Undoubtedly the better side on the day, the Tractor Boys very nervous trying to secure a play-off place, City turned in one the their best performances on the road in a productive away season..
The goal action was in the first half, Lee Bullock levelling a Kuqi opener but in a high quality entertaining game. City went home happy with their display, even though they fell below halfway by finishing 13th whilst Ipswich celebrated and went home happy too ahead of a play-off semi-final vs. West Ham, other results on the day meant they would have made the play-offs even if they had lost.
Due to a family party not finishing until the early hours, I decided not to jump on the coaches leaving at 6:30am - it would have given me 2 hours overnight sleep at best - the game being televised live on Sky tv being the clinching factor. Instead, I watched the match at the Wharf pub in Cardiff Bay.
As the coaches set off, I was snoring for Wales, as they got to Suffolk, I was washing my car (wuss!), as City kicked off, I was gigging into the thickest chips ever, a fantastic pint of Dark, watching the game inside the pub and with half an eye on Dragon boat racing on the water outside the pub too. Surreal but how the pub howled with laughter as the first close up shot of Lennie in front of the dugout seconds before kick-off was perfecting timing, someone kicking a practice ball off the pitch smacked him full in the side of the face. Fantastic entertainment.
The boys who travelled up found Ipswich an extremely hospitable place and with the game kicking-off at Sunday 1pm, so quick (relatively) to get to. Ninian Park to Portman Road is 245 miles each way but cars made it in little over 3 hours, coaches arrived long before 11 and found obliging pubs opening early and only too keen to serve them. Around 1,500 went in a crowd of 28,703. Sky tv captured City fans making all the noise and singing, but shame on them, never showed a single shot of the City support all afternoon even though they showed nervous home fans every 30 seconds and the Bluebird support was directly opposite the cameras on the side of the pitch instead of behind a goal as is often the way.
City made one enforced change and one optional change with Andy Campbell sustaining a knock in training which brought Alan Lee back into the side. Paul Parry meanwhile made a miracle recovery as last weekend‘s suspected broken leg turned out to be severe bruising and a dead leg but having missed some training, Lennie opted to restore Richard Langley. Lee’s showing cost City £50,000 as it triggered a bonus transfer payment to Rotherham for his 23rd City appearance. However this was payable whenever Lee reached that landmark, it wasn’t for games in a season - as those controversial appearance bonuses were - so would only have delayed the inevitable even if he wasn’t used.
The side were Margetson, Croft-Collins-Gabbidon-Vidmar, Robinson-Boland-Bullock-Parry, Earnie-Campbell. The bench were Alexander-Barker-Fleetwood-Gordon-Parry.
Ipswich will have been delighted with their play-off place - considering they opened the season disastrously with only 2 points in their first 6 matches - but perhaps disappointed too as having got into play-off and promotion contention by Christmas, they never broke through to challenge the leaders and had to struggle for their play-off spot instead. They have been inconsistent for a little while by going on a winning run, then a losing run, then an unbeaten run, then a not do good run and came into this match with just 2 points from their past three games.
Their big problem is they score plenty but just can’t stop conceding either. They scored their 84th league goal today, easily the Division’s highest scorers, but conceded their 72nd goal of the campaign - only Burnley and Wimbledon let in more. Their aggregate of 156 goals from 46 games is incredible, that’s 30 more than City fans have seen. Home form will have encouraged Bluebirds too, Ipswich had won 12 but lost 8 before today and we had a core to settle after Ipswich put on the best visiting performance in winning 3-2 at Ninian Park last Autumn, a scoreline that very much flattered City.
With live tv cameras, a nervous home support and team and nothing to lose for City, they went about their job with flair and gusto from the opening exchanges. The first five minutes saw two corners, an Earnie deflected shot go narrowly wide and Alan Lee head over when he jumped too early to meet a Langley cross and got underneath the ball. Not long afterwards, Langley found Earnie with a good cross and he was cut out too. A feature of the opening stages was how Croft and Vidmar got up and down the pitch comfortably, in a style that Barker and Weston cannot match, and City also always seemed to get three or four players into the area to meet crosses, an aspect that has not been typical over the season.
Alan Lee missed the best chance of the game when Danny Gabbidon, another player storming up and down the pitch whenever possible, sent over a great ball which evaded the final Ipswich defender giving Lee a free header from 12 yards. His low cushioned attempt back across goal had Davis beaten but missed the far post by a foot or two also. An opening for him to shoot, also made by Gabbidon, saw him send an ugly shot over the bar as he lost composure. Lee, for all his many qualities, just doesn’t seem to be the best header or finisher, particularly in the area, Thorney would have scored one and possibly both of those chances by comparison.
The home side looked okay on the ball but were making no impression on City, they won corners to raise hope but City handled them well. Margetson had an easy free-kick to save and had to catch our punch a couple of crosses but didn’t have a shot in anger to face until Ipswich took the lead on 25 minutes, arguably against the run of play which, true to form, asked questions about City‘s defending.
Richard Langley is a wonderful talent but has to learn to show urgency and do the simple thing when defending. Receiving the ball wide right and 30 yards out, two Ipswich players were in front of him. Instead of passing or clearing, Langers tried to show trickery to get around them, no, no, no!
He was dispossessed by one far too easily leaving the other, SHELFI KUQI, coming away with the ball. Taking a few strides advancing, he released an early, instant,, low shot which caught City out totally. Defenders stood off him and Margetson, was taken by surprise too, appearing too slow to dive as the ball travelled low past him and nestled inside his far post.
The Tractor Boys were relieved and, finally, heard singing. Kuqi celebrated with jumping high into the air and landing on his stomach in a way that would have winded myself and hundreds of other beer bellied City fans - ouch!
It lifted Ipswich who almost doubled their lead within a couple of minutes as a cutting move found space for Darren Bent whose low drive was goalbound but Margetson atoned by brilliantly getting down to push it away, a great stop.
A minute later and City missed another guilt-edged chance, there best yet. More strong link-up play on the right saw Langley send over a cross that Lee flicked on and then landed at the feet of Lee Bullock. He took a moment too long to shoot and that was fatal and it gave Davis the time to get down to smother his effort, a first-time dig would have equalised.
The game was starting to swing end to end, City winning corners, Lee firing wide, Ipswich breaking and Margetson saving a Bent free-kick but on 40 minutes, City equalised, absolutely no more than they deserved for a fantastic first half effort.
The move, for once, came down the left side as John Robinson switched play and found Tony Vidmar galloping ahead down the wing. As Vids received it, he cut back sending one completely wrong footed defending flying onto his derriere (a French word for arse!) and with space made, he swung a right foot cross to the centre of goal where LEE BULLOCK got in front of two defenders including Matt Elliott who is huge. He flicked a downward goalbound header but enjoyed some luck as it caught the knee of Darren Bent and flew into the top corner with Davis stranded. He may possibly have scored anyway but we’ll never know.
Bullock seems to be a tidy midfielder, he never stands out, doesn’t appear to produce anything creative but never seems to waste a ball either but he has a great engine and always seems to make a presence himself in and around the penalty area, it was his third goal in 10 City loan appearances. City have toy make a decision next week whether to buy him, he must have influenced Lennie. Never has a decision meant more to a player, buy him and he‘s a Division One player but if we don‘t, he‘s facing the Conference with York City. A bizarre situation for him.
The closing minutes of the half passed quietly although Bullock was booked for taking out Tommy Miller on the touchline. Aggression from him too, lovely aye.
Half-time: IPSWICH 1 CITY 1
The second period was quieter, more even but, for Ipswich, more tense than ever. Until the final two minutes of the game, had City grabbed a winner or Crystal Palace equalised at Coventry, they would have missed out on the play-offs altogether. In the event, neither did whilst Wigan were distraught to allow West Ham a last minute equaliser instead ensuring Ipswich and Place made those play-offs but it cost Wigan their place. Coventry hanging on to win against Place also meant they climbed above us and saw City finish in the bottom half of the table in 13th.
Ipswich nearly forged ahead in the opening seconds. City’s defence stood off allowing Westlake to advance from kick-off, Croft conceded an edge of area free-kick, Magilton’s low curled effort saw Margetson parry with his arm, the rebound ran kindly for him and City and was scrambled away.
Minutes later, Kuqi took a ball as a lifted ball just cleared Gabbidon and sent him closing in on goal. As the Finnish international looked set to score, Tony Vidmar brilliantly dispossessed him a faction before he shot.
