Forward Sone Aluko admitted last night’s 0-0 draw at Bristol Rovers was a tough night for Town, but says sides have been promoted from worse positions than the Blues’ current situation.

The Blues dominated most of the match and managed 21 shots, seven on target but were unable to find a way through a determined Pirates backline.

The result saw Town drop to fourth with Bolton Wanderers having moved ahead of them and Plymouth and Sheffield Wednesday extend the gap to the top two.

“A tough night, obviously,” Aluko reflected. “I thought we did a lot of the right things to win a game.

“We had a lot of chances, worked the ball quite well. I think we had them camped in for long spells of the game, we just weren’t clinical enough and that’s let us down tonight.

“But we go again, that’s football, that’s the season. We’re going to have these nights and if we’re going to get to where we’re going to get to, we’ve got to be more clinical.”

Manager Kieran McKenna said afterwards that usually-attacking Rovers entirely changed their approach against his team with Joey Barton happy for his side to sit in and frustrate the Blues.

“That’s most teams we play against,” the 33-year-old said. “We look at clips and they’re playing one formation, we get on the pitch and it’s a different formation, so that’s playing for Ipswich in this league this season.

“We’re used to that, we’re used to having to adapt to what we face. They defended well, got some big blocks at the end and on set pieces as well. We created a lot of chances with the ball but we just didn’t have that finishing touch.

“Teams know that we could turn the team over, they want to keep the score down. Teams try and build and get to half-time 0-0 and try and get one big chance.

“We know that’s how a lot of teams play against us. It’s not something new. Sometimes we score early and we win 4-0, teams are well aware of that.

“We go again, like I said, there’s no panic, there’s nothing to be worried about at this point, it’s just little details.”

While a 0-0 draw away at Bristol Rovers isn’t a disastrous result on its own, too many of Town’s games are following a similar pattern with 15 of their 31 League One matches having ended in stalemates, six of their last eight.

“For sure, but teams have been promoted from worse positions than we’re in,” the former Nigeria international insisted.

“We’re in a good place still. We know there’s a lot more in us, we know we can take our chances more and create more chances.

“We created quite a lot tonight. It’s not something to worry about, it’s something we definitely look at and work on.”

He says there is still belief in the squad: “That will always be there to the very end. In my time here I’ve always believed that this squad can get promoted and I’ll keep pushing the team.”

Aluko says the comeback from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 against second-placed Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday was illustrative of the spirit in the camp.

“For sure. It takes character as a team to so what we did last week and also to get to where we want to get to. It’s going to take a lot of that,” he continued.

“We know we’re going to have challenging nights, we’re going to have some great highs and a couple of lows, that’s life and that’s football. We’ll deal with it and keep pushing.”

Town haven’t won back-to-back league games since October and have won only four of their last 15 and Aluko knows that form will have to change dramatically if the Blues are to have any chance of getting out of the division, starting with bottom side Forest Green Rovers’ visit to Portman Road on Saturday.

“We know we’re going to have to put a run together,” he said. “But ultimately we can’t think about runs, it’s about the next game and how we’re going to attack that game, how we’re going to be our best version in that and the run will come as a consequence of doing the right thing over and over. We’re just focusing on the next opponent.”

Photo: TWTD

FrankMarshall added 09:27 - Feb 15 Very rare for them to get promotion when on a downward spiral. Every other team in the top 8 are in much better form than we are and look much hungrier and readier for the potential play offs. We look exhausted and spent.
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bobbyramsey added 09:32 - Feb 15 Maybe but they were probably playing good football and climbing the table. At this precise moment we are dropping like a stone……..
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Nobbysnuts added 09:35 - Feb 15 Absolute garbage...don't insult us with this cr#p anymore...
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inghamspur added 09:38 - Feb 15 Let your results do the talking
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oldblue added 09:45 - Feb 15 I can't believe the negativity of do called fans on here...I am as disappointed as anyone but know that football isn't an easy game and teams go through lean spells..but to call for KmK to go is madness utter madness...our club was a disaster before our owners and KmK came ...fickle with short memories..Schumacher of Plymouth fell short last season ..now look where they are...please support the club and team ....you will be cheering loud when they win ..not jerting loud when they don't...get real 'fans' I expect you trolls will moan after this post...cos that's what you do

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raycrawfordswig added 09:50 - Feb 15 Stop talking and start doing.
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chepstowblue added 10:12 - Feb 15 Teams have also missed out on the play offs when in better positions than us. It was inconceivable to think it.....now it seems highly likely. I was bored sh*tless in that stadium last night. In the 74th minute I realised I was chewing my arm. We have an embarrassment of riches in our squad-a real depth, but that has brought about confusion and complication. Squad rotation for no reason. Plymouth play a settled eleven from week to week whilst Sheff Wed have more nous. A few weeks ago I gave us the benefit of the doubt because we were still dominating games and playing reasonably well without killing teams off, but the last three away games its been down to the fact that from nowhere we've become bl**dy awful! Knee jerÄ· reactionists with little or no intelligence will call for the managers head, which is a nonsense. Others will used the tired excuse that he's 'lost the dressing room' (what does that even mean). If a player who's performed well all season suddenly can't control the ball or pass it 5yards accurately there's little that can be done. Sure, I'm fed up that's there's never a plan B, but moreso that certain individuals have so little professional pride in their performance. Is automatic promotion beyond us....of course it is, but a strong end to the season is imperative if we're to go into the play offs with renewed confidence.

