Boss Paul Cook admitted that while Town were never in much danger of losing their 0-0 draw at Rochdale, they similarly didn’t look like scoring the goals which would claim the three points.

Asked for his thoughts on what was a not overly enthralling game, Cook joked: “No chance! Obviously we all watch the same game. For managers now, we’re in a culture where you take positives and the positive is that we’ve got a point.

“We kept a clean sheet, we haven’t folded away from home when we might have done previously but I felt it was a game that we never really looked losing. We looked quite solid at the back. Did we ever look like scoring the goals to win us the game? Probably not the same way.

“The flair players in football today, they’re huge at every football club no matter who you are. Our lads this year, our record’s there where we haven’t really scored enough goals, we’ve huffed and puffed in those areas and today we’re still doing the same things.

“I’ll just keeping working with the boys. I’ve just said to them in there that we have to have a little bit of humility about us as a group. We’re a great club, everyone knows that, they’ve heard all that before.

“And the first thing we all do, we look at ourselves - are we working hard enough, are we doing enough? So going forward then that we can have a plan.

“Today we hoped we’d win the game, but we didn’t believe we were going to win it, we hoped. And a club like ours coming to Rochdale, we’ve got to be better than that, we’ve got to believe we’re going to win, when we’re going to win, what minute are we going to score? None of us felt that. And that’s the sadness but sadness can soon turn to joy, can’t it? That’s for sure.”

"Is it difficult to solve the issue of a lack of a goal threat? “We are, James Norwood is out injured. Oli Hawkins has come on today, we’ve put combinations together which we haven’t really worked on.

“Let’s have it right, we’re at a stage of the season where getting on the training ground is difficult because of fatigued and tiredness, we travelled up north yesterday.

“What we have at the club is a really honest group of players, there’s no doubt about that. I’ve been in this building, I’ve been in dressing rooms that have characters who aren’t honest. We don’t have that.

“We have a group of young lads that are honest but at times are lacking quality and you’d expect us to have that quality at this club, which is something, with eight games to go, we still have a chance of doing.

“I said to them in there ‘you’ve got to be the one to step up, it’s your time, now is your time. Forget everything’s that gone on, let’s step up to the plate’.

Quizzed on whether Norwood would be back for next week’s home game against the MK Dons, he added: “With the greatest respect to every player, it’s hard at this club because we just get more injuries at this club than at any club I’ve seen. I’m not putting dates on it, I don’t think he’s bad, it’s a thigh problem and you don’t want him to carry on playing.

“Again, let’s lick our wounds let’s travel back south, disappointment’s never far away in football and the disappointment is that we want to be so much better than we are and with eight games to go, we’ve got to find a way, haven’t we?

“Within the shape of the team, we do look quite solid, I give them that. But we don’t look like scoring.

“We made five positive subs, I might be wrong with that. Sorry, Myles Kenlock came on the left side because Teddy Bishop was just shattered. Teddy worked so hard, second game [in four days], he carried an ankle problem from the game on Friday, so Myles came on just to block that side.

“But within that we tried our best to get players on. I thought Oli Hawkins looked a handful, I’ve got to say that. Again, it is what it is, you’ve watched it yourselves, you don’t need me to go over it much more.”

Cook started in the 3-5-2 system employed against Bristol Rovers before moving to a four-man backline towards the end of the first half.

“I think our supporters, going forward, know I have beliefs in the game and stuff like that,” he continued. “But at the minute we don’t have the personnel to do that.

“But what we do have is players coming back like Flynn Downes, who will be back with us, so we have options to get good players on the pitch. Kane Vincent-Young will be back this week.

“We’ve got the ingredients, haven’t we? What we’ve got to do is put them into the pot to make a nice meal.

“At the minute, I’m not so sure how it will be next Saturday. Feel free to write in and give us some suggestions.

“Keep believing, that would be my message to fans. I know it’s been a tough year for everyone and it’s easy to criticise us again.

“I watch the games as a fan. If I was a travelling fan today, would I have been happy? No! Not a chance. But would I go home and still support my team? One hundred per cent.”

Many fans and pundits thought Town needed six points from their two Easter games, however, Cook isn’t too unhappy with four.

“I genuinely thought it had to be four and I’ve got to be honest about that,” he said. “I think that if you keep picking four points out of each two games you’ll be fine.

“The reality is that each dropped point puts the pressure on the next game and the reality for us is that if we want to be in the play-offs, it looks at the minute that our home form is good, but away from home we need to be better. And that’s for me and the staff to address.”

That neither side managed a shot on target summed up the game but also illustrates Town’s strengths and weaknesses at the present time.

“You don’t need many comments from me on that,” Cook continued. “That’s the truth. You guys travel, we try and put flair players on. Sometimes our quality in possession of the ball is alarming, but there you go.”

Are confidence or belief the issue? “I don’t know, I can’t answer those questions because we travelled on the back of good home win. We travelled to Fleetwood off the back of a good home win.

“But for some reason, we don’t seem to take games by the scruff of the neck and say ‘we’re Ipswich Town, we’re dominating this football match, we’re about to take control’.