Ipswich applied some pressure but got no change out of James Collins and Gabbidon who were both magnificent. They won every header, every challenge and when a body needed to get in the way of the ball, Ginge seemed to be there time after time. The second half display was easily their best together. It seemed to inspire the rest of the team as City won most 50/50 balls all over the park, it was heartening to see.
Ipswich’s frustration and desire to win were obvious as before the hour, Joe Royle took the brave decision to replace skipper Magilton and goalscorer Kuqi for Naylor and Martijn Reuser respectively. Both subbed players didn’t take it well, Magilton throwing off his captain armband whilst Kuqi stormed off to the changing room booting a corner flag on the way. Other than Kuqi’s goal though, neither player had made a telling contribution in the game.
Desperation came into the home side’s play as Wright, Bent and Naylor all shot from distance, all wide or high into fans behind the goal. City were passing it about well earning cheers from our support when we had the ball and boos when Ipswich had it.
City chances eventually came too, Earnie forcing Davis to save but the best moment came when Alan Lee turned on the left and hit a first time cross come shot that Davis left as its flight and dip deceived him, the ball bouncing off his far post.
Paul Parry replaced John Robinson for the last 15 minutes and Chris Barker played 3 minutes injury time for Danny Gabbidon. City almost won it at the death too when City moved the ball well down the right, Langley cut infield and skipped two challenges before letting fly from 25 yards which Davis saved, the shot within his reach.
Final whistle blew, City were happy having rounded off their season in some style, moments later Ipswich’s play off place confirmed and they were happy too. Everybody’s Happy Nowadays!
Over 46 games, there’s been plenty of ups and downs but it has to be reflected that it’s been a cracking first season back at this level in 19 years for the Bluebirds. Missing the play-offs, Top 10 and top half is disappointing but 65 points and comfortable consolidation was far beyond our expectations last August.
There is no rest at this club. The hard work for Lennie and Sam starts now as they look set to release, and possibly transfer, a few of the lesser players in readiness for bringing in the extra talents and qualities City need to push on and perhaps emulate Ipswich for next season. New defenders, an extra centre-half, an inspirational midfielder and more wide quality seem to be the order of the day with more grit and aggression - nastiness! - maybe more if players are sold. The way all the players shook hands with Earnie at final whistle, he lead the applause and was last to leave had many fearing they know more than we do. Only time will tell.
Whatever happens, enjoy this summer and drink a toast to Sam, Lennie and our squad. When all is said and done, they acquitted themselves well, gave us memorable times and games and football we’ve been waiting for most of our lives to return to this club. These remains times to savour.
Report from FootyMad
Ipswich Town will face West Ham United in the first division play-offs after a nervy afternoon at Portman Road.
Shefki Kuqi's fine goal put Town ahead, but Lee Bullock's equaliser left the home side's hopes resting on other results.
A draw proved enough in the end though, and Town and the Hammers face an intriguing encounter bearing in mind both teams won 2-1 on the other's ground in the regular season.
Cardiff started brightly against a nervous home side, with Kelvin Davis having to dive to save a deflected Robert Earnshaw shot.
Alan Lee headed a Daniel Gabbidon cross over, and then Lee steered a header narrowly wide from a Gary Croft cross.
With their first real threat, Ipswich went ahead, the recalled Kuqi firing a low 25-yard drive into the corner.
That perked the hosts up and two minutes later Martyn Margetson had to dive to turn away a Darren Bent drive, while Ian Westlake's follow-up was blocked.
Davis made a great save to deny Bullock, but on 40 minutes Cardiff deservedly levelled, Bullock's header deflecting off Jermaine Wright beyond Davis.
Margetson made a great diving save to keep out a curling Jim Magilton free-kick, as the hosts looked to take control.
Tommy Miller sent a left-foot shot narrowly wide from a Matt Richards pass before Lee clipped the outside of the post after a quickly-taken free-kick.
Earnshaw and Bent both saw efforts saved, before Richard Langley's 25-yard drive was caught by Davis in the final moment of danger for the hosts.
Soon after the final whistle, a top-six place was confirmed, and now Ipswich will look to repeat their play-off victory of four years ago.
External reports
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East Anglia Daily Times
Telegraph
Western Mail
Guardian