Left-back Stephen Ward knows Town have to get back into winning form soon if they’re to be in the end-of-season play-off shake-up as games start to run out with the Blues having struggled for goals all season.

Ward was frustrated that the Blues weren’t able to find the goal which would have turned Saturday’s 0-0 draw at Wigan into a victory which would have put them level with Blackpool in the final play-off place.

“That’s the disappointing thing for us today,” the 35-year-old said when asked about Town’s frustrating afternoon in front of goal at the DW Stadium. “We just spoke about it in the dressing room.

“Plenty of opportunities to create more but just that final ball really let us down. We got into some great areas, I thought especially in the first half we played through the lines really well but it just seemed that no matter what we did [they were able to repel it].

“Give them credit as well, they defended well, anything that came into their box they dealt with, which I thought we did at the other end.

“We know that’s an area we really need to improve on going forward. But we’ve come to a tough place where they’ve picked up results recently, they’ve been doing a lot better.

“We’ve got to dust ourselves down, take the point, get back down the road and make sure we make this point count by going and getting three on Friday at our place.”

The stats make Town’s failings this season all too clear. The Blues are fifth in a League One table based on the fewest goals conceded and fourth-bottom on goals scored.

“It’s always pleasing to get a clean sheet,” Ward continued. “I think as a team, we’ve got to be better going forward. We can’t just put all the pressure on the lads at that end of the pitch, we know we’ve got the capabilities.

“Whether it’s just a bit of confidence that we need, we maybe need just one to go in any which way, but it just seemed that no matter what we did today they had an answer for it, which is disappointing because as a team we’ve got players in there that can create chances and it just didn’t happen for us today.

“But as a whole, I think performance-wise we controlled a lot of the game, especially in the first half and we were disappointed not to come in with a lead at half-time, if I’m being truly honest.”

The result leaves the Blues 11th but only two points off the play-offs, although having played a game more than the Seasiders in sixth, with 10 matches left with Bristol Rovers at Portman Road on Good Friday and Town visiting Rochdale on Easter Monday. Ward believes Town can get into the top six if they can get some momentum going.

“I think the position that we’re in is one we’ve got to be positive about,” he reflected. “I know it’s only a point on the board today but we’ve come away from home again, we’ve two massive games next weekend where we’ll aim for maximum points.

“But it’s so tight, we just need to go on a run. We were hoping that would start today with a victory, we’ve got a point, we have to dust ourselves down. The manager is very meticulous here, he knows the areas we need to improve.

“We’re working extremely hard on the training ground, extremely hard to improve in those areas and improve our style and how he wants us to play and that’s what we’re going to do this week.

‘We’re going to work very hard and we have to turn this point into a really good one by going and putting in a performance on and getting the maximum on Friday.”

Cook said after the game that there were too many players looking for others to make something happen.

“From my point of view, I think the manager’s come in, there are a lot of players here, but a lot of good players and we’ve got to take responsibility ourselves,” Ward said when asked whether he agreed with that assessment. “We’re the ones out there on the pitch, we’re the ones that can affect the games.

“The manager, the staff can only do as much as they can throughout the week. They’ve given us game plans, they’ve set us up well and then it’s up to us to go out and perform.

“We’ve got to shoulder the responsibility, we know we can be better in the final third, we know, we see it in training, we see what we can do and it’s about bringing that into a Saturday, into a Tuesday or whenever we play.

“And that’s got to be the case going forward. We’ve got to still believe we can get into these play-offs because it’s so close.

“We’ve got a run of games where you we hope can pick up some valuable points and stay in with the push.

“I think most importantly, you see it a lot of times throughout seasons, teams that finish strongly tend to go into these play-offs in good form, and that’s what we need to do because we’ve got 10 massive games ahead of us.”

However, he knows time is running out to find that form: “We don’t want to run out of games either. We wanted it to start today, like I said, it just wasn’t to be our day in front of goal.

“We got into a lot of good areas, balls went across the face and, like I said, credit to them, they defended for their lives, they’re battling as well to get as many points as they can to stay in the league.

“They defend well, we know it’s got to be better, we know we can do better but we got into some great areas today and for whatever reason it didn’t fall for us.

