Stoke City 3 v 3 Ipswich Town
EFL Championship
Tuesday, 10th March 2026 Kick-off 20:00

Walton: Sloppy Mistakes Which Can't Happen
Tuesday, 10th Mar 2026 23:34 by Kallum Brisset

Town goalkeeper Christian Walton admitted two sloppy mistakes cost the Blues during their topsy-turvy 3-3 draw with Stoke City at the bet365 Stadium.

The result leaves Town fourth in the Championship and four points adrift of second-placed Middlesbrough in the fight for automatic promotion to the Premier League.

Goals from Milan Smit and Bae Junho, both coming as a result of some disastrous defending, saw the Blues trail by two goals at half-time and facing an uphill battle.

Kieran McKenna’s side were clearly up to the challenge, with an Eric Bocat own goal and Jack Taylor’s expert volley bringing Town back on level terms.

George Hirst came off the bench to secure what looked to be a first comeback victory for nearly two years, only for Smit to convert a penalty in the sixth minute of stoppage time.

“We’d got the game in such a good place in that moment,” Walton said. “There’s some sloppy mistakes which can’t happen in that period of the game, but it has happened, the ref’s then got a decision to make and he gives the penalty.

“It was two sloppy goals to give away. It’s how we react and how we get around each other when we do make mistakes, because it can happen and it’s human nature.

“For Jack to go and score that goal shows great character for him. I’m delighted for him because he’s been really good this year so it’s great for him to get the goal.

“I don’t think you’ve got time to be flat. It’s such a relentless league, I don’t think there’s time for disappointment individually or as a team.

“It’s all eyes on the next one, it’s how we go and train on Thursday when we’re back in and we’re looking forward to the games coming up.”

The response after the break was pleasing, with Wes Burns seeing a strike deflected off Bocat and beyond goalkeeper Tommy Simkin to set them on their way.

Despite being 2-0 down at half-time, Walton says he firmly believed that the Blues could go on and claim all three points in Staffordshire.

The 30-year-old said: “That was the message in the dressing room at half-time. We all believed that we had more than enough to go out and show what we’re all about. We did that, and I thought we put on a really good performance in that second half.

“The fight we showed in the second half was phenomenal. It could have gone one of two ways, and we showed what fight we’ve got within the group.

“To come back and score three brilliant goals was amazing. I don’t think it feels like a defeat, it’s obviously deflating but it’s all eyes on Saturday now.

“That’s probably what has been spoken about, but today you’ve seen we’re a referee’s decision from winning the game again. Saturday was the same.

“Obviously it’s disappointing, but we’ve got to take that confidence from the fight we showed in the second half.”

Asked for his take on the late penalty decision, Walton responded: “It’s hard for me to see because there’s so many bodies in the way. It’s a hard one for me to see, to be honest, I didn’t really have a great view of it.

“There’s still plenty of points to play for. We’ve got loads of exciting games to come, and ones we’re all looking forward to.

“We’re in a great position. All eyes on Saturday now, we’ll take that second half and show more of the same character in the final games.”

Photo: TWTD

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armchaircritic59 added 23:51 - Mar 10 Well Christian, none of the kamikaze defending tonight was down to you, which is probably why you've drawn the short straw for interview duties!
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IP9 added 23:53 - Mar 10 Same old, same old…
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poet added 10:40 - Mar 11

Yes, lasts nights first half display by our players was far from being good enough. However the second half display was a massive improvement, credit to McKenna who instilled some fight in his players at halftime, to go out there and score 3 goals. The fact that they were once again thwarted by a very poor referring decision robbed us of the 3 points.

Why was it a poor decision? Well the Stoke player was touched by Cajuste yes, but that’s about it, just touched. The Stoke player made the most of it, and as per the comment made by one of the pundits on Sky, the referee bought it. How many times do we see antics displayed like that inside the box, and the referee rightly ignores it. Compare that with the rugby tackle, on Kipré against Leicester, and last nights very minor skirmish looks no more than a tickling of the Stoke players ribs. To cut to the chase, he cheated.

It’s disappointing, but hardly an unusual occurrence in today’s game. What’s just as disappointing for me, is to read the many pundits on here willing to throw the towel in every time we don’t win. We are currently 4th, just 4 points off second place. Just think where we deserve to be, had those two abysmal refereeing decisions not been made. That would be level with Middlesbrough in second, who we are yet to play at Portman Road by the way.

Don’t blame the referee some say, and yes you can’t blame him for the first half display, but if you ignore his mistake which cost us the game, you’re ignoring a very crucial, and results changing occurrence. Ignoring it, just condones it.

grinch added 13:01 - Mar 11

Bad interview really. It is not credit to play llke that in second half against Stokes 2nd 11 we should not have been in that position. You slow all the play up...it is how you are told by KM but you havent started an attack from your hands or feet all season just pass to either Oshea or Kipre it becomes appalling to watch. Us fans get bored cannot see the fight at all. Last night it took for us to be 2 nil down we then played decent football until we were at 2_2 then we went back to tippy crappy footy. Why cannot understand it will this team let it get to mathematical impossible for top 2 to then think lets win are remaining games but falter at play off because we cant win on an away ground. Bad interview of not understanding the supporters deserve for you all to give your all every game not in bite size pieces we deserve better !!

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StowTractor added 14:52 - Mar 11 1 We did win away on Hull's ground, and IF we are in the Play Offs they are our likely opponents. 2 You don't actually need to win the away match to reach Wembley, a draw or even a 1 goal defeat will be fine if we do the business at home. We drew 0-0 at Millwall. 3 Wembley is a neutral ground not am away ground.
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MagicYouKnow93 added 15:51 - Mar 11 2 away games scoring 3 goals and only getting 1 point epitomises our away form....
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55015Deltic added 16:16 - Mar 11 Afraid it’s too little too late. Happens regularly now we look nervous, no confidence and worst of all no vision. I do wonder if ITFC are just following instructions? Are they being over coached like Mick Mills alluded to? Even at 2-3 I knew that wasn’t the last goal to be conceded. Mentally Ipswich look shot..
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Edmundo added 16:29 - Mar 11 I think we also haven't considered (and this is no excuse) that Walton, Matusiwa, Taylor, Cajuste, and others haven't actually played through a whole Championship season before. Key players who are probably fatigued. Ww have a massive squad. but it's not very balanced.
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armchaircritic59 added 18:02 - Mar 11 Quite a lot of posters seem to want to credit KM for the second half improvement, but don't want to discredit him for the first half. Interestingly for the 3rd game running. So I guess the sub par first half displays are down to the players only and the improved second half displays are down to KM only? Time for blinkers to be taken off I think.
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