Please log in or register. Registered visitors get fewer ads.
Cook: If We Don't Turn Up Tomorrow, We'll Get Beat
Friday, 16th Apr 2021 13:03

Town travel to Charlton for Saturday’s lunchtime kick-off aiming to get their floundering play-off push back on track and claim what would be the first away win of Paul Cook’s time in charge.

The Blues go into the match ninth, five points off the top six with six left to play and without a victory in three having lost 3-0 at AFC Wimbledon on Tuesday.

Under Cook, their away record reads drawn two and lost four. Their last victory on the road was at Accrington with Cook watching from the stands with caretaker bosses Matt Gill and Bryan Klug taking the team that day. Overall, Town have won two, drawn four and lost four since the new boss took charge six weeks ago.

However, history is on the Blues’ side at the Valley, Town having won their last four competitive games there stretching back to 2012. Their last competitive defeat on Charlton turf was a 2-1 loss under Jim Magilton’s management in October 2008.

While Cook has made a frustrating start to his time at Portman Road, Charlton boss Nigel Adkins has enjoyed a brighter beginning to life with his new club having won two and drawn won of his games since taking over on March 18th following ex-Blues midfielder Lee Bowyer’s departure.

All three of those matches were away from home with a 2-2 draw at AFC Wimbledon having been followed by impressive wins at Doncaster, 1-0, and Sunderland, 2-1. Charlton are eighth, two points ahead of the Blues.

“Good luck to Nigel, I like Nigel a lot,” Cook said of his fellow Merseysider, who was his team-mate at Wigan.

“He was at our game [at Wimbledon] the other night. He's probably gone home and had two great nights’ sleep because if I'd have watched us I'd feel exactly the same as Nigel.

“They are in a play-off position, they're going really strongly and they've got a lot of men in the team, Jayden Stockley, Jason Pearce, Ryan Inniss, Darren Pratley, right through the team, Alex Gilbey. All good, strong players, all men.

“If we don't turn up tomorrow, we will get beat. Simple football. If we can't raise a fight and we can't challenge and we can't be strong and we can't create chances and score goals, then we will just fall away to 15th, 16th in the league and that will go down in the history books.”

In normal circumstances an April game at Charlton would see thousands of Town fans make the short trip to South London and pack the away end. But tomorrow will be very different towards the end of a season in which fans have been absent aside from a couple of games midway through the campaign when a few thousand were present.

“It's been a horrendous year for everyone and I think football has offered everyone so much hope,” Cook said. “Come Saturday, it's no different for ourselves.

“Last night watching Rotherham and Coventry, tonight it's a Sky game from the Championship, football has been a shining light whilst it’s been such a tough year for everyone.

“Going to a match on a Saturday is one of the greatest days for people who go to work in every town and city in the country.

“Going to support your team is an absolute pleasure and when your team has tough times, like we're having, I think you support your team more.

“I'm a Liverpool fan and I know what Liverpool fans do. We support our team home and away in thousands and thousands because they represent the city.

“At the minute, going forward, we don't represent our town very well. But what I'm saying to our supporters, you keep believing and you keep supporting us, it will change.”

Second-guessing Cook’s team is even harder than usual given his scathing comments regarding the 18 which was beaten so embarrassingly at AFC Wimbledon onsideteam at Plough Lane, Cook will almost certainly have to field at least some of those who were involved against Wimbledon.

Tomas Holy will probably continue in goal, although it wouldn’t be a surprise if Dai Cornell got a chance to show what he can do at some point in the remaining matches.

System-wise, Cook may opt to return to his favoured 4-2-3-1 with his switch to a three-man backline and then further tinkering from there having made little difference to the Blues’ fortunes.


That will probably see skipper Luke Chambers and Toto Nsiala at the centre of the defence although Mark McGuinness might be in with a shout of his first game under Cook with Myles Kenlock perhaps returning at left-back for Stephen Ward.

Cook hinted that Kane Vincent-Young could be back at right-back, which would see Luke Woolfenden drop out.

In midfield, Cook may look at bringing Cole Skuse back in alongside Flynn Downes, while Tristan Nydam may also play a part at some stage, with Armando Dobra or Teddy Bishop perhaps in the number 10 role ahead of them.

Out wide, Gwion Edwards will probably be on the right, while Freddie Sears and Keanan Bennetts are options on the left.

James Norwood has been the most effective striker under Cook but made little impact at Wimbledon and missed Town’s one serious chance. Oli Hawkins and Kayden Jackson are among the alternatives.

If Cook looks to include any younger players in his squad, then midfielder Liam Gibbs, who coincidentally made his league debut against the Addicks at Portman Road earlier in the season, is the most likely to make the trip.

Josh Harrop will miss out as he is suspended for three games following his red card at Wimbledon.

Addicks boss Adkins can’t wait to finally taking charge of his first game at the Valley but is disappointed it’s behind closed doors.

“I’m really looking forward to being in the dressing room and on the pitch, it’s just a shame the supporters aren’t there,” he told the Charlton official website.

“I’ve got to familiarise myself with being in the home dugout and the surroundings of the game as well so it’s something I’m really looking forward to.

