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Burns: Not Winning Three in a Row Frustrating
Thursday, 3rd Feb 2022 06:00

Wes Burns has spoken of his frustration that Town have been unable to string three league wins together this season but insists they still have a chance to end the campaign on a high note.

The last time the Blues achieved a hat-trick of successive victories was almost a year ago, ironically at the end of former manager Paul Lambert’s reign and the one game when caretaker boss Matt Gill was in charge before Paul Cook took over.

A 1-0 win at Hull City was followed by a 2-1 success at Portman Road against Doncaster, after which Lambert was dismissed, and with Cook looking on — his appointment was confirmed the previous day — Gill’s team achieved a 2-1 victory at Accrington that made it three in a row.

But it was a feat of which Town rarely looked capable during Cook’s nine months at the helm and although new boss Kieran McKenna’s record of four win from six games is commendable he has twice failed to complete a treble of consecutive wins in his first few weeks at Portman Road.

Having beaten Accrington and AFC Wimbledon in their previous two games, the Blues travelled to South Yorkshire last weekend looking to make it three on the bounce, but instead suffered a 1-0 defeat to fellow play-off hopefuls Sheffield Wednesday.

Burns, 27, said: “It is very frustrating — of course it is — because obviously we wanted to go to Hillsborough and pick up the three points. It’s this three wins in a row thing that we just can’t seem to get over at the moment and it’s just one of those things.

“But we’ve said as a team that if we can win two games in every three between now and the end of the season we’ll be there or thereabouts in terms of the play-offs.

“It’s not the end of the world but it would be nice if we could go on a little bit of a winning streak and more than two in a row would be nice. We’re just focusing on each game as it comes, trying to take three points from every one really.”

The Welshman — fluent in his nation's language — firmly believes Town have the quality in their ranks to edge their way into the top six come the end of the season. He added: “When I look around the squad I can see the quality we have in it, plus experience and strength in depth, so it’s definitely there for us to go and do and we literally just have to go and do it.”

Asked if it was taking time to adapt to McKenna’s approach, Burns continued: “Obviously, when he first came in, with the change of style of play and the ideas that he had, it was completely different to the previous manager.

“It probably has taken us a bit of time to adapt to it, learn the patterns of play and to be as confident and bold as we are on the ball in playing out from the back. The lads have taken it all on board pretty quickly and I think the fans can see the difference in how we play.”

Burns accepts supporters will be expecting a full house of six points from Town’s next two games against League One’s bottom pair. Gillingham, whose narrow 1-0 win over fellow strugglers Crewe in new manager Neil Harris’s debut game was their first in 15 league games, are the visitors to Portman Road on Saturday and one week later McKenna’s men head back to South Yorkshire, this time to take on bottom club Doncaster.

The right wing-back said: “That level of expectation is what comes from playing for a massive club like Ipswich. The fans are looking for and expecting three points from every game, no matter who we are playing, and I certainly don’t blame them for expecting us to win the next two and even the one after that.

“I know it’s at MK Dons but nothing should stop us going on that little winning run I spoke about earlier or even four, five, six on the spin. If you look at the fixtures in February there are still a lot of points to play for.

“We’ve got 17 games left this season, so it’s all still to play for. We just need to take each game as it comes with the attitude that we’re going to go into every one of them and take three points every time.”

Tuesday’s League One games left Town nine points from the play-offs and Burns admitted he was keeping a close eye on what was happening. “Of course I was and I think that’s natural for every footballer,” he said.

“You always want to keep an eye on the teams above you, the teams you are trying to catch, just to see if they’ve dropped points or if there has been an upset somewhere.

“The draw between Wigan and Oxford wasn’t the worst result but Sheffield Wednesday beating Morecambe doesn’t help us massively.

“But it is all about us, and I know it’s a cliché to say that. It’s literally down to us and if we win more games than not we’ll definitely be in with a shout.”

Town will still be without the services of skipper Sam Morsy for the forthcoming games against Gillingham and Doncaster as he completes a four-game ban for an off-the-ball incident against Accrington Stanley that saw him punished retrospectively on the strength of video evidence.

Asked how Morsy was coping with being temporarily sidelined, Burns said: “Training is now the outlet for his competitive edge and he takes it out on us. Put it this way, when we have a game in training you want him in your team rather than against you!”


