O'Neil's Message to His Side After Forest Draw: "We Must Keep Going the Same Way"

Gary O'Neil urged his Ipswich Town players to "keep going the same way" after a hard-fought draw with Nottingham Forest on Friday.

Ipswich fell behind at Portman Road, but Julio Enciso cancelled out Neco Williams' opener as the sides finished level at 1-1.

The hosts were under pressure for much of the contest, producing 0.46 expected goals (xG) from 7 shots, while visitors Nottingham Forest reached 2.31 xG from 17 attempts. Indeed, Ipswich managed their only shot of the second half in the 92nd minute through Jack Clarke.

Even so, Ipswich Town have now collected 10 points from their 8 Premier League matches this season (3 wins, 1 draw, 4 defeats). The only time in the club's history they reached that mark in fewer games was the 1993-94 season (5th match).

Ipswich have also earned more points from losing positions than any other side in the league this season (7 points), having picked up only 4 points in this way across the whole of their previous league campaign.

Exequiel Palacios stood out in midfield, leading his team for chances created (2), touches (99) and successful passes (77). Palacios made 14 loose ball recoveries in the match, the highest figure recorded by any player in a single league game this season.

Speaking after the match, O'Neil said:

"We had to hang in there and fight, and that's what we needed. It was a tough game in difficult conditions. We weren't good enough on the ball, and Forest's direct long balls took control of the game. We tried to respond to that, but the conditions were hard."

"They are a good side, but going 1-0 down and coming back was valuable. There are many ways to be successful in football, and we rolled up our sleeves and got stuck in. Not conceding in the second half and taking 1 point was a big effort. This league tests you constantly. I'm really proud of my players, but we have to keep going without stopping. We have a bit of time before the Hull City game."