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Town 2-1 Wolves
Tuesday, 4th Nov 2014 22:07

Top scorer Daryl Murphy was on target twice as Town defeated boss Mick McCarthy’s former club Wolves 2-1 at Portman Road. Murphy smashed home a brilliant opening goal in the 35th minute, the visitors got on terms via a James Henry fluke on 53 but the Irishman netted the winner six minutes later to take his season's total to 10.

Kevin Bru and Jay Tabb came into the Town side for the injured Cole Skuse and Teddy Bishop with the midfield duo out with groin injuries, along with keeper Dean Gerken and right-back Jonny Parr, while Jonny Williams was missing with a calf problem.

The Blues were first to threaten in the second minute, David McGoldrick feeding Murphy to his left and the Irishman hitting a powerful low shot which Wolves keeper Carl Ikeme claimed at the second attempt.

On six Stephen Hunt, playing on the right of the front three, crossed towards Murphy in the Wolves box. The ball ran loose and the grounded Town striker tried unsuccessfully to find a team-mate before the visitors cleared.

Town continued to have the better of it, with McGoldrick often dropping deep and seeing a lot of the ball, and on 12 Murphy shot over from 20 yards out on the left.

Wolves went close to going in front in the 13th minute when Leon Clarke’s shot deflected to Bakary Sako eight yards out but skipper Luke Chambers got across to block. The Midlanders lost Dave Edwards to injury a minute later with Michael Jacobs taking over.

Despite that chance it was the Blues who were on top and in the 15th minute they almost profited from a goalkeeping error when Ikeme dropped a Bru cross from the left at McGoldrick’s feet. The striker looked set to score but Ethan Ebanks-Landell somehow managed to divert the ball wide.

Bru hit a powerful 30-yard strike straight at Ikeme in the 19th minute with the Blues still having more of the ball and most of the chances.

On 26 Bru chipped the ball to the right of the area towards Hunt, who deftly flicked a low ball into the box with the outside of his left foot towards the sliding Tabb, who stabbed straight at Ikeme from a matter of feet. A yard or so either side of the keeper and it would have been a superbly worked opening Town goal.

Moments later, Hyam picked up the game’s first yellow card - and his fifth of the season meaning he’ll miss the Watford match - for a foul on Lee Evans just outside the area on the right. McGoldrick blocked Sako’s well-struck freekick, then within a minute Wolves right-back Matt Doherty joined Hyam in the book for a foul on Tyrone Mings.

Tommy Smith got in the way of Sako’s 33rd minute strike after the winger had cut in from the left but the Blues had been on top throughout the half, and in the 35th they got their reward.

Murphy out-muscled Kevin McDonald as the Wolves man looked to bring the ball out of the area, then turned and hit a curling 20-yard left-foot shot which Ikeme could only palm into the corner of the net. It was the ninth goal of Murphy’s excellent season and up there with the very best of them.


The Irishman went close again a minute later when he latched on to a Hunt pass inside the area but shot into the side-netting from a tight angle.

Town continued to press as the game moved towards half-time, Smith heading Hunt’s left-sided corner over the bar.

In injury time Wolves claimed a penalty as Jacobs went to ground with Smith holding him off as Bialkowski came off his line quickly to claim a ball through the middle. Referee Andrew Madley waved away the rather half-hearted appeals.

There was still time for Town to threaten again before the whistle. After McGoldrick had been fouled just outside the area on the right, Hunt played a low freekick across the area to the Blues frontman, who scuffed a shot which Ikeme just about got across and kept out.

The Blues were well worth their lead at the break having been the better side and having had enough chances to be even further in front. Ikeme had been much the busier of the two keepers with Town home debutant Bialkowski having rarely been tested.

The Blues started the second half as the ended the first, Murphy flicking the ball through to McGoldrick but just too far in front of his strike partner. At the other end, Sako lashed an effort well over from the left of the area.

On 53, following a Town corner, Wolves broke and one-time Blues target Henry saw a shot deflect wide off Berra. And from the resultant corner the visitors got back on terms.

The ball was cleared back out to Henry on the right and his cross was missed by everyone before bouncing into the right-hand corner of Bialkowski’s goal.

