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Town 2-2 Wolverhampton Wanderers - Match Report
Saturday, 21st Nov 2015 17:11

Jonathan Douglas and Daryl Murphy put Blues in front in either half but Wolves equalised twice via James Henry and Benik Afobe in a 2-2 draw at Portman Road. Douglas opened the scoring in the 16th minute, Henry levelled seven minutes before the break, prior to Murphy regaining Town’s lead on 54, but Afobe hit back with a header 15 minutes from time.

Boss Mick McCarthy named an unchanged side against his old club with central defender Christophe Berra facing his former side.

For Wolves, one-time Town loanee Jordan Graham was handed his debut wide on the left of midfield.

Prior to kick-off there was an immaculately observed minute’s silence for former Blues keeper Márton Fülöp, who died aged 32 just over a week ago following a long battle with cancer, and the victims of the Paris attacks.

Cole Skuse struck the game’s first shot of the game well over in the second minute after good work down the left involving Freddie Sears.

There was a scare for the Blues a minute later when Wolves striker Benik Afobe was first to Dominic Iorfa’s ball over the top but stumbled as he took it down and Tommy Smith got back to challenge before Dean Gerken claimed.

Wolves threatened again in the 10th minute when Iorfa made a powerful run into the area but Berra got across to block his shot. The loose ball fell to Graham on the left of the area and Gerken grabbed his effort after a deflection.

James Henry picked up the game’s first yellow card a minute later for a foul on Jonas Knudsen on the Blues’ left but the freekick came to nothing and Wolves broke, Graham sending over a dangerous low cross which Skuse did very well to divert over ahead of Jack Price.

Despite the visitors having had the better of the early chances, the Blues went in front on 16.

A move which started in the centre circle ended with Sears feeding Knudsen on the overlap to his left. The Dane sent over a low cross which Daryl Murphy allowed to pass behind him to Jonathan Douglas, who deftly curled into the corner of the net with the outside of his right boot. It was the Irishman’s second goal in two games and his first at Portman Road.

Brett Pitman wasn’t far away from making it 2-0 on 18 when he blocked Carl Ikeme’s kick and the ball looped a feet feet wide of goal.

As the clock ticked over to 21 Portman Road burst into applause in tribute to Fülöp - 21 was his Town squad number - with the Sir Bobby Robson Stand chanting ‘One Márton Fülöp’.

Having got their noses in front the Blues were looking the more threatening side and on 26 Pitman was inches away from making it 2-0 when he headed Sears’s cross from the left just past Ikeme’s left post.


Pitman went even closer on 32, albeit unintentionally, when a cross from deep on the right looped over Ikeme and bounced off the top of the bar and over.

Three minutes later, a sweeping Town move ended with Sears playing a low ball across the six-yard box from the right but no one was able to add the final touch. Soon after, the former Colchester striker scuffed an effort from distance wide.

The Blues had been well on top having taken the lead but seven minutes before the break the visitors got back on terms.

Graham sent over a corner from the left to the far post, on-loan Newcastle man Mike Williamson stabbed back across the area and James Henry - a Town target during Paul Jewell’s time in charge - turned home from a couple of feet.

Three minutes before the break Smith headed Kevin Bru’s right-sided corner powerfully goalwards but straight at Ikeme. As the half moved into its final scheduled minute, skipper Luke Chambers headed a cross from the left but also to the keeper.

Town will feel they ought to have been ahead at the break after an impressive first half performance.

Having gone in front via a well-worked goal the Blues played some of their best football of the season, keeping possession confidently, passing the ball fluently and carving out one or two chances to increase their lead.

The Wolves equaliser came very much against the run of play and was a very poor goal to concede from a Town perspective.

Six minutes after the restart Murphy hit the first shot of the second half from the edge of the box, the ball deflecting wide for a corner.

Town regained their lead in the 54th minute. Skuse played in Pitman on the right of the area and, as keeper Ikeme came off his line expecting the former Bournemouth man to go for goal, he slid the ball over him but across to Murphy, who nodded in his fourth goal of the season from close range.

Ikeme - in the side as a replacement for the injured Emiliano Martinez - suffered an knock in attempting to get back into his ground but after treatment was OK to carry on.

After Graham had shot over from a promising position on the left of the area, Wolves switched Dave Edwards for Adam Le Fondre on 65 with the visitors.

A minute later Skuse won the ball midway inside the Wolves half before finding Sears, who exchanged passes with Pitman, but the return was just too strong for the one-time West Ham trainee.

