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Jackson: Not Many People Would Have Thought We'd Be Unbeaten After 10 Games
Sunday, 29th Sep 2019 18:16

Joint-top scorer Kayden Jackson says not many people would have believed that Town would be capable of going on a 10-game unbeaten league run from the start of the season after their dismal 2018/19 campaign, but Saturday’s 4-1 victory over Tranmere took the table-topping Blues to that milestone.

Town - whose overall unbeaten run in the league is 11 including the final day win against Leeds last season - are on their longest undefeated run at the beginning of a league campaign since 1980/81, widely viewed as the Blues’ greatest ever season, when they achieved a club record 14.

And on only one other occasion since going professional, in their inaugural 1936/37 season in the Southern League, have they gone on a longer streak - 12 - at the beginning of a campaign than the current one. In the top four divisions only Coventry, Liverpool and West Brom also remain unbeaten.

“To hear that is crazy,” Jackson reflected on the unbeaten run. “Looking back at the difficult season we had last year, to think at this stage we’d be 10 unbeaten, not many people would have thought that.

“Fair play to the lads, fair play to the gaffer, we’ve worked hard in pre-season and it’s showing right now.

“I think what’s good for the lads and good for the team is that we can still much better than that.

"I think in the first half if we could have got the ball down a bit and played a bit better, it could have been a bit more comfortable and it’s good that I’m actually able to say that.”

Jackson stressed the importance of the Blues having remained patient against Tranmere, the Birkenhead side having given Town a stern test before the break.

The first half ended 1-1 with Rovers having shaded the period with the Blues never having got going, despite Luke Garbutt’s brilliant freekick having given them the lead prior to Stefan Payne’s leveller for the visitors.

However, Jackson's fifth goal of the season three minutes after the restart set the tone for a second half in which the Blues netted two further goals via Jon Nolan and Kane Vincent-Young.

“I think we realised at half-time we had to raise our game,” Jackson said. “Fair play to them, they made it difficult for us. They played very direct, which is hard to play against sometimes.

“It’s hard when they’re lumping balls up to two physical strikers that don’t mind putting their weight around, it’s hard for the lads at the back to settle the game and get a foot on it.

“But in the second half we raised our game. I think it’s just about having the patience really. We need to realise that teams are going to come here and make it difficult for us, first half especially, and we need that patience that we showed just to get past that phase of the game and start playing our football, which we did.”


Asked whether that was what manager Paul Lambert had said to the team at the break, he added: “Definitely, a few of us were a bit emotional off the back of a not so good half for us, but to be fair to the gaffer, he was calm and he just told us to concentrate on our game and try and play our game as best we can, and we did that.”

Reflecting on his goal, he said: “It was nice to get one so early [after half-time] and then that kind of set us up for the rest of the half. We got the ball down a lot more and played, and it was a lot more comfortable.

“With the bodies on the floor, I just had to make sure I missed the bodies and got the back of the net, which I did.

“I’m happy to score again and most importantly happy to get another good win at home in front of all the fans again. Top of the league and we want to stay there as long as possible.”

The 25-year-old believes matches tend to play to his strengths the longer they progress, with pace his main attribute.

“I think naturally the longer the game goes on the gaps will open up for me and I just need to keep on making my runs,” he continued.

“In the first half I didn’t have a lot of joy but I kept on making the runs and the gaps opened up for me and fair play to the lads they found me, Judgey with probably one of the best passes you’ll see all season for Nolo’s goal, which I probably should have tucked away.

“But I was delighted when Nolo came flying in with the header [to score on the rebound] and most importantly we got that win.

“I was happy to see him pop up, he’s had a tough time with injury and now it looks like he’s putting it to the back of his mind, which is good for the team.”

Jackson’s goal made him Town’s joint-top scorer alongside James Norwood on five, but the former Accrington man, who cost the Blues £1.6 million when he moved from the Lancastrians in the summer of 2018, says that doesn't particularly concern him.

“I don’t mind who’s scoring, just as long as we’re getting the wins,” he insisted. “I’m happy to chip in. I should have a few more than that, which is disappointing but I suppose that’s football and I’ll work hard to try and take the chances that come my way.”

Jackson’s five goals have come from just 12 shots, seven on target, while Norwood’s quintet have come via 26 efforts, 18 on target.

“You don’t really see many stats, if you go looking for them you probably will,” Jackson continued.

