Town grabbed another important three points with a late Richard Naylor winner at the Bescot. The ginger striker netted in the fourth minute of injury time to give Town a 1-0 victory.
Town started with the same side that came back so well against Charlton on Tuesday. The early exchanges revealed the pattern of the game; 90% of the possession to the Blues and a packed defence for Walsall. Sadly Town didn't appear to have the guile to break down the Walsall wall (this happens a lot doesn't it?) and a rather disappointing first half drifted to an unsatisfactory end.
The second half saw Richard Naylor replace Mickey Stockwell who had received a nasty clash of heads shortly before the end of the first half. Naylor moved up front with Scowcroft stepping back into the role between the midfield and strikers as he did earlier in the season. Despite some neat touches from Naylor which almost put an out of sorts Johnson in on goal, the substitution allowed Walsall to get into the game and have their first attempts on goal. Ipswich were, however still dominant, although still not at their best.
Axeldal replaced Johnson to cheers from the ranks of the Blue army, expecting a possible goal flood form the man who just can't stop scoring in the reserves. There were no goals from the Axeman, but he showed one or two touches which showed he could well be more than a bit part player at Portman Road.
As the game was drawing to an unsatisfactory draw Town preddure increased with high ball after high ball being banged up to Scowcroft and Naylor. Twice Naylor went one on one with 'keeper Walker but hit one one side of the post and the other the other when it was easier to score.
With thoughts of the journey home and the derogatory comments to be levelled at Naylor on Monday uppermost in the mind up popped the combative striker to score with an excellent diving header from around the fifteen yard mark. The ball seemed to take an age to pass Walker in goal hit one post and then the other before nestling in the net. The entire Town team jumped on Naylor who must have been the most relieved man in the stadium. As the other players retreated back to the Town half the Ginger-Haired Assassin stayed on the ground and grinned knowingly at the Town faithful, as if to say 'I know what you were saying about me after those two cock-ups'.
The whistle went a few minutes later and the players cheered as much as the crowd. A hard fought victory against very determined opponents. Man City on Wednesday will be a different kettle of fish, but you can't argue with the passion shown by some of the Town players in a game when things never really came together perfectly, but where three points were finally, and dramatically, gained.
R Wright 7 Little to do
Wilnis 7 Some good crosses, although we could do with more
McGreal 7 Looks better with Mowbray next to him
Mowbray 8 Organised well again
Venus 8 Good running from defence
Clapham 7 Getting back to his best
Magilton 7 Some good passes, but we needed new ideas
Holland 7 Usual Holland performance
Stockwell 7 Another good half, nasty head injury (Naylor 46, 7 Made a difference up front, missed two sitters and scored the winner
Johnson 6 Poor game (Axeldal 73, Nice touches)
Scowcroft 6 Quiet by his standards after a few good performances
Town picked up two injuries during Saturday's match at Walsall. Mickey Stockwell received an injury to his head in a collision with John McGreal and a Walsall attacker, however he will be fit for Wednesday's game at Maine Road. Jim Magilton limped off in injury time suffering from badly bruised shins and knee ligament damage. This could be far more serious according to Town physio David Williams "It is not too clever. Jim jarred his knee in the area of the kneecap. He also has bad bruising on his other shin, which is pretty sore. There isn't a great deal of swelling, but it's too early to tell how long he will be missing."
Magilton is definitely out for Wednesday's game and is already out of the next three (Grimsby home, Huddersfield away, Blackburn away) after being sent off last week. Jermaine Wright looks likely to return to the starting line-up.