Blues legend Mick Mills issued a damning assessment of Town’s current situation following Saturday’s 1-0 home loss to Peterborough which saw them drop to ninth in the League One table.

Speaking on BBC Radio Suffolk’s post-match phone-in Mills gave his evaluation of the Blues’ present predicament with the defeat to Posh Town’s fifth in six games at home.

Overall, they have picked up just 10 points from their last nine matches, far from promotion form. Since winning five and drawing one of their first six League One games, they have won only five of the following 15.

“I just think that we’ve not been winning games for such a long period now, it’s not been good enough and we’ve been slowly sort of edging away from a position that we really should be in,” Mills said.

“We had that fabulous start to the season and we should have gone on from there but the performances are still a bit edgy, they lack fluency. Every area of the pitch that you try to analyse we haven’t quite got it right.

“The back four is not A1, we’re losing a little bit from the full-back positions that we had early in the season.

“I don’t think Luke Chambers and Stephen Ward are coming onto the game as much as they did. I don’t know whether that’s because they’re losing a little bit of confidence in the centre-half pairings that continue to change. We don’t seem to have a really solid pairing.

“It might be a lack of confidence from the full-back positions in the centre-halves that they’re playing with, but certainly the attacking side of that area of the pitch has gone.

“We saw the three together in the centre of midfield, [Andre] Dozzell, [Teddy] Bishop and [Flynn] Downes, coming together today.

“Again, they’re not quite producing. None of the three were absolutely as individuals on top of their game. Consequently, collectively they weren’t as good as you want them to be.

“And then you’ve got the three attacking players and you’ve got to say they were only OK. And we can’t go on and on and on saying ‘it was OK today, it wasn’t bad’. It’s got to be good.

“I know injuries haven’t been helping matters very much but we’re still, for me, a mile away from having a really fluent team. We’re bits and pieces really.”

Fans have been increasingly scathing in their criticism of manager Paul Lambert and owner Marcus Evans over the last few months and Mills has no problem with that.

“After every game, everybody has got the right to give their opinion,” the 72-year-old former Town and England captain said. “You’ve got to watch it and then make your assessment.

“I see nothing wrong with people coming on [the radio and giving their thoughts]. If they’ve watched the game and they haven’t seen what they want to see, don’t come on and say ‘Oh well, let’s give the manager time after time after time’.

“If they don’t like what they see then they’ve got to say that. A little bit of pressure doesn’t go amiss. I don’t think you’ve got to give people an easy ride whatsoever, that’s inclusive of everybody concerned at the club.

“Don’t give the players an easy ride, don’t give the manager an easy ride, don’t give the coaches an easy ride and don’t give the owner an easy ride because it’s not an easy-ozey game, this is serious stuff, this is professional football and this club is supported by a vast number of people that really care about it.

“I’ve nothing against people coming on and being annoyed, they’ve every right to be annoyed because this is truly dragging its feet now.

“I even made a comment early in the game that what pleased me was that we weren’t looking the inferior side from the start of the game like we have on many occasions when the opposition get their game going best of all.

“That’s such a little thing to expect, to play at home and as soon as that first whistle goes, you should look to pin the opposition back in their own half and you really say to them ‘Right, you’ve made the long journey down here, you feel uncomfortable about this fixture to start with, I’m going to make you feel uncomfortable for the next 90 minutes as well’.

“Have that sort of attitude, that sort of determination, that sort of feeling going through your body.

“But here we were today saying, ‘I like this opening spell because we’re not actually the inferior side’.

“The standards have dropped too much and we’ve got to put pressure on people to raise the standards again because otherwise if you don’t put pressure on people it will just drag and drag along and everybody subconsciously will think ‘Oh, everybody is quite happy with what has happening’.

“People are not happy, we need to get out of this division, we need to be better than Peterborough, we need to be better than Lincoln City.

“These are teams that we’d left behind by an absolute mile years ago, but now they are our equal. So we’ve got to get this show on the road, we really have.

“The game lacked life. OK, we weren’t behind Peterborough but we mustn’t judge ourselves by the opposition all the time. We’ve got to judge our own game - what do you expect from your own team?

“If Peterborough were going to come here and play to the standard they did, we should be above that and say ’Right, thank goodness we’ve met you on a bad day, right we’re going to make you suffer now’, not just run along with it and be as good as them, we’ve got to be better than them.

“It’s just dragging along too much for me, it really is. But there is a lot of time left, there are a lot of points to play for and the one thing about this division this year [is that a lot of teams are still in touching distance].

“Some time ago I said that the right teams had started off well this season and that I was absolutely sure that six of the top eight will be involved in the promotion positions, that was without many games being played.

“And before today’s game, only one of that eight had dropped out of the top eight and that was Sunderland, the team that you didn’t expect to come out and Crewe had gone into that situation.

“The right teams did get off to the right start but it’s not just Ipswich, none of them have really sort of really motored on, none of them have really said ‘Right, we’ve got the start we wanted, now we are really going to drive on well and leave everybody behind. It hasn’t happened.

“There are a lot of teams still in touching distance, so when you look at our position, we had that good start, we haven’t performed very well for a long period of time, but we’re still in touch, so if only it could be ignited, even now, we could get ourselves into a really good position and have a say in the promotion spots at the end of it, but we’ve got to do it.

“Those two who have come in this week [Josh Harrop and Luke Thomas], let’s not start hanging our hats on those two lads because it’s totally unfair.

“They’re two lads who have been available because they haven’t quite done the business at the clubs that own them, so they’re not coming here in absolutely perfect condition and yet already we’re starting to say ‘The lad Thomas looked really good today’, I’ve even said it, but we shouldn't be relying on people that are coming in this month to really ignite the season. Help us, but don’t be the mainstays of it.”

Meanwhile, on-loan Blues trio Janoi Donacien, Adam Przybek and Corrie Ndaba made their debuts for Fleetwood, Chesterfield and Ayr United respectively yesterday.

Donacien was picked as man of the match as the Cod Army drew 1-1 at Wigan Athletic, while keeper Przybek helped the National League Spireites to a 2-1 home victory over Wrexham

Defender Ndaba had had to wait a while for his debut due to postponements but helped the Honest Men to a clean sheet as they drew 0-0 at Dunfermline with the Irish U21 call-up operating at his secondary position of left-back.

Photo: Action Images

Bert added 12:59 - Jan 24 100% correct but posters calling fellow fans muppets or happy clappers is childish and counter productive. The club hierarchy know that fans are split ( probably 70/30 in favour of sacking Lambert ) so will use that to give support to their retention of Lambert. I have little doubt that if fans could go to games the club would be on the back foot and mulling over what to do. Action is needed now even if we do have the odd bright spot in a game or even a win. No goals, absurd tactics and a manager who is in denial.

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Chrisd added 13:02 - Jan 24 Well said Mick Mills, it's a pity that our hapless owner keeps listening and getting advice from the wrong people. How this situation is being allowed to keep going on is anyone's guess?
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dirtydingusmagee added 13:05 - Jan 24 Evans is detatched from the football and supporters, he sends O'Neil out from time to time to say he is listening and he is disappointed ,but he has his fingers crossed behind his back.He will spew out promises, plans,and hopes again at the end of the season, and come up with some miserly scheme to fool the gullible into continuing their support.HE MUST SELL .

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Carberry added 13:12 - Jan 24 Wise man.
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jdtractor96 added 13:17 - Jan 24 Donacien MOTM on debut. Chambers the worst player on the pitch (alongside Nsiala). I'm lost for words. #LambertOut
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BlueWax added 13:19 - Jan 24 Just had my work review and although performance has been poor for the last year, the CEO has given me a fat pay rise and a five year extension to my contract. Owner needs to own, Manager needs to Manage and players play. None of which is happening!! Some may say supporters need to support...well taking time to write about the demise of our club is actually showing support....doing nothing is just accepting the pathetic situation we are in! Ffs start pulling your fingers out and earn your money! If not just GO!

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el_nino added 13:24 - Jan 24 The negativity is incredible. It's nae normal.
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ringwoodblue added 13:31 - Jan 24 A very fair assessment from Mr Mills. As I have mentioned on a few occasions on here, I predict all the results at the beginning of the season and my prediction at this stage of the season is bang on for what we have although the numbers of wins, draws and loses are different. Predicted to date 35 points (W9,D8,L4) Actual to date 35 points (W11,D2,L8) For what it's worth, I predicted us to get 78 points at the end of the season. I hope I'm right but I doubt it after the recent shambolic performances.

