Ipswich Town: Karl Fuller says squad keep defying the odds

A midweek cup defeat against a side in a league above was followed by a 2-2 draw. This was in a game where we had to come back from going two goals behind. All sounds a bit familiar right?

Then, we drew our next game, on a Tuesday night, 0-0 at Bristol Rovers. Let’s hope that’s not the case at Rotherham. As we know, Kieran McKenna likes bucking trends though.

But it’s all far from the doom and gloom as it was starting to appear back then. The Fulham game was disappointing. I want us to win every game we play.

Eleven changes are a hindrance, and when three of those coming in are making their first start of the season, that made the task in hand even harder.

But this wasn’t changes of the ilk of say Crawley Town away in the EFL Trophy. There was still enough on show for a magnificent cup crowd of over 28,000 to enjoy.

Kieran McKenna keeps making the right calls (Image: Steve Waller)
And if anyone really doubts the integrity of our line-up, then listen to McKenna’s post-match comments. Now really is not the time to chase a trophy we are not going to win.

Yes, it was a shame to lose, but in the greater scheme of things, did we really need a tie away at Everton in amongst Norwich at home, Leeds away, and Leicester at home in December?

McKenna’s hands are severely tied for getting minutes into the whole squad on a regular basis.

Gone are the days of reserve matches. The best we can do is behind closed doors friendly matches during international breaks. It is a frustrating lack of meaningful competition that forces such line-ups in cup games.

Fortunately, the five-substitution rule does allow some degree of rotation in regular matches and boy, are we making the most of this situation.

On Saturday morning, I would have taken a draw at Birmingham. I just could not see Wayne Rooney on the receiving end of yet another loss. I expected a tricky game.

Marcus Harness volleys home Town's equaliser at Birmingham (Image: Pagepix Ltd)
Let's remain unbeaten on the road was my line of thought. We really were not at the races early on. But credit is due to Birmingham for the way they suffocated us and did not allow us to play.

At 2-0 down, none of us could really see a point coming our way I suspect. But we just never know when we are beaten.

McKenna’s super subs proved their worth again and once more, our squad depth and fight were epitomised.

Dane Scarlett showed some excellent touches which I hope will give him the confidence to be the player McKenna highly rates. And as for Marcus Harness, has he played his way into a starting place?

Back in September 2018, it was Town who went 2-0 up at St Andrews before Birmingham pegged us back to 2-2.

Our form continued to plummet thereafter and only three more wins in the league and cup came our way in the next 20 games.

This time around, and on an upward trajectory, coming from behind enhanced the direction we are now heading in.

A squad and a club that continues to defy the odds and keeps giving us special moments.

After a good start, Norwich City are struggling - Town are already 18 points clear of their old rivals (Image: PA Images)
With so many away victories already in the bag, a point away from home is never going to be a bad one now. Take it and move on.  

I am often very careful with what I say and write. The wheel is always turning in football. Sometimes it takes a while. But on other occasions, it can be instantaneous.

The cries of ‘who’ from the Birmingham fans when we made our substitutions were soon answered when Harness scored those two goals.

A perfect, instant response. But an example of where it can take longer, is the years of dominance that Norwich City have had over us and the mocking from some of their fans.

I guess winning at home to Blackburn Rovers is not for everyone, and how have we got to 18 points ahead of them already?

It could be even more on Tuesday night. Very early I know, but we have waited a long time to be enjoying our differing fortunes.