During the horrors of “that match” at Carrot Road, who could have imagined we’d hit the heights just a few days later? Clearly, there are at least 10,000 regular Ipswich fans who never saw it coming.

When I saw the scoreboard confirm the pitiful attendance at last night’s victory over West Brom, my initial feeling was one of anger.

Where were these missing “fans”, why hadn’t they bothered turning up for what was arguably the biggest cup match at Portman Road for 10 years? A 11,363 crowd (including 1,000-plus WBA fans) is pathetic by any standards. It’s disgraceful and embarrassing.

Some will no doubt say those words can easily be applied to the performance just three days earlier. They’re not wrong.

But, to be honest, from the moment that attendance was announced, I felt even more desperate for us to win – to spite those who had stayed away. But now, in the after-glow of a great, exciting match, an excellent performance from the first Town team to clinch a semi-final place (in any competition barring the FA Youth Cup) in years, my mood has changed.

In the immediate aftermath of the match result, the TWTD Message Board was packed with diverging views – some frozen-nosed fans disparaging those who didn’t turn up on the night, others, cosy at home, trying to justify their decision to stay in the warm.

Of course, there are plenty who couldn’t get to Portman Road, despite the best of intentions – travel problems, sickness, etc etc. For those people, I feel genuine sympathy. I would feel gutted if I had wanted to go and couldn’t make it up from London (actually, the trains from Liverpool Street to Suffolk were totally unaffected). My heart genuinely goes out to you.

But for anyone who lives in Ipswich and couldn't be bothered, or were making some kind of lame protest, I don’t resent you for not turning up. I just feel a bit sorry for you – for missing the best night at Portman Road since we beat Inter in 2001. Frankly, it’s hilarious.

This isn’t an argument about who is the more loyal supporter (the kind of fans who traipse across country to Exeter for a Tuesday night Carling Cup match get my vote, for what it’s worth – and I wasn’t one of them). Grades of loyalty are impossible to judge – like football itself, it’s probably a points game, I would say. But, just as there are ways of earning loyalty points, there are ways of losing them too.

Last night’s glorious (and thoroughly enjoyable and deserved) victory should provide a lesson for all football fans.

Being a supporter is just that. We all have moments of wavering faith (even Keane Inners, surprising though it may seem to the growing number of Keane Outers), but, as any good Catholic will tell you, it is only when your faith is tested that you learn how strong it is. Or, to look at it another way, it is only when your loyalty is tested that you learn how loyal you are.

Above all, last night demonstrates what it is to be a football supporter. However bad things may seem, you never know where victory will come from. That’s why we go. Not because we WILL win, but because we might and (whatever many of us may fear, from time to time) we can.

That’s why I’m going to Chelsea, Arsenal (home and away), Swansea and many other matches this season. We’ll lose some matches. But we’ll win some too. I want to be there when we do.

Ipswich24 added 15:43 - Dec 2 The reason people are not attending is the s**t standard of football we are playing I am a season ticket holder and was not going to last nights game but I got free tickets. Im a very passionate supporter not just a fair weather one. I dont expect to win every game all I ask is to be entertained and to go home feeling that my team have gave their all.
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lunatic38 added 16:39 - Dec 2 I could not go because i live in South Essex and last night was an absolute no no regarding weather and safety but dont give me all that "loyal fan" sh7t many did not turn up because they are fed up wasting good money on watching complete sh7t and for keane to finally select a decent formation and team for a cup qfinal just shows that this arrogant idiot needs to go sooner rather than later , you all finally see a good performance and all is forgiven and try to rub peoples noses in it by saying "i was there i see it" well f....g good for you because i was at carrot road and i was also at ipswich when Barnsley bashed us so F..K off m8 and hopefully Keane will F..k off with you!!!!!!!!!!!

