Just days after the highs of snatching victory against Southampton, Ipswich Town fans have been left feeling low after yet another derby day passes by without them beating Norwich City.
It has been 15 long years since Ipswich Town last beat the Canaries and it’s been even longer since the Blues were victorious at Carrow Road. For context, the last time Town were victors in this derby Gordon Brown was Prime Minister and Lady Gaga had just peaked at number one in the charts with Poker Face.
Marcelino Nunez’ long-range free-kick, sneaking past Vaclav Hladky’s near-post, proved to be the decider in what was far from a classic for the neutral. Town produced ten shots but just three were on target – their fourth-lowest for the season. From those efforts they mustered an expected-goals (xG) tally of 0.81 – their eighth-worst from the season.
It took until beyond the hour-mark for Town to register a single effort on target when Kieffer Moore’s header was saved by Angus Gunn. Their best effort was on 85 minutes when Town fan Harry Clarke put fellow substitute Ali Al-Hamadi through-on-goal – but Gunn was on hand to deny the Iraq international.
Boss Kieran McKenna said afterwards: “If I’m honest I think the space that we usually exploit really well was there. I don’t think our execution in the first half was on the level [we expect]. The spaces we look exploit in the football pitch were there in the first half and we didn’t manage to utilize them,
“Of course the feel of the game changes a little bit on the first goal and Norwich then defended really compactly. Especially the longer the second half went on they were able to defend with good bodies, good organisations, with the crowd behind them. They always carried a little bit of a counter threat with Josh Sargent as well.
Kieran McKenna talks to the media after Ipswich Town lose 1-0 to Norwich City at Carrow Road
“There’s nothing in particular that wasn’t available to us today, nothing that was new or anything anyone has done to stop us. I think it was more of us not executing to our best level.”
Josh Sergeant, who didn’t feature in the reverse fixture at Portman Road, had moments of quality in which he could have inflicted further misery on the Blues. Borja Sainz also snatched at an opportunity when Hladky was caught off his line.
Town rode their luck defensively and were fortunate to finish the 90 minutes with eleven men.
Most inside Carrow Road thought Axel Tuanzebe should have been sent for a shower when he brought an end to Sargent’s run; he escaped with only a yellow card, although replays suggested he had in fact won the ball.
Skipper Sam Morsy, usually an ever-reliable leader in midfield, was also partial to mistakes and was almost made to pay for one when his heavy touch allowed Sargent to burst forwards. The two of them tangled on the edge of the box but referee Matt Donohue felt it was just a coming together and waved play on.
Town remain in the Championship’s automatic promotion spots after Leeds United (3rd) dropped points. Leicester City’s late win over Birmingham City sees them leapfrog Town by a point and they still have a game in hand.
The maths remains clear though. If Town can find ways to win their remaining five matches, they will be in the Premier League next season. But football rarely proves to be that simple.
The result strengthens Norwich City’s hold on sixth-place, whilst also increasing the likelihood that these two could meet twice more this season in the lottery of the play-offs.
“We don’t speak about the points total much but in reality we know there are two outcomes for us now,” says McKenna. “Of course the incredible work everybody has done to this point it’s possible we could secure an automatic place.
“As much as that’s going to take a record points total, it’s possible and we will fight for that right to the last game. But lets be realistic again, if we were to say [at the start of the season] we would be in a play-off position we would say that was fantastic.
“Who ever we play we know it will be a good side and we also know coming out of this game we know there’s nothing for us to fear and that we can be a good team.”
The remaining opponents and league positions for Leicester City, Ipswich Town and Leeds United
This is, of course, a fixture that means so much more to supporters. For many it was seen pre-match as being the ideal time to end their hoodoo and keep firm their aspirations of achieving automatic promotion.
Instead it was the bitter taste of defeat that was left being felt by those of a blue persuasion. But these three points aren’t worth more simply due to the opponent, the opportunity of promotion remains in Town’s hands and, even more importantly, they’ve proven on countless occasions to be leaving and breathing examples of their mantra of running towards adversity.
“It’s three points lost and we are losing to our bitter rivals,” adds Morsy. “It’s really disappointing but our biggest strengths of the season have been how we bounce back.
“We bounced back from Cardiff City [2-1 loss] wit a couple of wins on the spin. We bounced back from Preston [3-1 defeat] with a lot of wins too. Ultimately we will be judged by how we bounce back.”
Fortunately for Town they’ve soon got the opportunity to get back to winning ways on home turf when Watford and Middlesbrough come to visit. McKenna is still yet to lose back-to-back league games but at this stage of the season every point could be pivotal.
“Football is never straight forward,” he added. It’s about how we will bounce back. At Southampton we did not think the league was won and today we do not think the league is lost.
“We will go again. We have calm heads. We will dissect the game and see how we can improve and get better.”
[columns]
[column size=”1/2″][blog type=”timeline” posts=”10″ cats=”7857″ heading=”Ipswich Town” heading_type=”timeline” /][/column]
[/columns]
[columns]
[column size=”1/2″][blog type=”timeline” posts=”10″ cats=”1139″ heading=”EFL Championship” heading_type=”timeline” /][/column]
[/columns]
Jack Taylor fell to his knees, Kieran McKenna jumped into the air before realising there would be sixty more seconds to be played and Conor Chaplin dashed the breadth of the pitch to celebrate in a pile of bodies in front of the North Stand.
Portman Road has seen some exceptional moments in its fascinating history. Yet when on-loan winger Jeremy Sarmiento recovered from a slip inside the penalty box to stab the ball past Southampton’s Gavin Bazunu in the seventh minute of stoppage time, the more than 29,000 inside exploded into an almighty noise that has not been experienced for many years.
It’s a result that lifted Town back to the summit of the Championship, narrowly ahead of second-placed Leeds United and Leicester City, while extending their advantage over the fourth-placed Saints to 13 points with six games still to play.
[Omari Hutchinson’s impressive Ipswich Town loan spell and transfer hint will be music to blue ears]
Results elsewhere earlier on Easter Monday had already guaranteed Town a playoff spot and a top-four finish. Southampton continue to have two games in hand over Town. Hence, a top-three finish is by no means guaranteed, but this was a result that was the epitome of Town’s never-say-die attitude and a clear statement of intent that they will push Leeds and Leicester right to the wire for a spot of automatic promotion to the promised land of England’s Premier League.
