Ipswich Town manager Paul Hurst says his players can’t look for excuses in their search for a first win of the season.
The Blues are 23rd in the Championship table and out of the Carabao Cup after five draws (all at home) and five defeats (all away).
Hurst has ruffled feathers with some brutally honest comments about his players and several bold team selections since being recruited from League One side Shrewsbury Town this summer.
However, following the failure to break down 10-man Bolton in Saturday’s goalless home draw, he admitted tough love probably wasn’t the way forwards. MORE: Stuart Watson’s Sunday Verdict: Playing devil’s advocate – will the storm become the norm and allow Ipswich to perform?
“I genuinely don’t believe they need a rocket,” he said.
“That’s the old fashioned way. The easy thing for me to do would be to take the frustrations out on the players, but unless they are fooling me I don’t believe that they are not trying.
“I know for a fact they are not trying to get the ball and pass it badly. So I don’t see any value, and I suggest most would agree, in running them and shouting at them.
“It’s more about trying to show them things we can get better at.”
MORE: ‘You can only put it down to confidence’ – Hurst reflects on goalless home draw with Bolton
Next up is a trip to Birmingham on Saturday, a team who ended their own winless start to the campaign with a surprise 2-1 victory at Leeds on Saturday.
That’s quickly followed by a midweek home game against high-flying Middlesbrough, then a long trip to Swansea leading into the next international break.
“Breathing confidence into people is the most difficult thing to do,” said Hurst.
“I can massage egos and I can tell them they are good players – I’ve already done that.
“But when that whistle goes and you’re confronted with situations of how you can adapt and cope...
“Confidence is something only a victory or an outstanding individual performance can solve.
Hurst, who admitted at the weekend that he is not always good at being the ‘actor’ management requires, added: “There’s a message on the walls about not looking for excuses and I’m a massive believer in that.
“Things happen and the facts are there. You can’t change what’s happened, but you have to do all you can to work away from it.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here