Middlesborough 0 ITFC 0

A good result and away point for Town yesterday at Middlesborough (who are level on points at the top of the Championship with Burnley and Brighton).

I’m not sure how Town managed a draw as Middlesborough were clearly the much better side. Congratulations again go to Town’s best player, keeper Bartoscz Bialkowski, who made several great saves to deny Jordan Rhodes and ‘Boro!

Paul Digby played at centre back which must be good experience for him. Luke Higham played as did David McGoldrick. Andre Dozzell was an unused substitute.

There are only 2 more games left this season, against MK Dons at home and Derby away. MK Dons are already relegated and the fixture seems a dead rubber, except that Carl Robinson, the MK Dons manager was so badly hurt by the experience of getting relegated, that he wants his side to finish well just for pride. If Town take this game lightly, they will get beaten.
Then Derby away and Derby want the points to be sure of a promotion play off place and Town will need to play well to get a result.

So, Town need to keep concentrating and play well in the next 2 games and end an average season in a good way, to give some hope for the next season!

Now I want all Town fans to stop moaning about the manager, Mick McCarthy and get behind him. It is the players this season that have let the manager and the supporters down. Town players have not in general been good enough, with one or two exceptions (notably Bartoscz Bialkowski). At least Jonas Knudsen has improved over the season and we have some hope with Andre Dozzell. The rest need to do better!

Still, things could always be worse.Look at Bolton, Charlton (both relegated, along with MK Dons) and even Fulham and Leeds. There are no easy games in the Championship and teams that win promotion and playoff places get there by merit! The best teams are at the top of the league and while Town have lots of potentially good players, most of them have under performed this season!

So Town, a good result against Middlesborough and now try and win the last 2 games and at least score some goals and play well?! I still believe you can do it and this will make things positive to end the season and to look ahead for the start of next season..so COME ON YOU BLUES!

COYB! 🙂

FA Cup Sat 090116: Town 2 Portsmouth 2

I went to the match today.

Before the game at Portman Road

The first half was DREADFUL. It started in quite a rainy downpour and Town could have been 3-0 down at the end of the half. Poor finishing from an otherwise good Portsmouth side kept the game goalless at halftime. Town had made several changes to the starting selection, with Digby and Malarczyk at the back and Vardy up front. The whole team were simply awful! They couldn’t do anything right with so many missed passes and lack of possession and spirit, in total contrast to Portsmouth, who played well as a team. Any neutral observer would have thought Portsmouth were the Championship side. Town could not even get the basics right. Chambers throws in to Skuse who under no pressure played the pass back into touch! Town were left aimlessly clearing balls upfield which were easily dealt with by Portsmouth.The Portsmouth fans were great too.

First half Town vs Portsmouth 0-0

Town started the second half much better and the rain had eased off and Town took the lead with a goal from Tommy Oar. At that moment all the Town team and supporters felt great relief. Unfortunately, the Town team just switched off completely and a quick Portsmouth attack ended with an equalising goal just minutes after Town’s opening goal. That was really unprofessional and poor from the new look Town team. Portsmouth were now right back in the game and looked the more likely winners.

Second half- Town 2 Portsmouth 2

Town made changes, with Digby and Maitland-Niles off for Smith and Fraser and Sears on for Vardy. Portsmouth made a change too with Chaplin coming on and he scored a fine goal to put Portsmouth ahead.
At that stage it didn’t look hopeful for Town but at least the Town tried to attack especially with Sears and Fraser giving the Town some hope. Town then equalised from a free kick from Fraser in the 88th minute.

There were 5 minutes of added time which were the best 5 minutes of the game with both sides pressing for a winner but it ended in a draw, and there will be a replay at Fratton Park on Jan19th.

It is quite obvious Town will need to put out a strong team on Tuesday against Leeds and play better.
COME ON YOU BLUES!!

Charlton 0 ITFC 3

Town yesterday played well to get a good result away to Charlton. This followed the drawn game
last week against Wolves and of course was a great improvement over that.

The game was the early kick off and I watched it on Sky. Charlton are a shadow of their formerselves
(from the Curbishley era and since Chris Powell left they have had a succession of managers). Their best player went off after 10 minutes (Jackson, with a hamstring injury) and despite having lots of possession, they had no real threat on the Town goal.