“It was a great moment, I think everyone from the subs to the staff and fans got a little lost in it,” said McKenna afterwards. “My radar was on the fact there is still 30 seconds left and we needed to get ourselves set again.
“We’ve had it done to us and we’ve done it to Rotherham a month ago. You still have to see the clock out but it was a wonderful moment for all involved and one I’m sure we’ll remember for a long time.”
Sell-out crowds are becoming the norm at Portman Road and after the players emerged to a rocking atmosphere it was clear these were two teams very much up for a ding-dong battle in Suffolk. Town were the first to strike when skipper Sam Morsy picked out Leif Davis with a sublime floated pass.
The Geordie wing-back took a single touch before rifling it beyond Bazunu into the top left corner to add yet another contender to Town’s lengthy list of Goal of the Season contenders.
The Blues were unable to hold onto their lead, however. Within sixty seconds a flowing attack culminated with Che Adams getting a deft touch to beat Vaclav Hladky from the six-yard box. Burgess protested firmly with an appeal for offside, but Davis was keeping him a yard on-side.
Southampton were finding joy by creating overloads on either side of the pitch. It was forcing Davis to be positioned deep and limited his attacking capability yet when he was in an advanced position, the Saint would break quickly and use their pace to take advantage in the wide zones.
Russell Martin’s Saints set-up allowed them to take the lead on 23 minutes when Stuart Armstrong ran down the left alongside Frazer and created an overload against Axel Tuanzebe. The former Manchester United defender followed Armstrong’s drift inside but was unable to stop the laser-like threaded pass which Adam Armstrong ran onto at the far post to finish beyond Hladky.
Town ended the half looking cornered and struggling for control but half-time provided the opportunity to regroup, tweak aspects of their play, and come out fighting again. Nathan Broadhead’s introduction on the hour mark was part of that revival.
Ali Al-Hamadi, brought on in the first half after Keiffer Moore suffered a back injury, struck the post with a driven shot. Then Welsh international Broadhead was alert to fellow sub Jack Taylor’s touch into him, pivoted quickly, and spun a low strike across Bazunu and into the bottom corner.
All of a sudden Town’s tails were up and it was Southampton who were looking nervous and against the ropes. This is a Town side that doesn’t stop until the final whistle blows and, smelling blood, they were determined to keep testing the Saints’ goal.
Davis had a shot blocked and Morsy had a strike saved. At the other end, Adam Armstrong was twice denied from close range by Hladky.
As the fourth official’s board indicated seven additional minutes, very few souls dared leave their seats from what was guaranteed to be a nail-biting end to the clash.
Broadhead came close to being the super-sub with an effort from six yards that was saved on the line; instead, it was Jeremy Sarmiento, on loan from Brighton and Hove Albion, who sent Portman Road into a frenzy.
The Ecuadorian international – replacing Conor Chaplin with a minute of normal time remaining – slipped at the first attempt to connect with Davis’ pull-back. But ingeniously he rapidly regathered his balance, finding time and space to compose himself and the ball with the inside of his left boot before stabbing the ball past a full-stretch Bazunu.
“They had relatively little until late on,” suggested ex-Norwich City defender turned Saints boss Russell Martin. “If you’re in the game, feeling it and watching it you know we were the dominant team and should go on to win.”
Sarmiento’s late winner was Town’s seventh goal scored beyond the 90-minute mark. Only Southampton (10) have found the net more in the latest stage of the game.
There is also the very healthy habit of Town’s substitutes contributing to their goal tally. Al-Hamadi (4), Sarmiento (4), Hutchinson (4) and Marcus Harness (3) are just some of those to help Town after coming off the bench.
The scenes of utter jubilation both on and off the pitch brought back memories of Pablo Counago’s dramatic winner to beat Coventry City 3-2 more than a decade ago.
Except this time it’s a goal that could prove to be monumental in Town’s push for promotion – and simultaneously carved a large dent into Southampton’s automatic promotion aspirations.
Martin said: “We played brilliantly. No one can say any differently. I’m not saying it’s not a blow – it hurts a lot. But we’ll know how much of a blow it is in four weeks.”
McKenna added: “I’ve honestly not had a thought about the table apart from when everyone asks me about it! Days like today with a full stadium, terrific atmosphere, going toe-to-toe with a fantastic team that were in the Premier League last year with the trajectory we’re on – it was a day to enjoy in itself.
“The effort, the performance, scoring a last-minute winner. These are things to enjoy and cherish in isolation. Everything else can take care of itself. We know we’ve got six more really big games coming up. I just want to enjoy this one and let the supporters enjoy it for a long time.”
Ipswich Town sit top of the Championship with just six games left – at least 540 minutes separates the Tractor Boys from a possible return to the top-flight. A top-four finish is guaranteed.
McKenna’s side are well positioned in a three-horse race for automatic promotion. Next up is the small matter (and big challenge) of a trip up the road to face arch-rivals Norwich City in a bid to end 14 years of yellow and green dominance.
If Town ends that dismal run at Carrow Road then it would all of a sudden feel as though back-to-back promotions could be on the brink of happening.
Ipswich Town XI: Hladky, Davis, Morsy (C), Woolfenden, Chaplin, Burgess, Jackson (Broadhead 61), Hutchinson, Moore (Al-Hamadi 36), Luongo (Taylor 61), Tuanzebe (Clarke 61).
Unused Subs: Walton, Edmundson, Harness, Sarmiento, Travis.
Southampton XI: Bazunu, Downes, Stephens (C), Aribo, Armstrong, Adams, Bree, Armstrong, Harwood-Bellis, Fraser, Bednarek.
Unused Subs: Lumley, Walker-Peters, Manning, Smallbone, Mara, Rothwell, Sulemana, Edozie, Brooks.
Attendance: 29,393 (1,161)
[columns]
[column size=”1/2″][blog type=”timeline” posts=”10″ cats=”7857″ heading=”Ipswich Town” heading_type=”timeline” /][/column]
[/columns]
[columns]
[column size=”1/2″][blog type=”timeline” posts=”10″ cats=”1139″ heading=”EFL Championship” heading_type=”timeline” /][/column]
[/columns]
If Chelsea needed any reminding of the quality that Omari Hutchinson possesses then his performance for Ipswich Town against Sheffield Wednesday would have done the job.
