Sam Morsy has called on Ipswich Town to keep perspective after a 1-0 defeat at Wycombe Wanderers saw them lose the League One top spot at Christmas.

A Brandon Hanlon 40th minute goal gave play-off chasing Wycombe three precious points on a dismal day for Town, which saw Plymouth leapfrog them and other promotion rivals close the gap.

But after just three league defeats in 22 games, the latest in a game he thought they dominated, Morsy was not about to push the panic button.

He said: “You are going to have games like this. It’s important that we just keep perspective in what we are trying to do and really important to keep up the level of performance, keep our good habits, keep creating chances and keep minimising chances against us. Then we will be OK.

“We are always disappointed to lose any game, but the picture is very good. When you don’t deserve anything, you lick your wounds and go again. But I thought we were very good actually, it was just fine margins that went against us.

“They defended well, their keeper made some great saves, they made some good blocks and they were under the cosh for the entire half. We just couldn’t quite get the finishing touch.

“Sometimes you also have to take your hat off and it was a great goal for them. If we had scored that, we would have been saying great goal. But the picture is good and we just have to keep going.”

Summing up the game, Morsy believed Ipswich controlled large parts of the action but just lacked a finishing touch to claim at least a point.

He explained: “You know what you are going to get with Wycombe. They are well organised, a good manager, they’ve got good players and they try and make life hard for you.

“They play an aggressive man-for-man system. They have their way of playing and it has brought them success, so they will continue to do that.

“But I think we were well in control of the game, probably every aspect in all honesty — but they had one chance and it was a poor goal to concede from our point of view.

“That was a big moment that we didn’t defend to the standard we want to defend against them. We had great chances — we had a couple in the first half and quite a few more in the second half. We had the chances and the performance and application was there. But unfortunately, the finishing touches wasn’t.”

Morsy paid special tribute to the travelling support with 2,612 Ipswich fans making up more than a third inside Adams Park.

He said: “The support was tremendous. They are really enjoying this season and we can feel their appreciation. They spend their hard-earned money travelling to see us all around the country, and in conditions likes this, and we will do our best to please them.”

With Oxford visiting a packed Portman Road on Boxing Day, Morsy believes it is the perfect chance to bounce back.

“We have reacted really well to any sort of defeat this season and we will be looking to do that again against Oxford,” the Town skipper said. “We are at home, our fans will be ready to go so I am really excited for it.”

Although Ipswich were unable to give manager Kieran McKenna the perfect anniversary present, Morsy heaped tribute on the man in the dugout, who celebrated one year in charge on Friday.

Morsy said: “It is an exciting project to be part of. There is a clear identity of what we are trying to do. There is real clarity in what we are trying to do and all the players have a massive buy-in to it.

“He is an excellent manager and man to work for and we are excited to be on the journey.”

Despite losing top spot and seeing all their main rivals below them gain points, Morsy insisted it has been a pleasing first half of the season.

He said: “You would have taken second at Christmas at the start of the season. It’s a good season so far. We are doing well although there are things to improve on.

“The performances are there, the chances created are there and the chances against are very low. We are doing everything we want to do. There are going to be afternoons like this.

“We are confident. We have won a lot of games this season, we have bounced back, we have shown resilience and done everything you want in the first half of the season.
“We just have to keep on the trajectory that we are on and keep improving.”

Morsy believes key to that improvement is getting players back fit — with Lee Evans on the bench at Wycombe and Marcus Harness travelling with the squad — as well as some new faces in the January transfer window.

He explained: “Cam [Humphries] has done brilliant. We should no longer consider him as a young player, he’s established himself and done really well.

“And now he’s there competing for a spot. Obviously, it’s nice to have Lee and Marcus back — both experienced at this level and both good players.

“I think there is more to come — individually and collectively. We have got players coming back, I’m sure we will be adding players in January so I am sure we will get stronger.

“In promotion seasons I’ve seen, signing players in January always gives you a boost and the club has said they want to give us a boost. It is obviously an important month for us to get players back fit as well. And any help we can get would be great. The journey we are going on is an exciting one.”