Here is a fans view from IpswichTownAwayDays YouTube channel:

Town scored 2 goals in the first half, the first a header from Daryl Murphy and the second after a run and deflected shot from Freddie Sears right on half time.

Of course Charlton played better in the second half especially when they changed their ineffective tall striker for VazTe (ex West Ham premier league footballer) who actually started to threaten the Town goal.

However Town scored a fine third goal to effectively finish the game. It was Daryl Murphy, scoring after a good Town passing move which was great to see!

Town then went to sleep a little and Dean Gurken was called into action and made 3 fine saves to keep a clean sheet. Town move up to seventh place in the table now and are playing away to Middlesborough on Friday and this can be seen on Sky TV too.

Daryl Murphy was man of the match and deservedly so, but it was a good performance from the whole team. Keep that level up Town! That is more like it!

GO TOWN..Come on you SUPER BLUES..

Sadly Town lost away at Norwich in the playoff first round and this meant Norwich won the playoff 4-2 on aggregate.
Norwich now meet Middlesborough in the play off final at Wembley.

Obvious disappointment for all Town fans and team after another derby loss. Town though played very well in the first half and Norwich seemed rattled at 0-0 at halftime.

However Norwich started to pay with more urgency and determination at the start of the second half and gained a penalty and sending off for Christophe Berra for handling on the line (stopping a certain goal).
Norwich scored the penalty and with Town down to ten men it was always a near impossible task to win from there, but Town stuck at it and Tommy Smith scored to level the game!

Unfortunately though Norwich kept applying pressure and scored twice more, through Redman and Jerome, to secure the 3-1 win. In the end it was a comfortable win, but up until Norwich’s first goal with the Town sending off, Town were the better team but couldn’t recover from going down to 10 men, and Norwich made the most of the extra man advantage.

A sad end to a good season for Town, but there are plenty of positives for Town to get stronger for next season’s games. For now, Town go on their summer holidays and the fans and team get a break from football. Have a good break all and then get back refreshed to do even better next season…COYB!

2014/15 season has been a good season for ITFC.
A sixth place play off position finish for Town with presently Town to play the 2nd round match playoff against Norwich on Saturday.

As I blogged last Saturday the home first leg play off match against Norwich ended 1-1 and the Town played well. However they will need to either play better next Saturday or be ruthless and clinical to win the away game at Carrow Road. Then there would be just one remaining game between Town and Premiership football for next season. Town must only focus on the Norwich game though.

So manager Mick McCarthy urged the Town supporters to praise Town for their good work this season and quite rightly. McCarthy took over a Town team in disarray and bottom of the Championship and with him and Terry Connor he has brought the team to the brink of a promotion place to the Premiership in just over 2 years. This is great work (under difficult constraints) and I’m very grateful for that and say well done to Mick McCarthy and the whole Town team.

However there is a Premiership promotion play off place still to be played for and if Town can dig deep and win 2 more games there will be much more cause for praise and celebration. Town are currently the longest serving Championship team and have been trying to return to Premiership football for TEN years/seasons! It is time Town to get to the Premiership!

COME ON YOU BLUES….Goodluck for yopur preparations for the away game at Norwich..the biggest Town game for somewhile and how sweet it would be to win away at Norwich! With good application and effort, this is entirely possible for Town to do.

Goodluck to Town for Saturday to beat Norwich…… GO TOWN!

Town played well to get a draw today against Norwich in the play off first round match.

Daryl Murphy was immense and I was surprised he didn’t get man of the match. That award though went to Town captain Luke Chambers who had a good game too.

Town started really well and that has been a regular feature of Town over the last few games. Norwich keeper John Ruddy made a vital double save early on to deny a Town opening goal. Unfortunately Luke Varney suffered a freak ankle injury and had to be stretchered off. Kevin Anderson came on and played well as did all the Town players. It was the best I’ve seen Town play all season. Well done Town!

