Ipswich caretaker boss Bryan Klug says Paul Lambert saw exactly why they are bottom of the Sky Bet Championship after the 3-0 defeaet by Millwall.
The Tractor Boys’ dismal start to the season cost Paul Hurst his job on Thursday and Lambert was appointed as the new boss hours before kick-off at The Den.
The Scotsman, sacked by Stoke in the summer and once a manager of Ipswich’s bitter rivals Norwich, sat in the stands but his presence did not inspire the players as Lee Gregory (2) and Ryan Leonard scored for the hosts.
Klug said: “Paul was at the game. We train tomorrow and the work starts. He will see things that he can grow and he will see things that he can eradicate.
“A lot is blatantly obvious. I think for the players a clean slate is what they want. They realise they have a manager with an experienced eye so they have got to impress him.
“The game would show all our problems and all our shortcomings. I thought we were in the game, but Millwall always carried a much bigger threat than us.
“We knew they score a lot of goals from set-plays and we didn’t defend well enough on those occasions.
“They have got some big lumps and it is difficult to win the first header but we should deal with it. And they took their chances – they have got a goalscorer.
“If you are not sure you are going to score too many goals, your confidence drains away, and I saw that.
“But there was no throwing in the towel and that has got to be a good sign for the new manager.
“Our game is OK between the boxes but it is in the boxes that matters and that is what we have to get better at.”
For Millwall, this result marks a third home win in a row and, after a shaky start to the season, they now seem to be back on track.
Gregory tapped in the first from three yards after a set-piece was not properly cleared before Shaun Williams forced a fine save from Bartosz Bialkowski.
Ipswich were completely outplayed and the second came five minutes after half-time when Gregory flicked in Lee Copper’s header.
And Ipswich’s miserable day was complete when Bialkowski collided with Luke Chambers, allowing Leonard to fire in.
Millwall boss Neil Harris said: “I think it has been due with our performances, although that wasn’t our best.
“I thought it was extremely professional. We could have played better when we were 3-0 up but I don’t give a damn about that – I wanted a clean sheet and the defenders and team wanted a clean sheet.
“It wasn’t easy for Ipswich in the position they are in and with the transition to a new manager here today but it wasn’t easy for us either.
“You are not sure who you are going to face. But without being at our best we were clinical and to give up very few opportunities was a very good performance in the Championship.
“We had a tough September. We’re not the finished article. We are not going to keep getting results just because that is what has happened in the last three years.”
