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Rotherham United 1 v 2 Barnsley
SkyBet Championship
Tuesday, 29th December 2020 Kick-off 19:45
unstableblue added 21:32 - Aug 3
A sunny day, a car full of blues, driving to an away game to join another 2500 Town fans for the first game of the season, full of excitement. Ipswich supporters were spotted all along a fairly free flowing M25.

The Madjeski was a surprise, I had seen it on work trips and it looked completely soulless, but with the tree lined surroundings, welcoming staff, bars showing Ipswich goals from the past and with the service staff dressed in Portman Road t-shirts - it made for a good venue for sport. 3 pints of Courage always helps move things along nicely.

The stadium itself has a cracking pitch, and the acoustics of the stands can generate noise. The fantastic town support really got things going and the Reading fans in close proximity were also in pretty good voice. Beach balls and inflatables bounced around. And the team look well prepared and fired up.

Pre-match concern had focussed on Mings against some quality wingers and Hyam's fitness. And these 2 players performances would prove pivotal.

Hewitt started in the right back spot ahead of Veseli and the strong Chambers and Smith partnership was renewed. Surprisingly Carlos Edwards got the knod over Anderson. Skuse partnered Hyam, Tabb returned to a great reception from the home fans - who would later sing "Jay Tabb's too good for you" - on the left of midfield. And as expected Murphy was up front with the stand out player of pre-season McGoldrick.

The game kicked off in sunshine and a great atmosphere and Reading started brightly moving the ball fairly well. And it was Mings who was being tested, but the young lad stood up to his winger really well, and despite his lanky frame was really owning the left back berth.

As the game developed Ipswich started to take control, with Tabb, McGoldrick, Mings, Hewitt and Skuse standing out. Hyam for me looked slightly off the pace, and wasn't dominating the midfield nor being that attack minded. He also seemed to be short of pace.

The reason Ipswich were prospering was we were having some joy down the channels and there was some diamond like passing being seen. It was the kind of style that I am hoping Mick is trying to develop and was very evident against Birmingham in our last home game. But unfortunately due to perhaps Hyam running at 75% these passages were too infrequent and we were not delivering many on target chances.

A good passage of play led to the goal, with Tabb taking his goal well from a rebound off his own shot. He celebrated with some gusto. And he was a pivotal figure in the game at this point, getting wide - but you have to raise questions over some of his longer delivery.

At this point in the match, some 16mins in, and with the Town playing well and on top the away support was simply rocking, and the home fans - used in recent times to losses and no home games - had completely died. The home players also looked downhearted and this continued till near half time. In fact at this point Reading were quite error strewn. I turned to my mates and just said we have to keep them out till half time and we can win this. But unfortunately we were not seizing the initiative and I felt Murphy was not delivering, or perhaps that McGoldrick was unable to link with him very well. Town also started to go quite long from the back. And then we gave away the softest of goals. Mings deflection has been sighted by some, but for me it was more the fact that all the defenders and goalie were drawn to the left hand post and the goal was left gaping.

DISASTER - our normally well drilled defence, had thrown away such a strong position and we allowed the home fans back into the game. Second half started with some Reading pressure; and the away fans just stopped singing, and sat back. Town spluttered into life, with some great interplay from Tabb, McGoldrick and Murphy - we had 2 glorious chances from McGoldrick, the second chance - a drive was just too close to the keeper. And then Tabb just pulled a shot wide, missing what would have been a fairytale 2nd goal.

But Town were just not in this second half, longer ball was creeping in - which just doesnt work in the Championship anymore; especially when blasted down the middle and not into the channels. Skuse was a bright spot along with Hewitt and of course the excellent centre backs. But mings who had picked up a knock and a yellow in the first half and unfortunately made one error by giving away a corner unnecessarily for the first goal, was getting stretched. Overall I was impressed by Mings and he is a real prospect, but there were errors. Hyam at this point was just out of the game and Guthrie was dominating proceedings for Reading. Are Skuse and Hyam too similar?? - did we have the creative spark needed to release McGoldrick and the wingers.

Taylor was introduced to replace the ineffective Murphy, and our returning diminutive striker was on absolute fire when he first came on - great touches, beating players - but then Reading closed the supply line to him and perhaps our Man U loanee Tunnicliffe should have been introduced. Taylor became fairly anonymous for the rest of the game.

The game fizzled out, yes there was some late pressure from Town but it was pretty ineffective, and Nouble was left to chase scraps following his introduction and we began to rely on Hewitts long throws.