The young winger, only 20, was brought into the Blues’ starting eleven after Conor Chaplin sustained a side/back injury midweek in training ahead of the Portman Road clash.
Even if Chaplin was not injured, some quarters of the Portman Road faithful were keen to see the Chelsea loanee given a chance centrally after impressing against Birmingham City and Rotherham United amongst others too.
Kieran McKenna’s side, beaten 2-1 at Cardiff City last time out, were relentless in every area of the pitch and carved their first goal on 15 minutes when Hutchinson drove a low shot into the bottom corner from the edge of the box.
Cameron Burgess, selected again to represent Australia this month, added a second for Town on 37 minutes and Nathan Broadhead grabbed a third for Town just before half-time.
After the break goalscorer turned provider as Broadhead sent Hutchinson through-on-goal to score his second and Town’s fourth of the day. Substitute Ali Al-Hamadi came off the bench to inflict two more wounds on the battered Owls.
“It was an enjoyable game to play in,” a grinning Hutchinson said afterwards. “The manager tells me to enjoy myself and entertain the crowd.
“We were very relentless, we killed them off and wanted more goals. We never stopped going – another five minutes we could have got even more.”
Hutchinson thrived against Wednesday and it’s clear to see that it’s a similar feeling more generally towards his first taste of senior football away from Stamford Bridge.
The youngster – who received call-ups to the Jamaican first team and England youth set-up in the past month but instead chose to focus on Town – has been on a fairly long-winded journey in what is a young footballing career already.
He was twice released by Chelsea, spent two years at Charlton Athletic and then joined Arsenal at under-12s level where he progressed through the academy ranks but never managed to get into the first-team. A return to the blue side of London came to fruition with his contract expiring in the summer of 2022.
Hutchinson has seven goals and five assists to his name this season, featuring in 36 matches of which 12 have been starts. His impressive performances means there is plenty of attention on him and being the Championship’s Player of the Month for February only adds to that.
The big question from a Town perspective, therefore, is whether they will be able to retain Hutchinson beyond the summer. A key factor of that will almost certainly depend on what league the Blues find themselves in next season.
Hutchinson, asked whether the Portman Road faithful will be able to see him again next season, says: “It’s a difficult one. I don’t know the answer. But maybe, I hope so.”
Pressed further, he adds: “Why not? I can’t tell you right now where I’ll be playing. We’ll see in the summer what the right move and correct decision for me will be. I’m enjoying it here.
“It’s a difficult one. I really don’t know. It’ll be one of my options if everyone agrees to it. I’ll talk to my family and agent and see what the best decision is for me.
“I’ve not had feedback from Poch [Mauricio Pochettino] but I do hear from my loan manager. They keep an eye on me every game and that’s fed back to the first team. They all know [how I’m doing].
“I have a healthy and supportive family. They come as often as they can, my dad Leon doesn’t miss a game. He’s not missed a game all season.”
Omari Hutchinson won the Championship Player of the month award for February (Credit: EFL)
McKenna was not asked about his view on Hutchinson and whether the Blues would be keen to retain the Chelsea youngster. Back in November after a 3-2 home win over Swansea City the boss said it had been a “positive experience for everyone” and that the Premier League club could “see the benefits of the exposure he’s getting here”.
“Omari was excellent,” Blues boss McKenna said after the drumming of Wednesday. “He’s continued the trajectory and growth in his performances throughout the season.
“Anyone who has seen him over the course of the season can see the big steps forward that he has made.
“He played a slightly different role [against Wednesday] than what he’s got most of his minutes in.
“It’s one of the first time he started in that position and he still has lots to learn in that position from a tactical point of view.
I thought he really showed his qualities in that position: his 1v1 ability, dynamism, contribution to the team, his pressing, his recovery, his central blocking. It was a really good performance.
“There will still be areas to improve; Omari will be one of the first to tell you the things that he didn’t do well in the game. I’m sure he’ll be itching to get back on the training pitch to get better.”
Hutchinson has made huge improvements since arriving at Portman Road. The youngster, once praised by legend Pele, was known to have an abundance of talent but his move to Suffolk has certainly heightened that.
Ipswich Town XI: Hladky, Davis, Morsy (C), Woolfenden, Burns (38 Jackson), Burgess, Hutchinson, Moore (72 Al-Hamadi), Luongo, Broadhead (72 Sarmiento), Tuanzebe.
Unused Subs: Walton, Clarke, Edmundson, Harness, Taylor, Travis.
Sheffield Wednesday XI: Beadle, Vaulks, Iorfa (76 Famewo), Bannan (C) (46 Diaby), Ugbo (65 Smith), Bernard, Johnson, Ihiekwe, Poveda (53 Wilks), Gassama (46 Valentin), Musaba.
Unused Subs: Dawson, Palmer, Cadamarteri, Diaby.
Attendance: 29,325 (1,945)
[columns]
[column size=”1/2″][blog type=”timeline” posts=”10″ cats=”7857″ heading=”Ipswich Town” heading_type=”timeline” /][/column]
[/columns]
[columns]
[column size=”1/2″][blog type=”timeline” posts=”10″ cats=”1139″ heading=”EFL Championship” heading_type=”timeline” /][/column]
[/columns]
Mid table side Bristol Rovers will be welcomed by on form Lincoln City this weekend. The visitors are currently are looking upwards at The Imps but with one game in hand, they will be desperate to close the gap to five points on their hosts with a positive result at at Sincil Bank.
Rovers form in their last 11 games has been a mixed bag with four wins, one draw and six losses. Bristol Rovers have scored 48 and conceded 52 this season.
Rovers will have one familiar face for Imps fans in striker John Marquis, who scored on his Lincoln debut against Plymouth Argyle last season in January. He didn’t make much impact last season for The Imps, scoring just five goals in 20 appearances. Marquis may not receive a great reception considering and Lincoln defenders will hope to keep him quiet as the striker will be looking to get his revenge.
Another connection is Rovers manager Mathew Taylor, who had an unsuccessful in 2003. He will know the history of Lincoln City and will be hoping to prove a point that they were wrong not sign him back in the day.
Rovers players to watch are ex-Derby striker Chris Martin and Anthony Evans former Paderborn and Everton midfielder] making 16 goal contributions each, Martin has scored most goals of 15 and Anthony Evans provided eight assists and scored eight this season.
