x

Joe: Christmas Came Early - Ipswich Town News

Town manager Joe Royle bemoaned two gift-wrapped goals presented to Gillingham by his defence after Town lost 4-3 at home to Andy Hessenthaler's Gills.

Royle said: "Gillingham must have thought Christmas had come early. They have not been prolific scorers but two of their goals were gift-wrapped.

"I didn't trust our defence from the first minute. It was hard to name a single defender who showed his best form.

"When you concede four goals at home you can hardly complain about losing.

"Yet when we pulled back to 3-3 in the 73rd minute I fancied us to win. We didn't get a goal when we needed it but we missed chances and balls were cleared off the line."

Hessenthaler felt his team felt his team's recent form warranted the result: "It was an unbelievable game but it's been coming for us. We have been playing well in recent weeks but losing.

"When they pulled back to 3-3 I thought we were going to lose again. I'd have settled for a point. We were trying to waste time but ended up scoring the winning goal.

"It was our best performance of the season without a doubt. Now we must keep doing it.

"The spirit we showed was not unusual for us but this time we had a bit of luck. Late on I took off Tommy Johnson so I could put five in midfield and it worked for us."

What to read next:

Wardley Wins to Set Up Usyk Fight
Town-supporting heavyweight boxer Fabio Wardley stopped the vastly more experienced Joseph Parker in the 11th round of a rip-roaring fight at the O2 Arena last night to claim the WBO interim heavyweight title.
U18s Off Bottom After Claiming First Win
Town’s U18s climbed off the bottom of U18 Premier League South by beating Birmingham City 3-0 at Playford Road this morning.
Ipswich Town 1-0 West Bromwich Albion - Highlights
Highlights of Town’s 1-0 home victory over West Bromwich Albion.
Clarke: Super-Sub Not the Worst Label to Have!
Town winger Jack Clarke admitted he does not mind the ‘super-sub’ tag after his heroics off the bench earned the Blues a vital 1-0 victory against West Bromwich Albion at Portman Road.
Mason: If Your Concentration Slips, You Get Punished
West Brom head coach Ryan Mason was disappointed and frustrated with his team’s 1-0 defeat to the Blues at Portman Road, but admitted they didn’t do enough to win the game.
McKenna On Szmodics and Akpom Injuries
Blues manager Kieran McKenna says Sammie Szmodics suffered a knee problem during this afternoon’s 1-0 home victory over West Brom, which will be investigated, while he is hopeful Chuba Akpom’s issue is just an impact injury.
McKenna: The Type of Win I'd Have Picked to Benefit the Group
Town boss Kieran McKenna felt the Blues’ 1-0 home victory over West Bromwich Albion was a win of the type he would have picked to benefit his squad.
Ipswich Town 1-0 West Bromwich Albion - Player Ratings and Reports
If you saw the match, please give us your player ratings and a mini match report.
Ipswich Town 1-0 West Bromwich Albion - Match Report
Jack Clarke’s fifth goal of the season saw Town to a 1-0 victory over West Brom at Portman Road. The Blues were the better side throughout but had to wait until the 83rd minute for a goal, sub Clarke following up after an Ivan Azon effort had been saved, Jens Cajuste having forced an error as the Baggies passed out of their area.
Ipswich Town 0-0 West Bromwich Albion - Half-Time
The Blues and West Brom remain locked at 0-0 at half-time at Portman Road.