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Lambert: Deserved Point, Some Good Moments, Some Not So Good Moments
Saturday, 17th Aug 2019 18:40

Blues boss Paul Lambert felt his team were worthy of their point at Peterborough, grabbed via skipper Luke Chambers’s late, late header as the gameat London Road ended 2-2.

The Town manager was pleased with some aspects of the display but less so with others, while he had praise for the 4,000-strong travelling Blue Army.

“I think [we deserved the point],” he reflected. “I think we had some good moments, some not so good moments, battled back and showed a lot of grit and determination to get back into the game.

“The football club, because of its size is going to have a massive target on its back, the atmosphere here was unbelievable, what a support we had, absolutely fabulous and if we keep carrying that support we’re always going generate that.

“I’d rather have that than not have that. You saw the happiness on people’s faces when we got the equaliser. We kept on knocking at the door.

“The penalty was a big swinging moment I thought, but [James] Norwood will score goals for us, obviously he scored in the first half.

“I thought we started really, really well, in the first 15 or 20 minutes, I thought we were really at it.

“And then we lost a goal though a bit of inexperience, [Luke] Woolfenden in the corner. Janoi [Donacien] should have been touch tight and he wasn’t and it was just a simple header. But there were a lot of good things there and that’s three games unbeaten.”

He added: “Young Idris came on and did some really good things, Woolfenden again is getting better.”

Lambert admitted he was disappointed not to have built on the early lead: “It’s a tough game and Peterborough are a decent side, they were up there last year. As I said, we’ve got the pressure with the target on our back, but we’d rather have it because the [size of the] club indicates it.”

A week ago Chambers was the villain after his error led to Sunderland’s equaliser so it was perhaps fitting the captain should be the Blues hero this time around.

“I always think big players always produce in certain moments,” Lambert continued. “I think it was a great header. I think Idris [El Mizouni] came on and did really well for us.

“I think there was confusion with big Tomas [Holy] going up, he unsettled them a little bit and it was a great header, so I’m delighted with that. I think if we score the penalty and it goes to 2-2, there’s only one winner.”

He added: “You’ve also got to remember when you’re 34 and there’s 46 games plus cup games that it’s impossible to play every time.


“Without sounding disrespectful, you’re in the twilight of your career when you hit that age so he’ll need breaks at times Luke.

“He’s done fabulous since I’ve been at the club and it’s a brilliant header. We’ll take the point and, as I said before, we’re undefeated.”

Lambert was pleased that summer signing Norwood got off the mark with the first goal: “Great, what you don’t want is to have a millstone round your neck. His goal was great, he knocks the keeper and then he tucked it away.

“I thought Jackson was excellent, I thought his running was excellent. Some really good things there, things we can work on, but it’s a decent start.”

Lambert is in no doubt that the ex-Tramnere man will grab the ball next time the Blues have a penalty despite today’s miss.

“I don’t think he’s too shy in coming forward, Norwood,” he added. “These things happen. As I said, that was a big moment. I think if it goes to 2-2, we go and win the game because the momentum’s with us.

The Town boss believes Jackson will also score goals this season: “I do because he’s playing really well, he’s causing havoc with his speed.

“Peterborough probably raised their game against us because of the sea behind the goal and that atmosphere that the fans generated was fantastic.”

Regarding his decision to start Gwion Edwards on the left of midfield in place of the injured Luke Garbutt, he said: “He’s done a lot of training, he played that 60 minutes against Luton and I still think Judgey is still lacking game time as well.

“Gwion is probably more suited to this game and being in a wide area, so it wasn’t a tough decision, it was just a decision I’ve made.”

The Blues have five points out of nine from their first three games in League One and are eighth in the early table, a point off the play-offs.

“It’s every bit as hard as I thought it was going to be,” Lambert considered. “We’ve got the expectancy level on us, but it’s a decent start and we look a good side and if we keep doing that consistently throughout the season we’re not going to be far off.”