Rovers are expected to be without key player Brandon Aguilera but due to his injuries and has only played three times since he joined on loan from Nottingham Forest.
My thoughts are that Rovers are capable of creating chances with Scott Sinclair and Anthony Evans involved. With Lincoln expected to be favourites, Rovers will need to put on a potential defensive master class to stop Lincoln’s momentum and high tempo.
Lincoln
Lincoln have been on a great streek of 11 games unbeaten run an will be hoping to further extend this after destroying Barnsley (5-1) and Cambridge (6-0) in recent fixtures. The Imps are aiming for promotion glory this season and the fans are now expectant that they can reach the Playoffs..
Lincoln has one of the best defensive in League One this season, conceding just 33 goals with leaders Portsmouth only having less [32].
Lincoln players to watch include Jack Moylan because he has scored 4 goals in the last 2 matches and will constantly get game time. It is very tough to choose a player to watch for Lincoln due to their very good form but I’m going to go with Joey Taylor, the Lincoln loanee.
Lincoln don’t have any new injury problems other than striker Ben House and long term absentee Connor McGrandles.
My thoughts are that Lincoln should expect a little tougher challenge than their previous two games. Bristol Rovers should create one or two chances and will need to change their tempo during the game as visitors. My prediction for the game will be 2-1 to Lincoln with Rovers giving their best efforts.
Follow us on Twitter @ProstInt
[columns]
[column size=”1/2″][blog type=”timeline” posts=”10″ cats=”609″ heading=”EFL” heading_type=”timeline” /][/column]
[column size=”1/2″][blog type=”timeline” posts=”10″ cats=”3055″ heading=”League One” heading_type=”timeline” /][/column]
[/columns]
Young duo Finley Barbrook and Henry Gray have been at Chelmsford City, managed by ex-Norwich City youngster Robbie Simpson, in a side that is firmly showing off their promotion credentials.
Ipswich Town are unbeaten in six matches; Gray and Barbrook are becoming some of the first names on Simpson’s teamsheet in a squad that has lost just twice in the league since December 23.
It’s an even more impressive feat for Barbrook who is making his first venture away from Portman Road for regular adult football.
Barbrook says: “I have enjoyed every minute here. I have learned a lot from being at a great club like Chelmsford City and each game has been competitive. There’s quite a big gap between us and teams like Welling but it’s still a competitive game.
“A game like tonight was only going to further my learning and I feel like I have learned a lot whilst here.”
Simpson says: “Fin has been amazing for us right from the start. He probably had his worst game against Welling but we know that as a young lad, playing week in and week out he might get those games but we have to make sure we protect him.
“That allows him to more often than not put in performances like he has been where he’s been absolutely exceptional.”
“Fin will say himself that he learns every game and that’ll be the case again tonight [against Welling],” Simpson adds. “But more importantly, I think Ipswich will be really happy with the job we’re doing in helping him develop as they’re going to have a much better player when he goes back than when he left.”
Versatile midfielder Barbrook, who skippered Town’s Under-21s, has been ahead of ex-Town man Anthony Wordsworth. Although the former Blue, now 35, showed he has certainly still got an abundance of talent with a smart finish in a 3-0 win at Eastbourne Borough.
Not sure we need to say anything apart from, @a_words_4, take a bow!
What a way to cap off a great afternoon on the coast!
#ClaretsTogether pic.twitter.com/gkIkaffq11
— Chelmsford City FC (@OfficialClarets) February 18, 2024
At the time of writing the Essex outfit, 41 miles from Portman Road, Gray and Barbrook are part of a side well and truly among the promotion contenders. There are eleven points between themselves and runaway league leaders Yeovil Town, but the Clarets are two ahead of third-placed Worthing and seven ahead of fourth-placed Braintree Town.
In England’s sixth-tier only one side can win automatic promotion and the next two are guaranteed a spot in the play-off semi-finals, whilst the four teams below them must fight for a spot in the final four with a one-off eliminator fixture.
Finley, who signed a professional deal with the Tractor Boys alongside his twin brother Harry in March 2023, joined the Clarets initially in October before having it extended in January until at least March.
His and Gray’s time away from Portman Road at the Melbourne Community Stadium has now been extended until the end of the season – a transfer agreement that has certainly been pleasing for City fans.
Barbrook is capable of playing as a midfielder or in defence (Credit: Roger Robinson)
In recent fixtures, Barbrook has filled in as a defender whilst Gray, who only joined the Clarets in December, is among the league’s top five best shot-stoppers with eight clean sheets from 14 matches (57%). They have conceded the fewest amount of goals in the National League South.
“It’s the perfect place for that [my loan] to happen and it’s the place to be to continue my development,” says Barbrook. Simpson added: “He’s very much part of us and part of what we do and what we want to achieve.”
The youngster has trained on several occasions with Kieran McKenna and the first-team squad. He was also involved in pre-season friendlies during Town’s tour to Austria in the summer.
With the Blues now pushing for Premier League status, however, Barbrook is fully aware that loan moves to Chelmsford City will be crucial for players like himself and shot-stopper Gray. Whilst the Clarets might be several leagues below Town, it also offers plenty of opportunities for fellow academy players to continue their development.
“[These sorts of club connections] are always good for lads who are 18 or 19 and need a loan then this is perfect if Chelmsford agrees to it,” he says. “Henry and I both thought why not and it’s now paying off for both of us.”
[columns]
[column size=”1/2″][blog type=”timeline” posts=”10″ cats=”7857″ heading=”Ipswich Town” heading_type=”timeline” /][/column]
[/columns]
[columns]
[column size=”1/2″][blog type=”timeline” posts=”10″ cats=”1139″ heading=”EFL Championship” heading_type=”timeline” /][/column]
[/columns]
Sam Morsy’s gentle reminder that Ipswich Town have yet to truly hit top gear is a clear and firm warning to the rest of the Championship that they still have more to prove.
The Blues maintained their promotion credentials with a hard-working and narrow 4-3 win over Rotherham in midweek, lifting them to third in the standings thanks to Southampton’s defeat at home to Hull City.
Kieran McKenna’s side have taken the Championship by storm – there’s certainly no arguing against that. The Blues did, after all, win eleven of their first 13 matches back in the second tier.
