Town boss Paul Cook says the Blues have now had a couple of really big highs and need to continue with them following his side’s come-from-behind 4-1 defeat of Wycombe Wanderers at Adams Park.

Cook admitted he was chuffed with his team’s display: “Yeah, why not? I think after going a goal behind, we know in football, there are no secrets and Wycombe are a very strong here, they put you under ridiculous pressure, we know that. We knew the first 10 minutes would be difficult, and it was.

“But then we had to impose our style on the game and I felt we did that really well in the first half, I thought some of our passing and the way we changed play and opened them up at times was really good and I felt we deservedly equalised.

“Those supporters, you can’t disappoint them, you’ve got to score in those ends to see the roof come off, and we did that.”

As good a display as there’s been from his Town team? “You keep asking me the same questions! One week we’re no good and the next week we’re looking good.

“We were good tonight and we were good at Portsmouth and I felt at stages at Plymouth we were alright, but we’ve got a habit of doing bad things in games at bad times and it’s something if we’re to be a better team that we must eradicate and I felt we did that really well tonight.”

He added: “When you manage as long as I have, you do your best to stay on an even keel. Especially when we’re learning like we are, Kane Vincent-Young, we knew he was going to blow up in the game because of match fitness and we have to manage these situations.

“For our supporters, they just want to see signs that we’re going to be good, and I think they’ve seen that tonight.”

Reflecting on the second half, in which his team came under pressure, he said: “Christian [Walton]’s made a world class save at the top end, hasn’t he? You’re going to get these moments, but when our chances presented themselves we’ve got players who can score and I thought defensively, against a very, very strong Wycombe team, we really stood up to the challenge well.

“Pleased for the supporters. Travelling back from Plymouth on Saturday, we were all disappointed, the coach was flat and you’ve got to let that flatness to sink in.

“I’m a great believer that disappointment spurs you on. From the disappointment we had at Plymouth on Saturday, we’ve had a great night in front of our supporters tonight.”

Town scored some quality goals with Macauley Bonne’s strike just after half-time probably the pick.

“Some quality players, but good players have to work hard,” Cook continued. “There’s no use just having good players without an appetite to play and we had a great appetite tonight.”

Cameron Burgess impressed from the bench at left-back after Hayden Coulson picked up a knock.

“Cameron’s come out of the team. When you’re at good clubs, you come out of the team to come back in,” Cook said. “Football’s about learning and we’ve got so many new lads in the club.

“Some of the stuff that people write about management I find mind-blowing when you’re so new. For our lads, they’ve got to grow into the club. To play for big clubs, you’ve got to stand up and be counted and we’ve done that tonight.”

Regarding Coulson’s injury, he said: “He got a bang, it was a big bang. We waited and waited because we knew Kane Vincent-Young wouldn’t get the [full] game because he’s just returned and we didn’t want to make a sub that early.

“Unfortunately, we had to and I thought Cam came on and did really, really well, probably was a good sub with the physicality that Wycombe carry.

“As you can see, our team is built to have attacking threats in wide areas. We want full-backs who can bomb in, we don’t want centre-halves playing in full-back positions.”

Asked whether Town will be a big threat to any team in the division playing as they did tonight, Cook said: “Let’s just take one game at a time. We’re good at taking one step back, so let’s enjoy tonight, same as we’re disappointed when we lose or we don’t win, travel back and we just keep working harder.”

The fans behind the goal were still making noise as Cook started his post-match interviews.

“Just so happy for them,” he said. “They’ve probably been at work today probably since four, five, six o’clock in the morning and they’ve travelled across in hope. The first goal goes in and you know the feeling, we all know it.

“Like we said to our lads at half-time, the best performances you can give are when you come from behind and win, especially at grounds like this.

“To win so emphatically as we have against such a strong team, it’s great for the lads’ confidence, it’s great for everyone’s belief, but it’s just a small step.”

He added: “You’ve watched us all season, you’ve watched Ipswich for a long time, you have to make mistakes to learn.

“Unfortunately, our mistakes are really, really costing us. They’re really big moments that we’re being punished for. But as painful as they are, you must learn from them.

“Today, the stages of the game when we needed to, we were there as men to stand up and be counted and I’m pleased for the players.

“I think for your performances when you go away, we carry a goal threat, but we know we’ve got to be defensively more solid. We probably came under more pressure tonight than we’ve done in the majority of the games, but we looked quite solid, so I’m really pleased.”

Was the most heartening thing being able to withstand that second-half pressure? “We’re 16 league games in, if you look at our back four tonight, again we’re putting lads back out there who haven’t played and it’s madness some of the stuff we’re doing.

“Within that, we’re on a roller-coaster ride and our supporters have had disappointments this year, but we’ve also had a couple of really big highs and we’ve got to make sure we continue with the big highs.”

Town now have 10 days without a league game with Oldham visiting in the FA Cup on Saturday and then Colchester at Portman Road in the Papa John’s Trophy next Tuesday.

“Lovely cups,” Cook said. “We will approach the cup game on Saturday, our fans want a cup run, we want to give them a cup run.”

Wycomb boss Gareth Ainsworth felt the Blues' goals came at the wrong moments for his side.

“It was disappointing,” he told the Bucks Free Press. “It was really disappointing in terms of the timing of the goals as they worked in Ipswich’s favour.

“The timing of the goals kills us really. It’s a leg up that we have given them.

“Ipswich scored from two of our set pieces and they were countering on us, but we had chances too.