Lambert confirmed that Colchester right-back Kane Vincent-Young’s move is all but done with the £500,000 switch set to be rubber-stamped on Monday.

Vincent-Young was with the squad at Peterborough but wouldn’t have played even if the deal had gone through before Friday’s noon deadline.

“He came [to Peterborough], he wouldn’t have been fit anyway, he’s got a little knock on his toe, so I need to see how he is over the next couple of days,” Lambert said.

“He’ll be a really good signing for the club. As I said before, we need the squad strength stronger than it was.”

He says Vincent-Young could be involved on Tuesday if he is fit: “I don’t know, we’ll try him tomorrow, see how that toe is.”

Lambert was pleased with the point which maintained the Blues’ early momentum - “absolutely” - adding that he was “happy with the team”.

Reflecting further on the support, Lambert added: “The thing I always judge is the support, the support is unbelievable. I know it’s not too far, it’s a couple of hours up the road but I’m not sure this club will see that support for a long time. The support was absolutely unbelievable, it was brilliant.

“The target’s on your back but the lads will learn to live with that as the season goes on. It’s an extremely long, gruelling season and, as I said before, as long as you don’t lose, you’re going to be right in the mix.

“We came here and it was like a home game. I still thought we did some really good things, some things we can do better and if we keep playing the way we are, we won’t be far away.”

Peterborough manager Darren Ferguson was frustrated that his side weren’t able to hang on for their first win of the season.

”It's disappointing to lose the two points in the last minute,” he said. “Given the performance we gave, we deserved to win the match.

"But as I've said to the players, every game we've lost a set-piece goal, apart from against Oxford last Saturday. We're conceding far too many goals from set-pieces. We know the problem and we have to stop it. It's as simple as that.

"An individual has lost his man, not that I'm going to blame the individual because it's a team game, but it's too easy. They put the ball in the box, it was a free header and a goal from an individual mistake.

"But the reaction from going 1-0 down after three defeats was outstanding. The lads showed real good character and overall the performance between the goals was good."

Ferguson had no complaints regarding the first Town goal and had praise for the way keeper Christy Pym reacted to his error.

"He knows he made that mistake because he should punch it rather than trying to catch the ball, but his reaction after was very, very good,” he added.

"I can't be critical of my players' performance, their desire, application and character, but I can be critical of the two goals we conceded."


Photo: TWTD



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Dissboyitfc added 18:52 - Aug 17
its a sad fact of football, make a mistake up front( Norwood) not much is made of it make a mistake at the back and the offender gets slaughtered! Apparently a week effort by all accounts!
0

BlueandTruesince82 added 18:52 - Aug 17
Pleased KVY is in we need a RB..... hope we see more additions.... need bully in a Murphy style to switch it up... we could have won all 3 against what are the better sides in the division and were hard done by last week via ref. As we saw saw today no guarantee Norwood puts it away but with players another 1 or 2 plus players to come back we should get stronger
1

StowTractorBoy added 19:05 - Aug 17
Well done Town for coming back as I had given up hope. Chambo redeemed himself with the goal so hope the boo boys stay off his back now. If the penalty goes in it may have been 3 points with the momentum and if we can beat AFC Wimbledon on Tuesday it will be a satisfactory start in new territory against fancied opposition. Always said Donacien is nowhere near good enough and so it proved today. Hopefully we have solved the right back position with the Colchester lad, but badly need a commanding central defender as well. Lets turn up in numbers on Tuesday get behind the boys.
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Jack_hughes2 added 19:05 - Aug 17
I thought skuse was excellent today. Downes as well with s9me lovely passes. Rowe had one or two good moments but did very little. Norwood and jackson ran their socks off, down the channels, cloaing down, tracking back - very impressed.

Donacien and kenlock however - poor, poor, poor. Poor distribution and several hit and hope balls forward.

El mizouni and judge were lively wheb they came on, although judge put some awful crosses in, he looked as if he could make something happen.