“We have to take the positives in terms of it being a point, there are 10 games left, there’s plenty of time to go on a run but we don’t want to run out of games either, we want to make sure that starts as quickly as possible.”

Last week saw manager Cook able to get his players on the training field for a prolonged period of time for the first time since he took charge and with the Blues not in action until Friday, he has the opportunity to do the same in the days ahead.

“It’s difficult for a manager when they come in during the season, he’s trying to get his style of play across, what he wants from us and we’re really working hard at that,” Ward continued. “I think you can see glimpses of it in games.

“You want to work hard on the training pitch, that’s what you want to do. He’s meticulous in how he wants us to play but he also gives us that freedom.

“We’re working really hard on the training pitch and hopefully we can reap the benefits of that come Friday because we had a good week’s training and we came into this game full of confidence.

“Sometimes you get these games where the ball just doesn’t fall for you in the opposition box, that was the case today. But I think as a team, we look solid, for most parts of the game we controlled it.

“But we know there are always areas to improve. He wants us to improve, he wants us to get better, we want to get better as a squad and we’ll work hard again this week and come into two massive games next weekend.”

Photo: Pagepix

Texastom added 19:12 - Mar 28 “It wasn't our day in front of goal.....we got in the right area but it didn't fall for us “ It's been like that for 3 years! More same old and utter nonsense why do they come out and embarrass themselves further. Clearout please
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Texastom added 19:16 - Mar 28 We don't have professional footballers, simply awful
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The_Prof added 19:21 - Mar 28 I get so frustrated by all the talk of 'doing well in training'. Of course you do; you're playing against each other in training with nobody putting pressure on, unlike real games where the opposition are going to fight for every ball and beat us physically just about every time. Good technical players are fine, but they also have to compete and win the physical battle first, and we haven't been able to do that for years. There's only Norwood and Wilson of the current 735-man squad who have that innate power.

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TimmyH added 19:28 - Mar 28 Keep playing that ordinary Stephen and you might get another car for Ireland...
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TimmyH added 19:28 - Mar 28 cap*
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SickParrot added 19:59 - Mar 28 I've only read the headline because I am not interested in anything the players have to say anymore. My message to Ward and his chums is shut up and clear off a.s.a.p.
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Cakeman added 20:10 - Mar 28 Jackanory!
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Bluearmy_81 added 20:29 - Mar 28 This 'clear out' that everyone keeps going on about should be interesting. Who do you expect us to get in any one good?! Any one would think we haven't got a total mingebag for an owner... 😂
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bluesince76 added 20:35 - Mar 28 Ward is a very average player just like the rest of them we need good players at this club over to you Marcus .
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dirtydingusmagee added 20:39 - Mar 28 OH SPARE US, we dont need these pointless ,pityful announcments after each and every appaling performance. Every week we hear players say what needs to be done every week nobody actually does anything .We are not cardboard cutouts , having said that ,even they must have seen enough .
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DifferentGravy added 21:02 - Mar 28 HA! Thanks The Prof, that did make me laugh ............'735 man Squad' LMAO
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shakytown added 21:08 - Mar 28 Time to start telling your teammates who are just taking an easy ride. Show some leadership even if it upsets a few of their huge egos.
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CheffyCooky added 22:09 - Mar 28 It's getting insulting now
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KiwiBlue2 added 23:20 - Mar 28 Wonder who the tripe-spout will be next week.......
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eddiespearitt03 added 23:56 - Mar 28 When you see a corner or a free kick that reaches the opposition,s first defender or a throw in to the other team, then you know something ain,t right. When a 10 yard pass goes straight to a different shirt colour or a longer ball to no one. When a player is a yard too slow or can,t get on the end of anything. When poor basic defending results in conceding an easy goal. The fact we continually lose possession and have little attacking menace. Last week we had Cole Skuse self promoting his chances of a new contract with " i,ve got plenty of games left in me " . The promising Dozzell saying he has to increase his chances of scoring or providing goal chances. This week it is Mr Ward bluffing us with " It is always nice to keep a clean sheet" and of course the usual "we have to do better". All we can hope for is the removal of this decline once and for all. Under the reign of Marcus Evans i can,t see things changing any time soon. ( Installing another manager to be set up to fail is what it seems like as an Ipswich supporter ) The re-issue of contracts will be an indicator on Evans ambitious plans or the repeated "no change" policy to keep this club stuck. Evans has to make judgement after witnessing the appalling games he has watched . It is long overdue to release the players considered senior in rank and recruit players who want to improve and capable of doing something to win a game. The end of season recruitment and re-build will be make or break for Paul Cook. The supporters have had too many seasons of this failure to listen and act under Marcus Evans.

