TYLER LETS TOWN OFF
Walker fluffs penalty and Tractor Boys make hay to earn a replay
IPSWICH manager Paul Lambert defended changing his team dramatically following the draw with Lincoln City.
He said that football has totally changed over recent years, with more than 11 players involved on a week-byweek basis and was happy with his team’s performance, despite the ten changes from the previous game against Rochdale.
Meanwhile, Lincoln boss Michael Appleton was disappointed not to have secured his first away win of the season saying they deserved the win.
The goals came from Tyler Walker in the 37th minute followed by a precise finish by Andre Dozzell, 11 minutes from time.
But the visitors will rue their chances to have won the game with a raft of chances especially when Walker’s penalty in the second half was saved by Town goalkeeper Will Norris.
In the fifth minute, a shot from Jack Payne was saved by Norris and Town had their first chance six minutes later, when Will Keane’s shot was parried by the visitors’ goalkeeper Josh Vickers.
Eight minutes before the break, Walker struck following a precise cross from Bruno Andrade.
Lincoln should have gone further in front when Jake was fouled in the penalty area, but the resultant spot-kick by Walker was saved by Norris. And Ipswich drew level after Dozzell’s accurate left-foot shot found the net following neat work in the penalty area by Myles Kenlock.
Lambert said: “The penalty save was a big moment. First half we never got going, second half we were much better.
“We changed the system a little bit and grew stronger and stronger and got a great goal ourselves and obviously the penalty save was a big, big moment.”
He said he had no regrets changing the team, adding: “I trust the guys.
“Football has totally changed and everybody has a role to play and I am happy with the team and I don’t have any regrets.
“Some guys have not played for a couple of weeks and othHesketh ers have come back from injury which is good. It was a difficult game. They played a really strong side that’s been playing most of their games, but the second half was good.
“We changed the system second half and looked more like ourself.”
He had praise for goalscorer Dozzell, saying: “It was a great goal. He was getting better in the second half and was dictating the play. He was excellent.
“He is a big talent and he was the one who was dictating the speed of the game. I thought Dozzell was good and Myles Kenlock looked like his old self again. The only down side is that we have to have a replay. We could have done without it.”
Appleton said it was not a fair result saying: “We should have had a penalty in the first half and missed one in the second half and their keeper has had to make a few decent saves and I’m disappointed, but it was good experience for the younger players in the team, which I’m sure they enjoyed apart from not getting through, but we are still in the hat.
“We could potentially play in the next round if we are lucky enough to get through. “There is a little bit of added spice to the replay. Today from us it’s one of those where we have done enough in the game and the players are disappointed rightly so, but I keep reminding them that it’s another opportunity round the corner and the fact that it’s at home.
“We have done well at home of late and there’s good history on our side.
“I was delighted that we didn’t cave in when they (Ipswich) scored and the chances that we did create and could have been quite easily for the side to cave in with the crowd getting behind them.
“But the lads were resolute and went down the pitch and created a few more opportunities.”