Norwich scored a well taken goal to grab the lead with good play from Jerome and Howson doing well with an excellent finishing shot to the left of Town keeper Bialkowski right in the corner of the net, giving the keeper no chance to make a save. Town though reacted well annd did not let the Norwich

Anderson actually scored Town’s equaliser just before half time. A long ball from Bialkowski fell to Freddy Sears from Martin’s clearing header and Sears’ long range shot was spilled by keeper Ruddy and Murphy followed it in but the ball fell to Anderssen who shot past the Norwich defenders on the line for his second Town goal off the season. A vital goal for Town at a good time just before halftime.

The game lost a bit off it’s high energy in the second half but Murphy, Sears and Smith all had header chances for Town. Tabb came on for Bru and Parr on for Bishop and the game sort of fizzled out. I watched the game on Sky tv and my only disappointment was that the Town fans didn’t seem loud enough at the end. Next week, Town are away at Norwich for the second leg and the Town fans have to be the “12th” man for Town then! However I’m sure the Town away fans will be!

So well done Town! There is every chance to beat Norwich next week away from home and wouldn’t that be sweet for the team and fans?!

COME ON IPSWICH…

Last Saturday Town lost away against Blackburn 3-2 and still managed to get to the play offs finishing the season in sixth place.

This was because Derby inexplicably lost against Reading at home (Derby 0 Reading 3). Brentford and Wolves both won and Brentford finished in fifth place.

Town started really well against Blackburn with a great goal from Murphy after around 1 minute! This shook Blackburn but gradually they got some composure and started to play well. Town gave away 2 poor goals then. First was a header from Town old boy Jordan Rhodes. Then just before half time Gestedt won a header from Tommy Smith and Conway picked up the headed flick on to shoot unopposed into the goal. This was a big set back for Town as Blackburn were really playing well.

In the second half things got worse for Town with Blackburn scoring when Town messed up simple derending as Ming’s headed clearance rebounded to Gestedt and Tommy Smith had left him unmarked and able to score easily past Bialokowski. An easy gift goal for Blackburn. At that point it was really strange as Town were losing badly yet still in the play offs with the Derby result in their favour.

Thankfully Town pushed on late in the second half and tried to get the draw they needed to definitely secure the play off place, Teddy Bishop pushed forward with a positive run and won a penalty. Daryl Murphy scored, shooting straight down the middle. It wasn’t enough as Town couldn’t get the equaliser but Sears and Murphy had good chances to score.

Town fans celebrated anyway due to the Derby result that allowed Town to get to the play offs with the derby play off against Norwich the reward for the end of a fairly good season for Town!

Town vs Norwich

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Today (Sat 090515) is the Town vs Norwich first play off at home at Portman Road.

COME ON YOU BLUES!!

There is a full house at Portman Road and the game is on Sky tv.

COME ON YOU BLUES!!

A good win for Town yesterday at home to Forest.
ITFC 2 Nottingham Forest 1

This was Town’s last home game of the season and they needed points to keep up their push for a play off place. They played well in the first half and Sears and Murphy combined well around the 21 minute time (a tribute time to Town fan Chris Reynolds who died recently) to score a good opening goal with a fine shot by Daryl Murphy.

In the second half though Forest came at Town and a defensive error by Berra resulted in him scoring an own goal to level the score. Town had to deal with Forest pressure. Tabb wasn’t playing due to illness and midfield was Bishop, Skuse and Parr. Andersen came on as a substitute and brought more energy to Town who got the winning goal from Freddie Sears. It was slightly lucky as his shot deflected past the Forest keeper, but all goals count!

So well played Town for winning the last home game and this took them to fith in the table. Watford won and Middlesborough lost which meant Watford are actually promoted. That though is the only issue along with Blackpool to be relegated that was confirmed. The final results won’t be decided until the end of the final games next week!

Town’s last game is away at Blackburn and Town really need a win or draw to clinch a play off place. It is possible for them to get a play off place if they lose but they have to then rely on both Brentford and Wolves losing or drawing and goal difference could count! Both Brentford and Wolves won difficult away games to keep up their hopes of getting to the play offs.

It is a hotly contested effort between Town, Derby, Wolves and Brentford for the fifth and sixth play off places. Town are just ahead at the moment but as already said whether they remain there depends on all the games next week. If Town win or draw next week against Blackburn they will be in the play offs and again this is in their own hands to do!

COME ON YOU BLUES…

Goodluck to Town away against Blackburn next Saturday,to win or draw and get to the play offs and maybe even play off against Norwich!