“Every game is now vitally important. We need to get a certain amount of points to be in a play-off position.”

Reflecting on what he saw of the Blues at Plough Lane, he added: “I went to watch Wimbledon against Ipswich on Tuesday evening. They’re having a challenging period but one thing I can guarantee is it’s going to be just as tough as it was against Sunderland for us.

“They’re going to be really fired up for the game because they’re like us. We’re very close in the league table, they’re pushing for the play-off positions and so are we.

“Having played with Paul and knowing him over the years, I know that his team are going to be fully committed so we’ve got to be right up for the battle.

“Whatever formation and whatever personnel they put out, it’s going to be a tough game but we’ve got to make sure it is a tough game for them as well.

“We can’t rest on the laurels of what we’ve been doing so far, we’ve got to keep pushing on and driving on.

“I must say the players have applied themselves really well so far. We’ve got to keep that going. We’ve got some good quality players, the spirit has been good but the work ethic and the determination to keep improving will constantly be here with the standards that we’re after.”

Striker Conor Washington, a Mick McCarthy target during his time as manager of the Blues, has been ruled out with a knock, while Ian Maatsen and Chuks Aneke also picked up niggles and will be assessed tomorrow ahead of the game. Alex Gilbey is over a problem he picked up at Sunderland.

Town just have the edge historically having won 23 games (19 in the league), Charlton 19 (16) and with 11 (10) ending in draws.

In November at Portman Road, a goal in either half from Albie Morgan and Omar Bogle saw Charlton to a comfortable 2-0 victory over Town.

Morgan put his side ahead with a low shot on 21 in an evenly-balanced first half, while sub Bogle scored with his first touch in the 68th minute to seal the three points for the visitors with the Blues never looking like staging a comeback.

The teams’ last competitive game at the Valley was in November 2015 when Daryl Murphy scored twice and Freddie Sears once as the Blues comfortably beat Charlton 3-0.

Murphy put Town in front in the 28th minute, Sears added the second just before half-time and the Irish international sealed the three points on 68.

More recently, the teams met in a pre-season friendly at the Valley ahead of the 2017/18 campaign in which the Addicks, then a division below the Championship Blues, ran out 6-1 winners.

Patrick Bauer, Tariqe Fosu and Josh Magennis (2) put the Addicks 4-0 up at half-time before two Ricky Holmes strikes sandwiched Andre Dozzell’s solitary goal for Town.

Charlton central defender Luca Vega came through the academy at Portman Road having joined the club at seven before being released in the summer of 2019 when he signed a professional deal at the Valley after a trial. So far Vega’s only first team appearance was in the Papa John’s Trophy earlier this season.

Centre-half Deji Oshilaja came very close to joining the Blues in the summer of 2018 from AFC Wimbledon.

The former Dons skipper, who signed for the Addicks in July 2019, was at Portman Road to complete the deadline day deal only for the clubs to be unable to agree a fee. Midfielder Jake Forster-Caskey is the stepson of ex-Blues striker Nicky Forster.

Saturday’s referee is Craig Hicks from Surrey, who has shown 77 yellow cards and four red in 28 games so far this season.

Coincidentally, Hicks’s last game was the Portman Road defeat to the Addicks in November in which he booked Ward, Judge and one visiting player.

He also refereed the 2-0 win at Bristol Rovers in September in which he yellow-carded Edwards, Norwood and two home players.

Prior to that he was in charge of the 0-0 draw at AFC Wimbledon last season in which he booked Downes and one home player.

Before that he refereed another 0-0 draw, at home to Gillingham on Boxing Day 2019 in which he showed yellow cards to Alan Judge, Nsiala, Edwards and Norwood.

Hicks’s first competitive Town match was the Leasing.com Trophy tie with Tottenham’s U21s in September 2019 in which he showed just the one yellow card to one of the visitors.

He also took charge of Town’s July 2017 pre-season friendly against Gillingham at the Priestfield Stadium, which the home side won 2-1.

The Kent side, who had current Blues keeper Holy in goal, went in front via a soft penalty awarded by Hicks, who kept his cards in his pocket throughout, won by ex-Town midfielder Lee Martin following a challenge by Blues captain Chambers and converted by Tom Eaves.

Squad from: Holy, Cornell, Vincent-Young, Chambers (c), Ward, Nsiala, Woolfenden, McGuinness, Dozzell, Skuse, Nydam, Gibbs, Bishop, Downes, Edwards, Bennetts, Lankester, Sears, Dobra, Norwood, Jackson, Parrott, Hawkins, Drinan.


Photo: TWTD



Please report offensive, libellous or inappropriate posts by using the links provided.