During the crossover from 2023 to 2024 the Blues started matches slowly. On some occasions – like away to Watford – they showed enough desire to come from behind and pick up points. On other occasions, however, such as against Preston North End, their slow start proved costly and meant the Blues dropped points.
“We can only control what we do, nothing else, but we’re on more than two points per game and that’s really positive,” Morsy said ahead of Town’s 4-3 victory over Rotherham United.
“I still believe we can get better but we’ll carry on taking it one game at a time. If the season was to finish now, I would be really disappointed, so the goal is to keep going, keep improving and see if we keep this winning run going.”
Their most well-rounded performance was probably against Hull City back in October. The Tigers were enjoying an impressive run heading into that game that included taking three points from Leicester City.
But a rapid start meant Wes Burns’ powerful strike got Town’s scoreboard ticking before Conor Chaplin and Marcus Harness either side of the interval inflicted further misery on the visitors.
It has felt like Town have turned a page from their previous slow-starting selves in recent weeks.
The Blues enjoyed a dominant first-half at Millwall to send them well on their way to a 4-0 away victory and at Swansea City it was Nathan Broadhead who got the ball moving before Jerry Yates levelled the tie only for Connor Chaplin to scoring the eventual match-winner four minutes later.
Except against Rotherham it was certainly a less-than-convincing performance that began with the visitors scoring inside 90 seconds. Luke Woolfenden’s failure to win an aerial challenge led to his wires crossing with full-back Harry Clarke, allowing Tom Eaves to take full advantage and open the scoring.
Fortunately for Town Burns was in fearsome form during an entertaining opening 15 minutes. The Welshman levelled seven minutes after Eaves opened the scoring with a deft header at the far-post, directly Morsy’s pin-point cross across Viktor Johansson.
A lung-busting run from the wide midfielder left Lee Peltier in his wake. His drilled low cross found Kieffer Moore who instinctively swept home to score his x goal in x games.
Burns then doubled Town’s advantage on 29 minutes. An initial shot was saved by Johansson’s legs, the follow-up effort from Leif Davis was then fortunately spilled into Burns’ path and was bundled home from close range.
A momentary lapse in goalkeeping standards from Vaclav Hladky – who has proven himself to be an extremely reliable replacement for Christian Walton since the start of the season – meant Hakeem Odoffin had an empty net to make it 3-2.
It seemed as though things were headed in the wrong direction though when referee Keith Stroud awarded a spot-kick after Kayden Jackson’s foul. Substitute Cafu stepped up and dinked the ball over the line to leave Hladky blushing.
But there was still time for Omari Hutchinson to grab the headlines and an all-important winner deep into stoppage time. The talented winger, whose trickery served up a late leveller against West Brom, was there once again in the dying moments to drive beyond Johansson with a deflected strike.
“It was a bit of a wild game,” says McKenna. “We didn’t manage to get the level of control we would have wanted from the game. Of course it wasn’t a good start and from that moment we never really regained our composure in the game.
“But having said that we’ve scored four goals at home and found a way to win the game. Every game in the Championship is tough and I knew it would be tough today. The players have found a way to come out on top so credit to them for that.”
He added: “I felt like it [their third goal] was coming in terms of the flow of the game. We were struggling to maintain control of the ball, were pinned into our box and random things can happen at that time. I don’t think we had too many things go against us.
“Two goals were from individual errors and a penalty. I don’t think we had many chances against us but we didn’t have the game the way we wanted to, so when you’re defending in your box the way we were for the last 10-20 minutes then there is always a chance something would fall the wrong way.
“When they got the penalty you do begin to wonder whether it’ll be one of those nights. But again credit to the players as it would be easy to lie on the floor at 3-3 and give up on the game or maybe even come under further pressure, but we found the spirit to win the ball back, launch another attack and win the game.”
This was a night which was a free-hit for McKenna’s side to regain ground on their promotion rivals. The Blues are outsiders in the three-horse race to join champions-elect Leicester City in gaining promotion to the Premier League.
Southampton put up a late fight but were unable to salvage a point against Hull City whilst Town were completing their game in hand over second-placed Leeds United. It ultimately means Town are back level on points with the Yorkshiremen, displaced from the top-two only by United’s superior goal-difference.
Three wins from three matches is a statement from Ipswich Town that they won’t be knocked in their fairy tale ambition for promotion to the top-flight. And the best thing about is they’ve not even reached top gear yet.
Ipswich Town: Hladky, Clarke (Tuanzebe 74), Davis, Morsy (C), Woolfenden, Burns (Jackson 87), Chaplin (Hutchinson 72), Burgess, Sarmiento (Broadhead 46), Moore (Al-Hamadi 80), Travis (Luongo 72).
Unused Subs: Walton (GK), Harness, Al-Hamadi, Humphreys.
Rotherham United: Johansson, Clucas, Eaves (Wyke 86), Hugill (Nombe 71), Rinomhota (Cafu 86), Rathbone (Seriki 36), Peltier (Humphreys 71), Odoffin, Morrison (C), Tiehi, Kioso.
Unused Subs: Phillips, Cafu, Wyke, Lindsay, Ferguson, Appiah.
Attendance: 28,026 (145 away)
[columns]
[column size=”1/2″][blog type=”timeline” posts=”10″ cats=”7857″ heading=”Ipswich Town” heading_type=”timeline” /][/column]
[/columns]
[columns]
[column size=”1/2″][blog type=”timeline” posts=”10″ cats=”1139″ heading=”EFL Championship” heading_type=”timeline” /][/column]
[/columns]
Milton Keynes Dons came back at the death to snatch a come-from-behind 2-1 victory at home to Accrington Stanley on Saturday, keeping them well inside the Play off places and on the right tracks for a promotion push come May.
With the Transfer windows finished for the rest of the season and the squads all but locked in place, how does Mike Williamson’s team look going into the final four months?
The first big move inside Stadium MK came when there was a change between the posts.
Having moved on goalkeeper Craig MacGillivray to Stevenage on loan and recruited Filip Marschall from Aston Villa to replace, Williamson is building the nucleus of ball-playing players he can call upon.
Making the tough choice to change the man between the sticks, it is an early statement to make, yet the statistics are there to vindicate his decision.
