Missed chances, another late goal and thick fog were the main components of Town's 2-1 defeat at Oxford United and Leif Davis felt the team needed to be mentally stronger in the adverse conditions.

The fog made for a difficult afternoon at the Kassam Stadium and Yanic Wildschut’s 34th-minute opener for the U’s made it even tougher.

However, Davis levelled four minutes later with his first career goal, but a late Cameron Brannagan effort sealed the win for the home side with seven minutes remaining with both managers having previously told referee Bobby Madden they wanted the game abandoned.

A run of four league games without a victory has seen Town drop 10 points off the top and seven behind second.

“It was very tough. It was a struggle to see to be fair,” Davis said of the conditions.

“On the other side of the pitch, I couldn't see Wes [Burns] at all. When the ball came high in the air, I couldn't see the ball at all and I think that's why the ref went over to [talk to the managers about abandoning the match].

“Someone was saying just stop it and take the point and we were like, ‘No, we want to play’ because we'd played for 75 minutes anyway in those conditions.

“It was probably worse at the start of the second half and we couldn't see anything.

"But we've just got to get on with it. It is tough, but we've just got to play our game.

“We keep the ball on the floor so we were able to see the ball but when it was coming in long, it was so difficult to see. But I think we've just got to be a bit mentally stronger and want to win the game.

“We've just got to dig in. It's a result at the end of the day and it's not the conditions, we've got to win the game.”

Regarding the defeat, Town’s fourth in the league this season, and their under par performance, Davis said: “It was a hard one to take because we played them not that long ago and won 3-0.

“We knew they were going to come out with a different game plan and it was difficult, they made it hard for us in spells of the game.

"But for the goal, we played out from the back all the way up the pitch and that's what we can do, and we need to do that more often.

“I think we started the game a bit slow, giving them opportunities like the goal as well. We've just got to dig in and go for the 90 minutes.”

Despite a disappointing Saturday afternoon overall, Davis was pleased to have scored his first career goal and is confident more will follow.

“Obviously, it's nice, but I'd rather have the three points,” he admitted. “I don't think it means anything really when we're not getting the three points.

“I would rather the team have the three points than me score a goal because we work so hard for it.

“Obviously, I work hard to get my goal as well, but I want the three points at the end of the day.

“I've been working with the gaffer in training on the back post stuff because I've had a few opportunities like that before in games and not been too composed and headed it over the bar or straight at the keeper.

“And I think that works, and what I've been doing with the gaffer has paid off, and I've just got to keep working on it.

“I feel confident now that one has gone in that hopefully there'll be many more. Like I said the other week, I feel as though I've got my first goal now and I'm ready to go for more goals.”

On his goal celebration, which was difficult to see from the press box on the other side of the ground, he said: “It was just jumping in the air. I saw all the lads running towards me and I was just chuffed to bits.

“When I was celebrating, the lads were like ‘At last!’, that kind of thing, but it's a nice thing to get my first career goal. I'm happy but obviously not happy with the result and I'd rather have the three points.

“The three points is the main thing and it takes away the goal really, to be fair, and we've just got to push on to Tuesday night.”

Morecambe at Portman Road presents a quick opportunity for Town to return to winning ways after a difficult spell in which they've won only one of their last five.

“I don't think it is the pressure at all,” he reflected. “I think every team goes through the eye of the storm and I think we might be there at the minute.

“I know for a fine fact that me and the lads will come out stronger, we'll work every day at the training ground like we always do and get things put right.

"It's a big game. Like the gaffer said, we've got to go out and show what we do against Morecambe.

“They're in quite good form at the minute, but we've just got to go from minute one and hit the ground running all the way through the 90 minutes.”

On the Blues’ current league position, he continued: “We've got to keep pushing and winning games. We've got to focus on winning the games before we look at the table and the two teams in front.

“Like I said, the three points are the main thing because that's what gets you up the table.”

Photo: TWTD

Carberry added 10:30 - Jan 22 How are you working on your mentality on the training ground? At least, someone who is recognising deficiencies and not the complacent stuff we've heard before. And the players wanted to play on and win, which doesn't quite chime with the manager's interpretation of events.
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Lightningboy added 10:32 - Jan 22 ...And our "strikers" need to put away simple chances.
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Suffolkboy added 10:53 - Jan 22 Focused, uncomplicated common sense attitude coupled to desire and personal action ! IF only one or two others would display the same sort of spunk and drive , to improve, to better contribute and demonstrate they realise you're never too old to learn. Good man , a solid acquisition who has and will improve even more ! COYB
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TimmyH added 11:36 - Jan 22 Been the same for season upon season....what's our psychologist doing?
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ringwoodblue added 12:01 - Jan 22 No sh1t Sherlock
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Billysherlockblue added 12:40 - Jan 22 Sorry but a load of spoof. Bust a gut to win like Plymouth are doing and the mental side will take care of itself. Yeah we lost yesterday because to a man we were not busting a gut to win. Probably need a dominant center half aswell because we couldn't defend a cross if we were paid. Sorry for the pessimism but realty is with us now. As a supporter i luv the blues but we are not at the races with our commitment and passion at present. Coyb as men ye are better than this.

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blueboy1981 added 12:41 - Jan 22 We have a Squad of Players capable of much more than we are seeing, a Squad that most of our current Opponents would relish having. McK may well have a successful career as a Manager ahead - but he is an Inexperienced Rookie - and it is showing in more ways than one. Many Managers would give anything for what he has at his disposal, around, and behind him. He has all the Tools - HE HAS TO PRODUCE THE APPROPRIATE RESULTS !! If he cannot succeed with all that - then Questions have to be asked … !!!