Town continued to look the more dangerous side, Murphy sending over another cross from the left on 68 but again beyond his team-mates. Soon after Bru was switched for Ainsley Maitland-Niles, the Mauritius international receiving warm applause as he left the field.

Graham looped a freekick from a dangerous position on the right over in the 71st minute with the visitors beginning to have more of the ball in the Town half.

And in the 75th minute they got back on terms. Le Fondre sent over a cross from the right and Afobe planted an unchallenged header past Gerken from a five yards.

The visitors, who had started to get more into the game before the goal although without looking too much of a threat, went close again a minute after scoring, Le Fondre just failing to reach Henry’s cross from the right.

Maitland-Niles went close to making it 3-2 on 79, the on-loan Arsenal man flicking a header from Sears’s cross just wide. At the other end, Henry shot well over after good work on the edge of the box from Le Fondre.

As the game moved into its final scheduled 10 minutes Wolves were looking much more dangerous than earlier in the game. On 82 Le Fondre hit a shot straight at Gerken.

Two minutes later, Sears and Murphy carved out a chance for Douglas inside the area but Ikeme plucked the Irishman’s shot out of the air.

Kevin McDonald blazed over in the 87th minute with the visitors creating most of the better late chances. Two minutes later, Ikeme did well to punch away Sears’s cross ahead of Murphy and Chambers.

As the game moved into four minutes of injury time Skuse saw a powerful effort blocked, then Douglas hit a strike which deflected through to Ikeme.

In injury time Chambers was yellow-carded for a foul on Ojo, then Le Fondre was joined him in the book for a cynical trip on Sears as Town broke. Town were unable to make anything of the freekick and soon after referee Gavin Ward blew his final whistle.

Town will feel they have dropped two points having been on top and comfortable twice in the game before conceding two bad goals.

Having put in one of their best performances of the season in the first half, the Blues weren’t quite so impressive after the break, however, once Pitman had superbly created Murphy’s goal they should have gone on to claim all three points but allowed the game to drift and Wolves to get back on terms for a second time.

Town remain 10th in the table - now only three points off the play-offs - ahead of next Saturday’s trip to Charlton, who climbed to fifth-bottom after a 1-0 away win at Birmingham.

Town: Gerken, Chambers (c), Smith, Berra, Knudsen, Skuse, Bru (Maitland-Niles 69), Douglas, Sears, Murphy. Pitman. Unused: Bialkowski, Malarczyk, Parr, Coke, Oar, Touré.

Wolves: Ikeme, Iorfa, Batth (c), Williamson, Golbourne, McDonald, Price, Henry, Edwards (Le Fondre 65), Graham (Ojo 78), Afobe. Unused: Flatt, Doherty, Coady, Byrne, Holt. Referee: Gavin Ward (Surrey). Att: 19,227 (Wolves: 996).


Photo: Action Images



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jas0999 added 19:21 - Nov 21
A relatively entertaining game, particularly in the first half, but for me, this is a poor result. Need to be beating teams like Wolves at home if we have any serious promotion aspirations. Sadly, I'm not convinced we are promotion contenders. Keeper weak and conceding far too many goals. Not convinced by the left back, whilst Wolves like many teams, have exploited Chambers at right back. He improved second half. On the positive side, Douglas is improving, and we look dangerous. I'm not convinced about playing Bru and Sears out of position though. The latter played very well, but he is a striker. Bru looked lost in that position today. I still think we need a right back, goalkeeper and that quality attack minded central player if we are to press on. Top five teams moving away and with plenty of other teams sniffing around the top six, we will need to improve and pick up three points in these type of games from now on. I liked the way Wolves attacked with pace and quality from the midfield. Food for thought. Our midfield decent, but unbalanced with players out of position.
11

Steelmonkey added 19:38 - Nov 21
We lost so much after Bru was substituted, but he didn't look 100% today, however when he went off Maitland Niles failed to fill the role that Bru had been doing, understandable that AMN from this as to why he didn't start the game. That left a gaping hole which Wolves eagerly filled.
Anyone at the game today could see why we conceeded two goals.
Wolves don't look a great team.
We look a little niave on the left side of defense, hope that takes care of itself when more games have been played.
We will have to put in a late run if we are to get anywhere near good enough for a top six finish, I have down graded my hopes of an automatic promotion spot, we have lost far too much ground for that to happen. I don't think these international breaks are helping much. Although the games coming at such a rate, somtimes playing three games in seven days shows that we still have a relatively weak squad, with some players not able to step up to the mark when needed.
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phillo added 19:42 - Nov 21
Chepstowblue that's a ridiculous comment ....are you genuinely not a little pissed off today & genuinely cant see that there nay be a view that PERHAPS we need to be a bit better in defence !!!!! Suggesting it might have been good to drop 2 points today as some people who don't have your apparent "blind faith" & have the temerity to have a slightly different opinion as to who should be in the team to Mick don't "deserve" to have a winning team is laughable ....... & as bad as those who immediately call for Mick's sacking every time we don't win. Sport I a game of opinions, everyone is entitled to one even if you don't agree with it.
Wish you didn't have a computer !!!!
9