SheptonMalletBlue added 13:35 - Apr 16
Don't drop Woolfy, drop Chambers!!!!
15

dirtydingusmagee added 14:14 - Apr 16
just as i was feeling happy / hopefull having read all the statements from PC, NOW deflated at prospect of seeing Skuse, Sears,& obviously Chambers heading the list of possible players for tomorrow, after every silver lining theres a bloody cloud.
10

itfcserbia added 14:37 - Apr 16
"they've got a lot of men in the team... all good, strong players, all men" - Cookie really isn't holding back anymore is he?
4

PortmanTerrorist added 14:55 - Apr 16
Yep, it's ITFC boys against men.....again ! What older heads we have don't help our cause as they should anymore as painful as that is to say about the likes of our Captain; though it is hardly Chambers fault no one else has stepped up to claim his place in the side, le alone the armband.....what do you expect from a bunch of kids ! Oh, I know....abject and repeated failure.
1

mkbobby added 15:09 - Apr 16
Paul cook says if we don't turn up we'll get beat , I reckon if we still turn up we'll get beat maybe if we don't actually turn up and say we got lost on the way maybe the league will feel sorry for us and award us a draw
4

blueboy1981 added 17:26 - Apr 16
In all honesty a Win would be a miracle - we just haven't got within the team what it takes to win matches.
That being GOALS ! - the capability is blatantly not there.
End of season please - and load the Bus up, with anyone who can't be asked to commit and compete.
After all, don't forget this is Division 3 - yes, Division 3.
2

Razor added 18:45 - Apr 16
Freddie Sears is NOT an option-------dont put him anywhere near the pitch-----put him in the same cab as Judge.
4

therein61 added 18:49 - Apr 16
Put 18 bikes in the back of the coach then make them cycle back to their comfortable(in some cases club houses?]/lodging for youngsters) overpaid soon to end p1ss taking I.T.F.C so called career.
4

Michael101 added 18:58 - Apr 16
Cookies been talking since Wednesday,s shambles that we're not good enough !! Then there's talk about playing the three stoougers(chambers,excuse,sears) somewhere someone's telling porkies.
3

dirtydingusmagee added 19:31 - Apr 16
cant Charlton just claim a bye and save Cookies voice ? he has been shouting at a brick wall since he arrived ,
2

BcarefulwhatUWish4 added 19:36 - Apr 16
At the moment we have really limited options, don't we?

I guess he's hoping that one of the existing team will step up.
0

heathen66 added 20:22 - Apr 16
Needs to be planning for the future.
Skuse isn't the future nor will he bring any creativity
Sears is not the future so give Simpson a run
Why not try a back 4 of KVY, Nsiala, Woolfenden and Kenlock ???
...and where is Wilson, surely not still injured ???
5

bobble added 00:13 - Apr 17
4-0 loss then...
0

BcarefulwhatUWish4 added 07:32 - Apr 17
Is Huws injured?
0

PositivelyPortman added 08:35 - Apr 17
Get Tyreece Simpson involved and look to the future. They won't knock him off the ball.
Don't involve Sears and Skuse and Chambers - the has beens.
7

BettyBlue added 09:21 - Apr 17
Cook, if you can't find 11 players out of 48 who are prepared to go and fight for some points against Charlton you are the problem.

Even a bore draw would be something.....

Cook out.
-3

buzbyblue added 09:22 - Apr 17
Sorry Cookie but Chambers, Skuse, Sears & Ward are NOT the answer, quite frankly I'll be very disappointed if any of those 4 play

Time to stop the talk Cookie and start the action, dump the wasters they've had 10 games and shown fcuk all
6

braveblue added 09:28 - Apr 17
If he puts out a team with Chambers, Skuse and Sears in it then he will have some serious questions to answer.
5

Woodbridgian added 09:29 - Apr 17
Personally think Holy won't start and Cornell will, clearly been a disagreement on goalkeepers otherwise why would Walker of left with” immediate effect” with no replacement lined up ?
0

ringwoodblue added 09:35 - Apr 17
Agreed Buzblue. It's all very well Cookie say he is demolition man one day and then playing the same old duffers the next. I will very disappointed to see Ward picked over Kenlock, Chambo picked over Woolfie or Sears over any other forward.
4

planetblue_2011 added 09:50 - Apr 17
My team today

Cornell
V young Woolfy McGuiness Kenlock
Downes Gibbs
Bennetts Bishop Dobra
Norwood

A young side prob our best side
-1

dirtydingusmagee added 09:51 - Apr 17
i looked at the ''options'' in disbelief. I really thought PC was going to show these wasters he means business. IF Chambers, Sears, Skuse , have impressed him enough to warrant a place in todays line up, i will have SERIOUS doubts about PC ,AND about who he intends to retain in summer..
4

coolhand added 09:52 - Apr 17
So what have you done to make sure they turn up PC. Told the squad you are demolition man. Not the way to treat people unless you have already told players who are going/ staying. If you have then we will see an interesting team if you haven't then I am disappointed in the way you are going about things
1

ChrisFelix added 09:56 - Apr 17
I'm also not over excited to read Chambers, Skuse & Sears may play today. Its a shame that Wilson is injured.
However I'm confident that none of the 3 mentioned above will be in the Aug team
2

BangaloreBlues added 10:05 - Apr 17
If we don't turn up..?
So 5-0 then! :-)
0


You need to login in order to post your comments

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls

About Us Contact Us Terms & Conditions Privacy Cookies Advertising
© TWTD 1995-2024