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JayITFC added 16:56 - Dec 2 A well written opinion. I was there last night with ice blocks on my feet but I loved every minute of it. I also feel sorry for those that missed out (for whatever reason). Like you say best cup night at Portman Road since Inter 1-0...
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Big_Foot_Blue added 17:30 - Dec 2 Great article and what a game last night. The noise that 10000 fans made was much louder than the normal 15000 probably because even when were winning those 5000 start the whole "well we should be winning anyway argument". Bottom line is it was a great game and there werent any negatives. Cant fans stop moaning at Keane for one bloody day. All this were still sh*t lark. Were in the semis for god sake! Have a day off moaning, recharge your batterys and then go into the weekend with a clear mind eh! P.S. Inter 1-0 was an epic night but the 2-1 Wigan game in december 2004 with Bents last minute lob was also a great game to contend with last night. COYB

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TractorRoyNo1 added 17:39 - Dec 2 I think everyone who went to the game last night should be 'first in the q' for Emirates tickets.
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brogansnose added 17:47 - Dec 2 I cant remember ever reading so much self righteous, sanctimonius cobblers from some of the people who went last night. Great win and lets do it again on Saturday.
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Tractorboy4ever added 17:53 - Dec 2 I agree with tractorroy, i travelled for over 6 hours to get to the match last night and what a match and yet i will probably still only be able to get 1 ticket at the emirates with my season ticket and some of the people who live down th road from the ground will still also be able to get tickets despite not being bothered to turn up and cheer on the blues. But my actual point is actually one of annoyance with a lot of the 'supporters' who sit near me, who despite the performance, spent the whole match abusing as many of the ipswich players as they could. They were constantly blaming Peters and Smith for anything they did although i thought they played well. They also were complaining the whole time about Priskin and Scotland and saying they never play well and should be sold. I know neither played well on the night, but recently Priskin has been playing a lot better. Correct me if i'm wrong but isn't the definition of support to give moral or psychological support, aid, or courage to, well in that case some of the people sitting by me certainly cannot be called supporters as they do not help the team at all but do completely the opposite. Rant over

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cheese added 18:11 - Dec 2 Well said brogansnose. The people posting all the self righteous drivel about last nights win are the same people who would be moaning and on the players/managers back had we lost. Just because we won, it's no reason to start blowing smoke up your own ass about turning up. Well done you, brilliant, you're frickin awesome. You are by far and away the most loyal supporter this club has ever seen and you should be given free, directors box, tickets to the Emirates. If going to the game last night is the proudest thing you have done, you seriously need to get laid. I went last night and I can 100% see why people did not want to go, as I nearly handed my ticket back.

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itfc24 added 19:36 - Dec 2 I agree brogansnose and cheese what a load of cr&p. You turned up to a game against WBA well done indeed. Taking into account the weather, transport issues and the current feeling about the team and manager amongst the fans I think we didnt do too bad with 10000 fans. BTW I was there and I can vouch for the fact that the trains back to London were ok however I fully appreciate why people woundnt risk getting caught miles from home to attend and why people who live in Ipswich did not wish to attend in sub zero conditions to splash out on however many tickets a couple of weeks before christmas.

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WREXHAM_BLUE added 20:11 - Dec 2 Agree with a lot of what you say in principle, and believe me I would rather have been there freezing my nuts off than sitting listening online in the warmth. For the record, I had a ticket but couldn't go for family reasons so I was pretty gutted up until 7.45pm. Thereafter, fantastic and well done the lads. I would say however that spite is not a particularly pleasant emotion - plenty of Town fans' attitudes wind me up these days but good or bad, we're all in this together. We are after all... Town fans. Onwards and upwards to PR, The Emirates... and Wembley. If we don't believe, then...