The 30-year-old who only joined in the Summer from Burton Albion, averaged 39 touches of the ball in possession, but in comparison averaged five more long balls/clearances per 90 minutes to his predecessor from the last two seasons, Jamie Cumming.
With a success rate of just 29% when a pass in attempted beyond 30 yards, it means he loses the ball on three or four more occasions than Cumming.
When it is the keeper giving the ball away in a possession-based system, it usually means that the passes are closer to the goal, rather than halfway inside the opposition half.
Conceding the ball with the proximity closer to goal is going to lead to the recruitment looking at alternatives.
This is not to say MacGillivray underperformed, in his 24 league games, there was only one error which led to a goal, and his xGA, expected goals against, for the season sits at 29.8, yet 31 goals were shipped, meaning he has conceded more than statistically he should have for League Two.
What are the Dons getting in Marschall, that they were not from MacGillivray? The loanee, ten years junior, is highly regarded within the Aston Villa youth academy and enjoyed two fruitful loan spells at Gateshead under the stewardship of his current head coach, Mike Williamson.
His development has seen a sharp rise, to the position of number two and understudy on the bench to Emilio Martinez, World Cup winner last campaign with Argentina.
Being able to call upon such a seasoned professional as his teammate to learn from can only have stood the youngster in good stead. Marschall has this season also started for the Villains in UEFA Conference League action when they beat HŠK Zrinjski Mostar in December.
For Milton Keynes to be able to call upon such a prospect in fourth tier football, it can be considered quite a coup and highlights how well trusted the head coach Williamson is by those higher in the football pyramid.
Since his arrival, Marschall has played in five matches and not looked completely at ease with what is being asked of him. Conceding in a poor fashion in three of his five games has not endeared him to the supporters as he would have initially hoped.
When you appear unable to command your penalty area and look uncomfortable with the ball at your feet, it is certainly not the ideal recipe for a successful goal keeper.
The youngster has a lot to work on and to flourish he will be dependant on a number of solid displays, which need to come fast.
Williamson has also recruited two players he has previously worked with at Gateshead, Kyren Lofthouse and Stephen Wearne.
The former, a wing back by trade arrived at Stadium MK on loan from Barnsley and was thrown into the deep end for his debut, starting away at Tranmere despite being named amongst the substitutes.
It was only when Ethan Robson suffered an injury, as the teams lined up in the tunnel. In his opening five matches, the youngster has started three and came off the bench against vociferous rivals AFC Wimbledon for an injured Cameron Norman.
His most recent performance, at home against Accrington Stanley saw him pick up the Man of the match award as he was an ever-present threat to the visiting defence.
Excluding his display against Stanley, the early signs have shown that there is pace to burn in attacking areas, taking control the ball as wide as possible and targeting the opposing player, running directly towards the penalty area before cutting back to a midfielder, creating an overlap for the roaming playmakers in the side like as Daniel Kemp and Jack Payne to provide crosses, or play the pass back inside around the box for onrushing players to shoot.
What Dons fans will be hoping is that there can also be more of an end product, seeing assists off his crosses, something Norman was not able to produce, hence the recruitment of Lofthouse.
In his 25 matches so far this season, Norman only managed to assist three goals.
In a team dependant on the wing backs to create opportunities and be a major factor within the attacking third, a better outlay is imperative.
For contrast, the options for the left wing back birth are Daniel Harvie and Joe Tomlinson. Between the pair, they have amassed eight goals and five assists.
Credit: MK Citizen
Wearne, a central midfielder who has had spells inside the football league before dropping to Gateshead where he shined in recent months.
Having arrived at MK with a niggle that has seen him side-lined since Boxing Day, it was off the bench that he made his debut, at home to Gillingham, coming on for the final quarter of an hour.
He then followed this with another substitute display, again at home, this time to Accrington Stanley two weeks later.
The fans inside Stadium MK are only beginning to see what Wearne can produce on the football pitch and given the embers displayed so far, there appears to be a lot of positives.
In addition to the three aforementioned, Williamson has seen Lewis Bate, a combative central midfielder arrived through to door on loan from Leeds United for the remainder of the campaign.
Having spent last season on loan at Oxford United and featuring in 28 games, he was kept in and around the Leeds first team by Daniel Farke when he joined in the Summer. After failing to breakthrough and stamp his mark on the pitch at Elland Road, the 21-year-old moved to Buckinghamshire, supposedly turning down offers with clubs in League One, to join a club lower in the football pyramid, but one which mirrors his desired style of play more closely.
With his contract expiring in five months’ time and with his parent club showing no desires at extending, the remaining 20 games of the current campaign could well be an active audition at securing something more permanent at Stadium MK.
With wingers Jonathan Leko and Ashley Hunter departing Stadium MK in the week, the make-up and depth that Williamson is looking for in his squad has all but finished in taking shape.
Adding on deadline day Emre Tezgel on loan from Stoke City, a young and promising forward to their ranks counters the departure at the eleventh-hour of Mo Eisa to Exeter City.
Also to depart was Conor Grant. With Grant failing to make a matchday squad since New Years’ Day and making just the eleven appearances all season, it was no surprise that the club and player both felt their trade was better plied elsewhere.
What may be a shock was that the midfielder rose up a division, moving to League One Barnsley, with the option of making the move permanent in the coming summer.
With an abundance of options across the pitch, Williamson should not find himself delving into the free agency market with a settled squad looking to keep their promotion push on the right tracks.
Follow us on Twitter @ProstInt
[columns]
[column size=”1/2″][blog type=”timeline” posts=”10″ cats=”609″ heading=”EFL” heading_type=”timeline” /][/column]
[column size=”1/2″][blog type=”timeline” posts=”10″ cats=”3055″ heading=”League One” heading_type=”timeline” /][/column]
[/columns]
]]>It’s no secret that Ipswich Town are facing somewhat of a challenge when it comes to how they start matches.
The Blues have dropped to fourth in the Championship after one win in nine games. Town still have a game in hand over third-placed Leeds United so are still firmly in the four-horse race for the top two.
But it’s the slow starts to matches that is proving detrimental to their form.
The Tractor Boys let top of the goals conceded in the first fifteen minutes chart (12) and have conceded 18 in the first half an hour.
Preston A (5, 8), Leeds A (8), Watford A (12), West Brom A (5), Swansea H (7), Rotherham A (4), Birmingham City A (13) are just some of the games where Town have started slowly and ended up conceding inside a quarter of an hour.