A point away from home off a poor performance is a positive.
8

Wooly74 added 19:48 - Aug 17
I would still like to see a fit and ready Huws in the heart of the midfield, he could make all the difference at this level...
7

Wooly74 added 19:49 - Aug 17
Opinions are like ar**holes, everyone has one, but reading some of the above I wonder if you went to the same game as me???
0

londontractorboy57 added 20:07 - Aug 17
Get the rub of the green and we will be up there great to hear about the cufc player coming in was really impressed with him when i saw him play.
Roll on the Wombles.
0

Walk_the_Wark added 20:16 - Aug 17
Really poor display against a really poor team. Im afraid we won't be promoted playing like that....
-2

DifferentGravy added 20:26 - Aug 17
Dissboy/Stowmarket - Agree that all players are worthy of praise when deserved and, equally culpable for mistakes they make. Chambers scores, give him credit. Norwood takes a shocking penalty at a potentially crucial time. However, Chambers is the spine of the team, captain and is employed primarily to keep the ball out of our net. Yet again, we concede a goal......2 goals with him in the line up. So how does this mean he has redeemed himself/is a hero?

If we kept a clean sheet today we win 1-0........regardless of the penalty miss.

Its nothing personal, its simple stats. Same thing happened all last season, only a higher league.....same thing happening now. We need a replacement. Cant keep trying to win games when conceding goals all the time. Fans favourite or not......its not rocket science.

2

DifferentGravy added 20:29 - Aug 17
Jack hughes - thanks for an excellent summation

Wooly74 - Would like to know here your match synopsis if possible, thanks
0

Esseeja added 20:40 - Aug 17
We dominated before scoring and then it seemed as if we changed something for literally no reason and it all went to the bin, Chambers making another mistake but saving his entire family and his dog and himself with the final goal (He probably doesn't even have a dog I don't know), I can forgive him for this game but I'm so confused as to how Kenlock was THAT poor at the start of the second half, I don't know what happened to Don that half, Wolf was still good and Holy made a few great saves, Norwood did not look confident at the spot and didn't put any power what so ever on the penalty, Jackson has no end product, Skuse is underrated and Downes was great.
What happened to Judge and Edwards? they look useless now!
2

Dolphinblue added 20:46 - Aug 17
Awesome day! Support brilliant! Loved it Whoop! ❤🐬
2

herfie added 20:53 - Aug 17
Some hope, some despair, something to build on. But to achieve the latter we need more quality into the squad - either perms or loans. The areas that need rapid improvement, or additional bodies, are self apparent. Might have to be loans; but if we're seriously going to challenge over the next 9 relentless months, then doing nothing just won't cut it. PL knows it, we know it : ME - do you know it, and are actively busting a gut to get PL the additions he's told you that we need? Here's hoping!
1

blues1 added 21:24 - Aug 17
Eseeja. Chamber didnt make amistake at all. He was at full stretch to get a foot on the ball to try to cut it out. He was only able to get a toe on the ball, and with no cover from any of his defensive teammates the ball fell for the player who the pass was intended for anyway. Amd different gravy. From what ur saying you think chambers is the only defender on the pitch. Theres 3 others out there, who hold as much responsibility for keeping clean sheets as he does. He cant do so on his own. And with kenlock and donacien being do poor today it's no surprise we conceded
1

Bert added 21:25 - Aug 17
Great support, decent first half but a very disjointed performance in the second half. Some sloppy passing and too much hoofing in my opinion. Don't like saying it but Peterborough probably deserved to win. Skuse again our best player. Norwood side footed his penalty. Great that Chambers got his head on the corner in the 94th minute but overall disappointed that we looked second best for the entire second half. We have a reasonably good squad and are definitely capable of top 6 but Norwood and Jackson need to pair up better. Probably one of my most negative posts but I believe a fair one.
1

Tractorboy1985 added 22:11 - Aug 17
Come on.... let's not cherry coat it!! We were bl00dy awful!! A last minute Chambo header spares our blushes! Kenlock Janoi absolutely pub league at best! People as saying great new right back.. he could replace either! Surely lambert is trying to keep Jackson feeling positive.. he is utter tripe! No excuses for Norwood missing the pen but Jackson is no partner for him! Positive... we ain't been beat.. negative... we've played 2 p1ss poor sides and picked up 2 points! More needed from the players and fed up how good ‘we are' COYB
2

