Leif Davis has insisted Ipswich Town have what it takes to beat the League One big boys despite losing 2-1 at fellow high-flying Plymouth Argyle.

Town’s fine start to the season was punctured by Plymouth who replaced their opponents at the top of the table following two quick-fire, second half strikes from Bali Mumba and Morgan Whittaker.

The visitors had gone in at the break ahead thanks to Freddie Ladapo’s fortuitous first league goal for Ipswich, but they were unable to grab a decisive second as their television hoodoo continued.

Davis said: “We had control of the game for quite a period of time, up to the 60th minute, I would say. Then they put us under a bit of pressure which we didn’t really control very well.

“The two goals came in a quick period of time, but I think one of the goals, which we can’t take back now, was a foul on Conor Chaplin. But we just have to keep going and play to the whistle, which I think some of us didn’t at the time.

“If we are in the lead, we have got to take control of the games. We can’t just let teams bring the game to us.

“We can’t just slack off and sit off the ball. We have to keep going and do what we are doing to get the goals. We have to keep going and going until the end.”

After failing to beat Bolton on the opening day and then losing leads against fellow promotion favourites Sheffield Wednesday and Plymouth, Davis said: “When things aren’t going right, you’ve got to stick together as a team.

“It is mentally tough, but you have to keep going. It showed today that we have conceded two goals when we weren’t quite switched on.

“We had a lot of chances, especially in the first 15 minutes of the second half. Obviously we also had Walts’ [Christian Walton] header at the end when the keeper made a great save.”

Davis praised the “brilliant” travelling support and also Ladapo who added to his Papa John Trophy goals with his first in the league.

The left wing-back predicted big things for the number nine and the side, who had gone nine games unbeaten before today’s televised match.

Davis said: “It is a massive thing for Freddie. He needed it for his confidence. It’s been a long time coming but now he has got it, I think he will start flying.

“We have worked well as a team and hopefully we will go on a winning streak again. I know for a fact that the lads will be pushing every day in training and we will definitely do it. We have a strong team and we just have to keep pushing and pushing.”

And looking ahead to another big League One clash, when Portsmouth visit Portman Road next weekend, Davis added: “We will have a look back when we come in on Tuesday, but we just have to get it right and get ready for Saturday. We can't dwell on it too much. If we do, it will affect our performance on Saturday.

“We have to focus on a big game at home, it will be an amazing crowd and we have to put on a show for the fans.

“There were a few positives today, but we have to now keep working during the week to get it right for Portsmouth.”

Photo: TWTD and Pagepix

Bert added 17:10 - Sep 25 I agree. Up until they scored we were more or less in control. That is exactly why we are all disappointed. On clear chances the game was about equal. It was both goalkeepers that stopped it being 10 - 10 !
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Suffolkboy added 18:42 - Sep 25 LD hits the right notes , makes the essential points re character and determination and plainly wants to see more from all of our side and his team mates ! COYB
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Jugsy added 19:17 - Sep 25 Losing this game will not define our season. At this rate, we'll lose 4/5 games all season which is automatic promotion pace. Plymouth edged this, but not by much and we didn't play badly. We actually played well for big spells and on another day we would have put this game to bed. A great advert for League One and we'll get back to it against Pompey next week.
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ArnieM added 21:43 - Sep 25 Bert: up until the ref didn't give Chaplin the foul . A pivotal decision once again. But we can't defend when teams “ have a go”. Our CB's don't command our box and can't deal with opponents who are physically strong. Our CB's might be good at bringing the ball out of defence ( but there's always a mistake in one of them in terms of giving away a cheap free kick on the edge of our box or simply getting caught in possession), but they defend well against big teams and our strikers don't score enough goals . That's it really. We're poor in both boxes and when we play the better teams we are found wanting time and again. I don't care if people down arrow my opinions . That's forums . But you can't get away from those facts. We need a better number 9 and better CB's.

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ArnieM added 21:45 - Sep 25 “ but they can't defend well against the big teams” …. Burgess can, but not Edmundson or Woolfie , in my humble opinion.
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Pilgrimblue added 22:58 - Sep 25 we lost because of defensive mistakes in key areas. CC should never have made out he was fouled, that gave then space a chance to shoot. Next Edmundson made a very poor pass in dangerous position and then didn't bother to close their scorer down. Yes two good strikes but they should never have had those chances presented on a plate. Wolfy isn't good enough and Edmundson should never play on left. Not sure if Keogh is the answer but i'd bring back our guy from Gillingham. As for our midfield, Ball and Humphries can't be far away. we're making too many errors and yellows are building up. This is not the Ipswich way to play, competitive yes but

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bobbyramsey added 06:49 - Sep 26 Errrr, yes Leif, who knew eh?
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Barty added 10:52 - Sep 26 Trouble is we didn't learn from giving away a 2 goal lead in the previous game against Sheff. Wed. !!
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Nomore4 added 11:21 - Sep 26 Very true Leif…..supporters have been saying this and occasionally a player for more years than I can recall…..
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BobbyBell added 11:35 - Sep 26 We must bear in mind that other teams now know how we want to play. Plymouth closed the midfield down and as a result we bypassed Evans and Morsey far too often. When our midfield did get on the ball we looked dangerous. One long ball option to Jackson actual worked ok with the tight midfield giving him more space out wide but when we moved him into the middle it stifled us. We still don't have anyone gambling on a tap in and balls across their box were wasted. I think our players expect cut backs and not balls to run onto, so no one makes the crucial run.

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