admin“Bunch of boys: Ipswich Town defender Leif Davis shared his honest thoughts about his side’s 5-3 defeat at Wrexham
Ipswich Town defender Leif Davis did not shy away from delivering an honest assessment of his team’s disappointing 5-3 defeat at Wrexham.
The Blues struggled to find their rhythm in the opening half. Although they showed resilience by equalising twice after falling behind, they were far from their best before the break.
Cedric Kipre’s spectacular effort early in the second half put Ipswich ahead for the first time, but that advantage proved short-lived as they conceded three further goals to slump to a heavy loss at the Racecourse Ground.
Reflecting on the performance, Davis admitted his side must show far greater resolve.
“It’s big character we’ve got to show,” he said.
“When we went 3-2 up, we started the second half really well, but there were spells in the first half where we looked like a group of boys. It felt like they wanted it more than us, flying into tackles and competing for everything. That has to be us from the first whistle.
“It’s not down to one player — it’s all 11 on the pitch. Everyone has to embrace the ugly side of the game. For most of that first half, that wasn’t us. They were the ones sliding in and battling for every ball. It looked like they had more desire, and that should never be the case.
“The heart in this squad should outweigh every opponent. We have to fight for everything against every team.”
When asked about the mood in the dressing room after the defeat, Davis explained that there were frank but constructive conversations.
“We respect each other enough to be honest. We can say what needs to be said and take it as feedback,” he noted.
“Azor spoke up in the changing room and made his feelings clear. Everyone agrees that being a team means accepting those messages. You have to address what’s going wrong on the pitch together.
“If you don’t confront it, you won’t improve. That was the message.
“In the first half, they out-fought us. In the second half, the manager pointed out there were moments where we looked dangerous.
“They’ve got a strong defensive record and don’t concede many, so scoring three here is something. But we need clean sheets. We’ve prided ourselves on our defensive record all season.”
The defeat was not an isolated incident. In recent weeks, Ipswich have also struggled physically against Sheffield United and Preston North End — a recurring theme this campaign as Kieran McKenna’s side continue adapting to the demands of the Championship.
Davis acknowledged that adjustment period.
“For some players, it’s their first season in the Championship. We’re still learning and adapting. It might take one season or even longer to fully understand it.
“The Championship and the Premier League are two of the toughest competitions around. You often see teams relegated from the Premier League struggle to get back up because this league is relentless.
“To get out of it, you need heart. You have to win first balls, second balls — everything. Sometimes it’s messy, but you have to compete. Like we did at Derby, where we fought until the final whistle.”
Supporters have voiced their frustration following the defeat, and Davis understands their reaction.
“They’re going to feel that way when we concede goals, even if we’re still in a decent position in the table,” he admitted. “With some of the results we’ve had, we probably should be higher.
“I completely understand if they’re frustrated.
“But my message is to stick with us. We have our job to do on the pitch, and they play their part by backing us every week.
“We appreciate everything they do — travelling everywhere to support us. Playing in front of these fans is incredible. They’ve followed us hundreds of miles to Wrexham, twice in a week. That kind of support is unbelievable.
“If we keep the spirit together — players and fans — everything will fall into place.”
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