It was a chilly start to the day with the glistening of the cold dew on the grass as I looked outside first thing. A hot steaming cup of coffee before the prospect of going off to meet Will and little Will at Godalming Town FC where little Will was playing for their U13 side against Curley Park. I would normally have caught the train to Farncome via Guildford from my local station, Blackwater but once again there was a replacement bus service from Blackwater to Guildford taking nearly an hour for a normally twenty minutes journey so I decided to drive to Guildford, park up at the rugby club and walk down to the little stadium. Little Will’s team were up against it, playing a team that had thrashed them 13-1 last June. Nine months on although Godalming still lost they gave a very good account of themselves with the visitors running out 4-0 winners. Curley Park were man for man bigger, stronger and technically the better side but there were a lot of positives to take for Will’s team.
A bacon bap in a hot roll helped to stave off the cold and with Will subbed late in the second half we were soon on our way. The journey was made somewhat difficult by a planned weekend closure of the A3 at Wisley meaning we had to take the scenic route via Dorking and Reigate to get on the M25 through the Dartford Tunnel and onto the A12 down to Witham where we picked up the train for two stops to Ipswich. We made the train by the skin of our teeth and fortunately we were able to get our tickets on line which was just as well since the guard appeared just after we got on to check.
Will was meeting up with a work colleague, Gavin who came to the corresponding fixture earlier in the season at St Andrew’s. Out of courtesy he and little Will were going to join him in the home section. I decided to grab a pint in the pub, The Station Hotel by the river and the Blues faithful were in good voice. The weather had brightened up with areas of blue sky with little or no breeze. It was still cool but not perishingly cold. We arrived just after two leaving plenty of time to soak up the atmosphere. Portman Road was packed and the capacity crowd stood in unison at the start to salute Tony Mowbray who is out of action due to illness. Get well soon gaffer!
Both sides got off to a fast start which made for an entertaining open game. Tyler Roberts appeared to have been felled in the box but Gavin Ward waved the appeals away. There was a loud shout for handball just after but this too was ignored by the officials. Ipswich were playing neat incisive football through the thirds and frankly were more precise and accurate with their passing and it wasn’t long until they carved out a chance down the right where a superb low ball across the box looked a tap in for Kieffer Moore only for Marc Roberts to slide in in the nick of time to divert the ball to safety.
From a corner Conor Chaplin was afforded a free header in the six yard box which was straight at Ruddy. He really should have scored. Blues were riding their luck but eventually fell off that proverbial horse when the opener came for the hosts on twenty minutes. Following neat probing around the edge of our box a shooting opportunity was taken up from the edge of the D by Sam Morsy. He failed to catch it cleanly but Conor Chaplin happened to be in line of the shot which was fortuitously diverted past the wrong-footed Ruddy. Chaplin looked clearly offside but reviewing the footage on the screen it looked as if Drameh, standing in the right full back position, was playing him onside but nevertheless, it was tight.
Blues did respond positively and worked Hladky in the Ipwsich goal with attempts from Tyler Roberts and Andre Dozell but there was no doubt that the Tractor Boys were the better side in the first half and were worthy of at least their 1-0 lead. In truth, it could and should have been more. I was thinking that getting into half time with the damage no worse than 1-0 was a good outcome when Miyoshi seized on the ball in midfield in the inside right channel, burrowed into the box and cut the ball back for the inrushing Jordan James who swept the ball powerfully into the net giving the Czech keeper, Hladky no chance. This unexpected bonus sent the nearly 2,000 Blues fans wild and the roar from our section was tangible. We went to the break all square at 1-1.
Whereas Ipswich were the better side in the first period it was Blues, buoyed by their equaliser, that started the better in the second. We were looking threatening and a lovely ball to Stansfield at the far post looked to create a break in the deadlock. Sadly he sliced his volley and although a difficult technique it was one I would have expected Jay to connect with. Hladky was called upon to make two smart saves from substitute Bacuna, on for Paik, and Stansfield. Both efforts required the expense of corners. Blues were in control, the better side and looking the more likely to break the deadlock but wouldn’t you know it? Blues contrived to hand the advantage back to the hosts who had been under the cosh.