Photo: Matchday Images



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Cakeman added 06:19 - Feb 3
Spot on Wes. Win Two out of Three for the remainder of the season and we will probably be in the top Six.
We need Morsy and Evans back to do that I think. Their experience could be vital in the run in.
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Kropotkin123 added 06:30 - Feb 3
We just need to pay JC62 to attend three games in a row and we are sorted.
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Europablue added 06:53 - Feb 3
I'd settle for a win on Saturday for now!
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WeWereZombies added 07:05 - Feb 3
Dal ati, Wes, a daw tri yn olynol
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Len_Brennan added 08:25 - Feb 3
The loss to Sheffield Wednesday not only halted our gallop towards the playoffs & bruised our confidence, it reignited theirs as they went on to win again on Tuesday & suddenly put daylight between them and us. Unfortunately the 2 sides in the playoffs we had looked most likely to catch (MK Dons & Oxford) have suddenly found a bit of form too after an indifferent period, so we may be relying on Sunderland & Wycombe to have a collapse in order to squeeze in now.
I thought some of the sides above us strengthened well during the transfer window too, so it seems a very tall order for us to make it. Not impossible though, but we have to go into every game expecting to win, settling for draws against our main rivals won't really cut it anymore.
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Len_Brennan added 08:32 - Feb 3
Also, the "fluent in his nation's language" bit; where did that come from? Most unexpected addition to a sentence I've come across in a long time.
Looking forward to "Janoi Donacien - a strong advocate for baked beans in a fried breakfast - is hoping to add goals to his game, as he becomes a regular starter under McKenna" in an upcoming story.
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WeWereZombies added 09:27 - Feb 3
Beth sy'n bod ar siarad Cymraeg, Len?
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Len_Brennan added 09:41 - Feb 3
@WWZ - You're going to have to help me out with that question I'm afraid.
If it means, as Google Translate is suggesting, 'What's wrong with talking Welsh?', I don't understand what would make you think, that I think there is anything wrong with it whatsoever.
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WeWereZombies added 10:01 - Feb 3
Phil's aside about Burns being fluent in his nation's language was queried by you with a 'where did that come from'. I wanted to counterbalance that slur, on both Burns' pride in his nation's language (which is by no means an easy thing to master) and on Phil's journalistic skills. I saw this as someone who receives a Christmas card in Welsh every year...
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d77sgw added 10:26 - Feb 3
I think ‘slur' is going a bit far! It was a reasonable question from Len - certainly I read it and thought “ok, where's this going, are we talking about a desire for National call ups etc”, but then realised it was just a slightly odd addition. It is interesting however. I imagine it comes in handy for holidays in Patagonia.
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d77sgw added 10:28 - Feb 3
I do worry a little that we're going to face a very different Gillingham under Harris - never wanted him as our manager, but there's no doubt that he can organise a team to make the most of their abilities.
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Len_Brennan added 10:34 - Feb 3
@WWZ - That's an extraordinarily thin standard for applying offence against projected slurs that you've got there. Re-reading what I wrote, I still can't see how you could stretch to seeing it as a slur on Wales, the people of Wales or the language; all of which I hold in high regard. I have no doubt it is a difficult language to master.
Your point on it being a slur on Phil's journalistic skills has greater merit now that I think of it, although the use of "slur" is ridiculous. Apologies to Phil, whose journalism I have admired with tremendous gratitude for a good 15 years. I was merely amused by the introduction of Wes's linguistic capabilities, in an arbitrary manner, while discussing our prospects of a top 6 finish. No offence meant.
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Karlosfandangal added 10:49 - Feb 3
Well Mr Burns you have been for the best player we signed this year, your speed on that wing I have not seen since Clive wood or Kevin O'Callaghan.

The next 2 games are very winnable (if that's a word) It's the MK Don game we need to win because the follow two are winnable too so it's could be 5 on the bounce.

We were 8 points from play off win at Wimbledon 5 off play off lose to Sheff Wed and a few mid week game 9 points off.

Win 2 lose one as said above should get us there but I am not so sure
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ArnieM added 10:54 - Feb 3
Blimey WWZ, I think you need to take a chill pill …there was no slur that I could detect from Lens posts….. some might say you may have a chip on your shoulder for some reason. Not sure why you're so defensive?

Happy days mate we might win Saturday eh 👍
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Orraman added 10:57 - Feb 3
It must be so difficult being a journalist these days when you have to watch every single word they write being scrutinised for something to comment on. The fact that Wes speaks fluent Welsh was just an interesting aside. However there are obviously some on here who are not interested in trivia and will object to anything they can.
Soon Phil will have to put trigger warnings at the head of his articles to protect those who might be upset by humour or a report of a player being injured which might cause distress. Grow up.
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Bazza8564 added 11:36 - Feb 3
Well, the next two are pretty much must wins, the MKD game will be interesting because that will be pretty much a home game too with almost 7000 of us there and we must not underestimate our role in that one.
Then its a stretch where the home games start to come in pairs again so from now until the end of March we have the capacity to get on that run we need. Sides above us will at some point run into games where they have to play each other as well and its the side that creeps into the playoffs on a run that often does the business when it matters. Blackpool last year, and my beloved Bengals this year getting to the Superbowl.
And don't get me started on the welsh bit, Phil is a journalist. Ergo, he will sometimes tell you interesting things that wont always be expected. Its kind of what they do!!!!!
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DaGremloid added 12:26 - Feb 3
Grow up WWZ. Being part of the 'I'm offended by everything' culture is nothing to be cocky about.
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Barty added 12:59 - Feb 3
Sheff. Wed. result was a disaster and although I am an optimist I feel that the play offs are unrealistic now. 9 points adrift at this stage and with our inconsistency its a massive task but lets keep positive and hope for an extraordinary run of form and for those above us to drop loads of points. It is still possible.
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WeWereZombies added 13:23 - Feb 3
Thanks for the reply, Len - as for the others, well, tongue in cheek often misfires on the forum but I have to admit it doesn't work at all in News comments...
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SussexTractor added 13:54 - Feb 3
Well said our equally best signing in the last few years (along with Christian Walton).
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ringwoodblue added 14:15 - Feb 3
There's also a lot of luck involved in achieving promotion. Playing teams at the right time is one example - look at Oxford, they played the Gills at just the right time and came away with a 7-2 victory. We play the Gills at the worst time when they have a new manager and renewed confidence.
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Linkboy13 added 14:42 - Feb 3
Even three wins in a row is not going to be enough now. We have to face the facts this squad hasn't got the mental toughness and discipline to go on a long winning run. We were very naive at Sheffield on Saturday and played right into their hands by trying to force the pace. Expect some shock changes in the pre season which will not go down well with some fans who have their favourites.
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