Ipswich Town manager Paul Lambert wants to keep focus on the “bigger picture” after they suffered their first league defeat of the season.
His side were knocked off the top of the League One table in crushing fashion on Tuesday night as a good start and lead turned around into a 4-1 defeat at Doncaster Rovers.
Lambert did not hide from the fact his side were second-best for most of the game, but defended his players having enjoyed a fantastic start to the season up until then.
‘Lost to a good team’
Reflecting on the game, the Tractor Boys boss said: “For half an hour I thought we were really good, we got in a good position with a goal. We played really good football and our play was excellent.
“I thought their first goal was a fortuitous one because it takes a bit of a ricochet and goes through (for Cameron John to score), then the second one was a cross-cum-shot (from Ben Whiteman). That was the first setback we’ve had all season and we never reacted as I thought we should have.
“In the second half they were better than us. We lost to a good team and we have to pick ourselves up.
“Maybe that was a bit of how they played and how they pressed, but we accepted maybe thinking it was going to be a comfortable night. Things like that happen, but I can’t be too critical of the guys because they’ve been excellent for us.”
‘Good form’
Ipswich have won five and drawn one of their opening seven games, and are the division’s top scorers. They sit second in the table behind only Hull City heading into another tricky away trip, at third-placed Lincoln City, this weekend.
“It’s good form,” said Lambert. “For half an hour we were very good and played some very good stuff. We have to bounce back, and the bigger picture is the whole season and not just one game.
“Look what happened in the Premier League a few weeks ago: Aston Villa 7 Liverpool 2, Tottenham 6 (Man United 1). Football is strange. You can’t be too high when you have good moments, and you can’t be too low (in bad moments).”