Opposition view: Cook takes all of the blame after Cobblers end Ipswich's play-off bid

Tractor Boys have failed to score in their last five games
Paul Cook.Paul Cook.
Paul Cook.

Ipswich Town manager Paul Cook shouldered all of the blame and accepted his side's play-off hopes were effectively over after their 3-0 defeat at Northampton on Tuesday.

Ipswich failed to score for the fifth game in succession as Peter Kioso's first-half double put the Cobblers on course for a vital victory in their relegation battle.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Ryan Watson added the gloss with a late third to leave Ipswich five points from the play-offs with only four games left.

"There will be no criticism for the players from me now because we're past all that and the supporters don't need to listen to that," said Cook.

"That's 12 games for me in charge now and I would have expected myself to do a lot better irrespective of any player on the pitch.

"The first level of criticism comes to me and comes to my staff and I don't want the players to get any criticism.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"The fans have watched us for long enough now and the pain and frustration has been there for a long time and unfortunately it hasn't been good enough under myself. It's a privilege to manage a club like ours.

"I won't be criticising the players tonight - I will shoulder the blame.

"We started the game so well, we were bright and sharp, but we got the disappointment of conceding and that disappointment for a young group of men is hard to come back from when you're on the pitch.

"I don't think the play-offs are going to happen now."