Paul Lambert hits out at 'nonsense criticism' of his Ipswich Town side following goalless draw at Oxford United
Ipswich Town manager Paul Lambert attacked the media's portrayal of his side's season so far in the wake of his injury-hit side's 0-0 draw at Oxford City last night.
The former Celtic player warned the 'nonsense criticism' could 'break the kids' he has been forced to play through a punishing injury list.
The point at the Kassam Stadium, which came with 11 players absent from the squad through illness and injury, saw the Blues move up a place to fifth in Sky Bet League One table but on the back of just 10 points from their last nine league games. Town are four points off leaders Hull City, who hold two games in hand.
It came after a lengthy interview with the club's general manager of football operations, Lee O'Neil, was aired pre-match on BBC Radio Suffolk where he said there was '100 per cent backing' for Lambert.
When Lambert was asked what he thought of his side's performance by BBC Radio Suffolk's Brenner Woolley after the final whistle, which had seen Oxford hit the post while Town's first shot on target came in added-on time, he replied: "I’m really pleased because of what’s happened. We’ve taken absolute nonsense criticism.
"So for them to be the way they were, with half a team of kids and nine injuries, I’m really pleased and proud of how we performed because the criticism those guys have took has not been right. It’s going to make or break them, We’ve got a lot of young kids and if they don’t handle that then the club is going to lose good players."
He was then asked if it has bothered them and replied: "Well you stoke it. I don’t know what you say or write, but I know that they feel it, without a doubt.
"They’re really young kids. It’s really hard playing football, it’s not easy when the expectancy levels at the club are huge. It’s not right. There’s a lot of negativity attached to the football club. A hell of a lot. And it’s not right."
It was put to him that it was coming from the fans as well as the media, to which Lambert replied: "I’m not blaming anyone. I’m just saying there’s a lot of negativity attached to it.
"We’ve lost two games. We’re sitting four points off first place. That’s not bad for a team with nine guys out injured.
"You’re telling me fourth and four points off top is bad? There’s a hell of a long way to go. So I’ll put that on record. You ask me a question and I’m giving you an answer. It’s unfair. You’ve got to watch that you don’t break those kids."
Asked whether he was concerned about his side’s lack of a goal threat, following three matches without scoring, he said: “Everything you say to me is negative. I’d hate to be married to you! That's (players available) what we’ve got, that’s exactly what we’ve got. They’re giving me everything. As long as they give me effort, then I’m totally fine with it.
“We’re up against brick walls with the guys that have been injured.
"At times we’ve lost guys from forward areas, we’ve lost a whole midfield, we’ve lost centre-backs, we’ve lost every position going. We’ve got nine players out at the minute.
“I’m not going to sit here and criticise the guys one iota. I’m the manager and I’m proud of them.”
MATCH REPORT:
Town played out a goalless draw with Oxford United at the Kassam Stadium, writes Dan Palfrey.
Oxford came closest to breaking the deadlock in the first half when James Henry headed against the post.
David Cornell stood strong to deny the hosts in the second half, while Jon Nolan and Oli Hawkins both had chances to grab a winner in a game of few clear cut chances.
Lambert made five changes to the Town XI from Saturday’s defeat to Charlton at Portman Road.
Amongst the changes, Armando Dobra was handed his first League start of the season. Whilst Nolan was also back in the side after recovering from a groin injury.
After a quiet opening to the game, Keanan Bennetts had the first sight of goal after 14 minutes, receiving the ball on the half-turn from Nolan and then driving at the Oxford defence, before firing over from 25 yards out.
The hosts should’ve taken the lead after 22 minutes. Liam Kelly’s deep corner was met by Elliott Moore who climbed highest, but his header was just wide of the mark.
On the half hour mark, Elliott McGuane picked up the ball on the left flank and cut in with purpose, before seeing his powerful effort from the edge of the area beaten away by Cornell.
Oxford came even closer on 38 minutes, with Henry’s header from eight yards out crashing off the post from a Matty Taylor cross, which Blues eventually cleared.
After an uneventful 15 minutes after the restart, Town made a double change with Hawkins and Kayden Jackson replacing Andre Dozzell and Jack Lankester respectively.
Cornell had to be alert to face Henry's fierce drive from 25 yards out, which was moving in the air all the way and the Town stopper beat the ball away to safety.
The game came to life on 74 minutes. Taylor latched on to a floated through ball and tried to lift the ball over the oncoming Cornell, but the Town stopper stood strong to deny.
Town then immediately broke up the other end, with Dobra teeing up Nolan on the edge area, who fired his drilled effort just over the crossbar.
Blues were beginning to build momentum and won a corner from Bennetts' low drive. From the resultant corner, Andre Dozzell's floated corner skidded across the top of the crossbar, before falling to Hawkins whose header was blocked.
Dozzell picked up a booking late on for a foul on Sean Clare, which will see the Blues midfielder miss out on Saturday's trip to Plymouth after collecting five yellow cards.
Hawkins rose highest to meet Dozzell's free-kick, but his header was straight down Jack Stevens' throat.
Town looked the more likely to grab a winner in the closing stages, but it ended goalless on a cold night at the Kassam Stadium.
Oxford: Stevens, Ruffels, Moore, Gorrin, Taylor, Long, Henry (Clare 79), McGuane, Atkinson, Shodipo (Obita 72), Kelly.
Subs: Eastwood, Hall, Forde, Mousinho, Agyei.
Town: Cornell, Chambers, Woolfenden, McGuinness, Ward, Dozzell (Hawkins 60), Nolan, Lankester (Jackson 60), Bennetts, Drinan, Dobra (Judge 79).
Subs: Holy, Donacien, Kenlock, Gibbs.
Booked: Dozzell
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