Ben Pringle’s first Town goal after 19 minutes saw the Blues to a battling 1-0 victory over Huddersfield at the John Smith’s Stadium. Pringle netted in a first half largely dominated by the home side who missed a succession of chances and played the final quarter of a hour of the game with 10 men, Jonathan Hogg having picked up an injury after they had used all their subs.

Kevin Foley replaced Luke Hyam in an otherwise unchanged Town side, the midfielder having come off during Tuesday’s 1-0 defeat to Hull with a hamstring injury.

Youngsters James Blanchfield, who was offered a professional contract earlier this week, and Andre Dozzell travelled with the squad for experience but weren’t included in the matchday 18.

The Blues started with Pringle on the right and Freddie Sears on the left with Foley joining Jonathan Douglas in the centre of midfield and Brett Pitman and Daryl Murphy up front.

Huddersfield created the game’s first opening in the fifth minute, Jason Davidson whipping over a cross from the left for Kyle Dempsey, who powered a header back across the face of goal and wide when he should have scored.

On six Nahki Wells, who had a trial with Town as a teenager, looped an effort over Bartosz Bialkowski’s bar from distance with the Terriers starting the game well on top.

The home side again should have gone in front in the 10th minute when Wells broke through on goal behind Christophe Berra and Tommy Smith. The New Zealand international just about did enough to delay the Bermudian’s shot and when it finally came keeper Bialkowski had advanced off his line and blocked.

The West Yorkshiremen continued to dominate and on the quarter-hour Karim Matmour cut the ball across to Harry Bunn on the edge of the box but the ex-Manchester City youngster blazed over.

It had been all Huddersfield but on 19 the Blues, for whom Pringle and Sears had initially swapped flanks before Pitman moved wide on the left of a five-man midfield with the on-loan Fulham man moving inside, went ahead with their first shot of the game.

Foley challenged in the air midway inside the Terriers’ half and Pringle hooked the loose ball down the right for Murphy to chase. Joel Lynch sought to see the ball out of play but lost out to the Irishman, who sent over a deep cross to Pringle, who took a touch before smashing his first Town goal into the net off a defender.

The home side immediately looked to get back on terms but Wells under-hit his shot from the left of the area and Bialkowski claimed.

Wells continued to present the Terriers’ main threat and on 21 Bialkowski did well to push away the striker’s volley to his right.

Two minutes later, the Bermuda international hit another effort wide of the Town keeper’s right post after intercepting a Luke Chambers pass.

The Blues stemmed the tide in terms of clear-cut opportunities after the midway point in the first period, although with the home side continuing to have most of the ball and with the Town backline defending desperately at times.

On 39 the Blues had a chance to add to their lead from a Pringle freekick on the right but Murphy headed over.

Seconds before the end of the scheduled 45 minutes, Town created a third opportunity with their best move of the half.

Jonathan Douglas fed Pringle, who moved the ball on to Sears breaking down the left. The former Colchester man played in the overlapping Jonas Knudsen but Murphy turned the Dane’s low cross wide at the near post.

Referee Darren Bond ended the half soon afterwards with the Blues having managed to maintain their against-the-run-of-play 1-0 lead at the break.

Huddersfield dominated the first 20 minutes or so and had plenty of opportunities to go in front. But a combination of poor finishing, Bialkowski saves and desperate Town defending prevented them from not only taking the lead but from sealing the three points.

The Blues hadn’t managed a shot on goal when Pringle netted his goal after tenacious work from Murphy had forced Lynch into a mistake.

Town were more in the game after that - with willing runner Sears the main outlet - although with the home side still having most of the ball, albeit without seriously threatening Bialkowski’s goal further.

The Terriers dominated the opening minutes after the restart but without being able to breakthrough the determined Town back four.

Sears and Pitman switched flanks briefly at the start of the half before returning to the right and left respectively. On 51 Chambers was booked for pulling back Bunn as Huddersfield broke.

The home side were continuing to have most of the ball but were unable to find a way through the Blues’ massed ranks at the back.

Dempsey screwed a shot well wide from distance before Terriers boss David Wagner made a double change, swapping Matmour and Lynch for Jamie Paterson and Martin Cranie.

Huddersfield went close for the first time after the break on the hour when Terriers defender Tommy Smith’s shot deflected to Davidson eight yards out but the Australian international put the ball the wrong side of the post. A minute later the tiring Pringle was replaced by Kevin Bru.

On 64 Berra did superbly to block from Wells as the striker turned Paterson’s right-wing cross towards goal.

