Omari Hutchinson feels that ‘everything is clicking together’ for him at Ipswich Town, having scored late on in their 3-1 win against Birmingham City.
The Blues started well, but they were pegged back in first-half stoppage time, allowing the visitors to sit deep and soak up pressure after the break.
In the end, two substitutes stepped up to win the game, with Hutchinson scoring the third to seal three points at Portman Road.
“It’s a massive three points,” he said after the game. “In the last three games, I think we’ve done really well. It’s very important from the subs, I think we’re making a big impact off the bench.
READ MORE: Alex Jones' player ratings from Town's 3-1 win against Birmingham
“That’s what it’s all about – when we’re coming on, we’re helping out the team as much as possible.
In this instance, his introduction was far from ideal. The Chelsea loanee replaced Wes Burns, who pulled up with an injury, forcing him onto the pitch midway through the first half.
“I was sitting down and I saw Wes, who was struggling with his calf,” Hutchinson explained. “The manager said, ‘come on, keep doing your thing like you’ve been doing in the last few games, and help the team out’. That’s what I did.
“It’s difficult coming on 22 minutes into the game, getting up to speed as quickly as possible with the tempo being so fast. I eased my way in and helped the team out.”
The first goal came after a dominant period, and Hutchinson played a big part in the build-up. His cutback to Sam Morsy allowed the midfielder to take aim, with his effort bouncing towards Conor Chaplin, who fired an inventive flick into the back of the net.
“I didn’t really see it, it happened so quickly,” the 20-year-old recalled. “I was driving down the line and didn’t really have any options, so I cut it back to Skip [Morsy] and he shot. Luckily Chappers is always in the right position, trying to get a flick on or something.”
The equaliser was a big blow, coming just minutes before the half-time whistle was blown. That being said, Town saw the warning signs coming, but they couldn’t prevent Jordan James from equalising with a powerful strike from close range.
“It’s frustrating,” Hutchinson admitted. “We always try and work on, when we lose the ball, trying to win it back as soon as possible.
“Stuff like that happens. It’s just how you react.”
In the end, it was Jeremy Sarmiento who put Town back ahead, with Hutchinson wrapping up the win around 10 minutes later. It means that 20 of their 80 goals in all competitions have been bagged by substitutes, showing how important Town’s bench players have been so far this season.
“Jezza’s done it twice now,” Hutchinson said. “He’s a really important player for us. He gives a different dynamic.
“I think it was an important goal for him to get his confidence up as well. The team is doing really well and the subs are making such a big impact.
“I’ve been playing no.10 and right wing, but coming on and impacting the game, trying to get goals and assists for the team, that’s what I’ve been trying my best to do.
“Before the goal, Kieff had a flick-on and I didn’t really read it. He said, ‘next one I get, try and really read it’, and I knew Axel was going to throw it to him. I spun inside and went in behind, hoping that he got a flick-on. It paid off.
“I’ve been working and grinding a lot, staying composed in front of goal and in training. Previous games, at the start of the season, I was rushing my shots and panicking a little bit. I saw the ‘keeper and I just slotted it.”
On a personal level, Hutchinson’s performance showed a level of consistency, having bagged a last-gasp winner against Rotherham United in midweek. He now has six to his name for the season in all competitions, which is an impressive number for a young player with just nine senior starts to his name.
“I just tried to stay in the box and stay alive for the last goal [against Rotherham], but I think it’s really important for me to get my confidence up,” he argued. “I think I’ve got a good momentum now and it feels like everything is clicking together.”
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