“It’s always hope and you don’t play football with hope, well you have to play with hope, but you’ve got to play with belief and the belief comes off the players. Could our players have ran more or worked harder? No. Did we lack quality? Yes, 100 per cent.”

Reflecting on the game further, he added: “You’ve watched more games than me, you’re not going to learn any more from me today that you don’t already know and the supporters don’t.

“Within that, my big message to the players in the dressing room is ‘step up to the plate, come on, there are eight games to go, so much football to play, let’s step up to the plate’. And that will be the continuous message.”

Rochdale manager Brian Barry-Murphy felt his team, whose only win at Spotland this season was back in October, were the more likely victors.

“I thought it was a tough game,” he told the Dale official website. “I thought our lads put everything into the last two games - the one on Friday [a 2-1 defeat at Portsmouth] and today.

“We’ve had loads of games this season where we’ve played well and probably haven’t got what we felt we deserved.

“Today I thought we defended resolutely and I thought we were in the game for the whole game.

“I thought we were the team likely to win it, in difficult conditions. I’m just really proud of the lads for the amount effort they put into the game to get a result at home.”

Photo: TWTD

dirtydingusmagee added 21:01 - Apr 5 i'll stick with PCB until he has HIS players , but will be VERY concerned if he he retains more than a couple of the present shower. And certainly not Chambers and Skues ,they are washed up now another season for them is not an option if we are going to progress ,they are at least two seasons past the sell by date now.
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Help added 21:10 - Apr 5 Well what can you say that has not been said already at least a hundred times this season. Same old, same old. We are pants aren't we. Cant play 442, cant play 4231, 433, cant play. Also have to agree there is no difference between the 4 Paul's is there. Maybe managers with the name Paul is the problem. No really a different manager and still the same results. Paul wants to give the players a cuddle as they have been berated for the last 2 years, but after that performance does he wonder why the players have been given stick. There is nothing there is there. As a fan there is nothing to excite. Nothing to get the pulse racing, no eager anticipation. Like the last 2 years I cannot wait for this season to end. How many seasons have we written off. I was expecting to see some U23's in the team, maybe when mathematically impossible to get in the play-off, but to be honest I dont think we deserve to get into the play off's.

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Tractorboy58 added 21:51 - Apr 5 In all honesty there is no difference with Paul Cook, although he is perhaps a bit more honest. Matt Gill managed to get some decent performances and results ??
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JewellintheTown added 21:59 - Apr 5 Bored with this pathetic team. Evans needs to build into contracts the ability to drop wages by 10% every time they lose or 5% for a draw. Eventually owing the club money to redistribute to fans and buy better players. Would show where their hearts lie & hit them where they really care about. Would only sign serious & committed players. Soon start banging those goals in & sharpen up their skills. Unrealistic I know, unfortunately, but would do the trick. Too many cruisers in the team. Know they get paid handsomely no matter what the outcome. No incentive. None of us fans get paid for such frequent failure, why should they?

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bobble added 22:03 - Apr 5 13 games is down to eight ,and we are just as far from the gate. we have gone baCKWARDS UNDER COOK
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blueboy1981 added 22:03 - Apr 5 Anyone who is already doubting PC needs to book an appointment to be checked for sanity - much of this squad have been with all of the last three Managers. It proves one thing, and one thing only, and that is the Players are :- SIMPLY NOT GOOD ENOUGH for the Championship, and only mediocre Division 3 Standard - and struggling even to stay with that. Paul Cook - you've given them all a chance, they've failed you (except for the Defence) and they've failed themselves in doing so. Be ruthless now, clear the end contract players out - and don't be afraid to hoof any long contract players out of the team also. Far too many cannot be relied on to perform, as has been proved game after game, after game. Their time has to be up. As MM once said ‘you need Men in a team with some Rollocks' - we simply have too many ‘can't be asked' and ‘limp wrists' and not enough Men - scathing yes, but true.

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shakytown added 22:49 - Apr 5 Just a total lack of talent at the club is the problem. Too many players have been hyped up and so has the academy. Time for an HONEST assessment of every player and then a cull of massive proportions. We need to start again from the beginning as very few of these players are even league 1 standard.
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SickParrot added 22:54 - Apr 5 How can there be no shots on target from either team in a professional match? Shows what a low standard this league is. We may have got even worse under PC so far, but it's down to the players. They've been coasting along in mid table happy to let the previous manager take the flak for their inconsistency and under achievement. Then there is talk of a new owner and PC comes in with new ideas and genuine promotion ambitions. The players are suddenly out of their comfort zone and unfortunateky their insecurity is having a negative effect on the pitch. Right manager, wrong players. Let the clearout begin.

