Frustration was the overriding feeling for forward Conor Chaplin following the Blues’ 2-2 home draw with leaders Wigan Athletic at Portman Road last night.

Chaplin netted Town’s equaliser to take his tally for the season to 10 goals with skipper Sam Morsy subsequently giving the Blues the lead against his old club before former Ipswich striker Will Keane grabbed a leveller for the Latics with his second of the game with four minutes left on the clock.

The 25-year-old felt his side would have been good for the win on their overall performance having been well in control against the League One leaders for most of the evening.

“We should have been, we definitely should have been,” he reflected. “Frustration is probably the overriding emotion after the game just because I felt we were so dominant.

“I think we’ve played very, very good football and in terms of performances and intensity in spells this season, I think today was probably one of the only times, if not the only time, that for 90 minutes we were bang at it.

“It’s not easy, the best teams in the world can’t be at it for 90 minutes, but I honestly felt we were today.

“Every single section of the game, every bit of the game we controlled. We were intense in our pressure off the ball and then on the ball we were intense in terms of getting the ball in behind, getting the ball wide, runs. We were very frustrated but we know where we need to improve, we’re not stupid.”

The summer signing from Barnsley says he and his team-mates know they’re capable of taking on any team in this division.

“I think everyone within our dressing room knows that we will compete with anyone in this league if we’re on it, if we iron out mistakes, if we’re bang on it for 90 minutes, which we were today,” he continued.

“That shows how superior we were in terms of the game. We know that we can mix it with the best in this league, I think we’ve shown that. Our results haven’t been where they need to be in terms of the best in this league and playing against them, which we’re fully aware of.

“We’ve got no qualms about that because that’s the facts, but we were really pleased with the performance.

“We’ve got a big summer in terms of, first and foremost, finishing the season strongly. We want to get six points for the rest of the season and finish as strongly as we can, then we know where we need to improve. I think as a group we’re all dialled into that.”

He added: “Of course [we want to be where Wigan are now in a year’s time], no one at the club is hiding away from that.”

Manager Kieran McKenna said he felt last night’s display was Chaplin’s best since he took charge in mid-December, but the player himself was less certain.

“Probably not!” he laughed. “I don’t know. I think I’ve been fairly consistent when I’ve played, probably the most consistent I’ve been in terms of performances throughout the majority of a season.

“Me and Sone [Aluko] have shared the workload quite well, competing against someone like Sone it only gets you going even more because he’s some player.

“I know what I bring to the team that maybe other people don’t in terms of a goal threat, running forward and as long as I know that then I’m comfortable in terms of who’s on the pitch.

“In terms of my best game, I don’t really know to be fair. If he’s said it, then he must be right!”

Reflecting on his strike, a typically predatory finish inside the penalty area, he added: “To be fair, it was probably my kind of goal. I’ve not been in those areas as much this season because I’ve not played as a number nine which I’ve done probably for most of my career.

“I think fans at Ipswich probably think that I’ve been an attacking midfielder but I’ve not really been that until I came here really, but I’m really enjoying the role. You get a lot more of the ball, which is something that obviously every footballer loves.

“It’s something that I’m learning from as well. I work with the gaffer and the coaches every day, every week in terms of getting better. Getting better at receiving, those are the things that I can take from Santi [Bersant Celina] and Sone in terms of the way they play in those pockets where they’ve probably played their whole careers.

“It’s definitely learning from each other. If he thinks that that was my best game, then happy days.

“The boss obviously likes me in that position, but obviously I’ll play left wing-back, right wing-back, centre-half, I not bothered as long as I’m contributing to this club on the pitch and off the pitch, that’s obviously what I’ll be looking to do.”

Reflecting further on his switch of role, he added: “I probably played [up front] on my own at Portsmouth under Cooky [Paul Cook]. At Barnsley I played in a two. I’ve never really played in an attacking midfielder.

“I played probably as a nine and a half at Coventry as well, so this is probably the first time that I’m in midfielders’ meetings rather than strikers’ meetings.

“It pains me, I’ll be honest, watching strikers doing finishing drills and I’m doing passing drills, I don’t enjoy that!

“But I’m learning from it and it’s something that I’ll be looking to build on next season in terms of numbers because I’m a big advocate of that, you need to affect games with numbers, goals and assists.