So in terms of players Loach made one magnificent stop with his legs and really came out at the Reading striker; he did seem unsighted by the deflected 2nd goal. Hewitt is class, and he and Edwards looked good at times. Hewitt for me showed how he can defend, but perhaps was not getting forward enough, nor crossing. Edwards, our captain fresh from the States, was pretty good albeit fading in the second half. He at times looks our classiest player reflecting his original price tag - you do get what you pay for in modern football! As stated Smith and Chambers were good - Smith having some memorable moments of last ditch defending. Skuse impressed me, without really taking a grip of the midfield nor making any telling attacking passes. Hyam was unfit in my mind. I love Luke and I think last season when he dominated 3 or 4 games he was the difference, today he was not at the races, period, and we suffered especially in the second half. Tabb was probably MOM, but he is perhaps not a winger and also is at times let down by some of the more industrial (long ball) play of his colleagues - he's best working in tight triangles and short passing. His crossing was a little weak. Mings I have mentioned. McGoldrick ran Tabb close for MOM, and he really has a great touch - just such a shame he did not convert one of his 2 great chances. I want to see him getting goals. I like Murphy but not enough from him today; you saw at times how he can dominate the defender, but a lack of movement perhaps.

Anderson, nor Nouble had time to impress. Taylor showed sparks but needs service - which mustn't be coming down from on high.

So overall then: its only the first game of the season and I actually think many lessons will be learnt by TC and Mick. Mick's post match words are positive and brave faced - but I think he'll know just how much we let a troubled Reading off the hook today. And for me its disappointing to not be more clinical and aggressive in converting ascendency into a result. Its also disappointing to not allow 2,500+ vociferous away fans to go home with something to really to crow about, to bring that energy back to the area and the club. I think if we'd matched the first half, perhaps replaced Hyam and produced a bit more of the interplay Edwards and Tabb and McGoldrick were trying to create then 3 points were ours to take.

However, you can see elements of the system Mick is trying to play, interplay and some power and some pace, with width. Can it really succeed without a creative midfielder - I really hope so. Seeing Jim Magilton laying on so many goals on the highlights video in the bar beforehand reminded me of a different style. But lets move on, lets rue letting Reading off the hook and giving them momentum, and lets remember some good performances from Skuse, Chambers, Smith, Edwards and McGoldrick and get excited about some of the young talent displayed by Hewitt and Mings.

My memory of a good football day out will be the away fans absolutely rocking for 10mins after we took the lead - it was special.
5



Mullet added 21:38 - Aug 3
“The ten month journey to the promised land begins” so the tannoy boomed as both teams huddled. The sea of blues travelling down to the Madjeski today were in tumult as the meccano stands rumbled and crackled with a collective electricity of angst, anticipation and hope. The new season was upon us all.

Dynamic in red and black Town lined up with a conservative 442 to counter the expansive ex-Prem players of the home side. Perhaps we saw the tallest, most athletic and youngest permutation of a back four possible. With Mings deputising for the doubtful but rarely doubted Cresswell and Hewitt down the right outside of the regular Smith and Chambo combo.

Skuse cut a towering figuring in the middle as Hyam worked alongside him with Edwards and Tabb patrolling the chalk. Murphy partnered McG a long way off in the distance. Town boss McCarthy has talked about the importance of fundamentals and while Town started in metronomic fashion it was the hosts who set the pace of the game all too often.

It is an obvious point to state without contrition that Reading have superior players to us, the question came in what kind of team they have. Despite quiet resilience it wasn't posed by Town too often. With little in the way of clear cut chances and a scrappy game of fits and starts which struggled to entertain but remained enthralling.

Town's first break saw an isolated McG hit the byline just inside the box only to have his pass cut away, Murphy repeated the trick a little further from goal soon after. Reading meanwhile used their excellent pace and width to test the youngsters at full back and it pleasing to report neither looked unsteady on their feet or in the air early doors.

With Hollywood names like Drenthe catching the eye for the home side it was curious to see a renowned bad-boy given such a free role lacking in discipline. Looking like an unfit Jason Scotland, running like an unfit Jaime Peters and not as good as either. The Dutchman dominated the attack with little of note. A skidmark on the game his runs streaking, his dirty follow-throughs on our players marked a predictable pattern early on.

