Daryl Murphy and Aaron Cresswell netted second-half goals as the Blues came behind to beat Yeovil 2-1 at Portman Road. Winger Joel Grant, a player who held talks with Town in the summer, put the visitors ahead with a stunning strike from the edge of the box two minutes before the break, but Murphy scraped home from close range on 53 and Cresswell added the second seven minutes later.

Murphy was back in the Town starting line-up in place of Frank Nouble up front, while skipper Carlos Edwards returned to the side for Paul Anderson, who missed out with a minor groin injury.

Murphy struck the game’s first shot in the opening minute from the edge of the box, but failed to significantly test Wayne Hennessey in the Yeovil goal.

The Irishman hit another shot wide from the right soon afterwards as the Blues started brightly. On six, Ryan Tunnicliffe scuffed a low shot through to Hennessey from the edge of the Glovers’ box.

Aside from a couple of Joel Grant breaks and Christophe Berra dispossessing Andy Williams inside the Town area, the early stages had been all Town. In the 16th minute a long spell of Blues passing ended with David McGoldrick hitting a powerful shot which Hennessey blocked.

Grant saw an 18th minute effort deflect wide for the Glovers, but the game was largely being played in the visitors’ half with the Blues set the challenge of breaking down the Yeovil defences. On 22 Murphy just failed to get his head to a corner coming in from the left.

The Blues continued to push and in the 26th minute McGoldrick tricked his way to the byline on the left but his cross was cleared to Tunnicliffe, whose shot was blocked.

Three minutes later, McGoldrick cut in from the right and hit a low shot across the face of Hennessey’s goal.

Town went close again in the 34th minute when Aaron Cresswell sent Tunnicliffe away down the left and the on-loan Manchester United man cut the ball inside to Murphy. The Irishman took a touch when he should have shot first time, allowing a defender to get across to block his effort on goal.

Soon after, Cresswell struck a couple of efforts, Luke Ayling painfully blocking the first and Hennessey grabbing the second, then at the other end Williams shot at Gerken. Moments later, the Town keeper had to react sharply to clear Luke Chambers’s backpass ahead of the Yeovil striker.

The half had been almost all Town, but as so often happens it was Yeovil who would go in front in the 43rd minute.

The Blues failed to clear from the edge of the box and Grant — a player who might have been wearing a Town shirt had circumstances been different — twisted his way around Cole Skuse, found himself space and smashed a left-foot shot into the top corner of Gerken’s net.

In injury time, Tunnicliffe crossed from the left but Chambers’s knock-down was too far in front of his team-mates.

The half-time scoreline of 1-1 was hardly a fair reflection of a first 45 minutes which the Blues had dominated for the most part, however, without making the most of their possession or opportunities.

But Yeovil had defended stoutly and Grant’s brilliant strike was one which few keepers would have stopped.

Williams hit the second half’s first shot into the sidenetting in the 48th minute, then at the other end Hyam’s 25-yard strike was deflected wide after he had been teed up by Tunnicliffe.

Town got back on terms in the 53rd minute when McGoldrick brought the ball across from the left and played the ball to Edwards, who fed Chambers breaking on the right.

The right-back sent in a deep cross which Skuse headed back across goal towards the far post and Murphy. The Irishman scuffed his initial effort against the post but beat Hennessey with the rebound for his first goal of the season.

McGoldrick wasn’t far from making it 2-1 within a minute when he broke into the area on the right, cut past his defender and hit a shot which fizzed over the bar. It looked like it had taken a deflection but referee Darren Deadman gave a goalkick. On 56 Tunnicliffe shot not far over from 25 yards.

Town went in front on the hour when McGoldrick played the ball to Cresswell to his left just inside the area. The full-back’s left-foot cross was blocked by summer Town trialist Dan Seaborne but the loose ball ran to Cresswell, who curled a right-foot shot past Hennessey for his first goal of the campaign.

On 68 Murphy saw a shot deflect behind, then from the corner Tommy Smith stooped and headed wide.

Town continued to look the more dangerous side and on 76 Hyam hit a low effort which Hennessey blocked and then claimed ahead of the on-rushing Murphy. Two minutes later, Jay Tabb took over from Tunnicliffe on the left of midfield.

On 80, Murphy was just prevented from getting on the end of a Cresswell freekick from the left by a defender’s head, then from the corner Hennessey saved Berra’s header superbly to his left after Smith’s flick. The loose ball fell to McGoldrick but his shot was blocked.

In injury time Joe Ralls had the chance to grab what would have been an undeserved leveller after latching on to a low cross from the right but Gerken was equal to his scraped strike.

McGoldrick shot over for the Blues moments before referee Deadman blew the final whistle to signal a second Town home win in four days.

