Please log in or register. Registered visitors get fewer ads.
Town 2-0 West Brom
Town 2-0 West Brom
Tuesday, 1st Jan 2008 18:46

Goals from David Wright and Jason De Vos gave the Blues a superb victory over league leaders West Brom at Portman Road. Town gradually took control of a close game and in the end fully deserved their 11th home win of the season.

Town boss Jim Magilton made several changes to the side which lost at Coventry on Saturday. Jason De Vos was fine to start at centre-half, but the Blues' other injury worry Alan Lee dropped to the bench.

Jon Walters moved up front alongside Pablo Couñago with Liam Trotter coming into the side on the left and Gavin Williams replacing the suspended Tommy Miller in the centre of the midfield.

At the back, Chris Casement was left out with Sito coming in at right-back after his spell out with concussion. David Wright continued on the left, while Alex Bruce returned from his groin injury at centre-half with Fabian Wilnis moving to the bench.

Jason De Vos and Ishmael Miller clashed heads early on in an opening phase of the game dominated by the visitors, who looked full of confidence as befitting a top of the table side. The Blues looked less certain after their back-to-back away defeats.

Despite keeping hold of the ball impressively and taking the game to Town, Albion created little until Zoltan Gera crossed for Kevin Phillips in the 11th minute, the former England man stabbing the ball at Neil Alexander from six yards and the Blues keeper tipping over.

Town should have gone ahead in the 13th minute when some typical Pablo Couñago inventiveness sent Jon Walters away on goal. The former Chester man held off defenders but lashed his shot well over Dean Kiely's crossbar when he should have done better.

There were claims for a penalty a few minutes later when Walters went to ground under pressure from Paul Robinson, but the appeals came from off the field and it appeared to be a shoulder-to-shoulder challenge.

Town were increasingly imposing themselves on the game having weathered the visitors' domination of the early part of the game.

Ishmael Miller shot well wide from the edge of the Blues area in the 20th minute, prior to a Walters and Couñago interchange leading to the Irish B international's shot striking a defender. The loose ball ran out to Liam Trotter on the left, the youngster appearing to be blocked as he went for the ball, but referee Trevor Kettle ruled against the home side.

Danny Haynes shot over from the edge of the box, prior to Miller missing a big chance for the Baggies. Robert Koren chased a ball over the top on the right and sent in a cross which the loanee from Manchester City deflected over the bar from eight yards when it seemed easier to score.

But Town continued to have the better of the match and in the 24th minute more clever footwork from Couñago led to Williams dummying in low ball played into the box and Haynes hitting a decent shot which was too close to Kiely to trouble the former Ireland keeper.

Gavin Williams became the first player to enter referee Kettle's notebook on the half hour for a succession of early fouls.


Town fans thought their side had gone ahead in the 32nd minute when Couñago brought the ball in from the left before hitting a powerful strike which had beaten Kiely but which came off the post to safety.

Gera saw his shot deflect wide of the Town goal, then De Vos nodded a Williams corner back into the mix, but Trotter failed to control the loose ball which was then cleared.

On 36 Kevin Phillips, who almost joined the Blues a decade ago prior to his switch from Watford to Sunderland, had the ball in the net but the flag had already been raised as he was well offside.

Phillips was again close to scoring his almost obligatory goal against Town a minute later when his 25-yard half-volley bounced off the top of Neil Alexander's crossbar and into the North Stand.

Gavin Williams flick-headed Sito's right wing cross wide with six minutes of the half remaining, before Walters was prevented from getting in a shot at goal by a defender's toe after good work from Owen Garvan.

Just before the break, the Welshman struck a shot which only narrowly flew wide of Kiely's goal.

It had been a balanced half with Albion on top in the early stages, but Town gaining the upper hand before the break. Both sides had missed one excellent opportunity each and both had hit the woodwork on once occasion. An even scoreline at half-time was a fair reflection of the game.

The first chance of the second chance fell to the Baggies, Phillips getting on to a cross from the left but losing control and allowing the ball to run out of player, the referee bizarrely awarding a corner.