“I’ve not come across that one but I’m just happy to try and help the team, whether that's scoring, assisting, trying to help get the lads on the scoresheet. I was trying my best for Judgey today but he just doesn’t want it!

“I’m just happy that we’re winning game comfortably and by a scoreline of 4-1 which has given the fans something to cheer about, which is well needed after last season.”

Surprisingly, Judge is still to score his first goal for Town having signed in January but Jackson believes the Irishman’s account opener can’t be far away.

“To be fair to him, he’s doing everything but,” the striker said. “I think I said in the summer that there are not many better players, actually I’d probably say there’s no better player in League One than Judgey, and there’s not many in the Championship better than him. So for us to have him here, we’re very lucky and we’ll enjoy it as long as it lasts.

“I’m sure once he gets one he’ll get two, three, four, like buses as they say, but I don’t really get buses any more so I’m not too sure!”

Judge recently spoke about his difficult summer but Jackson says his team-mate is in a good place at present.

“I think personally for him now, things are as good as they’ve ever been here,” he said. “He’s as happy as he’s ever been here, he’s got his family up here now settled. He’s found a nice family home for them all.

“And I think you can see that in his football, he’s enjoying himself, he’s putting himself about, all 3ft 5in of him, he’s working hard every day and I think it shows every day on the pitch now.

“He’s a little magician when the ball drops at his feet, he can find runs that not many people can, probably no one in the league can find the passes that he manages to see. As I said, we’re just lucky to have him here.”

Town are next in action at Fleetwood on Saturday, Joey Barton’s Cod Army having climbed to third in the table - four points behind the Blues and two off Wycombe Wanderers in second - following yesterday’s 3-0 win at Shrewsbury.

“I think the games are going to get bigger and bigger week on week now,” Jackson said. “We just need to maintain our levels and find the level that we can produce.

“We’ve got a lot more to offer, so hopefully we can have a good week of training now, everyone will stay fit and everyone will be as ready as they can be for Fleetwood.”


Photo: Action Images



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Daddio added 18:23 - Sep 29
I thought Coventry were unbeaten
5

Bluearmy71 added 18:34 - Sep 29
Good to see you banging in the goals Kayden, imo you are just gonna get better and better as the season progresses and come next season when back in the championship all teams are gonna be envious and scared of the Jackson & Norwood partnership!! Keep it up lads all of you are doing us proud and its a great feeling!
4

Skip73 added 19:05 - Sep 29
Yes Daddio, Coventry are unbeaten as well. P10 W5 D5.
3

jas0999 added 21:05 - Sep 29
Thought Jackson was excellent yesterday. Better than Norwood. Seemed to have power and pace. Could be a top player for us now he's playing regularly and has confidence.
2

adeblueboy added 21:21 - Sep 29
Nor did any of us fans!!
1

BettyBlue added 21:27 - Sep 29
great, another record hits the dust
-2

Tellitasitis added 23:02 - Sep 29
Let's get it right anyone at the game Saturday if they know anything about football will know we did not play well at all there were one or two moments but still a long way off being able to compete at championship level but we can only beat what is in front of us and we done it.
KVY will be gone at the end of this season if we don't get promoted but I fully expect us to we must imo keep the ball better because to many time we gave it away and if we do that in the next two games coming up we will get punished.
We are more then good enough to beat Fleetwood and Wycombe and if we do that could be a really message sent out to the chasing pack that they are in a race for 2nd spot as we taking the league and will have it won by March keep it up boys because when you do play you are on a different plant compared with what league 1 has to offer just don't take your feet off the gas pedal.
4

Bluearmy71 added 23:50 - Sep 29
Tellitasitis I was there Saturday and Jackons contribution to the score line was significant scoring one and his saved shot leading to another, not to mention making runs, dragging defenders out and basically causing them many problems mostly in the second half as the change of tactics in the first allowed him to be fed the ball more, to say he didn't play well is unfair imo, like I said I think he is going to get better and better this season and this will put him in a good frame of mind to take on championship level defenders next season, he's still young and learning and that is the real plus point.
6

wkj added 00:42 - Sep 30
Now that we're talking records is when One cant help but worry. I think the goal we conceded on the weekend had signs that Holy was putting himself under pressure. I would love to break the record, but Fleetwood and Wycombe are both on form, so could be our biggest challenges so far this season.
2