“But we will be back and there are plenty more games to put points on the board and that is what I intend to do.

“They are a good side, a very good side but so are we, and I am proud of the boys.”

Photo: TWTD

Vancouver_Blue added 23:23 - Nov 2 Yes, we want a cup run, but let's be honest, we want automatic promotion more
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Europablue added 23:35 - Nov 2 Anyone thinking that we were better under Lambert, has been quieted by tonight's performance and result. I always thought we would come good, but not necessarily this season. This result makes me think that we can push on towards the playoffs and even challenge for the top two.
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churchmans added 23:43 - Nov 2 I thought vincent-young was brilliant tonight! What a great option when fully match fit! Deserved more praise! He was a pain in the arse for wycombe tonight
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Linkboy13 added 01:28 - Nov 3 One of the best away nights for a very long time. Wycombe looked very dangerous for the first fifteen minutes. Then Morsy started pulling the strings in midfield. Don't know why Coulson stayed on the field so long when he was obviously injured. When Burgess came on we looked stronger at the back against Wycombe's physical forwards. Very difficult to pick a man of the match Morsy and Evans good in the centre of midfield. Edmundson strong at the back. Edwards got stronger as the game went on but needs to work on his final ball. Celina is getting fitter and sharper every game. Wes Burns is probably the most consistent player at the club and rarely has a bad game. Couldn't really fault any body tonight.

18

bedsitfc added 06:37 - Nov 3 Amazing the difference! Having players for a formation and not trying to squeeze players into a formation
3

Bazza8564 added 06:53 - Nov 3 brilliant performance and we played well enough at times to have done that to Plymouth too. So proud of the lads and our fans are just getting better and better. 30 games to go we are tucked in nicely, there's absolutely no doubt in my mind we have the capability to get automatic promotion IF we can eliminate the silly mistakes. Going forward we are excellent the system allows us to cut people to ribbons. Good thing see PC so grounded and yes we want to compete in the FACup please. Only twice this season, Bolton and Accrington, have we really deserved nothing, keep going lads proud of you.

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pennblue added 07:08 - Nov 3 Well done Paul cook and the players, outstanding. we would have had six points from the top two away from home had we not picked up those late Injury's. You saw the support in the away end last night, that's what you have behind you, don't read any other nonsense.
10

Karlosfandangal added 07:45 - Nov 3 Think Burns should start every game he really does look class, I feel Celina is better on the left wing but after last night not so sure.
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Unhinged_dynamo added 07:52 - Nov 3 I keep hearing about the Walton save, even on the Wycombe forums. As far as I can tell its not on the highlights, can anyone provide some context?
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ArnieM added 07:56 - Nov 3 I'd say that team from ko last night was all but, our strongest 11. Such a shame Coulson going to be out injured now. We just need to continue to build on these very good performances and as the squad continues to bond / gel, I can see us post Christmas pushing on for a top two place. This team is unbelievable once it gets going into their passing game. Unstoppable. Maybe the Cook doubters will try and accept that we have the right manager and actually just enjoy the revolution that's starting to take shape at Ipswich. Lord knows, we've waited a long time for this, let just fill the stadium at FPR and lift the roof off at PR for every game now. COYBS

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spanishblue added 08:39 - Nov 3 Strange feeling knowing our team is going to actually have chances to score goals,and actually scoring goals,not since BF Joe has it been so good sadly couldn't watch the game last night, but it's great to have that warm happy glow to know we're on the up at last ,sounds a great performance again
5

Edmundo added 09:00 - Nov 3 Walton's save was a classic quick reaction save low to his right. Fast for a big lad.
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legoman added 09:14 - Nov 3 Last night you had Mick Mills in joyous tears of emotion, keep it going Cooky, onwards and upwards.
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vanmunt added 09:23 - Nov 3 Life is a rollercoaster, just strap in and enjoy the ride.
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bobble added 10:31 - Nov 3 great stuff
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Radlett_blue added 10:47 - Nov 3 "We deservedly equalised"?!? Wycombe were totally dominant at that point & the Town goal came right out of the blue. After that, we more than matched Wycombe for the rest of the half, but don't sugar coat everything.
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Fat_Boy_Tim added 10:49 - Nov 3 I've heard this from a few people but watch the game back and we got on top of them before Coulson came off and while he was limping about. I think we might have scored more if he'd stayed on and done a KVY on the left. No disrespect to Burgess who played a blinder out of position.
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Wickets added 11:31 - Nov 3 For me its not a good cup run or Automatic promotion we can have both lets seen a Town squad with a winning mentality whatever game it is . Put on an Town shirt and give 100% for the club .
2

dirtydingusmagee added 13:36 - Nov 3 well i must say ive been slow to warm to P C , BUT i can see things have improved a lot ,and if he can get the consistency problem sorted i will be happy .With last nights performance and result, the team must be confident and just need to give it their best , no good saying the following day '' i /we never played well . The squad is a really good one we have the ammunition , lets push on . COYB

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suffolkblueeye added 22:41 - Nov 3 Toto is still a penalty waiting to happen
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have_a_word_with_him added 00:25 - Nov 4 Cook is a man to put your support behind, he's got a track record and genuinely seems to care about the importance of fans. Surely no-one can disagree that the quality of players we have throughout the squad now is a huge step up from what we've had for 10 years or more and Cook surely identified who he wanted and Ashton got the job done. Just go to a couple of games or more and see these players in action, we're so much better than the last few years.

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