Everton 1-0 Ipswich: What O'Neil said

Gary O Neil, the manager of Ipswich Town, expressed disappointment with his team's 1-0 loss to Everton in a Premier League match. O Neil felt his side had been unfortunate to leave empty-handed, as they had put in a lot of effort and appeared to be a threat throughout the game. However, a crucial goal conceded in the closing stages proved to be the turning point.

O Neil criticized the team's lack of aggression, stating that they had failed to showcase the same cutting edge they had demonstrated in recent weeks. He acknowledged the inconsistency in awarding tackles, noting that the referee's decisions often seemed subjective. Despite the criticism, he praised the performance of referee Mark Clattenburg and highlighted the team's resilience when playing with 10 men.

O Neil also addressed the team's underwhelming defensive record, noting that they had not kept a clean sheet in their last 24 Premier League games. Despite this, he affirmed that Ipswich Town can still be a formidable opponent against lower-ranked clubs like Sunderland, Crystal Palace, and Everton. The manager was confident in his team's ability to compete against these teams, despite not being able to match the competitiveness of Premier League giants like Liverpool or Manchester United.

Looking ahead, O Neil focused on preparing his team for their next match against Fulham. He expressed satisfaction with his group of players, praising their work ethic and camaraderie. Despite the recent setback, O Neil remained optimistic about Ipswich Town's prospects moving forward.