Ipswich manager Paul Cook gives his reaction to 0-0 draw at Charlton Athletic

Paul Cook felt Ipswich’s display in today’s 0-0 draw at Charlton was a significant improvement on their midweek loss at AFC Wimbledon.

The Town manager had torn into his players after they were beaten 3-0 at Plough Lane on Tuesday night.

Ipswich kept a third clean sheet in their last four matches as Charlton failed to score at home for the fifth time in League One this season.

Cook told Town’s official website: “You can mix stats up how you like. We’ve lost one in six or we haven’t won in….it’s football today. I was just pleased how we played. We were excellent at the start of the game.

“We’ve now told the lads we will be playing a certain system and style, we’re not going to accomodate players no more, in relation that we can’t have right-backs running forward because they can’t run forward. You saw what Kane Vincent-Young did today, the athleticism he brought on that side of the pitch.

“Apart from probably the last 20 minutes when we got tired and started making mistakes, I can live with that. I asked them for a big reaction from Tuesday because as a town, as a club, it really hurts you deeply.

“I’d have loved to come here today and won for our supporters. The fans sitting at home today will have been slightly more pleased.

“We restricted a team who have been really free-scoring to not many chances. We didn’t create loads ourselves but we got into some better areas. It’s a small-step way in terms of progress.

“We’re not in a position where we can say we’re chasing the play-offs. Our form hasn’t been good enough. It’s been inconsistent and we don’t score enough goals. There will be a big turnover of players [in the next window].”

PICTURE: KEITH GILLARD