The Blues were well worth the three points having been the better side throughout if not at the top of their game. Grant’s excellent opener came against the run of play with Town not having made the most of their domination of the match up to then.

After the break, they kept up the pressure and the goals came from Murphy and Cresswell. There was little panic from there and — aside from Ralls’s late opportunity — Mick McCarthy’s men looked more likely to add to their lead than the Glovers were to get back on terms.

Two home wins in the space of a few days, both after going behind, see the Blues climb to a much more healthy-looking 11th in the Championship with 10 points after seven games.

Town: Gerken, Chambers, Berra, Smith, Cresswell, Edwards, Skuse, Hyam, Tunnicliffe (Tabb 78), Murphy, McGoldrick. Subs: Loach, Hewitt, Veseli, Wordsworth, Taylor, Nouble.

Yeovil: Hennessey, Ayling, McAllister, Fontaine, Seaborne, Edwards (Davis 71), Upson, Ralls, Grant (Hoskins 78), Hayter (Moore 62), Williams. Subs: Dunn, Dawson, Foley, Ofori-Twumasi. Referee: Darren Deadman (Cambridgeshire). Att: 15,340 (Yeovil: 155).

Photo: Action Images

chippyblue added 23:33 - Sep 17 Only 21 posts when I came on after a win " if we had lost it would be more like 50 . A win is a win doesn't matter how we get it this time last year we would have lost this game so mick is getting it right !! Looking strong at the back but midfield is a worry " and time to give Taylor ago I think !! Bring on Sunday COYB
0

Jimmy86 added 23:34 - Sep 17 Gotta say i think based on the overall balance of play we deserved to win and certainly yeovil did offer glimpses of quality when knocking the ball around. It was certainly written in the script that grant would score, but my word what a cracker!!! We improved in the 2nd half and deserved the 3 points. For all those wanting hyam to be dropped, myself inxluded i may add, i just cant see it happening because he is a mick kind of player, not that creative or techically gifted but very workman like. Skuse is similar, but a real classy player. Need creativity in midfield but this goes against micks mantra of being hard to beat and hard work and endeavour. Shame because wordsworth and taylor both not getting a look in. Anyway onwards and upwards coyb!!!

0

Jimmy86 added 23:34 - Sep 17 Gotta say i think based on the overall balance of play we deserved to win and certainly yeovil did offer glimpses of quality when knocking the ball around. It was certainly written in the script that grant would score, but my word what a cracker!!! We improved in the 2nd half and deserved the 3 points. For all those wanting hyam to be dropped, myself inxluded i may add, i just cant see it happening because he is a mick kind of player, not that creative or techically gifted but very workman like. Skuse is similar, but a real classy player. Need creativity in midfield but this goes against micks mantra of being hard to beat and hard work and endeavour. Shame because wordsworth and taylor both not getting a look in. Anyway onwards and upwards coyb!!!

0

Jimmy86 added 23:35 - Sep 17 Gotta say i think based on the overall balance of play we deserved to win and certainly yeovil did offer glimpses of quality when knocking the ball around. It was certainly written in the script that grant would score, but my word what a cracker!!! We improved in the 2nd half and deserved the 3 points. For all those wanting hyam to be dropped, myself inxluded i may add, i just cant see it happening because he is a mick kind of player, not that creative or techically gifted but very workman like. Skuse is similar, but a real classy player. Need creativity in midfield but this goes against micks mantra of being hard to beat and hard work and endeavour. Shame because wordsworth and taylor both not getting a look in. Anyway onwards and upwards coyb!!!

0

Jimmy86 added 23:36 - Sep 17 Gotta say i think based on the overall balance of play we deserved to win and certainly yeovil did offer glimpses of quality when knocking the ball around. It was certainly written in the script that grant would score, but my word what a cracker!!! We improved in the 2nd half and deserved the 3 points. For all those wanting hyam to be dropped, myself inxluded i may add, i just cant see it happening because he is a mick kind of player, not that creative or techically gifted but very workman like. Skuse is similar, but a real classy player. Need creativity in midfield but this goes against micks mantra of being hard to beat and hard work and endeavour. Shame because wordsworth and taylor both not getting a look in. Anyway onwards and upwards coyb!!!