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suffolkblueeye added 23:04 - Apr 5 All must go.......doz gets worse by the game, bishop needs the right pitch, wind speed, weather and opponent.....start again...
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groundhog added 23:24 - Apr 5 Much as our players are overrated has-beens or never will be's, it is worrying that we have been performing worse since the latest Paul took over. Especially when you look at the turnaround the Cowleys have overseen at Portsmouth.
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Michael101 added 23:42 - Apr 5 Groundhog,the reason is simple Portsmouth players ain't useless .therefore Paul cook have a lot harder job.
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eddiespearitt03 added 02:28 - Apr 6 Where do you start ? It is just another typical boring stale mate game with no shots on target. Players of low quality who are just playing out another poor League One game. Nothing has changed Mr Cook. I can,t see this club getting out of this mess any time soon. Manager after manager and poor players carried forward to the next manager. Well done Marcus Evans.

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madmouse1959 added 02:38 - Apr 6 All we can hope for is what Paul Cook said....There will be good news for the supporters at the end of this season. A lot of contracts just simply have to end.
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Karlosfandangal added 07:38 - Apr 6 Through Nsiala had a good game and Jackson work rate was excellent. Jackson will only score if he gets the service. Norwood seems to get in the right places and last season Jackson/Norwood worked For now I think Hawkins/Norwood if we can keep them fit, What I saw tonight I think Hawkins is a better fit than Parrot
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tractorboybig added 08:02 - Apr 6 You all go on about an end of season clear out and cook bringing in his men? I am quite aware ticket tout digs deep to bring in multiple players for his new manager?
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Billericay12 added 09:09 - Apr 6 The only positive I can come up with is that we aren't conceding many goals. Holy is no worldbeater but did command his box and came for everything he could. Defensively we are ok but distribution out from the back is very poor. Distribution from midfield to attack is even worse and there lies the problem. Almost at the poi of writing yet another season off but live in hope for the miracle !!!

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IpswichT62OldBoy added 09:41 - Apr 6 It doesn't require a lot of skill to run and chase and harry and make yourself available, just fitness and willing, both are absent. It does require some skill to pass a ball 10 yds, which again seems beyond us, but its the lack of pace, the turgid ponderous walking football that does my head in. The rate at which our decent players get injured is a worry, it seems pathological, a physical manifestation of a deep existential crisis in the psyche of the club. Also the beer on offer at Portman Rd is pants which says a lot as well

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DifferentGravy added 09:47 - Apr 6 There hasnt been a bounce with Cook and am utterly frustrated with the team....but certainly prepared to give Cook the chance to build his own team and put his own identity on it during post/pre season. Regarding Lambert......really!?..........forgotten the last two+ years eh. Had his chance/had his transfer windows. Hes gone, move on. Would be great to get KVY/Downes and Norwood back(like Norwood but his injury proneness a major concern). Add some quality to the team for the run in.....and we certainly couldnt do any worse than yesterdays performance. Post season: IN - A proven goalscorer who know how to play the game. A strong defensive midfielder. A right & left midfielder with the ability to get up and down the pitch, provide quality service and get into the box. An attacking midfielder with the desire to get into the box, create chances and want to score. A left back. A right back. OUT - Chambers/Jackson/Ward/Skuse/Judge/Edwards/Sears REPLACE IN STARTING LINE UP: Dozzell/Bishop (I like Teddy - quality at times but too inconsistent) A big ask but would imagine a good chunk of wages would be saved from those above

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Bergholtblue added 09:51 - Apr 6 On the 1st April (alright it may have been a joke) Town announced that "they will be taking a new data and statistics-led approach to recruitment, next season with adding creative players to the s the main priority." It would be interesting to know whether any of our current squad would have the desired statistics that we would be looking to recruit.
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Razor added 10:25 - Apr 6 Actually I do not think we have the ingredients as the the cheeky chappy says-----none at all!!
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Paddy39 added 10:32 - Apr 6 I watched on ifollow yesterday and it looked liked our players are already on the beach on holiday in their swim gear. They couldn't give a toss about trying to go up as they are not good enough for the Championship The subs tried their best (especially Dobra) but no shots on target over 90 minutes of football is pathetic to say the least. They would work harder if they only got paid if they won. Paul big clear out if you can and hopefully get some new blood who can play your system.

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TimmyH added 11:46 - Apr 6 Apparently real club legend John Wark predicted a 1-0 loss against Rochdale which about sums it up what he thinks about this bunch!
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Barty added 12:15 - Apr 6 Even if we kicked off 5 minutes before the opposition i wouldn't bet on us scoring
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dirtydingusmagee added 12:16 - Apr 6 sorry PC there were occasions when we DID look like we could lose .And against Rochdale a team propping up lge1 with dire statistics it was a very poor display and result, cant dress it up any better.If there were points awarded for effort we'd have lost .
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Marinermagic added 12:40 - Apr 6 Got to feel for both Lambert, yes Lambert and Cook who both had and have a squad some of which ie Jackson, Nolan etc who have clearly been sulking since their sugar daddy Hurst left the club. Happy to see out their contracts with no intention of wanting to play in the Championship. Doubtless arrived with payments via their agents, and yes I know how this works, and various bolt ons to entice them to a once great club but one that sadly for them is ambitious. I believe Cook if supported will get the promotion push going but not until next season once the deadwood stage has left Town.

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