Skipper Sam Morsy admitted it was a tough night for the Blues who he felt were under par as they were beaten 2-0 at home by new League One leaders Rotherham, but believes that Town's recent displays against other sides in the division's upper reaches have shown that they are now a good team.

Ben Wiles and Shane Ferguson scored in each half for the Millers, who were comfortable for the most part as they claimed the three points.

“I think it was a tough night for us, to be honest, from how well we played against Sunderland. We didn’t play as well tonight,” Morsy said afterwards.

“They’re a good team, they’re good at what they do. The first goal was always going to be important, it’s a good strike, and the second goal was poor from our point of view.

“Then we huffed and we puffed but they defended really well. You have to give credit to them. Obviously we know we have to do better.”

Could Town have done better against what would appear to currently be the best team in the division?

“Absolutely,” the 30-year-old insisted. “I think the performances of late have been really good. I think our last couple of league games, Sunderland, Oxford and Wycombe, have been really good performances, albeit not always getting quite the results we want. Today was below par against a good team.

“But there’s no magic pill, it’s just working hard and trying to come back better against Crewe.”

Morsy knows Town are unlikely to meet sides of the calibre of the Millers every week: “I think they’re probably a little bit similar to Wycombe, but I think against Wycombe we were excellent that night.

‘We weren’t excellent tonight at all and I think teams like that that are really consistent so you have to be at it. They don’t have many below-par days, you have to be at it to beat them and we weren’t quite at it tonight, if I’m honest.”

He says Rotherham’s level shows where Town have to get to, even if the teams’ approaches to the game are very different.

“Obviously they play a completely different style to us, but there’s no right or wrong way about it,” the Egyptian international continued. “They do their style very good, so we have to make our style very good as well.

“The first goal’s a good goal, it can happen, and then the second one is poor from our point of view, and then we didn’t show enough guile to break them down.”

While most of the Rotherham side have been together for a number of seasons, the Blues are still finding their feet to some extent following the summer of change at Portman Road.

Asked whether that was a mitigating factor, Morsy, who joined Town on deadline day from Middlesbrough, said: “Yes, it is but I think we’re fully clicking, to be honest. You could see against Sunderland the way we played, the chances we create. I think we’re a good team now, actually.

“You don’t want to use that one time too much but they are a good team, they’re good at what they do, they’ve been together a while, you can’t deny that you can see how they play.

“And we have to be better, all we can do is focus on ourselves, we’ve played against all the top teams now bar Wigan and I don’t think we’ve played many teams better than us. I think today they were better than us, that hurts me to say that, but that’s the reality.

“We just have to keep improving, keep getting better and hopefully by the time we play them next we’ll be a better team than them.”

Does he still believe Town can be up among the challengers for promotion? “Yes, definitely, it just takes a run, doesn’t it? It just takes a run of a couple of wins and then you’re up there, hopefully starting with Crewe because I do feel the team’s ready, you can see that in glimpses.

“Today was a below-par night, we haven’t had many in the league of late and we just have to bounce back against Crewe.”

He added: “We know at some point we need to [string together a run] and I think now is an opportunity to do it, it’s always an opportunity to do it.

“It’s just hard work really, keep fighting for each other, get that win and try and start some momentum, try and get a winning run together.”

One of the few positives on the night was Morsy avoiding a fifth league booking which would have led to a one-match ban. From now on five bookings no longer lead to a suspension.

“You can’t worry about that too much, to be honest,” he reflected. “If that happens, it happens. It’s not something that’s preying on your mind when you’re out there, whatever the situation is you just have to deal with it.”

Photo: TWTD

bobble added 20:13 - Nov 24 looks like we might end up finishing in the same place as last year despite a huge new team spend and new manager, but i guess the football is more attacking.......its clearly a defence problem we need sorting
1

Chris_Knights added 20:51 - Nov 24 Everyone thinks they're in a good team and can put a run together…. Talk is cheap and actions speak louder than words …..
3

Barty added 09:22 - Nov 25 We have been below par too many times this season - thats why we are mid table. Forget promotion this season unless we get a new manager in now
2

Monkey_Blue added 11:18 - Nov 25 Bobble- the current manager is the person who had us finish where we did last season. 16 games is enough to have at least displayed he was a better manager than lambert and he's proved he's worse over a 40plus game sample.
2

Barty added 11:39 - Nov 25 The main problem is we have a one dimensional manager who has not got the ability to change things and he is not getting the best out of our players. I appreciate that on the pitch its down to the players but a good manager will change things to suit a game but tactically Paul Cook is inept. Sorry but he has had long enough to prove himself as a manager and has failed imo. Cook out now.