COME ON IPSWICH!

Wolves 1 ITFC 1

An excellent away draw for Town, away at Molineux, at yesterday’s early (1215) Championship opening game.

I watched the game live on Sky tv and it was a tense and exciting game. Town started very well and really closed the Wolves players and pressed high and forced a few early corners. From one of these Tommy Smith pressured Wolves defender and ex Town loanee, Stearman into a headed own goal.

It was a very good start, but it stung Wolves into action and they slowly took a hold of the game with Afobe, Van La Parra, and Dicko gettting more ball and running at Town and putting in crosses and threatening Town. Unfortunately Town couldn’t match them, despite Murphy’s great efforts to hold the long ball up and try and play a pass to team mates moving up to give him support. Town though managed to get to half time still ahead.

Wolves came out in the second half with even more drive. Kevin McDonald for them, started making threatening plays and Town stood off him, and he took full advantage. Why didn’t Town close him down like they had done for the first part of the first half? Someone in the Town team (from the manager to the players) has to see where the opponents threats are coming from and do something to deal with them. Here it was like Town just let McDonald run the game in the second half?!

McDonald then slipped a great ball into the Town penalty area for Wolves’ Van La Parra, who ran on to it and shot at goal. The ball took a deflection but went to Afobe who scored with a good finish with Mings unable to make a block or tackle. Wolves then really set about Town and Dicko was a constant threat.

Thankfully, Christophe Berra had a great game for Town. He made several very important challenges and almost single handedly stopped Wolves scoring! Well not quite, but he played really well and was man of the match at the end.

I’ve already mentioned that Murphy played well and Sears did too and Sears had a couple of decent long range shots and constantly chased the Wolves back line and passes to their keeper.
It wasn’t his day though and he was subbed for Chris Woods who played alright and had a chance on a break away but his shot went wide. Teddy Bishop had played alright when he had the ball but was often chasing shadows as were the other Town midfielders, Tabb and Skuse. Wolves were very pacy and played a lot on the outside then driving in to goal or crossing. They proved a handful for all the Town midfielders and defenders alike, with Berra saving the Town time and time again. Skuse and Parr picked up bookings, having to resort to fouls to stop Wolves’ players getting past them into dangerous areas.

Anderson and Hunt came on for Parr and Tabb late in the second half and both played quite well for Town to see the game out with the 4 minutes of extra time. Town manager Mick McCarthy, did show he wanted to win the game with his 4-4-2 formation and putting Woods on, and maybe he should be praised for that?!

Well done Mick and team! It was a vital away point and overall a reasonable performance and a good result.

WELL PLAYED TOWN!

That point could prove very valuable with only 2 more games to go as Town are 3 points ahead of Wolves and Brentford and stay in the sixth play off place.

Town play Forest at home next Saturday and have Blackburn away the following Saturday and they must get results and points from these games to secure a promotion play of place. These are not easy games but Town have more reason to win them than Forest or Blackburn, neither of whom can get to the play offs and are playing solely to end the season well.

Goodluck Town…Dare to dream of a play off place and be committed to get the results needed to clinch a play off place.

COME ON YOU BLUES!

ITFC 3 Cardiff 1

A fantastic win at home tonight for Town!

I listened to most of the match on Radio Suffolk and it sounded a good game and Town created several chances and played well, against a good side,Cardiff City.

The goal scorers were Sears, SKUSE and Murphy. Yes…SKUSE! After over 150 games he has finally scored a goal and apparently it was a cracker! Otherwise Bishop, Parr and Stephen Hunt played for quite a while before being replaced with Tabb, Andersen and Fryers.

WELL PLAYED TOWN.

This keeps Town in the sixth promotion play off place and has helped increase the Town goal difference for the better. Next up is a crucial away game at promotion play off chasing Wolves. They lost away to Middlesborough, but they are a very strong physical team and Town will need to stand up to them and play well to win or draw. Losing isn’t an option! No pressure there then! LOL!

The good thing is that Town are fighting hard to get the points needed in these last crucial games to get a play off place and they are starting to play better. An away win or draw is certainly feasible if Town play well and keep up this fighting spirit. The manager has praised the team for this and rightly so!

COME ON YOU BLUES…COME ON IPSWICH!!