Paul Lambert hails League One leaders Ipswich’s ‘deserved’ Fleetwood win
Posted Sunday, October 06, 2019 by PA
Ipswich boss Paul Lambert felt his table toppers deserved nothing less than three points after they edged a 1-0 Sky Bet League One victory at gutsy Fleetwood.
Kayden Jackson’s predatory second-half strike proved to be the winner as the Tractor Boys extended their impressive unbeaten start to the league campaign and moved four points clear at the top of the table.
A delighted Lambert said: “I thought we fully deserved to win.
“We knew it’d be tough here but we’ve more than matched them in every department. We were excellent from start to finish.
“We had some good moments in the first half, and then again even more so in the second. To be honest it could have been three or four in the end.”
The deadlock was broken after 58 minutes when Jackson fired home the rebound after goalkeeper Alex Cairns could only parry Luke Garbutt’s 25-yard free-kick.
Jackson then stroked a late penalty wide after being felled by Jimmy Dunne, before Ipswich defender James Wilson was shown a second yellow card in stoppage-time.
Lambert added: “All the guys have been great so far this season. We’ve defended the goal brilliantly and – to be honest – the start we’ve had has been absolutely phenomenal.
“Someone asked if this has been a better start to the season than I expected. I don’t really know the answer to that one. For me, the big thing is just getting the fans back in.
“They’ve been brilliant again today and we need them all back onside.”
Lambert acknowledges that the job is far from over, despite prospects looking so rosy at the quarter stage in the season.
“We still have a lot of obstacles in front of us this season,” added Lambert. “Away from home it will always be the same.
“Teams will raise their game and the atmosphere will build because of the numbers we will be taking.
“I’d rather have that extra pressure of expectation than not have it, but you don’t get anything for free in football.
“What you do find is that over the marathon, the big players and the best teams tend to win things.”
Fleetwood went close early on when Wes Burns headed Josh Morris’ in-swinging corner narrowly wide.
Though disappointed, boss Joey Barton held his hands up after the game, acknowledging that Ipswich had impressed and proved difficult to break down.
Barton said: “You’ve got to take your chances we they present themselves, but today Ipswich created better opportunities than we did.
“We’re disappointed, but we have to learn these lessons.
“Our lads kept going, although Ipswich missed the chance to put the game to bed from the spot at the end, but don’t forget, they are a financially powerful Championship club in all but name.
“They’ve got some players in their squad who’ve spent a large chunk of their careers in the division above and they managed the game out well.
“You have to accept that they are a good side and deservedly sit top of the table.
“To do this on the back of their horrendous campaign last season shows tremendous character as a club, and fair play to them.
“Ipswich deserve an enormous amount of credit for the turnaround in momentum they’ve managed to create there.”
Barton, meanwhile, now faces a fortnight off after Sunderland called off next weekend’s scheduled League One fixture due to international call-ups.
The Fleetwood boss called out the Black Cats’ decision as a “smart” move.
Barton added: “If I was in their position and looked at their team and our team, I would have done the same.
“For Jack Ross, we are the last team that you want to face given their situation.”
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