Ipswich came from behind to beat Fulham 2-1 at home in the 6th round of the Premier League, with goals from Ouattara and a stoppage-time header from O'Shea. After the match, Ipswich manager O'Neil gave an interview, stating that the team deserved the win and commending the players' perseverance and the impact of the substitutes.

I said it during the match, I remember it was probably around the time you had just equalized 1-1: "It's clear that this team is sincere, honest, and has a great work ethic." It's good to have such a team because these qualities always help you find a way to get a good result.

Yes, I think so. We also have the quality to back it up. The overall standard of the Premier League is certainly very high, but I felt we deserved this victory today.

Given our performance, losing 0-1 would have been a big blow because when you deserve to get points, you have to get them. I think we were the better side and controlled the game. It was really hard to take when the opposition scored from a shot from about 30 yards out, just as we seemed to have the momentum.

But our fitness is excellent, and these players can cover a lot of ground. We made five substitutions, and the substitutes had a positive impact, ultimately securing a deserved victory. This is important because we put a lot of effort in. The players performed exceptionally well and deserve full credit.

Ouattara's goal was fantastic. He seems like a very good signing for you, with excellent physicality and pace.

Ouattara is a very good player. But he still has a lot to improve, and we're continuing to work hard to help him develop. We've been working with him for a while, since our time at Strasbourg. He can play in several different positions, and there are aspects he needs to keep improving. However, a left-footed strike from 30 yards out doesn't seem to be one of them.

With about 20 minutes left in the game, you could feel everyone's confidence starting to grow—I mean in the stands, not on the pitch.

Yes, I think we managed the situation on the pitch very well. Chasing a goal at home can sometimes be difficult because fans start to lose patience and want you to get the ball into the box quickly. But I think we struck a good balance between being patient and moving the ball wide, without resorting to aimless crossing or giving the ball away easily. So, I think we played very well after going behind.

It wasn't easy. But we kept at it and eventually found a way. Set pieces will play a big role. I'm very pleased for the players, and captain O'Shea scored a very important goal. Neil Critchley and the players have put in a lot of work on set pieces, which is an area we're trying to improve.

Set pieces are a crucial part of the season; just look at Arsenal—they can make a real difference for a team. So, getting three points with a goal from a set piece is very positive for us.

O'Shea finished the header, but that cross was also of very high quality.

Yes. Clark has that ability, so whether he starts or comes off the bench late in the game, he can help the team at crucial moments. That's exactly what you need in the Premier League. Even if we play very well and are well organized, ultimately it takes high-quality contributions from Ouattara and Jack Clark at two key moments to help us get points. The difference between winning and losing often comes down to these details.

It's entirely possible we could have lost 0-1 to a brilliant moment from Sessegnon. But we gritted our teeth and got the result we deserved. Next, I'm very much looking forward to preparing the players for the match against Man City next weekend.

At this stage of the season, you've already secured three victories. This is only the second time you've achieved this at this point. But you still have to treat this as just the beginning and continue to work hard, right?

Of course, I'm here to win, and my job is measured by wins and points. But I think everyone can also see the effort we're putting in. So, I'm more focused on the identity the team shows on the pitch, how hard the players work, and how well organized we are.

You could certainly lose 0-1 if Sessegnon scores from 30 yards out and you never get that decisive moment. That can happen. But as long as you consistently play like this, you'll create enough chances to win games.

So, I'm pleased for everyone—the starting players, the substitutes, and those who didn't make the squad but push the entire team every day in training. We're in good form now, but only 6 out of 38 games have been played, which is a very small part of the season, and there's still a long way to go. Nine points are definitely not enough to achieve our goals for the season. Our focus now is to continue playing this way, strive to play to our strengths, and see what we can achieve.

AF's PC site is now live! Browse full news, comments, match details and stats on your computer. Visit: www.allfootballapp.com