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blueboy1981 added 12:56 - Jan 22 TimmyH ….. I've said it many times before ‘we are a too Cosy Club to Manage, Play for, and maybe Work for' … !! Evidence of that Season after Season - we once had a reasonably Ruthless Winning Successful Streak in us - we need to get that back, and running throughout the Club. We have accepted failure for far too long - and many Fans have become entrenched in acceptance of that, and continually make excuses for far too much. Hence Division 3 - and looking more likely by the game now - for Aug' 23 - once again !! Although of course, not over until ‘the Lady Sings' - lets hope she has lost her voice by May !!

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buzbyblue added 12:59 - Jan 22 Vote me down if you like - But failure to get promotion this season should see both McKenna & Ashton removed The pension pot people will not keep throwing money at us to be a nearly team
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Bazza8564 added 13:17 - Jan 22 Our defending is fragile, but we should be out of sight we wasted so many chances yesterday. Burns (2), Harness and Chaplin all inside ten years no-one hit the target. Need someone to come in and address the mental sharpness with the strikers IMO. Score three goals in a game from 6-7 chances we create with ease and we go up!
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Stato added 13:19 - Jan 22 @buzbyblue if Ashton acts swiftly and terminates KM as soon as our promotion failure is confirmed then he can survive this but next time KM wants to sign someone either currently injured or without significant recent playing time he needs to stand up to him and say sorry but this comes from the top and we aren't doing those deals anymore.
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Skip73 added 13:30 - Jan 22 We have a good squad and a good manager. The problem, IMO, is that its so long since the club had any sort of success, they dont know how to achieve it. Its gonna take a while to change the mentality. Its looking like another season playing Crapa Johns football, as it stands, I'm afraid. Plymouth and Shef Wed will have a bad run but I'm not sure we will capitalise.
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brittaniaman added 13:46 - Jan 22 Shame it is a great pity it was not cancelled as we are not playing that well ? it could have been put in the bag to be played on say a nice March or April evening ??
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chepstowblue added 14:19 - Jan 22 We're poor in both boxes. Yes we've scored plenty this season, but our conversion rate is shocking. Profligate up top, brittle at the back. Plymouth are clinical with their opportunities, Sheffield Wednesday are water tight, we are neither. Whatever their mentality(and let's face it footballers are very weak in that department), the performance levels have dropped alarmingly and plan B still doesn't and never will exist. Considering the vast majority had promoted us from the so called tin pot league a few months ago, it's almost time to resign ourselves to the fact that unless we do it through the play offs its going to be at least another season before we eventually prove that we're too massive for this level. We certainly aren't proving it at present. Embarrassing considering the amount of money we've thrown at it recently.

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oldelsworthyfan added 14:31 - Jan 22 Leif Davis has been a real success. What we're missing is an experienced, 6ft 3in central defender like James Wilson, formerly with us, now starring with Plymouth. Oh yes, Paul Cook let him go!
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Texastom added 20:10 - Jan 22 Agree about the cost Club mentality. We are very similar to Norwich in that we attract players who want to come for the good and family life of Anglia. We are both ‘confidence teams', play well when its comfortable but when its difficult we just fold. Players know they will be paid anyway. History backs this up - any relegation battle and both teams throw in the towel. They just don't fancy it. We won't even score against Shef Wed defence. Players didn't want to play for Roy Keane as it was too tough.

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GiveusaWave added 23:07 - Jan 22 Good on the lad for stepping forward and saying the right things. It's clear that the mental side of our game needs work and someone needs to address it. It's the one area which can be overlooked and isn't picked up easily through data analysis. How many late equalisers or late winners have we conceded this season? I've never known a season like it in terms of late goals against us. We are put under pressure and we crack like an egg. Compare that with Wednesday, who get their 1-0 lead and then restrict teams from getting any opportunities ((they have to score a 30 yard screamer to equalise). Every member of their team knows what to do once they've scored and carries out their plan.... Plymouth have a different approach. Just keep on scoring....

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algarvefan added 23:36 - Jan 22 Time. That's what is against all managers and clubs these days, I believe we have an inexperienced but good manager, the players like and respect him and as an older member of this page I remember some inexperienced manager arriving and after about the same time that K McK has had the crowd were calling for him to be sacked. He was called Bobby Robson, luckily the board backed him and the rest is history. This fragile mentality is ingrained in the club after 20 years of neglect, poor management and players who were not committed. It will take 'time', maybe another season but I believe we have the basis of great success here at Ipswich. I think everyone needs to stand by the manager and the club, it will happen, but it may take time!! Oh and I want success as much as anyone else in case you were wondering. I think we will still make it this season, probably via the Play Offs.

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Karlosfandangal added 11:21 - Jan 23 Agree with we need to put our chances away but that's been the problem for most of the season and think that's why KMK has brought Hurst and Braidhead
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Linkboy13 added 16:10 - Jan 23 It's so disappointing to see us slipping away, when at one stage we were seven points clear at the top. In most areas of the pitch on Saturday we were ok but it's that last third of the pitch where we are just not clinical enough. The midfield is very solid but lacking someone capable of breaking from deep with pace. The new signings need to settle in very quickly if are going to compete for that second place. Hirst showed glimpses on Saturday that he could be the answer but needs game time whether he will get it under McKenna im not sure. Clarke came to us after playing regularly in the championship for Stoke which can't be said of most of our signings. Looking at the season as a whole after last season's eleventh place finish you could say getting into the play offs is progress but that in no way softens the blow of not going up automatic. Although there is still plenty of points to play for and we are not out of the promotion shake up yet, we don't look like getting out of the habit of making the same mistakes.

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