Photo: Matchday Images

MickMillsTash added 09:53 - Dec 18 We need to be more ruthless in transition, once Wycombe got every one behind the ball it was always going to be difficult - we had 10 back for a corner in the second half! We had one save to make and we didn't make it - again ? Ladapo needs to be spend more of his time attacking space in the 6 yard box, rather than coming out to the wing. There needs to be stats on time wasting - how long a Goalkeeper takes to kick the ball, how many time wasting incidents in a match, number of times the trainer comes on in a match etc 2 people with food, petrol etc - its not far off £100 (a weeks gas bill?) and we saw 20 minutes of play in the 2nd half - the Wycombe fans we spoke to are fed up with it - it needs stamping out.

15

dirtydingusmagee added 10:18 - Dec 18 Morsy ,to be fair had a good game imo, if we can just keep the momentum going and hopefully get a real striker in we'll be ok, i just hope we dont let this good half season get wasted , this is a real opportunity to get out of this poxy league we must make it count ..ANYWAY, ,Hope all team , and EVERYBODY on here have good Christmas and a healthy, happy New Year.AND above all the World becomes a better place in 2023. COME ON YOU BLUES !

17

Bazza8564 added 10:23 - Dec 18 We will have money to spend in January, so will SWFC, I doubt PA will. We have Evans back, and by the way Marcus Harness was running yesterday, he should be back boxing day too. The rationale to not panic and be too down is compelling, but it bloody hurts to lose, it hurts us all, and the sooner we get Oxford here on BD the better
9

terryf added 10:33 - Dec 18 Our game is about intensity which has been tricky of late because we have been unable to bring on like for like subs after 60-70 minutes. Today we also missed Woolfenden because he is able to link the play from the back to the midfield. We were somewhat disjointed in that department. Once we have most of our injured players back up to full speed and with two or three good additions in the January sales we'll be more than a match for any side in this Division. Lets also not forget that we have only lost three games and are sitting in second place. We'd have gladly taken all that at the beginning of the season.

7

Bluespeed added 11:15 - Dec 18 I don't like to criticise & believe me I am a big Sam Morsey Fan however I have to question his “their keeper made some great saves”comment I don't think he had one attempt that troubled him tbh, As many posters have said we will all feel more confident about our chances of exiting this horrible league & it's time wasting tactics IF we get a finisher in the January window! Anyway I wish all the posters & everyone connected to ITFC a wonderful Christmas & a safe & successful new year 🥂

6

TimmyH added 11:21 - Dec 18 Morsy is till the most consistent dependable player we have game in game out...a lot of players are very in and out.
13

Orraman added 11:51 - Dec 18 The time wasting by WW will seem minor compared to what we can expect from Oxford. Their visit to PR last season must surely have been the most blatant example of time wasting I've ever witnessed and the number of their players falling down with no one near them was incredible. The worst examples of course are shown by goalkeepers whose lengthy ‘treatments' give their bench time to reorganise tactics, take the sting out of our attack and of course benefit by not having to leave the field for the mandatory few seconds on the touch line. Time wasting is the biggest scourge in the modern game yet apart from an occasional yellow card it is allowed to go on game after game and is prevalent at every level up to and including World Cup

12

johnwarksshorts added 12:00 - Dec 18 I agree with Morsys assessment. We're gonna get these sort of games at this level, it's very frustrating but that's the reality. Nearly half way through season, 2nd in league, only 3 losses, players coming back from injury and new additions in Jan should make for an interesting 2nd half of season and hopefully see us cement our place at top of league 1. Lots of hard work still, and with McK at helm we're in good hands. COYB. HAPPY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL TWTDS.

7

ArnieM added 12:27 - Dec 18 We need a striker ( s) in this window that can actually stick the ball in the net, plus a defender that can defend balls into the box.
2

Radlett_blue added 12:40 - Dec 18 How many "great saves" did the Wycombe keeper have to make? One, from Ladapo's deflected effort, maybe. I agree with the overall message that Town are doing fine.
3

Suffolkboy added 13:48 - Dec 18 Most days , win or lose , ITFC create many chances but a common theme is the inability to finish them off with goals . Do our players lack individual flair and confidence , can they not coordinate their joint actions quickly enough ,or do none of them possess the power of strike and immediacy which many of us have witnessed from Town over the years ? The game has of course changed and become quicker ,but LC appears to provide good ,if not great, crosses regularly – why are ITFC not clearly on hand to convert ? Where is the forceful and accurate heading skill,at either end , and what can we do about it ? Goals win games ; our record is good but might be so much improved ! COYB PS I'm sure KM is only too well aware of the shortcomings ,but like us enormously proud of what ITFC have achieved and are heading towards .

2

billlm added 14:36 - Dec 18 Our season will be defined by one simple fact We have to start being clinical in front of goal, Chance after chance goes begging clearly our only problem With this squad we don't need additions it's way good enough, But we do have to allow for injuries so I expect some, If we don't go up it will hurt but we have no right, Stear clear of the injuries for a month I expect us to be top at the end of January when,the finishing is sorted out, I agree with one poster here ladapo should not be chasing down the wings needs to just run the middle channel,

2

itsonlyme added 17:05 - Dec 18 Not taking our chances is a cause for concern but I'm sure with the right signings in January we will be fine!
0

Carberry added 18:48 - Dec 18 Morsy was the stand out Ipswich player particularly in the 1st half, too many others not up to his standard yesterday. And to echo previous sentiments, hope everyone has a Happy Christmas and a peaceful, healthy New Year. Hopefully we will be a step closer to where we belong in 2023.
1

jas0999 added 19:39 - Dec 18 What's also important is we win at home on Boxing Day. That means turning possession into goals.
2

BobbyBell added 22:12 - Dec 18 My reaction at the final whistle was "Thank God I'm not a Wycombe fan".
2

Edmundo added 23:34 - Dec 18 Time for us fans to make Portman Road as hostile as possible so players for the opposition feel the pressure and intimidation not to stay down if they felt a breeze past their legs.
2

KMcBlue added 05:55 - Dec 19 The number of times the ball has flashed straight across the 6 yd box this season is shocking. We need a centre forward who arrives across the near post and his defender - in the right place at the right time. Basic no.9 skills not being taught...or we don't have a no.9 who can execute
2

BobbyBell added 13:49 - Dec 19 KMcBlue, I was thinking that not enough were driven across the six yard line or closer. It seemed to me that we were cutting the ball back too much and that teams are now expecting it. A cross driven hard and low close to the goal is difficult to defend but when you cut the ball back defenders are facing the right way to easily clear. Also if, as with Wycombe, the box is packed with defenders a ball cut back then has little chance of finding the target through a mass of bodies. I think we are becoming a bit too predictable with our attacks and opposing managers are setting defensive lines to cope with it. We need to run at player more and pull them out of position. Our football is good but it can at times be easy to defend against.

2

SickParrot added 17:29 - Dec 19 I agree that we should keep things in perspective and that 2nd place at Xmas with just 3 defeats is great. However, only 2 wins and 9 points from our last 6 games isn't promotion form. We must therefore improve our shots to goals scored ratio and stop giving away soft goals. I have been saying this for months. I believe it is now essential that we sign 2 or 3 really good players in January and that the existing players all raise their performance levels if we're to achieve a top 2 finish.

0

Linkboy13 added 18:49 - Dec 19 The business we do in the January transfer window is going to be critical. Strikers who score regularly are notoriously difficult to find and expensive. We could spend 10 million pounds but there's no guarantee he will score 20 goals a season that's the problem the club have and im not sure the owners are prepared to take the risk.
1

Cadiar added 20:24 - Dec 19 People keep on about the need for a CF in the box, it's not how we are set up to play. I've said it before, watch the final minutes of the recent Ian Westlake interview where he gives his views on the current team & our style. He obviously knows far more about tactics than any of us having had a pretty good career. We should all remember where we were at a year ago with demolition MadMan who despite his success at Pompey is really hated down there, according to my mate who's a Pompey die hard.

-1

Blogs 297 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls