‘This squad needs major surgery’ – Ipswich boss Paul Cook blasts Ipswich display as Dons down them

BY KAI BENNETT

Ipswich Town boss Paul Cook tore into his players after last night’s defeat against AFC Wimbledon – with a trip to Charlton Athletic next up this weekend.

The Dons ran out 3-0 winners against the Tractor Boys on Tuesday evening at Plough Lane with goals from Will Nightingale, Jack Rudoni and Ryan Longman.

Wimbledon have scored eight goals in their last two games and the win over Ipswich moves them up to 19th in League One.

Ipswich’s play-off hopes suffered a crushing blow and only a victory at The Valley will keep their slim hopes alive.

Cook told the club’s YouTube channel: “I haven’t got a lot to say about the game. I think people will understand that, it is what it is at the minute.

“Our supporters are tired of it now, they need to see change and that’s the brutal truth of it. We can’t keep coming out and making excuses.

“As a manager, I carry the total blame for setting teams up and putting them out. A club of great stature that I’m in, it’s not good enough and everyone knows that. The players know that. I haven’t spoken to them a lot in there. In the second half, they conducted themselves well by keeping honest and keep going.

“The games gone and we’ve got a habit of finding ways to get beat and finding ways to not score. Myself included, you have to go away and think have we done enough?

“I’m only coming out [to do interviews] in respect of our supporters, I have to tell you that. For the fans, who so desperately want to see our fortunes change as a club and unfortunately as we stand here tonight, they’re not going to change this season. We could still make it into the play-offs, we could still go on a good run – we could. The brutal reality of it is that we need major surgery and that must come as quickly as possible for our supporters especially.

“We started the game quite brightly, we put crosses in. I’m not going to go after the players at all, I don’t think there’s any need to. I know our supporters want to hear what I’ve got to say. I think they want to see actions a lot more from us all, including myself by the way.

“To come here today, to a team fighting for their lives, who are on the back of a good win. We’re Ipswich Town, we’ve gone away to Rochdale and not scored. We’ve gone away to Wigan and not scored. We’re happy to be average aren’t we? And average is way off being good enough for a club of our stature.

“I’ll keep biting my lip as long as I can, especially for the players standards, expectancy and everything you need in football, desire to win games, everything we lack. We are a soft touch, whether anyone likes to hear that or not, we are and that includes me and the staff.

“We have to feel pain in sport. I have to feel pain. Our supporters are the ones who have felt pain for too long now. Our players need to feel pain and the pain is the reality of what comes in the future. I’m not so sure that that’s there. Maybe it is, maybe it isn’t. Maybe we’re just not good enough. Maybe there’s a million different reasons.

“It’s not brave being sent off when you’re 2-0 down. It’s not brave passing to your own team-mates in possession of the ball. It’s not brave having a go when the games gone. Brave is going away from home and winning games and being brave in your play. It’s just not good enough.”