Town might have had a penalty in the 47th minute when Couñago appeared to be tripped by Bostjan Cesar as he cut into the area from the left. Referee Kettle once again ruled against the Blues.

Phillips shot over from the edge of the Town box, then Couñago ran with the ball for some distance before passing to Haynes on the right. The youngster slammed a low ball into the six-yard box, but Cesar was across to divert it behind for a corner.

On 56 Zoltan Gera was in ahead of Couñago from a Walters knockdown. Soon after the Spaniard was yellow-carded for his protests after a foul was awarded against him inside the West Brom box. Earlier, Couñago and Walters had both complained to Kettle about Cesar and Pedro Pele's flailing arms and the ex-Spain U21 international in particular had become frustrated at the referee's lack of action.

Phillips hit a shot on the turn which Alexander saved, prior to the keeper starting a quick Town break by throwing the ball out to Danny Haynes on the right. The FA Youth Cup-winner took the ball forward before crossing to Owen Garvan at the far post, but no one else was in the box to get on the end of the Irishman's knockdown.

Walters shot wide, then headed a Williams freekick into the path of Trotter, but the young midfielder's shot was straight at Kiely. Town were still the dominant side in what was certainly Portman Road's closest game of the season.

On 74 the Blues finally scored the game's opening goal. David Wright started the move, playing the ball to Jon Walters, who found Trotter on the left. The midfielder whipped in a cross to the near post, from where Wright flicked a header across Kiely and into the net. It was a stunning goal and one which was deserved on the balance of play.

In the 75th minute, West Brom sub Roman Bednar had the ball in the Town net, but again a linesman's flag had been raised.

Three minutes later, a brilliant run down the right from the excellent Sito saw the Spaniard lay the ball back from the byline to Couñago, but his shot was straight at Kiely. The rebound quickly flew to Sito, but he was unable to control the ball and it rolled into Kiely's hands.

Alan Lee replaced Liam Trotter, who had done well in an unfamiliar wide role, for the final eight minutes with Jon Walters moving into the midfield.

With six minutes left on the clock, the Blues sealed the victory. Couñago had been fouled by Gera 25 yards from goal slightly to the Town left. Williams floated the ball to the far post and Jason De Vos nodded the ball past Kiely.

The victory was never in doubt in the closing stages. Cesar was booked for a high challenge on Couñago, who was replaced by Billy Clarke for the final three minutes.

The Irish youngster wasn't far from scoring his first goal of the season on 89 when he took slightly too long to shoot after good work from Lee and Garvan. Clarke's strike deflected into the air and Kiely claimed the ball ahead of Haynes.

That effort was the game's last goalmouth action and soon after referee Kettle whistled his last.

Town, booed off at Coventry and Leicester, were for once applauded by their fans after a fine win against the division's top side. After an opening quarter of an hour dominated by the visitors, the Blues were largely on top and in the second half Jim Magilton's men looked much more likely to claim a victory than Tony Mowbray's side.

Defenders David Wright and Jason De Vos tucked away their goals confidently, the first coming from an excellent move and the second from a well-taken set piece.

Couñago was once again superb up front, while fellow Spaniard Sito was another candidate for the man of the match award. Gavin Williams put in a better display than in recent weeks, although still had a frustating tendency to give the ball away cheaply on occasion.

All in all, a confidence-boosting performance and result after the depressing away displays at Leicester and Coventry, with the home unbeaten run now up to 17 games.

As 2008 begins, 2007's big question remains unanswered: how can a side which is so good at home, be so bad away?

Town: Alexander, Sito, Wright, De Vos, Bruce, Garvan, Williams, Haynes, Trotter (Lee 82), Couñago (Clarke 88), Walters. Unused: Supple, Wilnis, Legwinski. Att: 24,000.


Photo: Action Images



Please report offensive, libellous or inappropriate posts by using the links provided.


You need to login in order to post your comments

Ipswich Town Polls

About Us Contact Us Terms & Conditions Privacy Cookies Advertising
© TWTD 1995-2024