Huddersfield’s dominance was starting to look ominous but in the 66th minute the Blues came within an inch or so of extending their lead.

Sears did well to turn Smith’s clearance on to Murphy, who spun away from his man, found himself space and hit a low left-foot shot across Terriers keeper Jed Steer but just wide of the post.

On 69 the home side replaced Dempsey with Elvis Manu, then two minutes later Sears was somewhat harshly booked for a foul on the on-loan Brighton man.

Paterson curled a 25-yard strike from the left which Bialkowski claimed comfortably on 73, then Huddersfield’s Smith was booked for a foul on Pitman.

Four minutes later, Wells nodded Jonathan Hogg in on goal inside the area but Bialkowski was equal to the midfielder’s shot and Berra cleared the danger.

Soon after, ex-Watford man Hogg required treatment after appearing to injure his knee as he slid in to make a challenge and was forced to go off. Having used all their subs the home side were forced to end the game with 10 men. For Town, Ainsley Maitland-Niles replaced Foley for the final nine scheduled minutes.

A minute later the Blues had Bialkowski to thank for keeping them in front when, during a goalmouth scramble, the Pole made an instinctive save after Town’s Smith had diverted Paterson’s effort towards his own goal. The ball rebounded back into the six-yard box and Bialkowski gratefully claimed.

With the numerical advantage the Blues were under less pressure as the game moved into its final minutes and were even starting to get chances on the break.

On 87 Terriers keeper Steer was sent up for a rare corner but it came to nothing and Town were unable to make anything of his absence.

Two minutes later, Murphy broke down the right and lobbed into the path of Sears, who was crowded out as he looked to shoot.

Paul Digby was handed his Town league debut as a sub for Sears as the game moved into five additional minutes. Steer again went up front, this time for a freekick, but Murphy was unable to get onto Maitland-Niles’s long ball forward.

Deep into injury time the on-loan Arsenal youngster made a strong run forward and forced Cranie into a foul, helping see out the final moments.

Seconds later referee Bond’s whistle confirmed that the three points would go to the Blues and manager Mick McCarthy celebrated with his assistant Terry Connor on the touchline.

Having ridden their luck in the first half, the Blues defended in depth after the break and kept Huddersfield down to only a handful of opportunities, although Davidson will feel he certainly should have done better with his chance.

Town might have added to their lead in the closing stages when the Terriers were down to 10 men but were still largely concerned with hanging on to their one-goal lead rather than adding to it.

While Huddersfield will be wondering quite how they managed to lose having dominated the early stages so completely, it was just the ground-out, battling win the Blues needed having been defeated in their previous three matches.

The win moves Town up to ninth, now only four points off the play-off places with a game in hand on Sheffield Wednesday in sixth and Derby two points ahead of them in fifth. The Blues are next in action at home against Nottingham Forest next Saturday.

Huddersfield: Steer, Smith, Davidson, Whitehead, Hudson (c), Hogg, Matmour (Paterson 58), Bunn, Wells, Dempsey (Manu 69), Lynch (Lynch 58). Unused: Murphy, Husband, Holmes, Bojaj.

Town: Bialkowski, Chambers (c), Berra, Smith, Knudsen, Pringle (Bru 61), Foley (Maitland-Niles 81), Douglas, Sears (Digby 90), Pitman, Murphy. Unused: Gerken, Touré, Tabb, Varney. Referee Darren Bond (Lancashire). Att: 12,644 (Town: 936)

Photo: Action Images

Geoff added 12:29 - Feb 28 Agree with most on here 3 points welcome but same old tactics and no quality. Club in need of investment from the top to show some ambition. It says it all in the last ten minutes of the game we were up against it and they only had ten men.
4

essex57 added 12:53 - Feb 28 Blueboy and pals there's nothing this team does will ever make you happy so why don't you sit in a darkened room with some tolly cobbold and watch the replays of the 78, cup final and 81 uefa cup final oh and whilst your at it you could have a debate why we never quiet managed to win the title because of injuries and too small a squad .
-10

Dissboyitfc added 13:20 - Feb 28 essex57 i notice you mark down every post,your last one being quite sarcastic, instead of having a pop at everyone who wants to see an element of football being played, state your reasons for enjoying the worst brand of football being played by ipswich in many many years. yesterday was extremely poor. do you have a view on how the game should be played? I state my views quite clearly and i think fairly why i dont enjoy it, can anybody really feel that booting the forward to anybody and giving away possession immediately is skilfull and the way the game should be played? Teams seldom score without the ball, have you ever wondered ( apart from square pegs in round holes) why our goal difference is so inferior to those around us in the table/ not rocket science we give up possession far too easily. We travelled up yesterday in our car there were 2 itfc fans, one neutral and a huddersfield fan, far from feeling smug i almost wanted to apologise, that is not the ipswich way of playing, we were famed for our football once and even if we are never to play in the premier league in my life time i dont think it is too much to ask for a game of football.