On 81 minutes Blues rearguard switched off and with Dembele ball watching Tuanzebe was allowed to sneak into the box far too easily. Failure to track him left him free to pick an easy pass to substitute, Sarmiento who made no mistake from close range. The game was up and the hosts added a flattering third in time added on when the dangerous Omari Hutchinson who had been given far too much space on the right flank all afternoon found himself free through on goal running into a Sanderson shaped hole in our back line. It was a simple throw in, in Ipswich’s half, flicked on into the path of the wide man with Sunjic in his wake but never catching him he had the easiest of finishes. The defender had been subbed for Lukas Jutkiewicz along with Gary Gardner for Drameh right at the death (baffling) Jukey didn’t touch the ball save for one headed flick on.
In conclusion, Ipswich are a good side and deserve to be where they are in the league. Over the whole piece they were the better side but Blues had chances and were in control in the second half up until they conceded the second one. Switching off, cost us a least a point.
The Good: This was a good game to watch. Ipswich were very good, make no mistake but I don’t think they were two clear goals better than us. Blues goal was an excellent team effort.
The Bad: Poor defending at the end when we were in control of the game. All of Ipswich’s goals were too easily contrived. We have to fix our defensive solidity in the summer. The substitutions at the end. Couldn’t see much point taking off Sanderson for Jukey and bringing on Gardner at right back? Why?
The Ugly: The results of the teams around us in the table. A very bad weekend for us in that respect. It’s getting tight at the bottom.
Ipswich Town: Vaclav Hladky 7, Axel Tuanzebe 8, Luke Woolfenden 8, Cameron Burgess 8, Leif Davis 8, Sam Morsey 7, Massimo Luongo 7, Wes Burns 6 (Omari Hutchinson 20, 9) Conor Chaplin 7 (Marcus Harness 90, N/A) Nathan Broadhead 7 (Jeremy Sarmiento 62, 7) Kieffer Moore 6.
Subs not used: Christian Walton, Jack Clarke, Cameron Humphreys, Lewis Travis, Kayden Jackson, Ali Al-Hamadi.
Goals: Chaplin 31, Sarmiento 81, Hutchinson 90 + 2.
Yellow cards: Burgess 43, Luongo 50, Morsy 54.
Birmingham City: John Ruddy 6, Ethan Laird 6, Cody Drameh 6 (Gary Gardner 86, N/A) Marc Roberts 7, Dion Sanderson 6 (Lukas Jutkiewicz 90, N/A) Jordan James 7, Andre Dozzell 6 (Ivan Sunjic 64,6) Kojo Miyoshi 6 (Siriki Dembele 64, 5) Paik Seung-Ho 8 (Juninho Bacuna 64, 6) Jay Stansfield 6, Tyler Roberts 6 (Siriki Dembele 63, 5)
Subs not used: Neil Etheridge, Lee Buchanan, Gary Gardner, Emanuel Aiwu, Keshi Anderson, Scott Hogan.
Goals: James 45 + 1.
Yellow cards: Sunjic (of course!) 75.
Referee: Gavin Ward: 7; Like most fans I suspect, I didn’t necessarily agree with every single decision made by Mr Ward and his assistants but overall the officiating unit had a reasonable game, refereed the match fairly and kept the game flowing with the result it was a decent watch.
Attendance: 29,363 (1,996 Bluenoses)
Bazza KRO
Enjoyable read yet again. Such a pity that our back four defenders always let us down which is down to the quality. Basically they struggle against Championship forwards and the need for a couple of strong mobile colossus is so evident. Seeing out games is not what we can do especially when it comes down to the last ten minutes. My advice to Tom Wagner is to get someone in asap to cover for Tony Mowbray as the need to avoid that trapdoor to league one is so crucial with the summer transfers planned.