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johnwarksshorts added 07:51 - Mar 29 Whats the point of rolling out various players to state the bleeding obvious.
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KiwiBlue2 added 08:36 - Mar 29 Ward's pose in the pic is quite ironic. He appears to be trying to summon divine intervention but I would wonder if even that would be enough to help us to the play-offs.......
0

raycrawfordswig added 08:50 - Mar 29 Too many players stealing a living .
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bobble added 09:02 - Mar 29 it seems that everyone of our players who constitute the worst Ipswich team ever in our history , are somehow footballing tactical geniuses ! ......................................how long are the these inept players and inept management going to play this card ? as a serious town fan, i do not want to hear a word from these serial slackers and losers until we start going up and up....if you cannot win then shut the &^#$ ,up until you have enough form and fans respect for the great club you play for to give 1000% on the pitch and ....gitec hnjfc nmh

2

bobble added 09:04 - Mar 29 when i was 35, i was an alcoholic druggie footballer who could have run rings around these losers on a 5 a side pitch...
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JewellintheTown added 09:34 - Mar 29 Cook is right - everyone on the field is waiting for someone else to do something. All players including Ward are right when stating the obvious in this article, but do so in the third person as if they're not responsible and somehow detached from blame. Mentality is poor in this team and doesn't look like any manager can change that. Supporters are right in asking for a wholesale change, however wasn't that what was asked for by fans from every manager? Look where that's got us. I've no ideas anymore on how to turn this around, but worse still, leadership at our club doesn't appear to either. Seems no one is prepared to take risks or the blame anymore and that's a mutual blame issue from every manager, player, fan and owner we've had in the past 20+ years. Fans understandably blame everyone and get on everyones back when losing as most pay to see this, manager feels the pressure and protects players underperforming, puts in requests for "better" players, owner gets cold feet because they've been burnt by previous managers after taking the gamble, players want to leave because of results or personal or opportunity or pay, seems no one wants to play for loyalty or love or if they do they just aren't good enough. Big downward spiral of club failure and all in part to blame. All forgiven when mental attitudes and luck changes though and the only person that might just do that at the moment is Cook. Only choice is to get off his back, give him time, let him have a crack at the players, the owner, the scouting, the training and worst case the cycle repeats again. What choice do we have even though we've been here many times before? Keep the faith (again)!

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d77sgw added 09:43 - Mar 29 Certainly don't think anyone should get on PC's back. Evans really has gutted this club. Got one management appointment right and then never gave him the transfer funds to get us promoted. Yes MM's style was painfully boring to watch and stubborn, and his attitude to some fans toward the end was verging on arrogant, but given the opportunity to spend the sort of money that Keane and Hurst were given we would still be competing in the Championship. Interesting to see his record at Cardiff since taking over in Jan and spending nothing now stands at W:8 D:5 L:1. Yesterday's news of course, but you can't pretend the legacy of that decision hasn't led us to where we are now, so is still relevant. And its interesting to see what a change in management can bring. Paul Cook comes with a good pedigree, at exactly this sort of level, so I am optimistic in the medium term, but I can't help but feel we've got lot of short term pain to get through first. There isnt a single player at our club that is both of Championship level and can stay fit for more than 3 games (otherwise I would claim that for Bishop and KVY, possibly Gwion). Dozzell has potential. Keep looking at Barnsley to give me hope.....

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Skip73 added 09:53 - Mar 29 Another Monday and more pathetic, empty BS. The clubs favourite word, disappointing, used in the first sentence. I won't be watching this spineless pathetic bunch of wimps any longer. A completely new squad is needed next season.
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Skip73 added 10:01 - Mar 29 The team needs a few of the 'proper blokes' that were so derided 3 or 4 years ago, instead of the pathetic snowflakes we have now.
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oldelsworthyfan added 10:16 - Mar 29 Partnerships. are very important. Norwood is still looking for one!
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