Lambert: Probably the Story of the Season Saturday, 30th Mar 2019 18:20 Manager Paul Lambert felt Town’s 2-0 home defeat to Hull City probably told the story of the season with the Blues again playing well but unable to turn their performance into goals and in turn points. “It’s unbelievable, incredible, it really is,” he said. “I can’t quite put my finger on it. We played ever so well, we started the game well, we were really good. “We lost a poor goal, it didn’t affect us, we kept going and kept going. The chances we have were incredible. “We had two off the line, balls going across the face of the box, great balls as well, it’s not as if they’re just long, hopeful balls, they’re great quality and we’ve incredible chances. “In the second half, Cole Skuse did great, it was a block tackle and they got the break and went and scored. But even then we still kept going. It’s the story of the season probably.” Had either of the efforts which were cleared off the line from Kayden Jackson or Gwion Edwards gone in the game could have developed very differently. “Goals change games,” Lambert added. “We play well, we play really, really well, the football’s really good. You can’t ask for any more on that side of it, it’s just that finishing, just the finishing touch which is probably been there most of the season. “The football is really good, everything is really good but [we’re lacking] just that finishing touch.” Regarding Jackson’s substitution in the second half, he said: “He had a problem with the back of his hamstring and so we thought we can’t take a chance. That’s another one injured. “We’ve already lost Matthew Pennington and obviously Jon Nolan got hurt, Bish rocked his ankle the other day, so we couldn’t take a risk with him and again we couldn’t take a risk with Kayden. He’s been playing really, really well and was unlucky not to score.” Defender Pennington has become the latest player to have his season ended by injury, the on-loan Everton man having returned to Goodison Park this week having suffered an injury in training.
“He has his operation tomorrow and he’s been excellent, Matty Pennington,” Lambert said. “I thought Toto Nsiala had a great game today. “Matty is not our player but that lad’s been excellent and it was a nothing challenge the other day in training, there was nobody near him and he ended up rupturing ankle ligaments.” Jon Nolan came off injured in the first half but Lambert wasn’t sure how significant his problem is. “He’s been great,” he added. “I think it’s his achilles, it’s not snapped or done or anything like that. Whether he’s got a kick on it or felt it a little bit [I don’t know]. He’s another kid who has been excellent for us.” Teddy Bishop missed out but the Blues boss says he should be back next weekend at Bolton: “He rocked his ankle, which can happen, in training. I could have taken the risk but I’d be risking his well-being and I didn’t want to do that because of his history. “A fit Bishop would play because of the way he plays the game, the way he drives with the ball. We had to take that decision out of his hands. Hopefully he’ll be back for next week.” Lambert again had praise for the Blues support who were still continued to sing at the final whistle despite the result. “I’ve been at massive football clubs, massive clubs with massive fan bases,” Lambert continued. “What this club has got here is unique, without a doubt. “I’ve never known this like this. I’ve never known it when a team’s at the bottom of the table and they’re singing the way they’re singing. “All I can say is thanks to them for their support. I feel for them, I feel for the whole club, the people who work here, the staff, the supporters, ex-players, I was at the ex-players’ dinner last night. “There were some top players there, top, top players that would grace anywhere and it’s their club as well. “I think everybody sees that everybody is trying to pull together and we’re playing really well. It’s just the finishing side that’s hurt us.” Did he feel some of the songs sung, which included Bob Marley’s Three Little Birds - “Don’t worry, about a thing, every little thing is going to be alright” - were an acceptance of relegation to League One? “The pure cynic will say, ‘OK, Ipswich are down’ but as I always say to you until it’s mathematically certain [we’re not],” he insisted. “Football is an incredible game at certain times. It’s going to take unbelievable effort, things to go our way, but that support, I’ve never known anything like this. “I’ve said before, I’ve seen incredible atmospheres, I’ve played in front of incredible atmospheres, foreign and in Britain, it’s brilliant what they do here, absolutely brilliant. “And, as I’ve said, I can’t thank them enough. And I think they recognise what’s happened here. They’re not silly, these fans, they’re definitely not silly. “Even at half-time, I felt they felt the way I felt walking down the touchline because they knew the chances we were creating. “I have exactly the same feeling as them, people who pay hard-earned money. My God, this football club has got an incredible set of fans, that’s for sure.” One piece of positive news over the weekend was yesterday night’s news that Flynn Downes had signed a new contract which secures his services until the summer of 2022. “I think it’s vital,” Lambert said. “As I’ve said before, I think the club will go that way. If I had a crystal ball and I could see a few years’ time, it could be unbelievable with all of them. “I think Myles Kenlock even today was outstanding, the way he played. I thought Andre Dozzell had a good game when he came on. Idris came on, they’re kids, teenagers. “There’s so much goodness here, an unbelievable future for the club and for those guys. There could be a right good side here, if they’re just given a wee bit of time to grow and nurture but there some really good things could happen here.” Hull manager Nigel Adkins was pleased with the win, despite feeloing his team didn't play at their best. “The importance for everybody was clear to see, we needed to get the three points," he said. "I thought we started the game slowly, I thought Ipswich looked very bright but we scored an excellent goal on 14 minutes. “Kamil Grosicki scored an excellent goal. A good bit of play the way we built it all up, it was a good goal. "He scored with his left foot which was pleasing because we have a bit of banter with him that he doesn’t use his left foot, so that was good. I was really pleased with that one. “And what a wonderful run by Jarrod Bowen that led to Kamil’s second goal. "I thought in the first half we actually should have capitalised on a few chances we’d had in the attacking third but give Ipswich credit, I thought they played well today. “Someone said it was industrious, but it was about getting the result. Our away form of late, we haven’t been picking up enough points. “We’ve played some really good football this season. Today we didn’t play great football but we’ve picked up the three points, got a clean sheet and that puts us within five of the play-offs, which is the important thing at this stage of the season with seven games to go.”
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