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Your Southend United v Stevenage Match Reports

Mullet added 18:55 - Apr 5 The three big stands and one shed, faded and near empty as they stood around idly at Ewood park are relics belonging to a club whose former glories depended on investment and invention. Today they housed a few home fans and a fair few Town in this afternoon's encounter. Fears Mick would set up for a draw were soon put to bed as he sketched out a plan of attack by recalling Nouble and Wordsworth to flank Williams behind Murphy. Skuse and Hyam the Ipswich Lamps and Gerrard ran the engine room as the faithful back five took their places as usual. Town started much the stronger side although it'd be Williamson who took aim for the Rovers first. A clear sight of goal saw a tame effort met by Gerken, before the hosts sat back and allowed Town to wander where they liked. Quick and sweeping football saw one touch passing and ball retention play Town into great positions often, but lack penetration. You can see why Joniesta is already so adored. A low centre of gravity brings a high return of footballing fun as he dribbles and darts betwixt boot and shadow of clumsy defenders. The inclusion of Nouble on the left and Woody on the right is worth a few words. It looked a tactical brush-stroke reminiscent of the Dutch master of yore that was savvy in a game often messy. Blackburn have some very familiar names but no real stars judging by their first half display and it was left to man of the match Gestede to elicit much of the Lancastrians' whimpering fireworks deep into the first half. His fizzing drive over the bar perhaps the games most spectacular effort, but far from the most telling. When Town went forward there was a rumble across the back row of a packed away end and real belief that the zeal of pass, move and pass again was really the only way we would win today. Nouble showed his best and worst, dancing into the box past two men on one occasion; touching the ball two yards over the line from a beautiful Skuse pass across the field on another. A superb sub, he lacks impact over 90mins of late much like the man who dropped right out of the squad today Anderson. His most frustrating moment was actually on the half way line. Johnny on the overlap and clear green between him and the goal for all of sixty yards the nomadic Nouble failed to look up and dig a simple pass out to set him free. It was definitely not “Noooobs” that was brayed in response. Gerken was later forced into mandatory heroics. The real star of the Rovers show former Town linkee Conway sent in one of many excellent crosses, but even so close to Easter it failed to kill off Town as our glovesman pulled the ball from inside the post. Murphy meanwhile was in bullish mood. Buffering and blasting hard yards as always he allowed the Welshman behind him to play Town well in front in terms of entertainment but sadly not goals. Time and again the midfield conspired to beat Robinson but showed themselves unable. The best break of all in the first saw Murphy supplied by Woody as Town rushed forward, Cresswell would see his shot from the Irishman's pull back cannon off a defender. A soft call for a penalty maybe as the sliding tackle was attached to a raised arm but it would have cheated the hosts this time. Rovers swaggered, staggered and looked like ten men as faint murmurs from Berra's pocket could be heard when the vocal Tractor boys softened to a purr. Presumably Rhodes had been there since he decided to jump into the Scot elbows first early on. He did emerge again until deep into the second half but that's a tale grim enough to save. As half time approached the reds of Ipswich passed by the hosts on numerous forays forward, opting to shoot arrows from afar but never really got a shot on target you felt would prove decisive. The beautifully crafted design of the side was flawed by us trying to match the hosts in giving the ball away cheaply. When Berra slipped having been played into trouble by Smith it allowed Blackburn to apply the first bit of pressure when up until now they had been like inept masseurs. Such was the nature of the game and the football at this level just below the playoffs. By the time the half time whistle came the game was only really marred by a referee who only seemed to look and book one way. Woody rightly carded perhaps but Kilgallon and Williamson both should have seen yellow earlier for shirt pulls and snapping at legs alike. The tragedy was in full effect when Blackburn were given a laughable freekick for their man clashing with Joniesta and inflicting a head injury on himself and his victim. Reflection mid-piss pointed to what might lie ahead. In the second Town who had been early pacesetters, failed to hit the ground running. Blackburn's change in tempo saw Ipswich trip themselves up. Relying too often on breaking from our own box in a period where we lined it as our own prison cell. The brightest of such moments saw Williams all on his own charge at and past 4 defenders. Rampaging like a scornful child, just off centre his flick around one pushed him too far wide. The resulting ball across the box a hair's width ahead of Murphy who was playing catch up. It reminded us all why we love exciting football. It reminded us all why taking chances counts. Blackburn pushed as all Town changed was wingers' respective wings. A poor day of passing for Hyam didn't help, as he gifted the hosts possession when we were already under pressure. It was indicative of the kind of day at the office Mick's men were having. Just past the hour more than the clock would strike. An unmarked Rhodes is hazard best not ignored in any sort of conditions. A simple flick over the top saw him leap from his hiding place and pull Berra's and Town's pants down. The tap-in merchant used the opportunity and yards of space as a nail with which to peg us back. Whack. 1-0. Town were keen to respond and did so with a gallant charge forward but it cut little ice. Soon after as the game ebbed away taking our confidence with it the result was put beyond all doubt. A soft as you like “push” in the corner heralded a free kick. Swing into a packed box, Gestede sprung like a Jack to bury a simple header low and hard, knocking Town firmly onto their ass. Sh1t. 2-0. As Nouble, Williams, Chambers all took turns to labour chances with little artistry on the right hand corner of the home side's box time and inclination ran out on Ipswich. Robinson was barely tested as Cresswell launched freekicks into touch and crosses into the box to little avail. The removal of Woody for SEB saw us change shape in the last quarter but not fortune. The man with the most goal scoring pedigree on the field drew a blank. His best chance a rasping shot charged down. It was far removed from Town's best shot in the game where earlier in the second spell Nouble magicked up a swirling effort just shy of the top corner well saved. All in all it was a game where Town embodied many clichés. Strong in only one of two halves we fell at the fences late on, simply because we tripped ourselves up. In a game where we showed we have the qualities of a contender we still lack the quality to go beyond being Championship material.

