Please log in or register. Registered visitors get fewer ads.
Lambert: I Thought We Were Excellent
Saturday, 31st Aug 2019 18:02

Town boss Paul Lambert felt his side were excellent during their 3-0 home victory over 10-man Shrewsbury, a win which put the Blues two points clear at the top of League One.

Kayden Jackson, James Norwood (pen) and Flynn Downes scored the goals for Town, while Shaun Whalley dismissed for two bookable offences before half-time.

Lambert had said he wanted his team to get off to a strong start and was unsurprisingly delighted that they took the lead after two minutes and made it 2-0 after 10.

“I thought we were excellent, I thought in the first half we were so dominant, even when they had 10 men,” he said.

“I’m really pleased, we played a really good game, we did everything I asked the team and I’m really happy, some really good performances, but the team are very good at the minute.”

Strike pair Jackson and Norwood made it nine goals in four games and Lambert is pleased with their form.

“I’m delighted with the way they’ve started the season,” he added. “The team is going really well at the minute, the football club is going really well, the atmosphere is incredible.

“I’m not sure this place has been like this for many a year, the way it is. I’m really happy with everything that’s going on.”

He had praise for Downes’s third goal in the second half: “It was brilliant, right from the box. I think Kane was outstanding, it was a brilliant ball from Kayden, who was excellent as well and what a header it was.

“The move was brilliant, one end of the pitch to the other, unbelievably quick. The move was great and the header was exceptional.”


Regarding Whalley’s second booking, he said: “I’m sure [Shrews manager] Sam [Ricketts] will maybe have words to say on the red card from his point of view, he’ll probably not be happy.”

Would he be unhappy with one of his players making a challenge like that in such an unthreatening area? “Yes, there was no trouble. I guess Sam is the one to ask about that.”

Lambert was also pleased with Jon Nolan’s impact from the bench, the former Shrewsbury man coming on as a sub for the first time this season following his calf injury.

“He looked lively when he came on for the amount of game time, he’s played,” he said. “Nolo’s a really good player, a really, really good player and it’s great to have him back.”

Despite the Blues being top, Lambert says it means little to him at this early stage of the season.

“I never really pay much attention to it,” he insisted. “You just move on to the next one, it’s another one crossed off, move on to the next one but the performance and the way we’re playing is really good.”

Prior to kick-off Blue Action unfurled a banner across the Sir Bobby Robson Stand - which was meant to be displayed at the Sunderland match before the strong wind intervened - with Lambert mocked up as Rambo above the legend Lambo, something which the Blues boss was touched by.

“It was overwhelming,” he said. “It’s incredible really, I’ve only been here less than a year and it’s overwhelming.”

Is he happy with the Rambo comparison? “I wish I had Stallone’s money! Listen, it’s overwhelming, I can’t describe the feeling when the crowd do that here.”

“Did I imagine such a tribute? No, not here, I don’t think anybody would have visualised that, would they, coming from the past I had. It’s overwhelming.

“Things I’ve had in my career, massive moments, in my playing career and management career, it’s up there. It’s really nice.”

Will he be wearing the bandana in Town’s next game? “Ay, you’ll see that! No, bloody hell! As I said before, I can describe it because that’s overwhelming being here a short time. But you like to think you’ve given the fans the club back.

“I’ve always said that, that’s the most important thing, regardless of how the team does, the fans have to have the club back.”

Meanwhile, with the transfer window closing at 5pm on Monday, Lambert isn’t entirely ruling out there being some business at Portman Road.

“I don’t know,” he said. “We’ll check, we’ll have a look and [see] if anything comes up, I’m pretty sure things will fly in and it’s up to us. You can never rule anything out.”

Shrews boss Ricketts saw positives in the performance, despite the result.

“I think a bit of naivety from us has let the home side off the hook," he said. "You can’t give a goal away in the first minute of the game, especially when you’r trying to frustrate.

“And even after that, the penalty’s not a penalty, it’s outside the box.

"That naivety has cost us because you look back at the whole game, we played nearly an hour with 10 men and we still had more shots, more shots on target, more corners, so the game plan was there.

“I thought the game was there for the taking, if I’m honest with you. I know it doesn’t look like it because two early goals killed the game.

“But 10 or 15 minutes into the game I remember thinking we’ve had more territory, more opportunities, but they’ve been near our goal twice and scored twice, which isn’t exactly what you want, especially given our defence has been so solid this year. It didn’t really give us a chance in the game.”

Asked about Whalley's two bookings, Ricketts added: “It took 88 minutes for a home player to get booked, that’s all I’m saying on that.”


Photo: TWTD



Please report offensive, libellous or inappropriate posts by using the links provided.