3

Rimsy added 11:39 - Nov 25 Calm down everyone, still 27 games to go. We'll still win the league, no worries.
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Rimsy added 11:41 - Nov 25 Mind you we're still passing sideways too often and passing up opportunities to get the ball in the box. We Have got good players and they'll come good. Morsy is class.
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Wazzer61 added 11:41 - Nov 25 According to BBC stats he was booked so presumably misses the Crewe game.
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ChrisFelix added 11:48 - Nov 25 The current system needs the full backs to get forward & attack the flanks. Who ever plays behind Bonne doesnt really matter as they can be drawn into the game. Sadly this hasnt happens during the last 3 games , the loss of Burns also hasnt helped . The left back position appears to be a problem where Coulson although good, is injury phrone. Clements looked good against Oxford but struggled against superior players since. Penny is OK as a substitute. Its a shame Vincent Young cant play the other side. I still think Tuesday was a one off & other than Rotherham away we will not play a similar side this season

1

GiveusaWave added 12:01 - Nov 25 Fed up with our team atm.
1

TonyHumesIpswich added 12:17 - Nov 25 Our best players will leave at end of season; some were expecting promotion and another season in League 1 will be of little interest to them. Balance of squad and formation is the clear issue. We are far too easy to play against and other managers know what formation we are using prior to the start of the match. Man mark Bonne out of the game and pressure the midfield so they have nowhere to go. We do look good going forwards (apart from the last few games) but comical in defence. If I was a midfielder or striker in the team I'd be furious. Lose Edmundson and we'd be even weaker there, he's keeping it together on his own sometimes. Walton also has proved to be a good signing and has made some crucial saves. Not what I was expecting from ITFC this season and even a 6 win run right now would only make me mildly happier.

2

BobbyBell added 13:13 - Nov 25 It is far too easy for other teams to play us as we always play the same way. Cut off the supply to Morsey, isolate Bonne from the three behind him and suddenly we're ineffective and clueless. Even the set pieces are poor 8 times out of 10. PC said he wasn't going to try to stop other teams playing but let them worry about us. Well we're currently not worrying anyone as we're so predictable. Surely some system changes have to be made or we will just stagnate.

5

Kirbmeister added 13:40 - Nov 25 We weren't below par, that's how the team plays. To get into the top 6 we need to average 2 points a game till the end of the season. No chance.
5

planetblue_2011 added 16:05 - Nov 25 Not good enough Morsy!! The team is no better than Lamberts team from last season Useless👎
2

herfie added 16:22 - Nov 25 Think, train and play like Rotherham. PC - get hold of Paul Warne's blueprint and adopt it. At this level it's effective, if not necessarily pretty! Players - all up your individual and collective games, and be consistent. Otherwise, chaps, carry on!
0

TimmyH added 17:02 - Nov 25 I think the first post by d77sgw has hit the nail on the head! - the longer we're in this league the more accepted it is by players and managerial staff that we should aspire to certain clubs in it or near the top...if we don't end up in the play-offs it will be totally unacceptable for a club this size in this league to miss out 3 seasons running.
2

BangaloreBlues added 17:48 - Nov 25 I cook said that once we get going we won't stop, or something like that. We need to win 4 or 5 in a row to stand any chance now. Hopefully we will beat Crewe, but I no longer have any clue about our performances, we seem to blow hot and cold.
1

johnwarksshorts added 18:31 - Nov 25 Our tempo is slow 🐌 and we have an inability to produce a killer ball into the box 📦 Bonne is often isolated. Cookies stubborness in bringing on another striker (Pigott) earlier could be his undoing this season.
0

grinch added 18:32 - Nov 25 Half way of season gone and we are below Burton and Cheltenham nothing against them but think enough said Morsey is talking rubbish we have not been good apart from a couple of games very concerning if he thinks we are good
1

cat added 20:01 - Nov 25 God what a sad bunch some on here are. Couple of losses and it's melt down time. Get a couple of wins however then it's all sweet again. Look at the bigger picture here, the club has turned a corner and although success isn't going to be as instantaneous as many of us had hoped, it will come. Crowd attendances, chances created, goals scored and the ENTERTAINMENT value far surpasses any of the previous managers. If Cook don't hit top 6 then he should go but try and enjoy the positives and enjoy the atmosphere at PR, maybe that's where the problem lies!

1

dirtydingusmagee added 21:22 - Nov 25 ''we were below par '' WHY ?
1

dirtydingusmagee added 21:27 - Nov 25 Top six is getting away though Cat .We have been playing catch up for years, and still failing .
0

carlgibbs13 added 23:23 - Nov 25 `Town's recent displays against other sides in the division's upper reaches have shown that they are now a good team`. We lost to all of them. How does that show that we are a good team?
1

cat added 23:52 - Nov 25 We are not half way through season dirty. If we were in this position in March I'd be concerned but even then it would possible. We are well off it at the moment but each player has shown ‘on occasions' what they are capable of and that's what's keeping me positive.
0

dirtydingusmagee added 05:55 - Nov 26 not having a dig Cat, you are entitled to your opinions, just pointing out how we are 8 points short of playoff place and those teams have two games in hand , thats a big ask now .
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