape and be difficult yo beat and difficult to play. Am I being too simplistic?

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Tufty added 17:52 - Jan 10 Just wake me up when it's all over.
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raycrawfordswig added 17:55 - Jan 10 We are so slow and predictable.
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Texastom added 18:27 - Jan 10 ITFC and players have got away with it, COVID has suited them well. Big shock is in store for them when stadium reopens. There will be protests and a torrid time for those laughing as they go off the pitch, those having arm competitions and not even interested in watching the game, those that think it doesn't really matter losing or getting relegated. Well, we are getting paid anyway lads! Only Ipswich fans would put up with this lot and pay for the privilege because we are too polite and nice and they know it.

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spanishblue added 18:40 - Jan 10 We have no cohesion no organization no leadership just disheartened players apart from Judge running his socks off and at least Norwood roughing a few feathers up and Downes back will be a plus I'm sure , all we need now is a coach with brains and enthusiasm and a fit KVY,please get rid of Lambert
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Linkboy13 added 18:51 - Jan 10 Keep hearing these fancy formations on here. Unless you put the work rate in they don't work.
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OxtonBlue added 18:55 - Jan 10 GK. Holy RB. KVY CB. Woolfenden CB. McGuiness LB. Ward (c) RM. Edwards CM. Downes CM. Bishop LM. Bennets/ Sears CF. Jackson CF. Norwood Time to play to our strengths with all our squad coming back. All our creative talent wouldn't play at the same time but great attacking options from the bench with Dozzell, Lankester, Sears, Nolan, Dobra, Huws, Judge to choose from. I just think our squad lends itself to playing 442 and having a regular side out there. I think this team would fight from 0-90 and we'd see the best of them all. Plenty of quality there to get excited about

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dirtydingusmagee added 19:25 - Jan 10 Pity he didnt go as far as to let us know what they thought was funny at the end !
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Chris_Knights added 19:40 - Jan 10 I'm really guys .... I've been watching the Town for 47years and you can't achieve anything with these players or this manager. It works both ways you need a good manager to manage good players to achieve success . Good players with a bad manager or bad players with a good manager will not work. We have both !! The players have already demonstrated they are at best mediocre league one players and the manager should be in highland league managing some part timers and even then he'd be in too deep. You don't invest in a house it get tatty. You don't invest in a car it breaks down ... you don't invest in your football team it gets left behind . My club will be in League one this time next year... and then League Two will probably beckon in 3/4 years when Downes, Bishop, Jackson and woolfenden have been sold for a collective £15 million. We don't have talented youth because if we did we would have premier league clubs knocking on our door but we don't. This club is dying in front of my eyes and it breaks my heart that the vast majority of the fan base know it's happening and yet nothing can be done about it. Without new money. New direction and new management this club will be playing Colchester and Cambridge in less than 5 years and Lambert would still be saying the same C##P day in day out... it makes me sick .

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Nobbysnuts added 19:50 - Jan 10 Just bore off....I'm sick of this post match bullsh#t...
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shakytown added 20:45 - Jan 10 Luke is displaying the main strength of our squad in the photo. Standing still with his hands on his hips.
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Cloddyseedbed added 21:19 - Jan 10 For those that say Woolfy will be the next captain of ITFC. I think no he won't he'll be long gone, to a club that will improve his career. Honest comments from him that will give Lambert sleepless nights. Lambert hasn't a clue how to move forward and improve this squad of players. Lower league clubs have more organisation and fight and play better than we do. We are an embarrassment.

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dirtydingusmagee added 21:39 - Jan 10 dont know about the rest of you but im becoming numb with all things ITFC at the moment, its just getting to be another crock of sh#te along with the way things are going with covid. It used to be something to look forward to Saturdays .Now its about as exciting as having to unblock the sewer.Evans has overseen the mess we are in and seems happy to let the situation continue, Lambert has done nothing to back up all the hope he talked up when he came in .Now all we get are excuses for failure, nothing at all to feel good about or celebrate.Today its the Wolf out to say something, and tomorrow it will be someone else, its just same crap everyweek on and off the pitch .

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DerryfromBury added 23:28 - Jan 10 Well said young man. If he can see why can't the management team.
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RobsonWark added 23:49 - Jan 10 We all saw what Wolfenden thinks of the club when he walked off the pitch on Saturday smiling and laughing after losing to Swindon - Arseh#le! We don't need players like that at the club.
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TractorRoyNo1 added 00:07 - Jan 11 Drop him! Speaks far too much sense.
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