The lead came arguably against the run of play. Town had held firm with Skuse clearing up for a game and resolute defence on the 18 yard line. Swept out to the right Carlos advanced and cut in with knowing aplomb and lofted a first class delivery across to Tabb. The man rocking the Micky Stockwell vibe danced into the area as his volley stung former loanee McCarthy's hand. Stepping onto the resultant scramble he despatched the loose ball with the ease as he, McG and Murphy slotted it together like a well constructed set of drawers. Who needs parachute payments? The new season was finally here and nearly 3k of us let the world know it. Geronimo!

Reading came back at Town with quick lacing passes but it is no faint praise to say Hewitt stood out by fitting right in. His reading of the game is way beyond his years and as he cut out high balls with quick thinking headers, controlled situations with a cool head and did a one-off Koeman impression with a bending 60 yard pass to Murphy down the touchline I concluded we may have unearthed a real jewel here. Watching Mick and Terry polish him up may well be a real treat.

On the other flank Mings worried when he crashed to floor and looked in lengthy distress. Gingerly he came back to his senses and back to his feet and saw out the half as the hooped hosts plundered yards and possession but looked unlikely to punish a steady Town directly. The atmosphere spiced up as the home fans were baited out of their silence with a reminder they've won very little. The childish reaction to crowing about a record points haul in the second tier smacked of the small club mentality we as Town fans know all too well from others.

Alas the equaliser we feared soon materialised. A corner evaded all and Hewitt chased out the classy McCleary. The full back did all that was required to close space but a telling cross fell right onto Le Fondre's head and into the net as a helpless Loach could do nothing. As Town went in at half time all square it was frustrating to trawl over half chances as we played sardines in the belly of the stand, but the mood remained philosophical if not upbeat.

Had McG's quartering of the ball with a classy backheel on the spin been met with Tabb producing more than a tame cross; had Murphy seen the ball bounce kinder over his head before being chased away or McG being gifted the ball by a careless roll out to a complacent centre back just a yard closer to goal things may well have been different. They didn't and it wasn't.

In the second half it was Reading who would submerge us in a sea of fast moving football. Hyam seemed to barely touch the ball in the first half. Being kind one might argue art is often about how one uses space, but Town's lack of spark in the middle had been down to a lack of ball winning and retention.

It was the skinheaded Guthrie who was to be puppetmaster. Sitting too deep for any one in Town's middle or attack to monitor he sprayed passes and set the tempo unchecked all too often. Ipswich meanwhile pressed ahead with simple football. Murphy reminded us all what he could do in a disappointingly quiet performance when he roared in from the left and skewed a tempting ball an inch too far for a lunging McGoldrick to deposit.

Up the other end Loach's first save of note proper was a corker. After much too'ing and throwing of insults at a weak ref, Reading broke rapidly down their left. A cross to a completely unmarked Drenthe. Like a lime green eagle the boyhood blue spread his legs akimbo and smothered the shot away brilliantly. However it was to be in vain as the next test would come later and Scotty was destined to fail it.

Out of nowhere in the midfield hinterland Guthrie found himself in space. Looking up he hit a corking shot which nicked a Town body and lifted just out of reach of an already diving Loach. Cruel does not do it justice. Undeserved and unreserved, the celebrations rang out long into Town's hearty countering.

As the game drew on and on, changes were made on both sides. When Town snuck Taylor on the diminutive dynamo was bearing down on goal whilst his arrival was still being announced officially. A good run and ball into the box energised a large Town contingent back in fine voice again.

Hyam did more on the ball, but his first cut back was deemed off side. Soon after he was involved in plenty of neat triangles with the attackers which yielded some neat play in glimpses. But it was with the introduction of Nouble and Anderson for McG and Edwards and the 6 minutes of injury time which offered one last breath of belief to rumble across the away end. Previously another run from Tabb saw him sting his former colleague's gloves.

Town with time running out launched everyone forward in waves and in the final throw they failed to find a single man - after a covering Anderson was felled in defence. Skuse managed to rob Reading of the knock down and Taylor rasped a shot off a trailing defender's leg. It was an easy take for McCarthy.

Soon after the first step in this season's marathon was over and Town were left on the back foot. Purists may be worried by a lack of creativity, short-term by the result. But hark back 12 months and losing narrowly and harshly to newly relegated loadsamoney away on the first day of the season would be the stuff of dreams. The fact it's no longer nightmarish is comforting enough. Onwards and upwards.
6



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2 SepCardiff City H3 - 28
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