Blue_Again added 18:05 - Aug 31
Getting exciting
8

TimmyH added 18:07 - Aug 31
Loving the north stand support (even from last season)...they're a credit to the club, over 19000 today so well done all and to 'Lambo' for the good start to the season!
21

Mark added 18:07 - Aug 31
We were excellent. Superb support, whoever would have thought higher crowds in League One to the Championship! All credit to Lambert and the team. Happy times at Portman Road.
25

Lathers added 18:21 - Aug 31
Great atmosphere today, although I thought we made hard work of it after they went down to 10 men. Vincent-Young was absolutely outstanding (how long can we keep him for!) and Woolfenden looks very comfortable at this level. It might be league one but it feels great to be winning games, scoring a sackful of goals and be TOP of the league!
18

mib added 18:31 - Aug 31
Mark, why the higher crowds? thankfully MM has long gone and football has returned. Its not rocket science.
16

FenboyBlue added 18:42 - Aug 31
Lambo may not wear a bandana, but it's probably inevitable that at some point this season Chambo will get a head injury and come back on bandaged up, for a sequel banner.

Downes goal was like a young Johnny Wark, but without the tache. Sublime.
12

manualthetisfanclub added 18:53 - Aug 31
What planet is Ricketts on, the bloke is deluded!!
15

Cakeman added 19:15 - Aug 31
Great win, a real team effort. The club are pulling as one with everyone on board.
Well done Paul Lambert for the almost unbelievable impact you have made.
PS Shrewsbury boss Ricketts......make sure you buy a large bag of sugar to mix with your sour grapes! Some managers gracefully accept and acknowledge when they have been deservedly beaten. Not Ricketts though evidently.
15

AbujaBlue added 19:38 - Aug 31
Manual - Shrewsbury has a history for producing 'that kind' of manager it seems...

Great win today, lovely to see us clinical in front of goal.
11

WhoisJimmyJuan added 19:59 - Aug 31
By now I think it is safe to say the losing mentality we had last season has been well and truly cast off. That was Lambo's first task. He hadnt been delivering results last season. But he is now and he had to. Could not have asked for a better start to the season and is so far way above what I hoped! Got to keep this going now. Really starting to like Lambo now.
9

Dissboyitfc added 20:06 - Aug 31
Sam Ricketts, the best team won, get over it! Think i will go and have another look at the table!
12

BurleysGloryDays added 20:30 - Aug 31
Fantastic, lovely touch from the fans with the Lambo banner - it'll mean a lot to him, we're all human and it's stuff like that which builds connections and affections. Lambo has transformed the club and certainly given it back to the fans. He's given it back to the Town and the region.

We were all desperately keen for him to stay as relegation loomed. This is why, he puts so much in and he's invested so deeply. He feels it all like one of us.

Long May it continue, well done today boys. Onward, big battles ahead but month one, massive tick.

10

TractorRoyNo1 added 20:36 - Aug 31
Their manager should go far, hopefully will never see or hear from him again, he brought a bunch of thugs and they got slapped. Cant wait for the next pub team to arrive.
5

itsonlyme added 20:46 - Aug 31
Talk about a bad loser. Ricketts - your comments are pathetic. Whalley lived up to his name with that challenge. Well played town, we played really well for most of the game and deservedly won. Onwards and upwards lads. Pity we cancelled next weeks game - momentum is key.
7

Bugs added 21:31 - Aug 31
Good 1st half performance, average second half performance.
Still don't think performances are near the potential best that this team has in it, but even so we're top of the early league. That bodes extremely well for when the team gets into top gear.
9

BobbyPetta11 added 21:44 - Aug 31
Sour grapes from their gaffs! Swallow your medicine & get on the coach.
3

TractorBeezer added 21:49 - Aug 31
I love the Downes goal. Not only did the ball get moved from one end to the other, he started his run from his own half and threw himself (not a stoop as suggested in the main report) to get his head on the great pull back from Jackson
11

itfchorry added 22:42 - Aug 31
Where's Gcon ?

Saturday is just not the same without you !
4

KiwiBlue2 added 00:42 - Sep 1
Wow, 8 goals in the last two matches it does not come much better than that and some of the long term injured back on the park what a turnaround..... long may it continue.....
6

Walk_the_Wark added 02:27 - Sep 1
Fantastic goal Mr Downes, had John Wark written all over it :-)
9

SpiritOfJohn added 07:16 - Sep 1
Another superb debut performance, this time from KVY. Everything is falling into place with each new player slotting into the system and improving the squad. Amazing turnaround from the situation 12 months ago - thank you Lambo! Fair play to Shrewsbury who had good spells in the game, but they lacked our firepower up front - Jackson looks like a new signing alongside Norwood. Downes is starting to look like the real deal but don't tell the vultures from the Premier League.
7

jonnysuave added 08:44 - Sep 1
We're a bit 'moneybags' for this league. Big squad, probably on better wages, bigger crowds... Its a bit like Man City and Liverpool. The difference on a month ago is unreal.
2

SamsDad added 14:38 - Sep 1
I always read what the oppo manager has to say, reading their point of view is sometimes quite interesting.

Not this week! The sending off is daft, that's not the refs fault. The worst tackle of the game, a shin high swipe on Woolfenden went unpunished, there were poor challenges all over the field. Has he not considered that we didn't get a booking until the end was because we weren't the ones kicking lumps out the opposition?
3

SamsDad added 14:40 - Sep 1
First look at KVY, like him a lot.

An ITFC legend in the making? You heard it here first!
4


You need to login in order to post your comments

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls

About Us Contact Us Terms & Conditions Privacy Cookies Advertising
© TWTD 1995-2024