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acitfc added 20:43 - Dec 2 Apparently RK didn't even speak to the players before the match ... nothing - left it all to McParland but now takes the credit for the win and has the audacity to be delighted for players staff and fans?! That surprised me too btw...
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WarkyWonderLand added 20:57 - Dec 2 It is great that we live in a democracy and we can all have our own views on life and about our team. It now seems that we are being divided as to who are "real fans" and "true fans". So it is only the 10,000 of us who went last night are those and I disagree with this. The one thing that "real" and "true fans" want is for ITFC (our team) to be successful and achieve its full potential. There will always be differences of views and opinions and that is no different to other clubs. I work with an Everton fan and he heard someone say on the radio that Moyes should be sacked!! We have over 14,000 season ticket holders so for those season ticket holders who didn't go does that mean that they are not "real fans". I don't think so cos they are the backbone of our support. There are a number of problems/reasons for the low attendance last night which include:- - the dire football served up by RK for the last 2 months and results - RK's rant at fans - the very poor performance on Sunday with lack of passion - the cost of advance tickets and tickets on the gate I also work with Arsenal fans and they paid £20 for their game against Wigan! In the evening standard tonight QPR were advertising a family ticket (2 adults and 2 children) for £30 against Watford. What incentive have we had this season to get more supporters to PR? The one occasion against Cardiff. ME and Clegg could have made the decision to charge a flat £20 for last night and they would have had more advance tickets sold. There are genuine "real" fans who just can't afford 3 games in the space of 6 days, especially at this time of year. Thats a FACT. I supported RK last year and what has turned me this year is the dire performances (we don't go for it enough), his formation and tactics and the continuing excuses that come from him. What I have stated on here about squad size, signings, balance to side are all FACTS. Where has been the progress? Had he have actually played Priskin last year and given him a run we would have probably seen the player that he is now developing into. RK did not give him that chance. Lets hope that RK sees sense and the balance from last night and stick with it and go for it. PLEASE PLEASE don't bring Jack back on the left. When I saw Troy Brown play at Reading he was pretty solid. Where was he next game. Nowhere. How can that build up a young player? Had we have lost last night then those people coming on quoting "the real fans" etc would not have been on here today. We are all in it together and lets hope RK keeps the same shape and go for it on Saturday. Had he had done that through September, October and November we would probably be top 6. The 4 centre halfs and 4 central midfielders will never work, even if they were all world class players. I agree with Bluelady, its now all about Saturday and we need another performance and result. COYB

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CaughtInTheBrambles added 21:42 - Dec 2 A great blog revealing nicely which fans can kindly not turn up on Saturday and whinge. Leave it to the 11000 who went and supported the team on a real Glory Night.
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cheese added 22:45 - Dec 2 CaughtInTheBrambles - you sir are a pleb. This judgement is not merely based on your comments, but also the S6 picture. Were you one of the pre-pubescent muppets who got angry at a bin before, and shouted at some police horses after, the Norwich game? As stated, I was there last night and was impressed with the atmosphere. Why was it so good? Well that's because we were playing good football and we won. It would have been 10,000 times better had 10,000 more people been there. So the noise wasn't just because the 'loyal' or 'true' supporters were there, it was the game that got them going.

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ITFC_DOM added 23:08 - Dec 2 Having spent over £50 going to Norwich on Sunday, being a student i could not afford to fork out for anther cup game just before christmas. I was gutted I couldn't be there but had it on the radio from start to finish. The reason i wasn't there was because after paying for a season ticket and for Norwich the price of a ticket to a cup game (prem opposition or not) is ridiculous! I'm as loyal as the next fan but ticket prices are ridiculous. I think thats the real reason for the poor attendance on Wednesday.

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Back_The_Boss added 06:50 - Dec 3 Good blog, completely agree with it.
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hype313 added 17:16 - Dec 3 Heating bill to keep the family warm through this cold snap or go to PR just so I can say I went to appease the jumped up arrogant fans on here. Some things in life are more important sunshine, doesn't mean to say I don't wholeheartedly support our boys through thick and thin. I feel a bit sorry for you mate, who's ideology is to have a pop at fellow fans who couldn't make the game for whatever reason. We live in a land with freedom and choice, I will always excercise my right to do so thanks.