9

carsey added 13:41 - Feb 28 Have just watched the "highlights" and have to say it was a miracle we got away with this one. Poor Huddersfield will be kicking themselves. Thank goodness for Bart being on song and the opposition strikers having an off day.
2

essex57 added 14:03 - Feb 28 If its a means to an end I will put up with it I take each season as it comes as I have the last 40 I also travelled up yesterday in my car and the most annoying thing about the day was the 45 minutes getting out of Huddersfield apart from that it was an enjoyable day a great Craic as ever with the fans around me. What I dislike with your posts and your pals is the way that your opinion is 100%correct and ours is wrong and the condescending content of them,hence why I at times reply rather sarcastically.

-7

essexboy added 14:39 - Feb 28 Essex57.The trouble with you is,"your quick to criticise other posts with your views,but when people retaliate you don't like it.Put up or shut I say.!!
2

Keaneish added 14:45 - Feb 28 I think you've probably summed up the problem for you in your above point essex57. There are fans on here who have played the game to a respectable level, study the game, learn the game and seek to improve their knowledge and hope the club's aspirations match their own hopes and ambitions for it. They're probably not the same fans who just want to rock up, have a craic and go home. Personally, I find those 'pals' points far more insightful and far more interesting to my club's progression, than posts about the traffic in and around the opponents ground and an oblivious understanding of what they're paying to turn up and watch each week.

10

Dissboyitfc added 14:51 - Feb 28 ok so what is wrong with my posts, is it because i say the football is awful? Is it because i say MM is stubborn and plays players out of position is it the way i dont condone playing weakened teams and cant be bothered to win attitude? Please explain Essex57, because i do know one thing you are a true supporter and like me and all the others on here we love itfc. Cant see how you can say that any of the above is untrue. Happiness comes from acceptance that is true, i just dont accept that there is not a better way than MM"S way. I hated wimbledon in the eighties so to watch us play in that very same is painful. I would love to think this is a means to an end, sadly i cant see it. will never be any different without investment and with MM at the helm. Of course the last bit is only my opinion and would welcome being wrong and if i am wrong i will be first to admit it.

9

Seasider added 16:08 - Feb 28 Have been to Huddersfield before,but not yesterday. However listened on Radio Suffolk,seen 15 min highlights,and read Phils reports and subsequent comments;some from theadmirable supporters who made trip. Ipswich were set up to avoid relegation,not build for promotion & boring boring Ipswich-Huddersfield supporters. Chambers had a poor game and nearly scored an o.g.Bart saved us from defeat plus some profligacy by our opponents.Pringle looks like could be asset. Mick McCarthy refused to praise simply saying that he has two top goalkeepers,also admitted it was a lucky win. The tactic of 'Parking the Bus'worked on this occasion and certainly kept us in touch of playoffs which Mick has started to discount;and considering players out a 1-0 win was admirable.Our Manager even admittedit wasn't pretty to watch so lets hope that against Forest we don't do quite as much aimless hoofing,or only have half as much possession as opposition. I am also hopeful that before Saturday McCarthy may have secured another player.Like many couldn't work out if it was Mr Evans or his manager who were responsible for not getting decent re-inforcements;but am more inclined to believe it is Evans.I say this because over the weekend Mickmac for the first time hinted as such,and despite what his CEO Milne has said about funds being available,who can believe him when he said that the winding up order was caused by a Service Provider,when all the time it was HMRC!

7

prebsa added 16:09 - Feb 28 Dissbiyitfc, there is no point trying with essex57, i have in the past and he just shoots you down and comes out with sarcastic and childish comments. MM can never put a foot wrong in his eyes! I advise you to give up now because you wont get anywhere, just continue to comment and assess games with the rest of us more sensible people on this forum.
3

Penguinblue added 16:20 - Feb 28 More utter rubbish from second rate manager McCarthy. We won despite him not because of. He now seems to be saying not bothered about playoffs, it's all down to injuries, nothing he can do. What cr@p. Our relative failure this season is down to his mismanagement, negative hoofball and selections - virtually nothing else. No point blaming ME, even McCarthy can't get his story straight whether there is money or not - even if there were he can't see beyond his favourites and no decent footballer would want to play for him anyway. Enjoyed the win but message the same. McCarthy OUT

1

essexboy added 16:48 - Feb 28 Yes,one shot on target in two games,says it all.!!
3

essexboy added 16:51 - Feb 28 Penguins blue,sorry I down marked you in error.I agree with you 110%.
-1

Bert added 17:37 - Feb 28 It is the first time for four months that Huddersfield have failed to score. Whilst the back four lack quality and are not comfortable in possession, they cannot be as bad as many make out.
1

Dissboyitfc added 18:04 - Feb 28 Bert... but for some bad misses and a very good display by bart, we would have conceded!
1

karls_dad added 18:32 - Feb 28 A horrible horrible performance, but a win! the question remains though? Would we have won this with Gerks between the sticks instead of Bart? i doubt it, Bart is very much the better keeper! we all know this but MM!
4

Tufty added 18:48 - Feb 28 We have a manager who was a defender as a player and our defence is a good championship defence, We have an assistant in tc who was a striker and we have one of the best forward lines in the championship We don't have a midfield coach with influence on staffing that area of the pitch. Result is poor midfield so only way to play is the way we do now, Our midfield isn't balanced an engineroom and a passer.

2

blueboy1981 added 18:52 - Feb 28 essex57 ......... two words:- PATHETIC CASE.
-1

Elto added 20:56 - Feb 28 bluebore1981 I seem to remember your 'last ever post' a few weeks back. You cited name calling as the reason behind your flounce. Well, you're back and name calling. Three words - hypocritical drama queen.
0

essex57 added 21:48 - Feb 28 Dont think so essex boy still i suppose us doughnuts who just enjoy the game for the sport it is are not allowed an opinion perhaps those of the same opinion as me had better sign up and do our badges then we can be boreing and sanctimonious just like you and your pals.
-4

Gcon added 22:12 - Feb 28 Penguin Blue - You don't really sound like you 'enjoyed the win'.... Perhaps you didn't quite complete your sentence - 'enjoyed the winge?' maybe. ......Blueboy........ What does PATHETIC CASE even mean?........ Keaneish - Do you think you could be any more patronising of those that don't share your views? See, I know how to make friends with my fellow 'supporters'!
0

michaeldownunder added 22:29 - Feb 28 Good Moaning most of you Wow what a happy band of fans we are, infighting on this forum seems to be the name of the game not being adult Ipswich fan , note I did not say football fan. I did not go to the game, just saw the 10 min of highlights, plus the radio. I would never sign Wells, he missed some real sitters, plus Bart made some good saves. Berra looks sh@t scared every time he has the ball, last ditch tackles that look good but what about getting to the ball first? Some of his and Chambers passes were very poor, not even close to one of our players. The long ball or hoooof is ok if you give your striker a chance but most of them were not in 10 yards of a town shirt. Murph had a couple of good chances and on another day ( or last season) they may have gone in. If I was Dids or Bish looking on, maybe I would hope to stay injured rather that play in this style of play but with those two on the pitch we would not hit the ball so long, I hope. We all would like to see Fredie Sears play down the middle with Murphy but at the moment we need his speed out wide as a get out.

2

battyblue added 06:53 - Feb 29 Well some of the In Mick we adore brigade say there is only a quarter of the posts on here when we win this thread proves that wrong the majority still are not happy and that includes me I can count the number of shots we have had on target in the last month on one hand, wow is that exciting I think not,the opposition could play their keeper as an outfield player and we would still not hit the target, this style of MM needs to change sooner rather than latter or there will be a hell of a lot less watching it..........finally essexboy I agree with all your postings I told you to do one! Saturday night I apolagize it was intended for ..essex57.. not you sorry keep up the good posting .

4

essex57 added 08:48 - Feb 29 Battyblue as long as i can put up a different case to you diss.....blueboy....prebsa et all i shall do, you think you are the majority voice of supporters on the news site you maybe pop over to the forum and you will find a more balanced debate also i think the majority of supporters who have desserted the news site got fed up with you and your mates sanctimonius beligerent we are always right attitude.

-2

Keaneish added 11:46 - Feb 29 Gcon - I dont have much respect for baseless opinions, which seek to devalue others with far greater substance and weight to their claims who can back up their arguments with reasoned debate. You might call it patronising if you don't like the tone, others might see it as sound argument. Either way, it's a football forum to have an opinion about football so the subject matter should have some intrinsic value or merit about ITFC otherwise what's the point?

4

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls