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Town 1-2 Leicester
Saturday, 23rd Nov 2013 17:03

David Nugent continued his remarkable goalscoring record against the Blues as Leicester came from behind to beat Town 2-1 at Portman Road. David McGoldrick put the home side in front in the second minute but Nugent — who has now scored 13 goals in 12 matches against Town and nine in seven at Portman Road — scored twice in six minutes as the Foxes improved after the break.

Mick McCarthy returned to his tried and tested 4-4-2 formation with Tommy Smith and Paul Anderson back in the side and Luke Hyam and Carlos Edwards dropping to the bench. Leicester switched to 4-3-3 from their expected 4-4-2, while Tyrone Mings was making his home debut for Town.

Blues keeper Dean Gerken needed treatment after being caught on the head early on and after he had recovered, Town went ahead via the game’s first shot.

McGoldrick found himself to shoot five yards outside the penalty area to the right and hit a low strike which beat Kasper Schmeichel to his left. While the Town striker celebrated his seventh goal of the season, the keeper will have been thinking he ought to have done much better.

Blues nemesis Nugent shot across the face of goal almost immediately, then McGoldrick seized on a poor Paul Konchesky backpass but Schmeichel was alive to it and blocked his shot. Soon after, Foxes right-back Liam Moore headed a Danny Drinkwater corner into Gerken’s arms.

It had been a lively first 15 minutes with Leicester increasingly having most of the ball but with Town looking more dangerous in the final third.

However, on 17 Lloyd Dyer sent a dangerous ball across from the Leicester left after a Jamie Vardy shot had deflected to him, but ahead of any of his team-mates. A minute later, Daryl Murphy sent over a deep ball from the Town left and Luke Chambers shot over.

Home debutant Mings had a chance in the 21st minute when he broke forward having won the ball from Moore in his own half. A Murphy cross deflected to the left-back but the ball got caught under his feet and ricocheted through to Schmeichel.

Gerken tipped over Andy King’s header from Drinkwater’s right-wing corner in the 41st minute before the Blues broke dangerously, Murphy having the ball stabbed away from him just as he looked to shoot, then Anderson having a low cross cut out having taken the ball into the area on the right.

On 43, Skuse played a freekick to McGoldrick on the edge of the Leicester box but the Blues’ top scorer’s shot looped into the Sir Alf Ramsey Stand.


Vardy will feel he should have done better moments before the end of scheduled time when he smashed Dyer’s left-wing cross well wide.

A minute later, referee Oliver Langford blew his whistle to end a battling first half display from the Blues.

After Town grabbed the early goal through McGoldrick, the visitors had most of the ball but with Gerken only rarely tested. When the Blues did get forward they had looked more dangerous and had created most of the game’s better chances.

Foxes boss Nigel Pearson switched King and Moore for Ignasi Miquel and Matty James as the second half got underway with Tunnicliffe forcing Schmeichel into a sharp save to his right.

Chambers picked up the game’s first yellow card for a somewhat cynical foul on a breaking Dyer in the 50th minute.

A minute later, Leicester got back on terms and inevitably Nugent was the goalscorer. Dyer crossed from the left, Vardy laid it back to the edge of the box and the former England man slammed the ball past Gerken.

On 56 Murphy headed a Chambers cross from the right to Schmeichel, then the visitors could have gone in front when Dyer found Vardy with a deep cross from the left, but keeper Gerken reacted quickly to come off his line to block.

A second Leicester goal was only a minute more in coming, however, and again Nugent was the scorer. Drinkwater sent Dyer away, the winger taking the ball round Gerken before cutting it back from the right to Nugent, who diverted the ball home from six yards.

The Foxes had got well on top after the break and were worth their lead. On 64 McCarthy switched things around, bringing on Frank Nouble and Paul Taylor for Anderson and Tabb and moving to the 4-3-3 system which paid dividends at Blackpool.

As the game moved into its final 20 minutes Leicester retreated into their own half with Town having more of the ball but without overly threatening, aside from blocked Nouble and Skuse strikes.

Chambers came closer to an equaliser in the 73rd minute when he nodded Taylor’s cross from the left down but across the face of Schmeichel’s goal.

Dyer should have added to the Foxes’ lead a minute later when he ran on to Vardy’s cross from the right but blazed over. Moments later, Vardy was replaced by Chris Wood, then Mings made way for Stephen Hunt.

Konchesky was allowed to bring the ball forward from his own half before shooting well over in the 79th minute with the Foxes by now happy to defend in depth and hit Town on the counter-attack.

Taylor chipped an effort from the edge of the area into Schmeichel’s arms on 81 with the Blues having a lot of the ball but without creating any clear-cut chances.

But there was a scare for the visitors in the 84th minute when Hunt’s crossed flashed across the six-yard box, somehow avoiding both Nouble and Murphy.

As the match moved into its final scheduled minute McGoldrick curled a shot just over from the left, then at the other end Nugent cut in from the left but shot across the face of goal.

Soon after, referee Langford’s whistle went to confirm yet another Nugent-inflicted defeat, the 28-year-old — a player Jim Magilton and Paul Jewell tried to sign during their spells as Town boss - having taken his record to 13 goals in 12 against the Blues for Preston, Portsmouth and Leicester and nine in seven at Portman Road, including a goal for England’s U21s against Moldova in 2006.

Overall, Leicester deserved the three points on the balance of the second half with the Blues never really looking like getting back in it after Nugent’s two goals.

McCarthy will be disappointed that his team again went in front and took nothing from the game, although he said beforehand that he believes the Foxes are the best side in the division and his side would have to be at the top of their game to take anything from the match.

Town: Gerken, Chambers (c), Berra, Smith, Mings (Hunt 76), Anderson (Taylor 64), Skuse, Tunnicliffe, Tabb (Nouble 64), Murphy, McGoldrick. Unused: Loach, Edwards, Hyam, Wordsworth, Hunt, Nouble, Taylor.

Leicester City: Schmeichel, Moore (Miquel 46), Konchesky, Morgan (c), Wasilewski, Hammond, Drinkwater, King (James 46), Dyer, Nugent, Vardy (Wood 75). Unused: Logan, James, Schlupp, Bakayogo, Taylor-Fletcher, Miquel, Wood. Referee: Oliver Langford (West Midlands). Att: 18,227.


Photo: Action Images



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suffolkpunchdrunk added 17:09 - Nov 23
Certainties of life -

Taxes & Death... and Nugent scoring every *!$*/@~# time he plays against Ipswich!
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LankHenners added 17:12 - Nov 23
Again disappointing and frustrating that we couldn't capitalise on a lead and let Leicester get on top and take charge of the game. We used to be able to grind out results but neither can we do that anymore it seems, nor can we do the opposite and play teams off the park. We're capable of playing really well, as shown by halves of games but never both, meaning we don't always get the result that we could have got.

Oh well, nothing we can do about that so onto Charlton with a large Town turnout, get behind the team and help them get a victory!
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LankHenners added 17:12 - Nov 23
*nothing we can do about the result today.
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WestNorfolk_Blue added 17:21 - Nov 23
Another poor second half giving away hard earned points. Almost every week the oposition manager changes things and they rule the game from then on.
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Bluetone added 17:31 - Nov 23
Phil surely that piece "Mick McCarthy returned to his tried and tested 4-4-2 formation" should be "Mick McCarthy returned to his trying and detested 4-4-2 formation".
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martleshamitfc added 17:35 - Nov 23
does anyone know how many goals Nugent has scored against us? must be about 20+!!!!
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LankHenners added 17:36 - Nov 23
13 in 12 I think. Or maybe that's just at Portman Road?
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TractorCam added 17:37 - Nov 23
Another poor performance at home and another lead surrendered, when will we learn? Tyrone Mings was woeful today, just like he was at Reading too, good to have Cressy back next week. We're very inconsistent at the moment, this needs to change quickly.