What is it though that is causing Town to start so slowly? In short: there are a multitude of factors and the context behind each is key.
The first reason can be down to Town’s organisation from corners. The Blues aim to mark zonally from set-pieces and attach markers onto those they expect to pose a key threat.
Except this sort of set-up can easily leave players unmarked.
The first of Leeds’ four goals at Elland Road came from a corner in which Pascal Struijk darted away from his marker to find plenty of space. Joel Piroe’s header was saved by Hladky but Struijk was there and, moving quicker than Axel Tuanzebe, he nodded over the line.
Against West Brom at the Hawthorns it was Nathan Broadhead and Leif Davis who allowed Darnell Furlong to push towards the near post to flick a corner beyond Vaclav Hladky on five minutes.
Another reason for Town’s conceding early on is their risky – yet often rewarding – style of play. Countless times this season McKenna’s side have won praise for their brave, possession-based way of moving up the pitch.
Yet when those moves and patterns of play fail to come off, it can easily lead to opponents scoring. And that’s exactly what happened against Watford.
Town’s central defenders for the night – Tuanzebe and Cameron Burgess – pulled wide to allow Sam Morsy to slot deep whilst pushing Davis and Brandon Williams up the pitch.
Tuanzebe’s pass back to Hladky was controlled well despite pressure from Mileta Rajović. The next pass was less clever, however, as it bypassed Burgess, was cut out by Yáser Asprilla whose initial effort was stopped before converting the rebound inside 15 minutes.
The third of Preston North End’s goals in a 3-2 win at Deepdale also came from this misfortune. Luke Woolfenden and Hladky combined, the shot-stopper was put under pressure by Emil Riis Jakobsen and ended up spooning it almost straight to a Lilywhites player and ex-Town man Will Keane was there to convert on 39 minutes.
“Looking back at it, maybe we were half a yard off on transitions and stuff like that, hence the two goals,” midfielder Massimo Luongo said after the defeat to Preston North End.
“The boss said we weren’t far off it, we were playing some good stuff and doing the right things on the ball. We lost it in areas where we were probably a bit vulnerable on the counter and then they made us pay and we got punished for it.
“Going forward, we were still trying to do the same thing. We came out both times, I remember we had a good spell of possession then we lost the ball and suddenly we’re 2-0 down.
“But we didn’t stop, it’s hard coming here anyway but being 2-0 down makes it even tougher. We’ve just got to keep doing what we’re doing, don’t bring any negative vibes and keep pushing.”
One of the negatives taken by McKenna from the 2-2 draw with West Brom on Saturday (February 10) was their success rate in challenges on and off-the-ball. They held off conceding inside fifteen minutes, but they did still concede the first goal for the fourth league game in a row.
During the first half Town won just nine (32%) ground duels and eight (47%) aerial duels.
“It’s not something we’re ignoring that’s for sure,” McKenna said when asked about the slow starts. “I don’t think we won enough challenges at the start [today] despite us talking about it pre-match.
“We were playing well but West Brom came out on top in the 50-50 balls. On too many occasions when there were chances to win the ball we didn’t and that meant we couldn’t create the domination that we did late on.
“There’s lots of factors to that. West Brom have excellent players and ours are at full-stretch to compete at this level. We know we won’t have the full 90 minutes either.
“We won’t hide from the fact that we need to find ways to consistently impose ourselves into games at the start but we equally have to respect the opposition we’re playing against and the level we’re at.
“We’ve also got to take confidence from the positive that players believe if we stick to the ways we play then we’re usually still going strong and the opponent can sense it getting difficult by the end of the game.”
Town find themselves with just one win from nine Championship matches, possibly the toughest spell of form that McKenna has endured since coming to Portman Road.
Despite the slow starts, however, the Blues have the highest number of points secured after falling behind (22). Of course it would be much easier for Town if they didn’t have to climb a self-inflicted mountain each week, but the Tractor Boys are proving they are able to find the strength in depth to do so if required more often than not.
Southampton (H) is the the only top-four team they are still to play this season and the Blues have, on paper, an easier set of fixtures between now and the next international break compared to their promotion rivals.
If they are able to impose themselves more strongly and more quickly into the these fixtures then that should be enough to keep them fighting for an automatic promotion spot.
They still really need to kick the habit of starting slowly and giving their opponents a head start though.
Especially against those at the other end of the table who will be fighting for every point they can get and, should they sneak an early lead, might give Town nightmarish reminders of stubborn League One outfits.
]]>The magic of the FA Cup was truly alive and well in Suffolk as Maidstone United made history in beating the competition’s former winners Ipswich Town 2-1 at Portman Road.
Armed with tin foil cut-outs of the FA Cup, cardboard signs pledging their support to the Stones and (more bizarrely) banana outfits, it was the huge non-league travelling contingency of more than 4,000 that were victors and booked their place in Monday’s draw for the last 16.
Despite mustering 38 shots against Maidstone’s two, it was the team 99 places below Ipswich in the football pyramid that advanced.
The difference in quality between Town and George Elokobu’s National League South promotion hopefuls was clear for all to see.
Jeremy Sarmiento, whose late goal at Leicester City rescued Town a point, and Omari Hutchinson both struck the upright whilst Sone Aluko and skipper Sam Morsy also had good chances to score.
The best chance was George Edmundson’s, however, with the former Rangers central defender glancing a header wide of the post from six yards when it seemed harder for him to miss the target. But despite Kieran McKenna’s side recording 18 shots during a dominant first-half, it was the visitors who broke the deadlock first.
Town, pushing for an opener, looked to attack from a corner but the non-league outfit dealt with it well. Liam Sole’s excellent diagonal pass across the pitch then picked out Lamar Reynolds who on 43 minutes calmly chipped over Christian Walton to score his first goal for the club.
The deft finish sparked bedlam scenes among the Stones’ players and coaching staff – many of whom ran onto the pitch to celebrate – as well as their boisterous 4,472 travelling supporters.
Town started the second half in a similar fashion to the first and kept testing Lucas Covolan in the Stones’ goal. And eventually they found the back of the net courtesy of another energetic move from Sarmiento.
