Ipswich Town manager Gary O'Neil reflected on his side's dramatic 2-1 victory over Sunderland in their Premier League opener.
The Tractors' boss outlined their high-pressing game plan, highlighted the pivotal role of substitutions in the closing stages, and was effusive in his praise for new signing Julio Enisimo.
"We certainly weren't going to settle for a 1-1 draw, even though that might've seemed like a decent result against such a strong Sunderland side. We kept pushing forward and maintained our high press. The fact that our winning goal came from a high-pressure situation so late in the game really shows the togetherness, fitness, and incredible work ethic of the players.
The substitutes made a massive impact – they brought fresh energy, with three or four of them directly involved in that final pressing. We wouldn’t have achieved this victory by relying solely on the starting eleven. To achieve results like this, everyone at the club has to put in the hard yards, and that's the essence of our plan.
I’m satisfied and believe we deserved the win. I know Sunderland had plenty of possession. They scored a world-class goal to come back into the match – it was a real tough reminder: 'Welcome back to the Premier League!' But I’m incredibly proud of our boys – they were magnificent, every single one of them."