Also, I hate David Nugent
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Jimmy86 added 17:37 - Nov 23
And thats why leicester are sitting at the top of the table, saying that they only just missed out in the play offs last season. This is what we must aspire too and to be fair we aren't that far off, based on our level of performances. It beggars belief though, because no matter how much abuse we gave him, or how crap he played in the first half, that hatefull little man won the game for them and dyer, although a diving cheat, xaused us problems with his lightening pace. Credit mick for being bold enough to change things around though. Onwards and upwards, coyb
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thebeat added 17:45 - Nov 23
Same old same old. Bossed the first half and everything was rosy.
At half time we saw the Leicester subs warming up and said "they are changing their system, we wont react and will be behind within 10 minutes"
Surprise surprise what happens?
We then made changes bossed the game again, puffed and panted but failed to create anything.Not
Does Mick not get fed up of getting outmanaged at half time?
Every game at home is the same.
And once again Anderson does his impression of the invisible man.
Not happy tonight once again we grab defeat from the jaws of victory.
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TimmyH added 17:46 - Nov 23
Well that has taken the gloss off the first away win a fortnight ago, we just don't seem to have what it takes to beat the 'bigger boys'. We played quite well in the first half with a typical McGoldrick opportunist goal but the second half they were just too strong.
We've lost 2-1 and Mick said before the game we had to counteract them by reverting back to the 4-4-2 but I just wished we start with a more attack looking starting 11. To me Tabb, Anderson and Skuse offer little creatively but MM also has to look at the defense - 2 clean sheets out of 16 games 17 if you include the Stevenage debacle is NO where near good enough, 1 win in 7 is pretty poor and we really look like a team who can't put a decent run together but on the flip side don't look like going on a losing run either = Mid-table.
Anybody put a bet that Nugent would score today?
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ronnyd added 17:47 - Nov 23
Disappointing yes, but, just look at the table now compared to last year at this time and see how much better shape we are in. Hang in there boys (and girls).
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muccletonjoe added 17:47 - Nov 23
It wasn't the best of performances from town , and leicester were not that great either , Imo we should have got stearman instead of berra last summer, then, maybe we could play more like mm prefers to play
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ITFCsince67 added 17:49 - Nov 23
See kids for a Quid was a bit disapointing. Guess it will be when mum or dad have to pay £33.00.
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lintonblue added 17:50 - Nov 23
At home and in front we then lose 2 - 1.

I didn't renew the season tickets this year and not in a hurry to reconsider just now....
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TimmyH added 17:51 - Nov 23
* probably a slight over exaggeration saying they were strong but looked the better team.
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mrmorisato added 17:55 - Nov 23
What a useless 2nd half performance today. weve won one game in the last 6 and in my opinion its because the smith-chambers centre half partnership has been broken up :( get hewitt back in for berra the rest of the starting team will take care of themselves. we needed to win today to keep the momentum going and to start an unbeaten run. we going to need spend some money in January in we are going to stay in touch with the top six, im so angry right now :(
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EssexTractor added 17:56 - Nov 23
Amidst all the huffing and puffing where is the quality? McGoldrick apart we see barely a glimpse. Which Ipswich players fill the opposition with fear and dread?
Anderson? Nouble? Tabb? Theses are MMs choices. Sorry but in my opinion, lightweight all three
Skuse, I am afraid flatters to deceive, when does he play defence splitting passes?
Tunnicliffe eager to please but I doubt he instills worry in the opposition.
How many shots second half, how many keeper saves, indeed how many corners?
Replay the video if you dare!
Surely the most uninspiring Ipswich midfield in seasons. So however determined the battling Smith or Berra might perform and threatening McGoldrick can be , without the injection of imaginative pacy and strong minded acquisitions in the engine room in January be prepared for more drab and toothless days like today
My fear is that the current powers that be are not up to the required remedial task.



Replay the video if you dare

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bluefeast added 17:59 - Nov 23
Chambers centre half , never again play central defenders as full backs ,the game moved on from that 10 years ago. Leicester were quick inventive and we were ploddy predictable and cumbersome. 1 win in 6 games is very poor ,really since chambers and smith were broken up ,terrible blind ally tactics against a far more fluid system from leicester today. Manager needs to take full blame
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bluefeast added 18:00 - Nov 23
My brother went ,he said mings looked terrible and chambers was harrassed by dyer
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dalianwasexciting added 18:03 - Nov 23
Essex tractor - you are spot on
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ChrisMakin2012 added 18:05 - Nov 23
Mings is a liability in what ever position he plays. Dyer and Nugent outclassed our team today.

Playing four upfront is poor management.
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TractorCam added 18:14 - Nov 23
I agree that we need Hewitt at rb and Chambers-Smith on cb, but Berra has been too good to drop. I would just play all 5 at the back (Cresswell the 5th)
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bennyitfc added 18:19 - Nov 23
Two weeks ago we were all rejoicing in Mick's managerial genius...this week the same plan in the second half didn't come off unfortunately, but as Mick said we weren't with them for most of the second half. They are a better side than us simple as that, and McG's goal was out of nothing anyway. We're average, but so long as we stay within 6 points of the playoffs up until Christmas we have just as good a shot as anyone around us.
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TimmyH added 18:21 - Nov 23
Not only the midfield needs a shake-up but unfortunately the defense does too, I'll keep saying this but not getting Stearman in during the summer was a BIG mistake. Mick created the problem with Berra and not sure the holding midfielders are doing a particularly good job of protecting the defense. Rant over!
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