Boss Paul Cook admitted that Gillingham were the better team as they defeated Town 3-1 at the Priestfield Stadium in his first game in charge of the Blues.

“It was always going to be a difficult game, you’ll never leave Gillingham and you’ll never leave a Steve Evans team without having to earn the right to earn a football match,” he said.

“Unfortunately for us today, I felt Gillingham were the better side, I felt we were never in the ascendency, apart from the 10-minute spell maybe after we scored and equalised when we looked like we could go on and win the game.

“But then we obviously conceded the second goal, possibly against the run of play at that little moment. But for long spells, Gillingham were the more aggressive team, the better team, so it’s a really disappointing day for us.”

Were Town affected by tiredness given the number of games they’ve had to play recently, including long trips to Hull and Accrington? “No, it’s the same for Gillingham, it’s the same for all these teams.

“What happens sometimes now is we have an avenue to make excuses for losing. We weren’t good enough today, we conceded three really poor goals and when you do that away from home, the likelihood is you’ll get beat, and we did.”

Despite not being particularly good, the Blues had one or two chances, but Cook didn’t feel there was too much to take from the game.

“Yes, but I genuinely felt that we huffed and puffed, that’s the thing,” he said.

“You watched the game the same as me. It’s my first game, as you can imagine we haven’t had much time. It is what it is.

“You’re always looking for sparks and in a difficult game, I didn’t feel we had that many sparks. But the reality is that we’ve been on a really good run, so the sparks have been there.

“So what we must do is lick our wounds, accept it’s a bad day and at clubs sometimes when you have bad days, the likelihood is you hope your next bad day isn’t for a period of time. The most important thing is we bounce back on Tuesday night.”

Cook was named Town boss on Tuesday and took his first training session on Thursday. Reflecting on his time so far and what he’s learnt up to now, he added: “I’ve been in the building for two or three days, you’re learning all the time, that’s the good thing about this game for clubs like Ipswich in the league and the bigger clubs that have been in League One.

“The reality is that the clubs will go forward, whoever takes them forward is not really the main point, but the clubs will go forward one day because the structures of the clubs are too big.

“For us at Ipswich Town we know we’ve got to be better, we know we’ve got to get out of this league, and obviously today’s performance won’t see us do that.”

Asked whether 35-year-old skipper Luke Chambers, who broke into the club’s top 10 appearance-makers and scored the Blues’ goal, was a player he’d always rate, Cook said: “A lot of the time the reason why senior players keep playing is two-fold normally. One, because they’re good and two, they look after themselves in the correct and proper way.

“Certainly when you come across lads like Luke Chambers, Cole Skuse the same way, you’re talking about top level players, so that’s something that really can help the younger lads in the team.

“As I say, on games like today, I prefer to be quite brief. We all know what we can say about the game and the performance, which is not needed to be said. I think those things should be said in the dressing room.”

Sounds like the senior players will still have a role to play going forward, as much as people get excited about youngsters coming through? “Massively, absolutely massively. In over two years we’ve probably seen a really big turnaround of players, probably too many players coming in and out of the club in too quick a time.

“While I have to win games, and I accept I have to win games, my job is also to bring some sanity to the club.

“We have too many players. You can’t coach too many players, you can’t have too many players happy, so certainly going forwards, we’ll lick our wounds from today and we’ll look forward to the Lincoln game on Tuesday night.”

He felt the second goal was the game’s key moment with the Blues perhaps just starting to get on top.

“That’s the disappointing thing,” he said. “The third goal’s not irrelevant because it killed us off but the second goal was the goal that was going to decide the game.

“That moment was the first time in the game I probably thought we could go on and win. Up to that point I didn’t really feel that we were creating chances or looked like creating chances, and that seems to be a bit of a problem we’ve had all season. As I say, we lick our wounds, we get back, we work hard and we come back better.”

Kayden Jackson came back from his exile in the U23s from the bench in the second half and hit the bar.

“That was a positive, for sure,” he said. “Kayden’s got that electric pace that strikers of a certain level have, so we’ve got to make sure with the rest of the lads who were out of the squads and stuff that they feel that they’re going to get the chance, and when the chance comes it’s up to them to take it.”

Town are quickly back into action when Lincoln visit Portman Road on Tuesday: “Without a doubt, that’s the same for everyone, it’s Lincoln, Plymouth, Fleetwood, Pompey, there’s no respite for anyone and if you want to be successful you’ve got to win football games and we’re well aware of that.”

Might you freshen things up? “No, you love managers love getting these microphones pushed in front of them about 20 minutes after games. I’ve spoken enough nonsense in my lifetime.

“I’ll just keep myself to myself, we’ll speak with the staff and let’s get back to Ipswich and pick ourselves up.”

Asked about the ongoing process of learning about his players even when a result doesn’t go to plan, he added: “One of the problems you have in football is that we have is that we have a large squad and we have a lot of players being left back in Ipswich.

“And normally what happens when teams lose, the clamour is for change in the team and I’ve never been a big manager for change. As I say, it’s important we get back, we lick our wounds and we go again.”

Regarding Alan Judge missing out having suffered a family bereavement, he said: “Alan’s well aware of the support he gets from everyone at the football club, the supporters, the staff, the players, [owner] Marcus [Evans], [general manager of football operations] Lee [O’Neill], everybody.

“All our thoughts and wishes go to him in relation to what he’s going through, a very sad time, and we all hope he can come back at whatever point it is and give us a little lift.”

Photo: TWTD

Saxonblue74 added 17:45 - Mar 6 Dockerblue, would that be captain calamity who had a solid game and popped up to score the equaliser? Lots to do PC, very best of luck!
4

Blue_Meanie added 17:50 - Mar 6 Perhaps there are Town players who are more content playing L1 than pushing for promotion as they know they're not good enough to play in the championship?
3

ringwoodblue added 17:51 - Mar 6 The best post-match Ipswich manager interview I've read in a long long time. Calm, honest, no BS Thinking of Judge's sad news, it's another reminder that there are some things that are more important than the result of a football match so my thoughts are with him tonight
11

SheptonMalletBlue added 17:54 - Mar 6 Chambers and Skuse top level players. I don't think so Paul!!!
0

SickParrot added 17:55 - Mar 6 An accurate assessment by PC, who has already sussed out that we don't create enough goal scoring opportunities and that the squad is too big. He will have learnt a lot from today and our inability to impose ourselves on 10 man Accrington. He will need a little longer to identify and get rid of the serial under performers. He will, given time, also improve the promising and inconsistent, and if the necessary finance is provided he will bring in the additional quality required (new owners needed!). Paul Cook + Consortium = Championship.

5

MerseyBlue added 17:56 - Mar 6 I was happy with the honesty, even if I can't be happy with that performance. Big game Tuesday for the boys to bounce back. Condolences to Judgey, hoping he can bounce back from a tough period too
3

carlo88 added 17:56 - Mar 6 Best possible result for the new manager. If that's what the squad give him in his first game he'll be under no illusions as to the quality of it.
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algarvefan added 17:56 - Mar 6 Our current journey into league 1 and staying there started with a 'mass clear-out'under Paul Hurst and we all know the result of that, we need a period of stability, it's very early days in the career of Paul Cook at Town and we must give him time. At the end of the day when those players cross that white line the performance is down to them as much as the manager. We allowed ourselves to be bullied and hurried today by a good Gillingham side, who have been a little inconsistent this season. This is a division where anyone can beat anyone on a certain day and they do. Players must be as honest as the manager, some performances today just weren't good enough, poor passing, slow off the mark and a general lack of quality. Lots to do but for Gods sake lets support Cook in his endeavours to get the mix right.

