IPSWICH TOWN 1 LEICESTER CITY 2
Report by Paul Weston
It was a grey, cold and rainy day as I drove to Ipswich (a local “away” match for me). Memories of that farcical 3-0 defeat in the snow came back. We had a score to settle against Ipswich! City fans came in good voice and easily out-sung the Ipswich crowd throughout the match.
Ipswich had been on a good home run and, as for City, you never quite know what to expect, especially when playing to teams lower in the division.
Pearson selected the same side as against Doncaster. It might seem churlish to say but in that match we were never as impressive as 4-0 sounds. We always seemed vulnerable through the middle and Bamba always had a mistake up his sleeve waiting to happen!
The first half was not great at the beginning with the ball in the air too often and City unable to construct passing moves for very long. Ipswich’s midfield, with Leadbitter and Bowyer prominent, were all too often breaking up play and were onto our defence too easily. Schmeichel had to come to the rescue on several occasions.
Yet without playing that well City managed to create at least three chances for Beckford when he had only the goalie to beat. He failed each time! To make matters worse his control and hold up play deserted him completely and his frustration was shared equally by the City supporters. Nugent looked lively throughout but did not have many clear chances on goal in the first half.
Events turned in the last 5 minutes of the half. Scotland, who is not the fastest or slimmest player in the Championship, all too easily managed to turn Bamba and shot through Morgan’s legs to put Ipswich 1-0 up. It was a poor goal to lose and voices were raised between City players as they sought to blame each other.
Just as it looked like City would go into the interval 1-0 down they were handed a life line. City won a fairly soft free kick centrally about 30 yards out. Marshall blasted it low through a poorly constructed wall and somehow Lee-Barrett managed to allow it to bounce off his arm into the net. 1-1 at half time which was just about fair based on chances. It was a great time to equalise.
The second half started with a big change in personnel and tactics. Pearson could see the problem in the first half and was not prepared to wait and see what would happen. All credit to him for bringing on King and Gallagher for Dyer and Drinkwater – both had had ineffectual games.
This turned the match and seemed to catch Ipswich unprepared. Wellens went back to sit in front of the defence with Andy King breaking forward. Gallagher immediately improved the passing and crosses. City came forward in waves. Nugent had a shot well saved.
Then, from a good team move, Gallagher sent in a great cross from the right which was well headed in by Nugent. 2-1 to City!
After this purple patch City seemed to funnel back with 20 minutes to go allowing Ipswich to have more of the play but we were better organised defensively and Schmeichel was rarely tested.
The match should have been wrapped up at 3-1 when Beckford, put clean through, tried an all too clever dink over the keeper which was saved when it should have been blasted into the net. What an infuriating player!
Howard was brought on for Marshall, who, despite his goal, had not had a great game. This was a strange move as neither Howard nor Beckford seemed able to keep possession of the ball which would have helped to play out time. Howard’s turning circle seems slower each time he comes on as sub!
However, despite shredding this match reporter’s nerves on occasions, City played out time relatively comfortably and ended up worthy winners as Ipswich ran out of ideas. Peltier and Morgan would be joint winners of my man of the match award.
Amazingly we are now 3 points behind sixth place and in with a shout of the play offs. I still think we have left it too late but I would be delighted to be proved wrong. With Danns back for the next match and King an option I think it might be time to rest Drinkwater and bolster our midfield and then… who knows? Millwall here we come!
City: Schmeichel, Peltier, Morgan, Bamba, Konchesky, Marshall (Howard 79), Wellens, Drinkwater (King 46), Dyer (Gallagher 46), Beckford, Nugent. Unused subs: St. Ledger, Schlupp.
Goals: Marshall 45+2, Nugent 58 Booked: King
Ipswich Town: Lee-Barrett, Edwards, Smith, Delaney, Cresswell, Carson (Emmanuel-Thomas 58), Martin, Bowyer, Murphy (Chopra 73), Scotland, Stevenson (Martin 66). Unused subs: Wright, Sonko.
Goals: Scotland 43
Attendance: 18,282 (839 away) Referee: Tony Bates (Staffordshire)
The views expressed in this report are the opinions of the Trust member nominated to file the report only and do not represent the views of the Foxes Trust organisation