0

ericclacton added 23:37 - Sep 17 Three points, strange game though.
0

PeekFreans added 23:40 - Sep 17 The half-time scoreline of 1-1 was hardly a fair reflection of.....reality?
0

RedDust added 23:42 - Sep 17 Congratulations ipswich well done!! A positive way of looking at tonight's performance is to say that the best team grind out a win when they are not playing well and that's what we've done! Perhaps playing against a more cultured side might make it easier on us because we get more time on the ball!
0

WashbrookBlue added 23:46 - Sep 17 Back to back wins make a huge difference don't they? In four days we have increased season points tally by 150%!! Positives first : Skuse (fantastic break up tackling) , Berra (immensely strong and assured) , Cresswell (high quality crossing and a wicked finish for the winner) . You have to give great credit to MM & TC for identifying and securing the first two on free transfers and maybe also a quiet word of praise for Jewell re spotting the last. Anderson's comments on this site give further insight into MM's philosophy...his instinctive preference is for shape, strength and energy when we haven't got the ball rather than for flair, creativity and risks when we have. This is why he is always going to lean towards players he knows will do exactly what he begs of them (Tabb, Edwards, Hyam) rather than those that offer more flair but cant be trusted to do the ugly stuff (Definitely JET and now clearly Taylor as well). As others have commented, his remarks about what he thinks of players sulking when they are on bench etc is a pretty thinly veiled swipe at Taylor...don't count on seeing him anytime soon. Is this for the best? Well, it will only take us so far for sure (current 11th is a realistic aspiration for rest of season) and our final ball weakness & dependency upon "Dids" will constantly hamper our progress BUT this is a team that is tough to beat and totally committed to their manager and each other which means we can hope to be more competitive and less anxious than we have for the last 5 years. I'll take that.

0

budgieplucker added 01:24 - Sep 18 Yeovil played well in spells and whilst spirited I think lack the real grit and determination to last the pace in this league. Having said that Grant looked as if he would have been a good addition to our squad, but the lad who most impressed me was Ed Upson. What a quality young player he has turned out to be, he pulled most of the strings for Yeovil as their main play maker, taking free kicks and corners and genuinely knocking the ball around with confidence. I dont think he would look out of place in our current midfield and if Yeovil go down I expect him to be snapped up. On the whole our performance was pedestrian to indifferent but we did enough to win the points only with odd sweaty moment. Berra looks a real asset - an Allan Hunter of a player. Good performances again from Cresswell, Smith, Tunniclife, Skuse. Luke Hyam also put in a good shift but the ignorant will not be watching the good off the ball work he does, he will blossom into an outstanding player in a season or two but dropping him for the odd 6 out of 10 performance will not help him to become the finish article. If thats what fans really think or want then we might as well kick the grade 1 academy into touch now as you have to give your promising young players a little slack to flourish and gain consistency. Luke did very well on Saturday against the seasoned and experienced Dean Whitehead and Leadboots - no mean feat at this level.

0

Keaneish added 07:35 - Sep 18 This isn't a Mick Mills witch hunt as he's a legend and a great ambassador for the club who in he main is a great pundit and talks a lot of sense but what was he on about last night!? He has a problem with our midfield and it's balance, which i can see in part and have also posted about but to say it's not improved on what we had last season is just wrong isn't it? Who would you rather? Martin, JET and Drury or Skuse, Tabb and Tunnicliffe and Anderson? Surely the fact that all the former are playing lower league football or sat on the bench says it all no? As for the Hyam debate, yes he's not the most creative but he's developing into a box-to-box midfielder, slowly but surely. Would you rather have Leadbitter or Drury in there with Skuse? It's a definite improvement. That partnership will get better and better as the season goes on for sure.

0

Elizabeth added 07:47 - Sep 18 I was at the game last night, and saw some real positives in the attitude of the players. They seem to play as a team and have a will to win.Not always pretty to watch but the desire is there.I was really impressed with Cole Skuse and the defence looks pretty solid.Would be great to go to Wigan on Sunday and get a result. Would love to see the ground full to capacity again.Hopefully that will come if we continue to climb the table.

0

Dissboyitfc added 07:58 - Sep 18 just been reading all the comments some good some sensible and some down right ridiculous, everyone has an opinion and that is what this site is all about. Just want to state my opinion now, the game last night was no spectacle by any means in fact quite a messy affair and not pretty at all, but the fact is recent town teams have had no spine and we would have lost this game in the recent past, we now have a backbone and are grinding out results, for those of you thought we would turn them over last night, they were never going to lie down and allow us an easy 3 points, this was a potential banana skin! I wonder why all the criticism of murphy? the game changed on sat because he came on and last night night he ran himself ragged.scored the equalizer ( i know, messy and scrappy, but he converted it) and gave 100%. Being a former defender myself i know he was the sort of player you would hate playing against, big strong and a total nuisance who cause defences a lot of problems,won more than his share in the air. Him and Dids are the main strike pair for me....Coyb

0

Lord_Mac added 08:51 - Sep 18 All that Mick Mills is saying is that we should have buried the game and seen it out, and in both the last two games we have invited the oppo back into the game and been hanging onto a lead at the end. Also, he says that when you lose it's not always doom and gloom and when you win it doesn't mean that everything is rosy. I think his comments have more insight that almost all football pundits - certainly the ones we've had on Radio Suffolk.

0

JustSpivvyChops added 09:28 - Sep 18 Still need a striker desperately!!! McGoldrick is the creative midfield player we've been looking for.......get a proper striker on board and play McGoldrick behind front men.
0

warktheline added 10:04 - Sep 18 Keaneish do you ever check other clubs websites?I do because I bet on a lot of football matches.I have to say our club sites are one of the most critical and negative forums around.
0

tractorboyz82 added 10:14 - Sep 18 I've been to every game other than qpr and I can see what mick mills is getting at you look across the midfield there all centre midfielders skuse hyam tunni tabb there is no width.not going to put Edwards in there he's shocking at the moment I think the lack of width is what's making hyam struggle everything is so central when he looks up the only ball on is backwards or up to a isolated murphy or mcgoldrick we have no one getting in behind their full backs tunnicliffe tries but it's not his natural position and on the right side because he's moved chambers to rb theirs no over lapping full bk which hinders that side.i think if we're not going to play wingers one of hyam or skuse should make way for a more forward thinking midfielder.

0

BrettenhamBlue added 10:22 - Sep 18 Really pleased with the 6 points. Feel we have good balance in our team and for the first time in 3 years I feel we won't be staring down the barrel of relegation. Still feel we are 3 players away from being a top 6 side. Stearman, Joel Grant and Nakhi Wells would push us into the play-offs. Skuse, Berra and Tunnicliffe have looked great so far. There is a little bit too much reliance on McColdrick, he isn't going to last the season if we keep playing him every game. Smith and Cresswell played well and I thought Hyam did ok. Just need a few reinforcements to cover injuries/suspensions and give more competition for a first team place. When Yeovil go down, we should seriously consider Grant.

0

kalypso added 10:33 - Sep 18 lots of endeavor, but no quality. mid table beckons
0

dirtydingusmagee added 10:51 - Sep 18 Well, 3 points greatfully accepted ,BUT .If we cant perform better than that against the likes of Yeovil [no disrespect to them ] we wont be achieving anything this season .We did not dominate or even control the game ,we were just fortunate to get the winner .Hopefully this was just one of those games and we will perform better against Wigan [A TOUGH ONE ].All credit to Yeovil, they stuck at and gave it their best,could have taken a point had it not been for Gerkin [ another good game ].Overall pleased to see us in Eleventh spot, but still concerened about future prospects on last nights performance . COYB

0

Bergholtblue added 11:09 - Sep 18 Whilst Hyam had a poor game by his standards, I thought Edwards was appalling and could not understand how he stayed on the pitch all game. I have always been a big fan of Edwards. His experience at playing at right back gives him a sense of defending duty when he is in midfield, but last night, the game just passed him by. I don't remember him contributing anything at all.

0

greenkingtone added 11:38 - Sep 18 The support last night and Saturday was loud and aggressive. The place was rocking. The players are responding to the manager and the crowd is supporting the players. I listen to Radio Suffolk during the match and Mick Mills has great insight into the technology of the game even if he is often wise after the event. Wigan will be harder than Yeovil and a point would be very acceptable. We are within a nat's cock of being a good side. (And that is a very small dimension.

0

PinstripeBlue added 11:49 - Sep 18 I much prefer the 'we didnt play well but got the 3 points' instead of the 'we didnt deserve to get beat'. greenking I believe the term is gnats knacker!
0

Help added 12:15 - Sep 18 overall although I would take the result I still think we are only 50% of the team we need. We also only seem to be able to play about 45 minutes of a game. we gave Yeovil to many opportunities to draw or even win that game. The big test is to compete against the better teams in the league and Wigan & Brighton will be interesting games to see where we stand.
0

MathieandMarshall added 12:42 - Sep 18 I found myself stood in the SBR lower last night getting very annoyed at all of the moaners around me yelling "forwards" every time a pass was played to the side or back to the defence. The same people jeering and getting on the back of Luke "one of our own" Hyam who was golden boy not so long ago! Reality check for those "fans" who gain their football knowledge playing Fifa. You don't always have to punt the ball forwards! its ok to have some patient build up play. There were some moments in the first half where we got forward quickly, got a cross in and there was only one blue shirt in the box. Pointless! much better hanging on to the ball until we have the bodies up there. With regards to Hyam, he is a young lad who has been asked to change his game and is still learning. His natural game is to break up play, he is a ball winner. He is now expected to be more attacking. Something that is clearly new to him. Those getting on his back need to lay off as you are achieving nothing other than to dent a young players confidence. Why is it at Ipswich we always need to pick someone to get on the back of. Leadbitter has gone, who can we moan at now?! Hyam passed the ball backwards! he'll do. Come on guys, support the team. They are improving all the time! Rant over. COYB!

0

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls