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Watford 0-1 Town - Match Report Saturday, 21st Mar 2015 17:23
Richard Chaplow netted a dramatic winner in the fifth minute of injury time as Town won 1-0 at Watford, who had started the day leading the Championship, to climb back into the play-off places.
Boss Mick McCarthy made three changes from the team which beat Bolton 1-0 on Tuesday with Kevin Bru replacing Teddy Bishop, who has sore shins, in midfield.
Luke Varney and Chris Wood came into a three-man attack alongside Daryl Murphy, while Jonny Parr, who was a doubt having taken a kick on Tuesday, missed out and Sears dropped to the bench.
Michael Crowe, 19, was the sub keeper with Dean Gerken not risked having been knocked unconscious at Middlesbrough last week and Paddy Kenny ill.
Watford made three changes from the team which beat Wigan 2-0 in midweek. Miguel Layun, Daniel Tozser and Odion Ighalo replaced Gianni Munari, Matej Vydra and Gabriele Angella.
Neither keeper was particularly troubled in the early stages. Bartosz Bialkowski spent more time dealing with inflatables blown onto the pitch from the 2,200-strong Town following behind his goal than Watford attacks.
Town, who had started brightly, had the ball in the net in the 10th minute when Murphy fed Varney but the on-loan Blackburn man was offside.
On 12 Adlene Guedioura skipped away from Bru midway inside the Town half before unleashing a powerful shot which flew just over Bialkowski’s goal.
Three minutes later, Tyrone Mings surrendered possession inside his own half, allowing Watford to break towards the Town area. Mings was fortunate to see Ighalo’s shot strike Tommy Smith before the left-back cleared the danger himself.
For Town, Murphy saw a promising effort from the edge of the area blocked, then for the Hornets Troy Deeney headed wide from a cross from the right.
On 28 Murphy picked up his first booking of the season for a late tackle on Guedioura, although the Algerian seemed to make a lot of not very much.
Two minutes later, Joel Ekstrand, the Watford player whose wild lunge forced Jonny Williams off with a groin injury from which he is still to return at Portman Road in November, twisted awkwardly and appeared to injure his knee.
The Swedish defender was treated on the pitch before eventually leaving on a stretcher with Gabriele Angella replacing him. Angella’s first contribution was to catch Wood with an arm and pick up the game’s second yellow card.
Varney, playing on the right of what was now a 4-4-2 formation, forced Heurelho Gomes into his first serious of the afternoon on 41, bringing the ball in from the flank and hitting a powerful shot from the edge of the box that the keeper pushed past his post.
A minute later, Guedioura broke through on goal from the Watford midfield and seemed certain to score until skipper Luke Chambers slid in to block superbly.
But it was the Blues ending the half the stronger, a Bru cross from the right following a corner taking the Hornets several attempts to clear, then the Mauritian international screwed an effort from distance well wide.
Neither side threatened again before referee Andy D’Urso blew his whistle to signal half-time.
Town manager McCarthy will have been delighted by the half-time scoreline and his team’s performance.
After an evenly balanced opening, the home side started to string a few passes together but never particularly threatened Bialkowski’s goal until the Guedioura chance that Chambers blocked.
But by that stage the Blues were starting to get on top, forcing set pieces and with Varney in particular looking a danger on the right.
Eight minutes after the break Tyrone Mings picked up his 10th booking of the season for pulling back Marco Motta. The Blues left-back will now be suspended for the next two games.
Five minutes later, Watford swapped Daniel Tozser for Ikechi Anya, then on the hour Paul Anderson replaced Varney on the right of the Blues’ midfield, the loanee receiving warm applause from the Town support after his most effective performance since joining the club.
Chances had been few and far between in the opening 20 minutes of the second half but on 67 the ball fell to Guedioura on the right of the area after Watford had worked their way back into the area following a corner but the midfielder shanked his volley wide.
The home side were on top, however, with Town spending most of their time defending in their own half. But when the Blues broke forward Murphy and Wood appeared to be developing something of an understanding.
Sears replaced Wood, who like Varney had had the best game of his loan spell, in the 74th minute with the Blues now putting the Hornets under pressure for the first time since the break.
Two minutes after coming on Sears forced Gomes to save down to his right with a 25-yard strike which looked set for the corner of the net. From the resultant flag-kick, Chambers nodded Jay Tabb’s cross over.
Watford went very close to going in front in the 79th minute when Deeney out-muscled Chambers down the Hornets left and sent over a cross which Ighalo diverted over the bar from the edge of the six-yard box.
The home side were again beginning to put the Blues under a bit of pressure, Deeney screwing a shot well wide from the edge of the distance. However, the game quickly moved to the other end of the field and Murphy laid the ball off to Tabb, who shot well over from 25 yards.
As the game moved into its final scheduled three minutes Chaplow took over from a clearly exhausted Bru.
Deep into injury time Tabb was booked for a foul on Motta with the game looking certain to end in a goalless.
But suddenly Sears out-fought Ben Watson on halfway as they chased Tabb’s ball forward and brought the ball forward before cutting the ball across to fellow sub Chaplow, who slipped past Gomes and into the net for his first Town goal right in front of the Blues’ support.
The Town subs and staff rushed along the touchline to join in the celebrations as the grounded Chaplow was smothered by his team-mates.
There was no further danger for the Blues before referee D’Urso blew the final whistle to a huge roar from the 2,200 travelling Town army.
The late, late goal capped what had been a superb defensive display from the Blues with the backline and holding midfielder Cole Skuse outstanding.
