A 2-2 draw on the first day of the new season 2015/16 away at Brentford. Town were 2-0 up from the 50th minute of the second half and let an equaliser in the last minute of 5 minutes of extra time.
There were some good performances from the many new Town players including a fine match from Freddy Sears. I though, am deeply disappointed Town couldn’t defend the last minute corner to allow the Brentford equaliser.
It is the first day of the season and Town have thrown another winning opportunity away. I listened on Radio Suffolk to Mick Mills, match commentary and he said the Town stopped playing at the end and seemed that they were waiting for the final whistle. He also said Town played large parts of the game well, but it was all for nothing in the end and more pain and frustration for Town supporters. Not another year/season of more wasted opportunity for Town ahead I hope?! I know manager Mick McCarthy always insists a draw away from home is a good result but even he must know this was two points thrown away. Enough said. Come on Town, get a grip and get it together……
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?!
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.
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!
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.
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!
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….
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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!
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!