The goal was very harsh on the Blues who immediately went looking to regain the lead, attacking in sometimes risky numbers. Mings made a strong run down the left and sent a dangerous ball into the box, then Berra saw a strike blocked.

The visitors weren’t far away from going in front on 57 when Sako found Clarke with a long ball from the left, which the striker diverted just past Bialkowski’s right post.

But it wasn’t long before Town were back in front. Lee Evans inexplicably passed straight to McGoldrick just inside the Wolves half to the right and the Town striker brought the ball forward before playing it perfectly into the path of Murphy, who deftly lifted it over Ikeme and into the net for his 10th of the campaign.

Town continued to press and Mings struck a low effort from 30 yards which Ikeme claimed. The game was increasingly an end to end affair and on 62 Doherty brought the ball in from the left before hitting a shot across goal and wide.

The Blues almost claimed a fortunate third two minutes later when Ebanks-Landell slammed Mings’s left-wing cross against his skipper Danny Batth, the ball looping back only just wide of the post.

Bru hit a 30-yard effort just wide in the 73rd minute with the Blues still looking the more dangerous side, albeit without throwing players forward in quite the same number they had been earlier in the half.

Paul Anderson replaced the excellent but tiring Hunt for the final 14 minutes, the Irishman receiving a standing ovation as he left the field. On 79 Darren Ambrose came on for Tabb, while Liam McAlinden took over from the earlier sub Jacobs for the visitors.

Having made the changes the Blues largely sat back in the closing stages but with the visitors not particularly threatening Bialkowski’s goal. As the match moved into its penultimate minute Sako smashed a freekick miles over from distance, prompting a rendition of Sing Low Sweet Chariot from the Sir Bobby Robson Stand.

Conor Sammon replaced McGoldrick in the early stages of injury time as the Blues came under real pressure for the first time with the visitors winning a couple of freekicks in dangerous areas, Mings doing well to block a shot from McDonald.

Bru was booked for a foul as the game entered its closing seconds, then moments before the whistle Clarke had his name taken for clashing with Bialkowski.

The Blues thoroughly deserved the three points having been the better side throughout what was an entertaining game.

Having gone in front, the fortuitous Wolves goal came against the run of play but Town never panicked and quickly went about the business of regaining the lead.

Murphy - now the division's joint-top scorer with Derby's Chris Martin - will again grab the headlines for his excellent goals, but there were fine performances throughout the side, not least from Hunt and Bru.

The victory takes Town up to fifth in the table and above Norwich City, who drop to seventh following their 4-0 defeat at Middlesbrough.

Watford, who drop to third following their 2-1 defeat at Birmingham with Bournemouth now top, are at Portman Road on Saturday.

Town: Bialkowski, Chambers (c), Mings, Berra, Smith, Bru, Hyam, Tabb (Ambrose 79), Hunt (Anderson 76), McGoldrick (Sammon 90), Murphy. Unused: Crowe,, Bajner, Hewitt, Henshall.

Wolves: Ikeme, Doherty, Batth (c), Ebanks-Landell, Rowe, McDonald, Evans, Henry (van La Parra 82), Edwards (Jacobs 14 (McAlinden 79)), Sako, Clarke. Unused: Kuszczak, Stearman, Saville, Ricketts, Jacobs. Referee: Andrew Madley (West Yorkshire). Att: 17,267 (Wolves: 948).


Photo: Action Images



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irishtim added 22:08 - Nov 4
Fantastic. Well done everyone.
11

muccletonjoe added 22:09 - Nov 4
With the players we had missing I would say our best performance of the season
38

TractorBoy85 added 22:11 - Nov 4
A huge and thoroughly deserved win, got a bit nervy towards the end but we always looked in control of the game. What a stunning season murphy is having, dread to think were we'd be without him!. Another big game Saturday and really looking forward to it, let's make it an electric atmosphere for the boys and continue our push up the table. COYB
21

TractorCam added 22:12 - Nov 4
One of the best performances so far, sloppy goal to give away but 2 superb finishes from Murph, what a player he has turned into, top 6 and above Norwich, COYB
21

bugledog123 added 22:13 - Nov 4
result!
3

Michael11 added 22:14 - Nov 4
What a fantastic result! I probably would've taken a draw tonight with the amount of injuries we had going into the game. Murphy took both goals brilliantly! He's turned into a hugely important player for us. If he and McGoldrick keep banging them in then who knows what may happen!! PS well done Grant Leadbitter!!!
20