Goddyblue added 22:35 - Aug 17
Not sure how many of the previous commentators were actually at today's came. Town are definitely a work in progress and by far not done yet. I thought the front 2 worked very hard and will definitely have better results on another day. The penalty miss was unfortunate to say the least, but the lads kept going right to the end. Unbeaten in the league so far, so far more positive than last season. Time for unwavering support instead of the constant slagging off on this forum.
8

Gforce added 22:49 - Aug 17
Esseeja, Chambers does have a dog,my mate had a chat with him on the park the other day.
Skuse also has a dog,a black lab,who I saw in my local park on Thursday !!
1

DifferentGravy added 23:07 - Aug 17
Blues1. - I appreciate its unlikely you have read my previous comments....and why would you. I am just another fan opining on the latest blog.

I have no grudge against Chambers, off the field he has entirely the right attitude. I do not hold Chambers accountable for every mistake, every goal conceded, every loss. The full backs were poor today, they have not been an ever present as Chambers has. if you are going to take issue with me then please look at the the stats for the last few seasons and the three games he has played this season.
He is the captain of the team and should be respected above all others on the field. He has been accountable for some dreadful INDIVIDUAL errors and performances that have lead directly to numerous goals. He is a centre back and, as such, the spine of the team. How many games, when he is in the team, have we conceded.....and conceded more than 1 goal. How can you expect to win games/respect/ rely/ have confidence in your defence,/your fellow centre back/your captain.......when you continuously making mistakes and conceding all the time.

Stop taking issue, basing your opinion on fans favourite and take a look at the facts

For crying out loud, he was voted player of the year last season and he was probably the worst player
-3

Karlosfandangal added 00:11 - Aug 18
I have to say I can't believe what I saw, I am not a manager or a footballer, but why o why after the first 10 times do Holy and the back 4 hoof the ball up the pith to our two 5 foot strikers for Peterborough two 6 foot CB to head the ball back.
But no let's keep doing it instead of hitting some low balls for Norwood and Jackson to run on to.
2

Esseeja added 00:13 - Aug 18
I still think Chambers could have easily stayed on the ground and at least blocked the shot instead or put the guy under pressure but he decides to go for the block when it was clearly not possible for him. and like I said, Jan-Don (I actually like calling him that) wasn't on his game at all today.
off the pitch he is incredible, as a captain, he's great, but as a player, I honestly just can't apprehend the amount of fatal erros he's made over the last 2 years. He's clearly not at the level required anymore and we are in league 1, we've all seen his mistake against Sunderland as well that cost us 2 points.
The only thing I see him useful for is bringing him on for a last minute corner as he usually wins headers in the attacking area.
-3

madmouse1959 added 01:57 - Aug 18
A spell of possession football, a long spell of going sideways and backwards does nothing to inflict any real damage to the opposition. The standard of football was poor and scrappy. Sadly, we are STILL carrying players at this club who just can not assert any real authority. As the game went on Peterborough give it a right go. The penalty kick was just too casual and was easily saved and we were very lucky to grab a last minute draw. We need to toughen up and get more men forward. The ball needs to move forward quicker.
1

londontractorboy57 added 08:52 - Aug 18
Goddyblue Thankfully the views expressed on the news site by a minority of Town fans dont represent the views of the majority.
2

ChrisFelix added 09:26 - Aug 18
Chambers received a lot of criticism after last Saturday but after the ball was centered into the middle of the goal area the scorer ran in unmarked !!!!
1

BettyBlue added 15:20 - Aug 18
Lambert smacks of complacency. What has he brought to the table over the last 300 days? Plenty of young managers with no funds and less resources making a bigger impact than chubby chops.
When does he get some pressure on what he's doing? This season already looks like a write off.
0


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