Although the Blues survived Ighalo’s miss towards the end, Watford were prevented having a single shot on target in the entire 90 minutes.
The result moves Town - who have now done the double over the Hornets, so long their bogie side - back to sixth ahead of Brentford and Wolves and now just five points off the Hornets in second with seven games to play following the international break.
Every player was outstanding today, especially Skuse. I'm often critical of him, but not today, he was magnificent. Bru ran himself ragged and Smith and Berra 1st class. Surprised and delighted. COYB!
Proud of the team. Proud of being part of the wonderful support. We did it together. Togetherness of squad shown by Stephen Hunt running from subs bench to join goal celebrations in front of us. COYB
At the start of the season I took the decision to manage a team in the Cambs Premier League, whilst maintaining my two season tickets at PR. As luck would have it with the fixture list, I have been able to see half the home games anyway but couldn't make the Watford game as my team had an important home game which we lost one nil.
However, I took some stick from my players for being happy after our defeat as between our game ending and getting back to the changing room Richard Chaplow's goal registered on BBC's vidiprinter on my iphone. I have to say it made up for the defeat for my team and you have to give enormous credit to everyone involved with the team (and I include the great support in that) for such a fabulous result.
As they are not on a Saturday, I shall being going to both the Bournemouth and Huddersfield games and would urge everyone who can to go to both games. The team now needs positive support until the end of the season - even if Tommy Smith does make the odd misplaced pass with his right foot - our support can help to shape the team's destiny, as I am sure it did today. We support a special team.
So from now until the end of the season, which hopefully will be in the second half of May, unless we get automatic promotion:
Defended much better than of late and all of back four did well. Chambo got great block in in first half,Tommy Smith so much better than recently,Berra at his best and Ty did a lot of good things. Skuse again excellent as he has been most games over the last couple of months. Varney looked good and Wood and Murphy worked their defenders hard. Sears made huge impact as sub.
The McCarthy way....hard to beat, back to basics, that's the way forward ,it's the way McCarthy set his teams up the day he walked through the gates at Portman Rd. Thereafter results take care of themselves.
Wow , where to start = my 14 year old lad , living in Herts has stuck through the last years when ALL his mates give him stick - why ipswich - and some of the games he has been too I always wonder what goes through his mind - especially at our 'local' game But today he experienced one of those indescribable moments - a late winner He turned to me on the way home and he was just so made up - texting his Watford supporting mates ... A great feeling - but that aside from my personal point ! What a bloody excellent performance against a big strong team !! Like many I have called for changes in backline but credit to MM especially for the starting line up and the defence midfield - They pressed and gave Watford no time It was a performance of giants and never has a goal been so ecstatically received - Well done all and lets keep it going last few games ...
warktheline - So agree with that - It was how we were playing pressing not giving them any time Just a 100% giant of a performance from whole team and that was a very cool finish - still on the ceiling !
@blueherts, memories to cherish for you and son, I have many similar from my childhood !!! Bet your boy will replay game in his mind for days, great post.
This was a great win. So how about backing this up with a couple of quality loan players for the run in. How about it Evans PLC? I wont be holding my breath
Watford FC vs Ipswich Town - England - npower Championship Live Stream O...: For anyone that missed it this is the whole game. Dodgy accents for commentating but worth it i guess. Much love townies;-)
Watched the game on tv while enjoying a pint or two of carling wow wat a performance from the boys in blue. It looked like a stalemate until a brilliant ball from sears released chaplow for a top finish and a well deserved win. It just goes to show how bonkers this league is hope we dont suffer from stagefright when we play bournmouth , I hope this result is not a one off considering our poor form and we can kick on again. In mick we trust following Ipswich is like being on a roller coaster ride big ups and downs. Great team performance today.
Jas, the 1st bottle is just being finished, a robust Chilean, lovely. Got a cheapie plonk in reserve to watch the FLS later with. JCLUE, the wife transfer window will remain very open for the foreseeable, offers considered !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.
Tabbs performance today in particular was first-class. His hoofball on the turn to Sears was nothing short of superb, and his overall work-rate was fantasic. Well done to Tabb, a player who should be on the team sheet for every game until now and the play-off final at the end of the season.
iF we can beat Bournemouth, we might be in contention for the 2nd place spot. Huge game now against Bournemouth.
Regardless, if we end the season in 6th and take the Lottery Draw it will be a massive achievement for this club. What a season so far.
Sears, Varney, Wood all look good. Well done to the defence again today, 2 clean sheets in a row.
been checking out our fixture list between now and the end of the season.
iF we can beat Bournemouth we've got Huddersfield away, who have just about done enough already to avoid the drop so haven't got much to play for.
We then have 2 home games (blackpool and Cardiff) both of which are very winnable as neither team will have anything to play for either.
Away at Wolves could then be a big test followed by home at Forest, who may well be far-out of contention for the play-offs at that point.
finish with Blackburn away. If we do beat Bournemouth (a big if) we could get ourselves into a "cascade effect" situation where we beat Huddersfield, Blackpool and Cardiff. 12 points could see us into 2nd. The Bournemouth game is one of the biggest games for this club in years.
It shows what can be achieved with an attacking strategy.Well done Ipswich and let's keep this attacking momentum going to the end...4-3-3 it is for me and well done to everyone..the management,the team and the supporters..
Funny, we'll be playing the league leaders twice in a row. If we beat Bournemouth, who will be unnerved by this performance and result, then it could all get very exciting.
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