5

Gforce added 10:16 - Feb 15 Same old speel, different player.
5

Lightningboy added 10:23 - Feb 15 Aluko,you in particular were abysmal in possession last night..this whole "we worked the ball well" seems to be our mantra..we can "work the ball well" until the cows come home but it's actually putting it IN THE NET that matters at the end of the day. Maybe you should all go and take in a Bolton training session this week.
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Europablue added 10:36 - Feb 15 We mustn't grieve the automatic spots. We just need to pull ourselves together and finish strong and get into the playoffs. The form guide goes out the window then. If we could just somehow find a way to get promoted this season, all this worrying will have been for nothing.
0

cressi added 10:51 - Feb 15 Stop spouting rubbish Sone we are a one trick pony if teams sit deep we are clueless. This has been almost 3 months of decline can't win 3 on the bounce we need action not words
3

Michael101 added 11:10 - Feb 15 Take a look at the form table, we are 13th after the last 6 games. Hardly promotion form
3

ArnieM added 11:18 - Feb 15 You only have to look at that table in this report to see why we are dropping down the table . We DRAW too many games . That's 2 points dropped at every drawn game. People might think playing these teams in lower half will be easier . I say they'll be harder , because they're fighting to stay in this division. Comments that we look a spent force are interesting, because I wonder do we “ over train”? There's a lot of rotation of the squad so maybe player's kinda lose their edge because they play well one game but the next they're dropped to the bench . I hope KMcK reflects on his management of the squad overall because it needs to change in my view.

1

DifferentGravy added 11:32 - Feb 15 If teams try and match us to toe then our style of play and formation enables us to exploit the space and take teams apart. An example being the Morecambe game. But when team sit back (as many understandably do) we really struggle. This is where Mckenna needs a plan B....a plan C even. Despite the statistics we never really looked liked scoring against a poor Bristol Rovers side until the last 10 minutes. Teams have us sussed out from the start. For me, the issue is Mckennas lack of tactical versatility and the continual squad rotation which inhibits cohesion between players.

2

tractorboybig added 11:38 - Feb 15 The manager has lost the plot, we will struggle to make the play offs and now all the bull s££t is being spouted
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TimmyH added 11:47 - Feb 15 It's all about momentum Sone all about momentum...if somehow we do make the play-offs I wouldn't rate our chances at all. Anyway after listening to Kane Vincent Young on ifollow last night I really do believe players believe their own BS.
2

62WasBest added 11:52 - Feb 15 Sone, I realise you are only fulfilling your media obligations but no one needs to keep hearing the optimistic outpourings. They only bring out more cynicism. Just get you and your team mates to concentrate on doing the business on the pitch instead of continually giving us the "there was jam yesterday, jam tomorrow but unfortunately no jam today" spiel. Get someone to analyse why things have gone wrong. The fans can see why so why is it so hard for the management? Having attempts at goal in double figures with no score is enough to show what is wrong. This is Div One you are playing in. There are no points for style, only for substance. Look at videos of England to see why what the team is trying to do doesn't ultimately work . It isn't rocket science.

1

ChrisFelix added 13:13 - Feb 15 Does he seriously think that taking into account our current form we could over come Barnsley, Bolton or Derby in a 2 legged semi final. Dream on.
1

mathiemagic added 13:25 - Feb 15 Yes Keiron, Rovers may well play a different style against other teams but their gaffa looked at how others have frustrated us all season and decided that was the tactic they would use. According to you we have been setup after watching a video of their previous games and been surprised they changed it when it kicked off. Not having that as an excuse I am afraid. We need to be one step ahead and train to face a team that will almost certainly park the bus as others have. We are just not capable of that it seems.

1

Westy added 16:03 - Feb 15 I agree. Not all over yet - automatic promotion unlikely but not impossible. Just amass as many points as possible and hope the stars aline.
3

Suffolkboy added 17:29 - Feb 15 Far too many prepared to condemn ,yet offering little by way of observation and analysis let alone positivity ! I do not think it's got anything to do with substitutions ( many others do just the same) but more to do with the lack of invention, personal devilment, lack of timing and venom and the fact that some players are beyond their potential others not delivering, and most in our squad lacking the ‘killer ‘ instinct allied to powerful shooting ( or heading ) ! We will get there ,but maybe next season when a few have been moved out ! Keep trying KM ,but get a few to show some steel ! COYB

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Marcus added 18:42 - Feb 15 KM is halfway there. Teams are changing how they play against us and scrapping draws. The other half is changing how we play to counter that, that's the challenge he needs to overcome to get out of this brutal division.
2

BlueMoolay added 08:09 - Feb 16 We had same problems with team rotation with PC in charge. It doesn't f*****g work.!!! Stick to best 11, play the best team every week and only change it when you have to. Players sitting on the bench have to earn it and take their chances when they come....not have it given to them on a plate because they haven't played a few games. Come on Town. BTW, do not ever boo the team/manager....such a negative affect on everyone and will not help at all.!!

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bobble added 09:35 - Feb 16 dont recall us winning many or any games 4-0 this year, but do remember lots of low/no scoring draws.....why not shake the team up a bit and have a bit of fun during games ,because the over serious nature of both our team and fans is not doing anyone any good.....its only 3rd division football after all....
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bobble added 09:38 - Feb 16 oh ... and looking at the games played by all teams , we are most likely soon in 6th place not 4th.....
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