Tellitasitis added 07:41 - Sep 30
Bluearmy71
I think you need to read my comments again as at no point did I say Jackson did not play well I said "We" meaning the team, I have been to every game as I'm sure you have and the Doncaster Rovers imo were playing as a team they torn us apart that is what we should be doing with the players we have
Jackson does run his socks I'll I agree it what he does with the ball when he gets there concerns me if you look back on the games and the chances he has had he has missed far more then he has scored take Saturday as an example a good striker scores the chance he has it was just lucky that Nolan was following up.
Imo 4-1 flattered us good teams would of punished us it could of been 5-5 Saturday we need to cut out silly mistakes and keep the football better in the final third.
Thoughts????
1

bobble added 08:20 - Sep 30
i would hope we go on a 20-30 unbeaten run,,,as we are in the 3rd division now after all
2

Ipswich_Sniffer added 10:02 - Sep 30
Really shows how bad this league is. Norwood is guff btw.
-3

JewellintheTown added 10:09 - Sep 30
These past 10 were pre-season warm-ups compared to the next 10. Happy we're winning and enjoying it but the next 10 are a more realistically challenging step up.
Christmas will be the real marker for how far we've come and if complacency will set in.
Good luck to the lads and well done so far though. Us fans can make all the difference and the players let us know they appreciate it.
1

midastouch added 10:21 - Sep 30
Usually a team has a problem either scoring goals or stopping them from going in, or worse still (as we had last season), both! Obviously when you have a team that is finding the net and also not conceding, then you are on to a winning formula! Only 5 conceded in League One after 10 games is an excellent effort. Norwich conceded more than us in League One after just 1 game (Norwich 1-7 Colchester) than we have conceded in 10 games!
3

PhilTWTD added 10:36 - Sep 30
Daddio

D'oh, checked all the other divisions for unbeaten clubs except ours. Amended.
1

BettyBlue added 11:02 - Sep 30
Lambert has been here a year and I can't see any vast improvement.
Is this all that Lambert brings to the team? Patchy performances against bottom half table clubs and toothless draws against the top half clubs.
Results are disguising how poor we are. Is this all we are going to expect for the rest of the season or are the performances going to pick up so we can keep in the title chase when we meet some better opposition?
-2

dirtydingusmagee added 11:32 - Sep 30
what do you expect Betty ,10-0 every week ? Ok we are in lower lge ,but at least we are getting results and going right direction, the aim isto get back to championship ,hopefully we will, and hopefully Evans has learned from past and will act accordingly. [although im not holding my breath on that point]
3

Barty added 11:53 - Sep 30
Yes granted we are in League 1 but look at the positives - we are in top spot - unbeaten in 10 . Atmosphere is so much better than last season - crowds up and entertainment value generally much better. Agreed there are still improvements to be made for performing over the full 90 mins but overall things are looking pretty good for a swift return to the Championship. I think we probably have the strongest squad in the division.
I cannot believe there is still so much negativity on this site !!
3

Ipswichbusiness added 11:58 - Sep 30
Bettyblue remember two things:
1) the squad was substantially rebuilt during the summer with about 17 going out and 6 or so coming in
2) we still have a number of important players being nursed back from long-term injuries.

In the circumstances, our position and our playing style are both big achievements.
4

Michael101 added 12:50 - Sep 30
Betty blue do you go to game's??.the difference is for all to see,double the crowd,entertainment,people with a smile on there face,singing not moaning, people staying awake.going to work on Monday and not have the pi?s taken.and much much more.
4

Michael101 added 12:54 - Sep 30
Looking back i think the last time I felt this buzz is in the joe royal days.
1

Tellitasitis added 13:05 - Sep 30
Barty
My comments were not meant to be negative at all it just being realistic I took 8 kids to the game Saturday and I think what they were doing is a pretty good reflection on the game...... talking, running around at the back of the co-op stand and basically not watching the football.
We are winning at that great but the football is still not there I go back to my earlier comments, Doncaster Rover gave us a football lesson DONCASTER!!!!🙈
0

Barty added 13:34 - Sep 30
Tellitasitis

Your comments were not negative mate and I agree that there is still improvements required. I was not at the Doncaster game as I was on holiday but I understand we struggled a bit but still managed a point from a poor performance.
0

Tellitasitis added 16:14 - Sep 30
Barty
Doncaster that might as well had Barcelona tops in that day,😂😂
0

ITFCsince73 added 18:58 - Sep 30
People think our football,s bad now.
It must have been seriously bad last 10 years.
0


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