Ben Johnson felt Town defended well against a strong Fulham side as the Blues were pegged back twice to draw 2-2 with the Cottagers at Craven Cottage.

The match turned out to be a tale of three penalties as Raul Jimenez struck twice from 12 yards to deny Town back-to-back victories for the first time this season.

Jimenez’s second equaliser came in the first minute of stoppage time after Sammie Szmodics’s first half opener and Liam Delap’s eighth goal of the campaign, also from the penalty spot, looked as though it would give the Blues all three points.

Johnson believes Kieran McKenna’s side once again defended well for the most part, with the Blues only conceding once from open play in the last three matches against Fulham, Chelsea and Arsenal.

“I think it was good,” he said of the overall performance. “We were strong defensively and we had to sustain pressure.

“Fulham are a really good team, an athletic team that can run and really be dangerous, I felt like we stifled that well. We scored two away from home, to do that is definitely a positive.

“Again, it’s the Premier League. We were leading for long periods of the game and it’s turned out to be a draw. You could argue that we deserved to win or you could argue that it was a fair result.

“We’ve come here to a tough place and we’ve got a point, so we’ve just got to continue to build on that.

“You could argue that maybe if that game was earlier in the season we might go on to lose that game 3-2. A lot of the results in the last four or five games, we’ve shown that we can sustain pressure now and our game management has improved.”

Town have earned four points from their two games either side of the New Year to lift them level on points with Wolverhampton Wanderers and leave them in the relegation zone only on goal difference.

“If that was Fulham or even a top six side they would probably take that,” Johnson said. “For us to take that, try and stay in the league, stay close to the other teams but also just focusing on our results is a good return for now.”

When put to him how close Town were to back-to-back top flight victories, Johnson questioned whether expectation levels for a newly-promoted side were too high.

The 24-year-old said: “I’m not sure if people are expecting to win every game, we’re Ipswich Town and we’ve just come up. We’re here to stay, of course, and we’re here to compete, but it’s the Premier League.

“We’re playing against teams of the highest quality and it’s not going to be easy to get a win. I feel like we’ve shown resolve from earlier in the season and we’re going to continue to build on that.

“In the media sometimes we’re expected to win every game and I think we’re playing in the best league in the world and it’s very difficult.

“I feel like people are expecting us to win games and see out games where we haven’t, but in the last couple of seasons there have been so many late goals in the Premier League from all teams.

“From minute one to minute 90 it’s extremely difficult and I feel like for us in our first season in the league we’ve done well.

“Not everything is going to go our way, there’s results that we may probably deserve to win and we’ve lost or results that we’ve stayed in the game and nicked a late goal. That’s just the beauty of the Premier League.

“We’re there or thereabouts. I don’t know if people were expecting us to be in the top 10 – probably not. We’re in a good position because we’re in a position where we’re not going to rest on our laurels.

“We still know there’s work to do and we’re not out of it. It’s just continuing to be focused for the next round of games and the months to come.”

Town kept the same system that has proven to be a defensive success in recent weeks with three out-and-out centre-backs playing in Jacob Greaves, Luke Woolfenden and Dara O’Shea.

The structure of the side is something that Johnson believes suits not only the Blues but his own game, highlighting the advantages that playing with a back three can have on the team.

“I’ve always liked the formation with the centre-halves we have,” he said. “They want to squeeze out, slide across and I feel like that gives confidence to the midfielders and the wing-backs to push on and go forward. It gives us a good base to play from.

“I enjoy it anywhere, to be honest. I’m a team player, I want to play as much as I can, help the team and be part of that collective unit for the team. Wherever that is I’m happy.”

Immediately following the Fulham clash, the Blues announced the arrival of centre-half or right-back Ben Godfrey on loan from Italian side Atalanta.

The former Norwich City defender had undergone a medical at Playford Road on Saturday and was spotted in the stands at Craven Cottage.

Johnson said: “It’s always good to have new faces and new additions to help the team, it’s always positive. You want good and healthy competition of players at the level.

“It just gives the manager an option to rotate, keep everyone fresh and put in players that are at the level. I feel like we’ve got a good squad for that.

“It’s great to see a new addition in Ben Godfrey, he’s had great experience in the Premier League and it’s something that the lads are definitely going to be buzzing and give us a lift.

“That’s what we need in all positions, players to play in different positions. We know that the league requires different players to come in at different times and it’s a great addition for us to sign Ben.”

Johnson was also asked whether he had any regrets about the way his time at boyhood club West Ham United ended in the summer when he made the free transfer to the Blues.

“No regrets and I don’t think they have regrets either,” he said. “It was just one of those ones, the fans understand that it was probably best for me to leave to develop myself as a player and as a man. As you saw when I went back to the London Stadium, there was a warm reception.”

Photo: REUTERS/Dylan Martinez

victorysquad added 18:24 - Jan 5 Ben Johnson, outstanding today, my MoM We do not expect to win every week!
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ArnieM added 18:31 - Jan 5 ...true Ben, we have. But it should have been all 3pts.
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Carberry added 08:17 - Jan 6 Why did they send him out to discuss the player who will get picked in front of him? Very defensive and irrational about expectations.
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blues1 added 10:06 - Jan 6 ArnieM. And who's,fault was it we didnt get 3 points. Afraid thats down to Morsy and Davis for giving away stupid penalties.
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blues1 added 10:10 - Jan 6 Barberry. Usual daft comment from you. If Johnson plays the way he did yesterday, there's nothing to say he'll be dropped. And anyway, Godfrey has been brought in to compete with Tuanzebe, on the right side of the defence, not as a wing back. Which is where Johnson is playing.
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WalkRules added 11:10 - Jan 6 I thought Johnson was superb yesterday. I was fortunate to be in the ground so often, when play was at the other end, it was difficult to see who was on the ball but the amount of times Johnson did make a key move / interception etc made it clear he was having a very solid game.
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Linkboy13 added 16:35 - Jan 6 Johnson far happier at wingback where he's not exposed to one on one situation's.
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