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thereuser30 added 11:06 - Apr 7 Late in the second half, Sylan Ebanks-Blake attempted a bicycle kick after a corner in a crowded penalty area. I think that just about summed up the Ipswich performance that breezy afternoon. Making the trek across to Lancashire, I attended the third Ipswich game of the season, buoyed by recent dreams, excitement and festering hopes of a play off position. Having been patted down on arrival, my pre-match was spent watching the boys warm up whilst wondering how on earth someone smuggled a chicken into the ground. Highlights of past Town games were shown, as I found myself reminiscing at the days of Holland (scoring a delicious volley) and Mowbray (what was he doing up there?!) If the above musings were an indication of the quality of the game, then it was spot on. After a few early passages of play which could have lead to a few openings, it was shown that the odd formation that Mick had deployed was not working - especially with the beast that is Franck Nouble on the left wing. After giving the ball away to the pacy Cairney, Town were lucky to not concede during Blackburn's first chance of the game. The middle passage of play created chances few and far between, a few headers, a couple of crosses that Cresswell should have put in, not Nouble followed up by some wayward Cole Skuse passes, half-time came as a blessing, with Berra doing well to keep the pantomime villain Rhodes quiet. Blackburn looked threatening when they attacked, with Murphy running around a lot up top, feeding off scraps. Naturally, the ever-electric Jonathan Williams was the most exciting player, with Town fans creating a hum of excitement whenever he picked up the ball. Post half-time, Town started slowly, and were almost immediately punished by none other than Jordan Rhodes - the stadium announcer gleefully reminding everyone that his 50th League Goal for Blackburn had just been clocked; naturally against familiar opposition. The Blackburn fans came to life, with the section to the Town fan's right suddenly reminded that they were in fact watching a game of football. My highlight? Having what seemed like 7-10 year olds cackling and flipping the bird at me. Classic Blackburn? Town somehow still didn't come to life, as the game grew into another lull - our borrowed Joniesta making a gut busting run from our half to theirs, his own shot gasping wide. A corner which should not have been resulted in a goal from Gestede; a few Town fans left. Murphy remained isolated, Hyam the hardest worker in the middle of the park, with Wordsworth seemingly not being able to have the freedom I'm sure he craved. Chambers reminded me that he is, in fact, still a CB by trade, with his crosses and a shot he had woeful. The introduction of Ebanks-Blake injected some energy, with a few more shots.. but nothing doing. Hunt's urgency was much needed, raising the question as to why he wasn't introduced earlier. The performance, as summed up by our boss in more expletive terms "We were rubbish, they were rubbish but they scored two and we didn't" Heading to Huddersfield on Tuesday night, hoping for a better performance. But for me, the play-off dream is down to a pilot light. I'd like to see Hewitt, Veseli, Henshall all given a run out before the end of the season. Are we ready for the Premier League? No chance. Do we have a chance to compete again next year? Absolutely. Let's hold onto Mick and keep developing our youngsters.

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