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

BrandestonBlue added 15:28 - Jan 24 MM said that he didn't think we should change managers at this stage of the season as the best candidates might not be available and we should wait until the end of the season to get the right person. I think that the fans would be happy to see the end of Lambert and give Terry Butcher / Kieron Dyer the chance to show what they can do for the second half of the season - they would surely get more out of the players and playing more attacking football- if not then at the end of the season we have the choice to recruit a new manager but if we have progressed under these two we can extend their contracts

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runningout added 15:29 - Jan 24 aas010... Think you'll find it's humour. I'm worried about those that actually bite.
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TimmyH added 15:29 - Jan 24 aas1010...you're a total bellend!
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Facefacts added 15:36 - Jan 24 Yes good to get Mick's views on here as an article. It would be good if only those who actually, like him, watched the match carefully, would comment. It costs £10, ok, but doesn't involve travelling anywhere away from your phone or keyboard or TV. Every game is different. Try to just comment on what is relevant, so taking each game as it comes and not harping on about the past. That is what the manager means about negativity. We have to live in the here and now. Last week we played effectively on a non league ground so not much football could be played. But we won. This week we could have tried to play more football but we don't know how disruptive the loss of Harrop to COVID was to the plans. Yesterday was not too bad. I have been a big critic of Chambers, commenting on here that we should have let him go before the last contract extension, and yes he did give the ball away when not under pressure in the first half two or three times and it did lead to Pboro attacks but it was not one of his worst performances. Those who say play a different formation with more strikers.. what we were doing yesterday was trying to nullify an opposition which tonked us last season. They are flying in the league and we needed to stop them making us look stupid, which we did. Once you have decided to play a young centre back McGuinness you cannot really blame him for the own goal which decided the game. You actually need Chambers to brush away his tears and get him playing again, not like Ward who just said oh for f's sake and walked away from him. He scored the winner last week so who on here would have dropped him for this match? These are all difficult decisions. But today he cost us a hard earned point, which wouldn't have been a bad result. It doesn't matter how good Donacien is, we know the manager doesn't like him. It doesn't matter how bad you think Chambers is, the manager will always pick him. Regarding KVY, I would like to see Chambers (who kept saying he would give his all, 'if selected' on BBC Suffolk) dropped when KVY is available, but what will probably happen is Chambers will move to the centre. But I would not put it past our manager to continue to say KVY is not ready, to avoid making the decision. In the end it's about making the best decisions you can on a game by game basis. Forget the past and fight the other team for the points. Gather round the referee, quickly suss out how weak he is, like Pboro did to get more decisions.

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spanishblue added 15:44 - Jan 24 Says it all Donacien MoM, not good enough to get on the bench, Lambert is a blind deluded individual who's head is up his rear end, why do I watch this rubbish I'm a supporter with close 40 years up and down the country,now in Spain but I miss the Town playing
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drewcudders1963 added 15:47 - Jan 24 It's a shame but MM is right. Don't always agree with his comments on radio but he is spot on here unfortunately. To have been caught up and passed by clubs like Peterborough and Lincoln is, quite frankly, embarrassing !! I don't agree with all the Evan's out comments as he saved our club and has put many millions of his own money in to keeping us afloat only to be let down by most of his appointments..... so he needs to act and find a replacement for Lambert soon

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Bluearmy_81 added 16:03 - Jan 24 So Bert, Mick Mills has basically refuted your most asserted claim that there is no point voicing disapproval if you don't have all the answers. Absolute rot. It is perfectly valid for fans to voice their disquiet when things aren't good enough. That's every fans right. In fact it's their duty when their club is being destroyed so tragically. Not to IMHO is negligent, its like shrugging and saying "I'm not arsed, yeah this is OK, this'll do..."

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Pessimist added 16:06 - Jan 24 I disagree. You can only truly judge Paul lambert when he has a fit squad to choose from. Frank was right on Radio Suffolk when he said that not even Jurgen Klopp or Pep Guardiola could cope with a team full of missing players.
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ArnieM added 16:19 - Jan 24 Which is why I've said Evans won't be sacking him ....yet . As long as Lambert has CoVid and the injury list to use as an excuse he had plausible deniability. By the time these factors are no longer an issue (although I'm not sure a minimal Injury list at this club will ever exist), the opportunity to be in the promotion mix will long be gone . It practically is now - again!!

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dirtydingusmagee added 16:23 - Jan 24 ive just pissed myself,Dolphin has re invented himself .
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therein61 added 16:23 - Jan 24 Totally agree Mick apart from not getting rid of P.L and his pathetic coaches, i would like to see Butch in charge(until end of season) and see what happens if any player comes off the field laughing after an inept defeat it's obvious that players don't want to perform for Lambert so get rid and put someone in charge who's status at Town would command respect and he wouldn't listen to the creeps and crawlers who damage the club.

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Karlosfandangal added 16:29 - Jan 24 Mr Mills I was very fortunate to watch you play on many occasions so I have been spoiled by the football Town played. I agree with what you are saying, however we don't have very good players, everyone is sayin we have great youngsters, but Dozzell and Downes Woolfenden have not really improved. They should be ripping up this league. My boss at work is a posh season ticket holder and watches Posh on the ifollow at the minute and we were chatting about the game on Friday, he expected a draw because he said Posh were a poor side and the only reason they were up there was that all the other sides were worst than them. (For the younger fans on here go to YouTube and watch Ipswich v Roma highlights. Town were losing 3-0 from the first leg against a team at the time was huge and had World Cup players in their side. Just watch Mills and how he brought the ball out from the back)

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Bert added 16:38 - Jan 24 @Bluearmy 81 ... keep up to date and try reading my posts properly. Well done Blue Action and Mick Mills.
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soopercooper added 16:47 - Jan 24 Chambers is past it and being wholehearted, prepared to put your neck on the line etc. won't get us promoted we need action not words No quality simple as what a shambles! We're doomed..
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soopercooper added 16:47 - Jan 24 Chambers is past it and being wholehearted, prepared to put your neck on the line etc. won't get us promoted we need action not words No quality simple as what a shambles! We're doomed..
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tractorboybig added 16:48 - Jan 24 unfortunately evans wont listen to the fans or the clubs icons he takes advice in football matters from tax cheats and dickheads and that is where we are
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johnwarksshorts added 16:52 - Jan 24 You're spot on with your assessment Mick, sadly, I fear it will fall on deaf ears.
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Edmundo added 16:53 - Jan 24 I have supported this great Club for 35 years and for the first time yesterday thought we are a club punching above our weight. Against Peterborough. Rip it up and start again. I really think we may need to start another Ipswich to get our club back.
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johnwarksshorts added 16:54 - Jan 24 Donacien mom performance. Shame he was'nt given much of a chance here.
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Bluearmy_81 added 16:58 - Jan 24 Bert... 😂 Classic. So you were wrong then? Thanks for admitting as much. Its like you had to be given permission to have a moan...
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norfolkbluey added 16:59 - Jan 24 Invite Marcus out for lunch Mick and give him the low down on what is going on, on the pitch. Marcus might listen to you because he's not listening to the right people.
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TractorBeezer added 17:32 - Jan 24 I tried to watch the game on iFollow but no video since Sky were broadcasting in England. So I had to rely on the commentary especially Mick's educated comments. How can Lambert say that we played well? Certainly not supported by Chambo or Mick. Lambert 's assessment sounds more like a useful session on the training field and not the real thing where we really needed to do the business. True we have had injury problems but presumably so have our rivals and we do we have a large squad. Marcus please take note. TractorBeezer (supporter for 66 years)

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bluesince76 added 19:13 - Jan 24 If the fans could attend matches Lambert would be gone Evans couldn't hide behind the manager.
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planetblue_2011 added 19:20 - Jan 24 Well said Mick, spot on.
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WonTheCupin78 added 20:04 - Jan 24 Been dragging for ten years. What has there even been to cheer about in the last ten years? Tommy Smiths equaliser in the play-offs? Priskin's winner in the FA cup? Both soon cancelled out. Woeful decade for ITFC.
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