happybeingblue added 19:52 - Nov 21
decent match let's not forgot wolves finished 8th last year! yes we should have won but we had good attacking threat and for me it's definetly improving jd was good today and Freddie and Knudsen linked up well at times would have liked to see gerks come and deal with Wolves cross for second goal but heyho ... I believe a good run of wins is gonna happen soon keep the faith! see Rotherham won at Leeds today just highlights how unpredictable this league is.
1

Keaneish added 19:52 - Nov 21
I've seen a few posts referencing that we played the ball a lot in the air today! What a load of nonsense. Play the ball in the air is something we didn't do today and we were better for it. So for anyone not able to attend the game, don't believe a word of this litter.
5

happybeingblue added 19:55 - Nov 21
actually wolves finished 7th level on points with us :)
0

blueboy1981 added 20:13 - Nov 21
Very disappointing result - why do we make such hard work of such teams ?

We were by far the better side - but once we went 2-1 up, we lost the plot completely. This was the point at which we should have gone for it, instead we let them completely take over.

Feel sorry for Sears - such a wasted talent being played left midfield - shameful.

Definitely 2 points given away needlessly - against another very ordinary team.

Quite simply, we are not good enough - mid table Championship is where we belong on this showing, and cannot be denied.
12

blueboy1981 added 20:22 - Nov 21
Chepstowblue ........... one of two things is absolutely certain - either you were not at the game today, OR you have no idea whatsoever about Football, and what you are watching.
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Cloddyseedbed added 20:25 - Nov 21
Keaneish I was at the game and every home game and the ball spends too much of the time in the air. You may like and accept that. I don't. Agreed we did try to keep it on the ground a bit more but a lot of our players just aren't comfortable with the passing game.
5

essex57 added 20:28 - Nov 21
Strange old game one minute we are coasting then look like we could get beat I admit we were undone by woefull defending but if we had put away half our chances we could of scored five never mind 1pt gained looking forward to Charlton.
0

bluefeast added 20:40 - Nov 21
A right back in the modern game needs to be a supporting player both at the back and in the final third ,its an incredibly tough ask for a natural centre half to develop into a modern day full back , so thats weakness one ,weakness number two is imbalanced centre halves , we have two left footers who are incredibly uncomfortable on their right side , weakness 3 , goalkeeper who cannot dominate his six yard box vocally or physically , he freezes as he is a natural shot stopper as opposed to a ball catcher and distributor ,weakness 4 Sears at left mid as opposed to centrally as a striker , weakness 5 Bru as right mid as he is a centre mid , weakness 6 left back ,knudson will become a good player but right now he is making basic errors all the way through the left side. So 6 weaknesses from 11 players ,what do you get imbalance ,inability to retain possession , so we are not winning the games we are drawing due to us inviting pressure by allowing to much possession to the opposition. Change it Mick ,be brave vs Charlton and drop weakness in our back 5 as a starting point.
8

Keaneish added 20:40 - Nov 21
Who isn't comfortable with the 'passing game' exactly? Berra, Chambers and Smith? Shock. Centre halves aren't the best ball players.
-5

bluefeast added 20:45 - Nov 21
Its like the great debate tonight ,fact is we tried to pass the ball today more so than normal , fact is we struggle to string more than 3 or 4 passes as we do it in a predictable manner due to the lack of support throughout the team ,so gaps are huge when we are attacking between our mid and strikers and our defines and mid. To accommodate players out of their natural position whilst players on the bench would naturally fill those roles is very odd to me.
8

Slambo added 21:03 - Nov 21
It's like watching Match of the Day reading the comments on here. Everyone is so black and white: we won = we played well; we lost/dropped points = we played poorly. It's not as simple as that; Ipswich played very well today, and were good for 3 points. Any honest Wolves fan would admit they did well to come away with a point. We attacked with verve and defended well enough. In the first 10 minutes of the game Wolves got in behind us several times, but after that, they melted away. As McCarthy rightly said, you'll never dominate a game for a full 90 minutes, and even the worst team will get a chance or two against you. Unfortunately for us, opposing teams have been consistently taking what limited chances we've offered them - Brentford, Birmingham and Bristol City - as well as today - immediately spring to mind...