Brad_C_ITFC added 22:15 - Nov 4
If we can beat Watford then it sets up a huge game at Bournemouth. COYB!
4

canveyblue added 22:15 - Nov 4
Great result boys, fantastic performance from all. Murphy, Tabb and Bru were excellent. COYB!!!
4

brockleyblueboy added 22:15 - Nov 4
GET IN. Great win and going above Narwich. Well done lads. Let's keep that success tractor rolling on Saturday
5

canveyblue added 22:15 - Nov 4
Great result boys, fantastic performance from all. Murphy, Tabb and Bru were excellent. COYB!!!
2

Lightningboy added 22:16 - Nov 4
Fabulous stuff..big effort vs our bogey team Saturday and we can go into the international break on a real high.
10

bohslegend added 22:17 - Nov 4
Without condition or exception, a fantastic result, with some fantastic performances.
This Wolves team are more than decent. But tonight we made them look very ordinary and at times downright poor. But that was more down to the way our team was set up in the first place, and then the grit, determination and talent of our boys.
This could turn out to be a great season if we all stick together behind the team, the manager and the club as a whole.
Onwards and Upwards!
21

Lightningboy added 22:18 - Nov 4
Murphs is now joint top scorer in the championship too.
11

brassy added 22:20 - Nov 4
Well done everyone the tables looking great.COYB.
2

WhoisJimmyJuan added 22:20 - Nov 4
So glad my fears tonight were unfounded. Murphy's moving fast up the itfc greats list especially given how clear it was that he badly wanted to sign for us and so kept coming back on loan. Top man.
7

DazBent added 22:22 - Nov 4
Even sweeter that Norwich lost..........4-0, I hope they enjoy the journey back from the north
7

bluefeast added 22:23 - Nov 4
No Hyam on Saturday ,if skuse doesnt play then MM should play holding mid , that would worry the Italian continent of Watford. ^) year old Mick kicking lumps out of them , screaming , im bonkers , the league is bonkers , the fact TC is shouting instructions to me that my boots are on the wrong feet is bonkers.
6

bluefeast added 22:25 - Nov 4
Murphy has 30 games to score another 10 goals. 20 from him would be great . I love it how pleased he is to wear the shirt. What a true pro ,brilliant.
12

Langdon_Blue added 22:26 - Nov 4
Cracking result. We are finally being taken seriously in this league now. Well played lads!!
6

bluemikey100 added 22:28 - Nov 4
well done great performance and leadboots for 2 goals against budgies lol top 6 all play each other at weekend amazing
3

linhdi added 22:32 - Nov 4
Really good performance - Berra immense, Bart secure, Murphs different class, Bru superb, as were Hyam and Tabb and Hunt and Mings, but everyome conmtributed. Great team performance. Bring on Watford. And Bournemouth. And the rest of the season.
6

oddball added 22:34 - Nov 4
Awesome :-).
1

Suffolk_n_Good added 22:35 - Nov 4
Brilliant performance tonight, will be honest with so many players missing I feared we may not get a result, but Hunt & Tabb played out of their skins, Bru was exceptional (surely he now deserves to start regularly ahead of Skuse) but MOTM has to go to Murphy, brilliantly taken goals, fantastic work rate. And to finish the night off, Budgies got thrashed, we're up to 5th, happy days :)
9

EssexTractor added 22:36 - Nov 4
Pre match concerns that our midfield would be found short were totally misguided.Fantastic high energy performances from our diminutive duo Tabb and Hunt, ever growing asurance and touch from Bru and the necessary " hard man " role from Hyam. Everyone contributed. Murphy is now a class act and Mings draws gasps of expectation and real excitement. I can't believe there is a more consistent central defender in the Championship than Berra and team spirit seems to be at a real high. And if that is maintained it could , just could be a memorable season
Well done players and management. A thoroughly enjoyable Tuesday night out.
19

HALLSJ added 22:36 - Nov 4
Absolutely delighted, so improved over the last two years, keep up the effort great performances, with a win Saturday I'm sure we will be top 3
4


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