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bozzly added 19:17 - Dec 3 superfrans...who the hell do you think you are writing crap like that? Money, weather, team performance, etc etc is why some chose to stay at home. DONT go around criticising other supporters, Idiot.
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Kropotkin123 added 20:41 - Dec 3 A lame blog from a lame fan who clearly leads a lame life.
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SuperfransX added 20:47 - Dec 3 A lot of people getting very hot under the collar about this. Personally, I think the victory would have all the more enjoyable if there was a full house, roaring crowd etc. Maybe I'm not the only one. Maybe some of those who weren't there are feeling irritated to have missed out - and don't like having their noses rubbed in it. Sorry if that's the case. For those, like Bozzly, who are getting very uptight - try and lighten up eh?

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Kropotkin123 added 21:25 - Dec 3 lighten up? ha ha, you should grow up. Bozzly is only summarising what a lot of people feel about this self righteous drivel. Your blog doesn't talk about wanting the stadium to be full. It was a judgement about other fans. You questioned their loyalty, you talked about point scoring and you found it 'hilarious' that they missed an awesome game. So don't try and weasel out of your pathetic antagonistic comments by saying they need to 'lighten up' or misrepresenting you blog by saying you would rather have a full house. And the truth of the matter is that 'real' fans are real people who have real lives affected by real considerations... like can they be bothered to sit in the cold for 2 hours after we just got beaten 4-1 by Norwich or would they prefer a night in with their family... I understand why they wouldn't think its worth it, I regret they missed a good game, and I know that all 'real' Ipswich fans want what they feel is best for Ipswich.

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Reuser31 added 14:56 - Dec 4 The ticket prices are ridiculous- end of story. Saw an article in FourFourTwo a couple of months ago looking at most expensive season tickets - Ipswich third in the whole English league system including the premier league. Most fans simply can't afford between 25 and 30 quid for the rubbish RK has been serving up for the last 1 and a half seasons. Take note Mr Evans, we're not all as rich as you. COYB

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HadleighBlueBoy added 19:20 - Dec 5 To be honest I'm surprised 10000 bothered to turn up given the lack of entertainment on offer for the last god knows how many games! I lost faith in Keane after the Barnsley debacle and he seems to have single handedly driven away 5-6000 fans from every home League game, never mind cup games.
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AlpineBlue added 13:48 - Dec 12 I am getting tired of seeing this patronising crap about getting behind the team etc. etc. and people criticising supporters who don't come to football matches every week. Stop it, just stop it. Going to watch football matches is extremely expensive! I go as often as I can with my wife and my two daughters. We have all had season tickets for 12 years (and I for 25 years), and despite being exasperated by Jim Magilton's last season in charge, we decided to renew our season tickets (which was not at all cheap) when Keane took over, because we expected to be entertained. We go to football matches to be entertained, because after all, that's what football is about above all else. Last season we were seldom entertained, and so decided this season that we wouldn't renew our tickets and would go only to weekend matches because last season I'd had enough of rushing from work on a tuesday night to stand outside and be cold, finally arriving home at 11 o'clock cold and miserable. I think that, as supporters, we invest a lot of time and money into the club, and that we do have a right to complain. This booing of young players is neither frequent at Portman Road, nor unique to Portman Road. It's just another stick for the patronising idiots to beat us normal supporters with. The country is in an economic crisis, football tickets are very expensive, the quality of football has been atrocious for several years now, and it really doesn't look like it will change in the near future. Why should I go to a Cup match on a cold Tuesday night? Why should I keep giving my hard-earned cash over to a company (sorry club) that gives nothing back? Tell me! There are concerts on every night in Ipswich, but I don't go to most because I think the music is crap, I only go to see films that are entertaining for me. Why should Ipswich Town Football Club be able to assume that I will come, just to be bored? After all, they are an entertainment industry too.

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