“I probably wouldn’t like to be pigeon-holed as a player anyway just because there’s less chance of playing - if you can play in more positions you’ve got more chance of playing, and playing is obviously the be all and end all.

“I like playing and scoring as well, so I definitely don’t want to get away from my scoring instincts because that’s what gives me the biggest buzz is that feeling, so the more of that the better.”

Having moved into double figures for the season, the one-time Portsmouth attacker says he’s already aiming for more in 2022/23.

“I set my targets usually a bit higher as a number nine but as an attacking midfielder, which I’ve been playing, then I can’t have any qualms about those numbers,” he said.

“Next year I definitely want more. I’ve had a couple of dry patches this year, which every player’s going to have, especially if you’re not a number nine, which I definitely want to improve on.

“I want to be in the box more, I want to have more shots in games, more crosses, more assists, definitely. That’s something that I’ll be looking to build on.”

Photo: TWTD

BlueBlood90 added 10:12 - Apr 20 How can you be bang at it for 90 minutes but concede twice? We've had encouraging performances in spells all season but we have a weak mentality and poor concentration levels at key times of games. We also lack a killer instinct and don't see teams off when we are way on top in the game. It's so frustrating and I'm praying it's something we can sort next season. If we do then we will be a real force. Chaplin should start every week for me as well. He's a natural goalscorer and I always feel we look better when he plays.

1

Cakeman added 11:16 - Apr 20 There has been a considerable improvement since Kieran McKenna's arrival but I do get bored of the players saying where we need to improve. This has been said by many over the past two or three years. Knowing what to improve is one thing but players having the ability to put words into practice is entirely different. I do hope come next August we have enough new personnel in the building that will make a difference. PS this is not a knock at you Mr Chaplin as I believe you are one of our better players who could help to get us back up the football pyramid.

6

Chappers421 added 12:17 - Apr 20 Best finisher we have at the club. Play him every game and he could score 15/20 in a season
1

Jonaldo added 13:03 - Apr 20 This guy can be key next season, I don't think we have seen the best of him yet. He is busy, quick feet, has a turn of pace and doesn't do his stuff in the right areas of the pitch to be a real threat! McKenna will help him with that, he is a proper old school coach. Looking forward to seeing McKenna and Chaplin push on next season.
3

Flamencaman added 16:16 - Apr 20 We have a very good G/k, a decent midfield Captain our right shoulder side is pretty good,Wolfie is fast becoming what we all hoped he would be,looking forward to him improving further, our left side is definitely not good enough, our forwards are woefully inadequate but we all know that , 2 months of bliss with Bonne fizzled out to a damp squid,think we signed the wrong Piggot at least lester was a winner, Norwood 4 good games, maybe Jacko will prove to be the real deal at last

1

Bazza8564 added 16:22 - Apr 20 Comments are all fair and i agree with CC's view. What he doesn't say and what we all know is that the squad is about 4 quality players short overall, and we are defending narrow rather than commanding leads. It's very clear. Our out and out CF have scored 6 goals since xmas, 3 in a burst from Jackson before his injury ruined his 5 game comeback, and 3 between the others. Win these last two games well, we will be back again in July, and given that MA is already getting his budgets done in the US this week leads me to believe the new players will be in well before preseason, and we will shed quantity for quality.

2

Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 17:58 - Apr 20 Let's keep our feet on the ground. We all want it to happen. I think it may well happen. But until it does happen, then just talking about it doesn't bring results. COYB!
0

Lightningboy added 19:29 - Apr 20 The defence has obviously had a kick up the 4rse since McKenna came in - it's obvious that our lack of goals though that have cost us a play-off place. Chaplin's clearly got an eye for goal,would like to see him playing in a front 2 next season...maybe we should play him & Pigott together in the final 2 games?
0

Linkboy13 added 10:01 - Apr 21 Cannot understand why some fans are infactuated with Pigott hasn't done a thing to deserve a run in the side but i suppose every player has a fan somewhere no matter how good or bad. Yes Chaplin is a very important member of the squad but i can see why coaches get frustrated with him at times he tends to give the ball away and his distribution is not great which is probably why he is not a regular in the side under McKenna and Cook and was mainly an impact player at Barnsley.

0

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls