Hallowe’en has come and gone but the nightmare continues for Blues it seems. Earlier in the week Will called and offered me a lift up to Birmingham for the game as he was taking little Will and meeting three mates from work who happen to be Ipswich fans. It certainly doesn’t get any easier for our beleaguered new manager, Wayne Rooney and various pundits have been piling in including Alan Shearer. I seem to remember that he took charge of his boyhood club, Newcastle United for eight games in the hope that he would prevent their relegation from the Premier League; he didn’t of course and went back to punditry where he has remained ever since so he isn’t perhaps best placed to voice criticism of another England legend trying to make his way in management. That said, it has been an ignominious start with a 100% loss record to date and those with smart money would bet on that changing against the Tractor Boys. However, here we were heading north once again, in blind hope rather than expectation.
It seems so strange to be feeling so negative when after the Baggies game, our last under John Eustace, the opposite sentiments were being expressed by bluenoses everywhere. It just goes to show how rapidly the wheels can come off with sudden changes to the team structure and style of play. We can only hope and pray that things will sort themselves out and with the acquisition of a few points that optimism will prevail once more but to be honest I’m not holding my breath.
Will picked me up near home on the way towards the M40 and after an uneventful journey we reached St Andrew’s in time to grab a pint and a steak sandwich in the Festival at Styvichall. Ipswich have got off to a very good start in their first season back in the Championship and look at this stage as if they are going to be at least in and around the play-offs if they keep it up. They appear consistent, unlike us and a look at the league table reveals an impressive record so far. They have lost only once and that was at home. Their away record reads played six, won five drawn one. They have a goals difference of + 14; No problems for us then! One of the lads on a WhatsApp group I belong to said that Ipswich 5-0 win was 80/1. I told him to place it! However tempting, I further said that I couldn’t bet against my own team however shite they are! However, 5-0 was by no means in the realms of fantasy the way Blues are defending right now. Will pointed out that there is a pattern appearing; one goal against in the first game, two in the second against Hull, three against Southampton so what do you reckon? Any less than four I suppose we have to be thankful!
Saturday morning was dank, pouring with rain with angry grey skies overhead. I had to walk the mile and a half to the Meadows shopping centre where there is large Tesco and Marks and Spencer complex. The weather was in keeping with my mood and it begged the question why I was bothering to haul myself up to St Andrew’s to watch us get beat but it’s the other parts of the day such as the food, drink, mates and banter that makes a Saturday at the game. My old man always used to say that going down the Blues was a great day spoiled by a game of football.
We arrived at the Festival at about 12.00 and met Gavin, Bret and Kayleigh, the Ipswich fans we were taking to the game. We met up with Chris and Jack who came along for a drink. They weren’t coming to the game as it was Seb’s birthday bash later in the day which they had to attend if their lives were not to be forfeit! We arrived at St Andrew’s in time for a pre-match drink and moved up to our seats. Ipswich playing in a luminous bright orange strip got the match underway and I waited with trepidation for them to score. The great late Jimmy Greaves always used to say to Ian St John the ex-Liverpool striker “It’s a funny old game Saintsy!” and indeed it is as it never ceases to amaze those that watch it in dishing up things you don’t expect. Blues started brightly on the front foot and Ipswich had barely had a kick before they found themselves behind after only 13 minutes to a well worked move which saw Bacuna storm down the left side and deliver a clever ball to the edge of the six yard box. Ipswich keeper Hladky converged on it but Jay Stansfield got a toe to it first and was then able to swivel and smash the ball low into the net with the stranded keeper and his defenders helpless. A delighted home faithful kept to their feet in joy at this unexpected turn of events as Blues continued to dominate.
Ipswich did have a couple of moments with a sweet volley from Nathan Broadhead that sailed over the bar and a smart attempted lob by Conor Chaplin that John Ruddy in goal for Blues had to be alert to to touch just over for a corner. Apart from these two incidents however they were largely second best in a half dominated by the home side. The only thing that was missing was a second goal which would have put a fairer reflection on proceedings but Blues had to settle for just the one. However it was not long after the break that a second goal did arrive. Once again a foray down the left by Oliver Burke who fed Juninho Bacuna on the overlap which then ended in a cross which was diverted past the hapless Ipswich keeper by his own defender, Cameron Burgess after 51 minutes.
Ipswich did not give up however and began to show just why they are riding high in the Championship. They were threatening far more as the half progressed and Blues started to tire from the relentless pressing that had kept their opponents pinned back. Oliver Burke had a couple of opportunities with only Hladky to beat to put the game to bed but good saves on both occasions thwarted the striker. A flurry of substitutions from both sides changed the dynamic of the game and a nervy finish was guaranteed when with only 12 minutes left, substitute, Marcus Harness slotted home following a scrappy period of ping-pong in Blues box.
The clock ticked down to 88 minutes when the equaliser came. A right wing foray from I think Omari Hutchinson was drilled across the box and after a shot that was saved by Ruddy, the rebound fell to Harness again for a second for him and for Ipswich. I thought the wide man was comfortably offside and having watched the footage since I maintain my view. Whilst I was regaling the Assistant on that side, it can be difficult to give the decision when the player is immediately in front of you rather than at a distance across the pitch when it is easier to judge. Nevertheless, from my recollection, the wide player was offside by such a clear margin the game should have been halted at that point. As it was a point was all Blues got for what was an otherwise excellent performance against a very good team.
Given how negative many of us were feeling before the game there is no doubt that we would have taken a draw if that had been offered before this game. As it panned out, the result was disappointing but as Wayne Rooney said in his interview after the game, a lot of positives can be taken from this game. Blues did tire towards the end and I know that fitness and stamina is something he and his coaching staff are working on to sustain the effort for the full 90 minutes. Whilst not wishing to get carried away, this was easily the best performance from Blues in the four games that Rooney has been in charge and if, as he maintains that we are going to improve and get better, then brighter times lie ahead.
The Good: Will arrived on time to pick me up!
The Bad: The offside decision that never came. Regardless, the giving up of a two goals advantage has to be bad especially as Will and I had a bet on 2-1 with Jay Stansfield to score at 55/1 !!!!!!!
The Ugly: A very nasty tackle by Hutchinson on Miyoshi in the first two minutes that didn’t even get a yellow card presumably because it was so early in the game. I’ve never understood that thinking personally.
Birmingham City: John Ruddy 7, Ethan Laird 7 (Emmauel Longelo 78, 6) Emanuel Aiwu 7, Dion Sanderson 7, Cody Drameh 7, Ivan Sunic7, Jordan James 7 (Krystian Bielik 73, 6) Juninho Bacuna 8, Koji Miyoshi 6 (Lukas Jutkiewicz 84, N/A) Oliver Burke 8 (Siriki Dembele 84, N/A) Lukas Jutkiewicz Jay Stansfield 8 (Marc Roberts 84, N/A)
Subs not used: Neil Etheridge, Scott Hogan, Gary Gardner, Kevin Long.
Goals: Stansfield 13, Burgees o.g. 51.
Yellow cards: Aiwu 28, Drameh 49, Bielik 82.
Ipswich Town: Vaclav Hladky 7, Harry Clarke 6, Luke Woolfenden 7, Cameron Burgess 6, Leif Davis 7 (Dane Scarlett 72, 7) Sam Morsy 7, Massimo Luongo 6 (Marcus Harness 72, 8) Omari Hutchinson 7, Conor Chaplin 7 (Freddie Ladapo 72, 6) Nathan Broadhead 6 (Jack Taylor 74, 6) George Hirst 6 (Cameron Humphreys 87, N/A)
Subs not used: Christian Walton, Axel Tuanzebe, Dominic Ball, Kayden Jackson.
Goals: Harness 78, 88.
Yellow cards: Luongo 25.
Referee: Leigh Doughty; 6: On balance I thought Mr Doughty had a decent game. The only criticisms I would have was not sanctioning the tackle on Miyoshi early on. That was a booking all afternoon at the very least. It was amber in colour were there an intermediate card available. To give nothing and then book Aiwu for a minor infraction later was inconsistent in my view. I felt his Assistant let him down with the offside call at the end. That decision cost Blues two points and Will and I money!
Attendance: 20,940
Bazza KRO
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