Well played Town on the first away win of the season: Wigan 1 ITFC 2 last Monday night.

The game was shown live on Sky tv and I managed to watch the second half. I was surprised to find Town leading at halftime (a goal by Luke Higham!).

The second half showed Wigan starting well and having lots of possession. Gradually though Town got to grips and started to get into the game. Mings was playing well and the defence in general looked very solid. Up front McGoldrick played well and Murphy had a chance that he should have at least tested the Wigan keeper but the ball bobbled away off his knee.

The second Town goal was a bit of a breakaway and somewhat scrappy from new loan signing Connor Sammon but showed persistence and good link up play from McGoldrick.Sammon powered his way toward goal and got a favourable bounce off the Wigan keeper trying to save and Sammon had an easy finish then but showed power and persistence to get the goal.

From the 75 minute on Town were under intense pressure and were holding on. Wigan had a series of corners and from one the ball fell to a Wigan player un marked in the penalty area who shot into the crowded goal and the ball was diverted by a Wigan player. Letting the Wigan player be unmarked in the area was a costly mistake.

Town were tired (Bishop went off with cramp and Ambrose came on) but held on for a fine win!

The Town team look to be getting better and are moving up the table now. Keep it up Town!
Next match is against Rotherham.

Town won against Millwall and last Saturday against Brighton…

Well done Town…COME ON YOU BLUES!

I have to admit to becoming somewhat disillusioned with Town after a draw at Birmingham and the home loss to Norwich. The first game, a home win against Fulham, was good and then the team stuttered and didn’t play well and failed to impress or get results. Not good.

So thank goodness they have now just won their last 2 games and kept clean sheets.

Against Brighton, Town scored 2 good goals (Parr and Murphy):

There have been a lot of team changes recently (Cresswell and Nouble have left along with Wordsworth on loan and Parr is in and McGoldrick continues to get back to match fitness and survived a transfer bid from Premiership Leicester City). Town are showing signs of improvement and long may it continue.

The Championship continues to be it’s normal competitive self. Fulham and Blackpool are struggling as are Birmingham. Forest are doing well (and I won’t mention Norwich!) and Charlton have improved and newly promoted Wolves and Brentford are also doing well so far. Yet basically any team are capable of beating anyone on any day in this league and only those that show consistent quality and effort (backed by strength in depth of the squads) stand any chance of getting promotion. The managerial madness continues and look at once mighty and proud Leeds who have suffered and are still having problems on and off the pitch. No club can rest on its laurels and Town are the same.

Town have flattered to deceive over the last two seasons but I cannot deny they have improved after the poor form seen under Roy Keane and Paul Jewell. This is thanks to the steady no nonsense approach of Mick McCarthy.

Town need to really push on this season and the recent sign of a revival is good. This must continue to help the team, me and every Town fan feel better about a club that was once the pride of East Anglia and needs to be in the Premiership! Struggling through and always missing out is demoralising and energy sapping and bad for Town who are a club with ambition and talent even if they have limited resources.

So in Mick’s third season in charge, come on Team and make it third time lucky for that promotion place!
There is a long season ahead but Town have to get results and stay in touch with the leaders otherwise it will be too hard to catch up toward the end of the season. Recent signs are encouraging…

COME ON YOU BLUES…