The tricky wideman, on-loan from Brighton, was fed the ball by Jack Taylor and drifted inside from a wide space. He shot low and hard, beating Covolan at the near post.
From there it seemed like Town would kick-on and prove their Championship status over their non-league rivals. But that certainly wasn’t what Maidstone had planned.
For all of Sarmiento and Hutchinson’s spark out-wide, their teammates in central positions regularly seemed slow on the ball and short of ideas. And so when Morsy played a weak ball straight between Sarmiento’s feet, the pressing of ex-Town youngster George Fowler allowed Reynolds to dart down the flank before letting Sam Corne, for the second round in a row, score the match-wining goal.
Blues boss Kieran McKenna said: “Anger usually comes if there was a lack of effort from the players and I didn’t think there was any of that. I didn’t think there was a lack of respect to the opponent or effort on the pitch.
“We tried lots and created lots of opportunities. Nobody tried not to take them. Their goalkeeper had a fantastic game. The first goal is something we need to learn from but it’s of course disappointing mostly for the supporters but for everyone at the club that we’ve not been able to go through.
“We’ve not gone through for a long time and have been knocked out at home to a lower-league team so of course it’s a horrible game to lose. It’s been a bad day for us but I don’t have any complaints about the players.”
Town will have felt hard done-by when Premier League referee Anthony Taylor failed to spot Paul Appiah’s hanging foot causing Edmundson to tumble inside the penalty area. The top-flight official instead brandished a yellow card to the Town man and, without the benefit of VAR, it was a decision that could not be reviewed.
But for Maidstone United this is a journey that began back in September with a 4-1 win over Steyning Town in the Second Qualifying Round of the FA Cup. The Stones will soon have played eight rounds in this year’s tournament.
To put that into perspective, if a Premier League or Championship team wins the competition then they will have only played in six rounds. Maidstone United have now won more than £350,000 in prize money
“Today was about our supporters,” boss Elokobi said afterwards. “Maidstone United is nothing without its supporters and its community. To see them turn up on this day to make it historic for our players is just incredible.
“I wanted to speak to the fans beforehand to show our gratitude to them. It was their day and not ours. Obviously we are the ones playing but they mean so much to us. We wanted them to enjoy every bit of today and we didn’t want a single bit of today to go by without taking photos and videos.
“We wanted them to enjoy this occasion because they don’t come around very often. As a football club we had some very tough times last season and I kept telling and reminding the supporters to trust the process and to believe. I knew we would be smiling again and look at us today. We’re definitely smiling.”
Ipswich Town XI: Walton, Ball (Clarke 57), Tuanzebe, Edmundson, Humphreys (Davis 57), Morsy (C), Taylor, Hutchinson (Burns 69), Aluko (Chaplin 57), Sarmiento (Buabo 69), Broadhead.
Unused Subs: Slicker, Woolfenden, Travis, Harness.
Maidstone United XI: Covolan, Hoyte (C), Fowler, Appiah, Berkeley-Agyepong (Gurung 63), Corne, Duku, Reynolds (Court,74), Kyprianou, Bone (Iandolo. 74), Sole (Greenidge 58).
Unused Subs: Ezennolim, Earle, Smith.
Attendance: 27, 763 (4,472 away)
]]>The Welsh public had waited some 45 years to see all four sides in the third round, but fans will look back on this historic weekend with contrasting views.
New Swansea City Boss Luke Williams will have been satisfied to see his new boys overcome Morecombe at home in West Wales. Charlie Patino gave the Swans a first half lead before Jerry Yates blasted in a second to put the Championship side into the hat for the fourth round draw. Tougher tests await the former Notts County manager in the Swansea hot seat.
No such joy for the capital city however, as Cardiff City crashed out of the competition 4-0 away to Sheffield Wednesday. A makeshift City side did not make things easy for themselves at Hillsborough, contributing an own goal and two missed penalties. The Bluebirds have found goals hard to come by of late and will have been interested to see transfer target Kieffer Moore grab a headed goal for Bournemouth at QPR.
Newport County will be kicking themselves after failing to defeat 10-man Eastleigh at Rodney Parade. The National League side earned a terrific result and find themselves also in the draw for the next round alongside their Welsh opponents. Both will await the draw with excitement.
The ‘tie of the round’ from a Welsh perspective saw Wrexham make the short trip to Shrewsbury for a sell-out clash with nearby Shrewsbury Town. Prost were in the press box for this one.
Despite the modern if modest surroundings of the Croud Meadow, Shrewsbury, this game took place in an old school, white hot atmosphere between two sides separated by little more than the England/Wales border.
A sea of yellow & blue flags turned the Salop Leisure Stand into a mini San Siro. At the opposite, a sold out away contingent brought 1600 Welsh to Shropshire.
In a frantic opening, Taylor Perry, Cheyenne Dunkley and Jordan Shipley saw early chances for the home side. Paul Mullin fired over for the men in red.
Notwithstanding the intensity of the battle, the game showed little signs of composure as both sides threw themselves into the fray. Tummise Sobowale wasted a chance near the half hour mark. Salop sighed with a heavy heart.
Perry fired over for Town after good work by Joe Anderson down the right but, with each side now attacking their noisy home fans after the interval, the scruffy, lusty pattern of the first half continued.
Shrewsbury’s Malvind Benning almost illuminated the darkening skies with a cool strike with the outside of his boot after a twinkling run, but this was a rare moment of class in a tough game. As if to emphasise the point, Elliot Lee sent a poor shot over the opposite crossbar in response.
The deadlock was broken on 72 minutes as Thomas O’Connor’s shot deflected past Marko Marosi to send the travelling Welsh fans into gleeful celebration. A scruffy yet precious goal.
Finally we saw some composure as the visitors protected their lead with calm resolution, threatening on the break. Perry wasted chances to equalise late in the day but that was that.
So its Swansea, Wrexham and (just) Newport County who take the Red Dragon into the draw for round four.
DAVID COLLINS
WELSH FOOTBALL CORRESPONDENT
Follow us on Twitter @ProstInt
[columns]
[column size=”1/2″][blog type=”timeline” posts=”10″ cats=”623″ heading=”EFA Cup” heading type=”timeline” /][/column]
[column size=”1/2″][blog type=”timeline” posts=”10″ cats=”133|” heading=”FA Cup”
heading_type=”timeline” /][/column]
[/columns]
]]>