Lambert satisfied as win over Lincoln sends Ipswich top

Posted Sunday, January 26, 2020 by PA

Ipswich manager Paul Lambert was satisfied with his side’s narrow 1-0 victory over Lincoln as his team head into a crucial period of games against promotion rivals.

But Lincoln boss Michael Appleton was disappointed not to come away with a point, criticising his side’s poor decision making.

The only goal of the game came from Luke Woolfenden just before the half-time whistle which sent The Tractor Boys to the top of League One after Rotherham lost at Peterborough helping Town leapfrog the Millers, who host Ipswich on Tuesday.

Woolfenden’s header at the far post squeezed home following a free-kick by Luke Garbutt.

Lambert said: “I thought that we were very, very good against a good side. Michael has got a good side but “Woolfie” does well at the back post and heads it in, it was a good goal.

“We did a brilliant move, we kept the ball for about two minutes and (Will) Keane just puts it beyond the post. We made some great combination play in their half it was relentless.

“I was happy to win the game as winning games is so important but I am really pleased with the way we played overall.”

He picked out will Keane and Emry Huws as two key players and said that they do the simple things well.

And he added that although his team only scored the one goal, despite their dominance, he was happy with the performance.

“One-nil means it’s on the edge but we had so many good moments but 1-0 is a great score and we won the game against a good side.”

Meanwhile, Appleton said: “We did not do enough. I expected it to be better in the final third, the opportunities that came about in the first half when we had a real opportunity to hurt them but it petered out just because of poor decision making.

“There were lots of moments in the game and we worked hard on the opposition but I thought that we were a bit second best at times.

“It was just crosses into the box and there was a lot of huffing and puffing in the box and when we did turn the ball over we have got to make better decisions on the ball.

“They looked to switch the ball and did not do anything except for free kicks and corners as they were slow moving the ball across the pitch.

“We have to use the ball better when you come to a place like Ipswich. We are not a million miles away, it was a poor goal for us to concede but these things happen and we still have time to do something about it. While the games is at 1-0 you still have an opportunity.”