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!!

A good home win for Town yesterday against already relegated Blackpool. It wasn’t easy for Town and Blackpool made it even tougher when they scored first.

Mick McCarthy, not surprisingly, made some changes following the loss away to Huddersfield. Out went Woods, Fryers and Chaplow and in came Mings, Varney, Sears and Bishop. Freddie Sears had a good day, as he scored twice and Town made several other scoring chances, yet it was Berra that scored the winner late on to secure the vital win.

It was a vital win as Derby drew with Brentford and it allowed Town to creep up into the sixth and play off position in the Championship table. They are level with Brentford on points but ahead of them by a one goal difference count.

So it was a vital must win game for Town, and now Town must keep battling for wins in the remaining games to keep in the play off places. WELL PLAYED TOWN!

Now there are just four remaining games and they are all against good teams. The standout game is the game against Wolves who are pushing for a promotion play off place themselves. So it is great there is still all to play for right to the end of the season and that Town’s recent faltering form hasn’t stopped them having a play off chance.

Tue 14 Apr 7:45pm Cardiff City H
Sat 18 Apr 12:15pm Wolverhampton Wanderers A
Sat 25 Apr 3:00pm Nottingham Forest H

Sat 2 May 12:15pm Blackburn Rovers A

So keep fighting the Town! COME ON YOU BLUES and goodluck with the next game, at home against Cardiff.

GO THE TOWN….

XXXX-EDIT-XXXX
I was so disappointed with Town’s away loss at Huddersfield, I was very critical in my last post and felt Town had blown their chance of a play off place and getting promotion.

This win against Blackpool though was vital, as it does give Town a slim chance to still grab a play off place if they play well in their remaining games. Town didn’t dominate Blackpool as they should have, but they showed with the win and performanance, that they are still trying to go for a play off place and that has given me great encouragement. So I shall not yet give up the hope that Town can get a play off place, if they play hard and show the spirit needed to get results in the remaining 4 crucial games…Come on you blues!

ITFC 1 Bournemouth 1
Huddersfield 2 ITFC 1

These last two results see Town tumble to eighth place and out of the play off positions.

Everyone who supports Town are massively disappointed, especially the manager.
I am very disappointed that they have blown such a great opportunity to get promotion this season.

I said in my post after the loss away at Leeds, it would take a miracle for Town to get promotion and I think this is almost certainly the case now. Town have tried to strengthen the team but it hasn’t worked for them. I think they would have to win all their remaining games now to stand any chance of getting to the playoffs. On the form Town currently are in this does not look a remote possibility!

Unfortunately, Watford, Norwich, Bournemouth, Middlesborough, Brentford and Wolves are all playing better than Town.

So Town, thanks for trying hard this season and giving us something to hope for and cheer about. It is nearly time to start thinking about summer holidays and getting a good rest, so we can plan to build a better team for next season. I cannot believe I feel this way, but I have now had enough of this season and want it to end, mainly because I think the Town have run out of steam and are finishing poorly.

The Town midfield needs a good overhaul. I think the defence is solid and if we had a fully fit attack with Murphy, McGoldrick and Sears we are strong, but I think the midfield is our weak area. We need better and more forward minded and playing midfielders for next season. Jay Tabb, though small has been mighty but his best days seem long past now and Skuse works hard but that just isn’t enough for me!

My favourite players of the season have been Murphy, McGoldrick and Berra. They have all played consistently well except McGoldrick hasn’t played enough due to injury. The rest of the team have in general been quite average. Teddy Bishop shows some promise but all of the rest of the team need to improve a lot. Town have though done well with limited resources and most of the loan players have at least tried to help Town. More investment is needed though to help the whole Town structure, and Marcus Evans could try a bit harder in my opinion!

I’d really like to see good football being played by Town and less hoof ball! Freddy Sears has some potential for front play, and I hope he will realise his potential with Town in time. I’d also really like the Town to prove me wrong and put in a good finish and get to the play offs but I do not think this will happen!

COME ON IPSWICH!