6

peterleeblue added 17:57 - Mar 6 Handy result in some respects as it give PC the perfect excuse to do what he wants rather than keep people happy.
8

algarvefan added 17:58 - Mar 6 peterleeblue, agree 100%
0

ArnieM added 18:02 - Mar 6 PC has done the right thing for todays game . Bu and large * except for Judge for obvious reasons), he's given the current players in the team a chance to show what they can do under him. If they don't, he has every right to make changes for the next game . He's not using the excuses of tired legs , but Id suggest this IS a factor ( plus the travelling we've had over last 2 weeks ). So id be expecting a a couple of changes in the team for Tuesday night . COYB's

1

therein61 added 18:21 - Mar 6 An upfront no holds barred assessment of what went on in front of him(the performance was too early to be on the beach guys!!) what a refreshing change now that we have the blip over with early just kick some rear ends and take Lincoln to the cleaners then we can push on this guy is going to break some over paid hearts but hey ho that's what he's here for and as stated we have to many players(deadwood)

0

OwainG1992 added 18:28 - Mar 6 We need Flynn back in the CM slot for me.
2

inghamspur added 18:32 - Mar 6 Too lightweight in midfield with the combination played today. Awful defending for the goals as usual. Wilson is a poser and just kicks it anywhere.
0

MerseyBlue added 18:46 - Mar 6 Inghamspur - Wilson made one of the only decent tackles we made today, I would be more inclined to drop Toto 'can't keep his hands to himself' Nsiala. Don't like to be too harsh about him because he has got a lot of unfair abuse as well as legit criticism at times but he does worry me. Wilson and Woolfy would be my partnership of choice for Tuesday
1

grinch added 18:54 - Mar 6 honesty refreshing really Chambers has payed well recently and it's strange that every manager plays him can't all be wrong surely!!
3

Phil1969 added 19:12 - Mar 6 I'm reminded of a saying when I keep hearing about the strength of our squad despite the downward spiral over a number of seasons. If it looks like a duck walks like a duck it's probably a duck. Forget promotion this season it's not happing. Forget the loans. Work out who of our “talented” youngsters or not so young now look like they can make it, who from the senior pros. can lead us on and pray Marcus or whoever is going to waste serious cash to deliver a additions to the team likely to challenge. It isn't this one. Another journeyman lower league manager won't have a magic wand, despite any honest assessment.

2

paris_mitchell_in_oz added 19:43 - Mar 6 TractorFrog lighten up mate! Recognise humour when you see it.
2

Billericay12 added 19:43 - Mar 6 Although we have just won 3 games on the bounce they weren't particularly convincing wins and today was back to reality. A new manager alone may not be the magic solution and PC will now realise the magnitude of the task ahead. I keep hearing what a strong squad we have but for League One but I haven't seen much evidence of that. Good luck PC. Please prove me wrong.

1

rfretwell added 20:10 - Mar 6 Cornishnick brought a guffaw from me after Tractorfrogs post!
1

warktheline added 20:33 - Mar 6 Can't believe what I've just read! Cook ‘Chambers and Skuse , top level players'! Here we go again on the managerial front! These two should have been shown the exit signs several years ago!
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Help added 21:03 - Mar 6 Get the feeling the midfield was to young and we missed the experience of Judge. Need to get the mix right of age, ability etc. Hope Judge returns on tuesday and we see a different team. Honest statement from PC, but then he has not had long with the team, but he has seen how poor they can be, and have been for most of the season. Agree team is to large, and regardless of promotion or not I feel, (even though PC states to many players have come and gone at this club over the years), a big clear out will take place. I cannot have been able to run the rule over every player at this club yet.

0

johnwarksshorts added 22:42 - Mar 6 How refreshing, he never once said, "We were really really really good"
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Marv added 23:01 - Mar 6 Sorry ringwoodblue, meant to up arrow you.....
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Bert added 23:32 - Mar 6 Most managers know that the midfield should be the engine room but that's exactly what we have not got. How much longer does Dozzelll need to prove himself ? He may deliver the odd superb ball but his tackling for a midfield player is sub standard and he just waltz's around the field .We can blame Evans for many things but certain players today need to stop looking in the mirror and polishing their fancy cars and do the work on the field they are paid to do. A change of manager was needed for all sorts of reasons but Cook must read the riot act to a number of players or this malaise will continue.

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