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ghostofescobar added 13:38 - Jan 24 Well said. Someone that really must, must be listened to, but probably won't be. I used to watch Mick in the 70's, and it breaks my heart how ME has completely broken this club from what it once was.
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TexacoCup added 13:41 - Jan 24 I was really pleased to hear Mills say what he did, he's spot on. The frustration is growing and increasing the gap between club and fans. Mills did say that he wasn't in favour of changing the manager during the season, not sure I agree with that because if he stays and we don't improve 100% season ticket sales will plummet.
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ChrisFelix added 13:42 - Jan 24 I think Lamberts obsession to include captain calamity in the team is the problem. Surely the lad sent to Fleetwood couldnt have done any worse, at least he has mobilty & pace. If you want to see proper full backs watch Mills (my all time fav Town player) or Burley
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RegencyBlue added 13:42 - Jan 24 A legend tells it how it is! Shame no one at the club is listening.
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hadleighboyblue added 13:43 - Jan 24 Well said Mick Mills . he speaks with honesty and a passion for ITFC which are 2 things totally lacking from Paul Lambert and the owner . Hearing PL's post match comments week after week , he is either deluded or taking the mick - the fans know he is talking rubbish and so do the players . If we don't get rid now , the club is going to fall even further and supporters will sadly leave in their thousands

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warktheline added 13:50 - Jan 24 @bert, you're a muppet! Excuse after excuse from the likes of you, have enabled the Trojan Horse to merry go about dismantling our club!.....so no apologies, Bert you're a total muppet !!!!
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gazzer1999 added 13:53 - Jan 24 As much as I share the sentiments on here regarding Lambert, please stop criticising Chambo he does his best and at least he has come out and spoken. He was not the worst player on the pitch and neither was Nsiala they are easy targets. Just stop and look at our world beating academy midfield how much did they contribute?, they are meant to create yet the only blame is aimed at Judge. Mick is spot on with his assessment and should have been given the top job here when Bobby Ferguson left, unfortunately that ship has sailed but he could defo be an adviser along with Butcher and Burley. I think it may be too soon for KD and we don't want it to sour him with this club and supporters. I do think he is the future and should be involved as first team coach along with the others I have mentioned. I am lucky to have witnessed all the highs under Sir Bobby so to see where we are now is difficult to take, but then look back to the 50's and 60's there are a lot of 'really' big clubs from then languishing in the lower leagues. Sir Bobby was given time but the football was not the dross we have seen from McCarthy, Hurst and now Lambert. My only guess is Evans is paying us all back for wanting Mick Mac out, he must 'really really' hate us.

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MonkeyAlan added 13:53 - Jan 24 Mick Mills. Our Bobby Charlton figure, or should be! Well said by a true gentleman of the game. Evans would do well to listen to people like Mick instead of those frauds like Redknapp and Fry. You need to act Evans, you really have upset the fan base this time. If you can't hack it ship out. But stop dragging our club down. Evans you muppet.
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bluedispare added 13:54 - Jan 24 I remember looking forward to watching town play every Saturday with three upfront. Mariner, Gates and Woods. Teams playing for us saw them three line up at the start of a game and thought, We're going to get a right thrashing today. Now we have one up front and they they immediately think ,this is going to be an easy 3 points they haven't got a lot to offer. Get a manager in who has that willingness to win,who will put a team on the pitch to frighten the opposition before a ball is kicked. Lambert is clueless!

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hoppy added 13:55 - Jan 24 Absolutely spot on... is that verbatim though, or did you just edit out all the “you know”s?
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Dolphinblue added 13:59 - Jan 24 Get the Legends in Now! Mills, Butcher, Dyer, Burley! Lambert Out!
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TimmyH added 14:01 - Jan 24 Give me 1 Mick Mills over the whole of the back 4...time to get some true blue blood back into the management, what else do we have to lose? we've fallen so low.
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istanblue added 14:05 - Jan 24 Spot on Mick Mills. However there is one thing he said which I would have to disagree with. Mick says we should stick with Lambert until the end of the season on the basis that the kind of manager that ITFC need wouldn't be available at the moment. Sorry Mick but we need rid of Lambert ASAP. Even if we get in an interim manager until the end of the season just to give us a chance of promotion, that would be better than keeping PR Paul in post. The salary cap will be another nail in the ITFC coffin.

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Bert added 14:16 - Jan 24 @warktheline, well done for proving my point. The cap definitely fits you.
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aas1010 added 14:17 - Jan 24 CrockerITFC Are you in some sort off dream ? Or you a scum fan ! Wake up
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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 14:31 - Jan 24 Mick Mills: Legend. I even named my budgie after him as a kid. (It was an elegant blue and white of course, I hasten to add, not your bog-standard yellow and green.)
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Linkboy13 added 14:42 - Jan 24 I think what Mick was trying to say was Lambert's not doing a very good job. Can't think of one player who is playing to any sort of form.
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