For the second game running, Ipswich Town could only manage a draw against teams struggling for form. Something that was not lost on the players and staff.
Although they are still on an unbeaten run that now stretches back 11 games, Town midfielder Jack Taylor expressed his disappointment in his side not being able to manage the game out. Rotherham United got a leveller in time added on, to rescue a valuable point for the Millers, but denied Ipswich the chance to pull closer to leaders Leicester City.
It was Taylor’s own late goal that looked to have snatched the points. His effort inside the last five minutes of normal time seemed to be the winner, before the late drama at the New York Stadium.
As reported by TWTD, Taylor told of the feeling of frustration in the dressing room. “Yeah, of course, especially having two minutes left to see out the game. We’re just so disappointed we’ve slipped away from our principles from a set piece.
“We knew was coming from a side like Rotherham, but we’ve got to do better to see out the game. If we win on Saturday this might not look like a bad point. I think these lot at home will upset a few this year.”
🗣️ "We'll just keep trying to play our football, keep trying to improve!"
Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna on moving eight points clear of third place in the Championship 📈🏆pic.twitter.com/z8ceZq2uKh
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) November 8, 2023
Was this complacency perhaps, from a team that had done so well at the beginning of the season? Taylor says no, and more down to not being fully switched on for a late Rotherham revival.
“Not at all, it’s not in anyone’s mentality to think like that. Watching it back I think we might have slipped away from our principles a little bit.
“But we knew what was coming from Rotherham, it was coming into the box and we needed to deal with that, and we didn’t.”
25-year-old Taylor, who joined from Peterborough United in the summer, although frustrated does not see this as the start of a blip and that the squad is still very much together.
“It’s just about the mindset, you’ve got to zone in when you get on the pitch and dial into every detail and get on in the same way as everyone else on the pitch. Every footballer wants to play games so I’m hoping it will come soon.
“We’ve had a great start and I think there’s more to come from us, especially performance-wise. There’s so much more to come from the whole squad, so we’re really excited. Hopefully another three points at Portman Road.”
Writer’s View
It would be easy to suggest the wheels are coming off at Ipswich Town after two drawn games, Birmingham City and Rotherham United, that on form would be down as wins, but turned out to be just two points from six. Ipswich Town are still a very, very good team. And if anything these results will remind them that it is a long season, and with plenty more football to be played, there will be further bumps in the road.
They face Swansea City at home on Saturday, a game against a mid-table team which again on paper they should win. They are the best team in the league at home, where they have rifled in 22 goals in their seven games, gaining 18 points. A win at the weekend will extend the run to a neat dozen, and then as Taylor said the Rotherham away point will look like a good one.