Bottom line, if we play like we did today every game this season, we'll make the playoffs, no probs. And if not, well, so what. We've got a quality little club and we're doing things the right way - let's not lose sight of that...

Let's not fall into the
3

sixtyblue added 21:04 - Nov 21
Just get of knudsens back. He' s improving game by game.How would you like it if you joined a club and had to perform with the bunch of jokers supposedly according to mick McCarthy as good.
They' been I a sad joke for the last thirty or so games.Far to inconsistent.Giving contracts to players for with options for another like Tabb means you are lumbered with a player you could have said goodbye to and been left to sign a new face.
1

Slambo added 21:07 - Nov 21
Don't quite know why i've put 'let's not fall into the...' at the end of my post..!
-1

Gazelle added 21:12 - Nov 21
Don't think you can blame Gerkin for the first one because the cross was beyond the far post and out of his reach
Goal came from a corner given away by Tommy when a decent right foot would have put it out for a throw in. When the corner came over it landed on his right side and he was out muscled by their player.
We got away with this last year when Berra looked after Tommy but unfortunately Berra is struggling a bit this season. No right foot again.
-1

thebeat added 21:17 - Nov 21
Played the best football we've played at home since the Middlesboro game of last season but same old reasons for not taking all 3 points.
1: Gerken is useless at crosses and isnt as good as Bialkowski.
2: Chambers isnt a rightback and is a liability.
3: Knudsen is just a very average left back. 6/10 at everything he does.
How i'd love us to have a rightback like the Wolves lad today. Thought he was excellent
1

toxtethblue added 21:24 - Nov 21
Just seen goals. Gerken definately at fault, that cross should have been his. Bart must be doing his nut watching that and knowing hes the better keeper. Micks still in love with deano though...
3

toxtethblue added 21:25 - Nov 21
Meant the first particularly...
0

warktheline added 21:26 - Nov 21
Keanish, your papering over cracks. Chambers shouldn't be playing at right back, nor should Smith be playing on his weaker foot! This might just make some of our 'centre-backs' a touch more comfortable in possession!
6

Bert added 21:28 - Nov 21
Deserved to win with a very good performance but let down by basic errors in defence. Are we getting better? Yes. Do the top 6 have more money to spend than us ? Yes. Do most supporters in the ground think that some of the comments on here are from posters who don't want to acknowledge progress? Yes. The lads work as a team and support each other which is more than many on here would appear to do given their constant griping. I would love to judge their performance in their job.
2

Stato added 21:30 - Nov 21
I can't see us finishing in the play offs and then those members of the In Mick We Trust brigade will have to stop quoting the year on year progress argument. From my point of view we are already well past the point of being able to credit Mick with progressing the team and there is a building argument to say we are going backwards. Results are worse than last season, league position is worse and style of football is the same. I think most of us would agree the squad is stronger than last year so that makes it so much harder to understand the lack of results and performances this group of players should be producing. The fact is that too many points have been dropped due to the fact that Mick is picking the wrong keeper and playing Sears and Chambers out of position.
7

Slambo added 21:50 - Nov 21
D'you know what, I don't really give a f**k how Ipswich do this season, or in any season for that matter. I just want us to be an honest, well run club, with a sensible transfer policy, a strong youth academy and who looks after its fans. Success should only ever be a side effect of following those policies, not an end in itself. Getting on the p*ss, home and away, singing my heart out for the Caackers, whether in the corporate EPL or the Vanarama South, is what it's all about. Some people on here would do well to remember that...
0

Minneapolis_ITFC added 21:53 - Nov 21
Entertaining game played in less than ideal weather conditions. The away team will doubtless be the more content of the two.

Frustrated that we couldn't hold to a winning score once again and what you may have seen today was two teams with an outside shot of the play-off opportunities once again who will either scrape in or finish around 7th to 10th position.

Nine goals in 3 games is promising and we have certainly improved in recent weeks. Some awkward games to come in the weeks ahead with some leading promotion challengers, but one game at a time. No sense in getting carried away with events that have yet to occur.

Final thoughts on todays game : Disappointed not to hold out until the end and claim a third successive victory, but once again, evident progress being made today.

4


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