Please log in or register. Registered visitors get fewer ads.
Wolverhampton Wanderers 0-0 Ipswich Town - Match Report
Tuesday, 16th Aug 2016 21:42

Town were denied what would have been a deserved first away victory of the season at Wolves after Daryl Murphy had a perfectly good first-half goal disallowed, apparently for offside, the game ending 0-0. The Irishman headed home a Grant Ward corner, keeper Bartosz Bialkowski having saved an earlier Jon Dadi Bodvarsson penalty.

Boss Mick McCarthy made two changes to the team which lost 2-0 at Brentford on Saturday with Teddy Bishop and Jonathan Douglas coming into the side for Kevin Bru, who dropped to the bench, and the injured Conor Grant.

The Blues lined-up in a 4-3-3 formation with Freddie Sears and Ward either side of Daryl Murphy up front, while Bishop started in midfield with Cole Skuse and Douglas. Luke Varney was named among the subs for the first time since rejoining the club for a third spell.

Town started slightly nervously with Bialkowski twice scuffing clearances in the opening minute but with the home side unable to profit.

Wolves took the game to the Blues in the early stages but without being able to find a way beyond Town’s well-drilled defence and midfield until the seventh minute when Conor Coady’s ball sent Joe Mason away on the right but the former Cardiff man crossed into an empty box.

Town threatened for the first time two minutes later. After Douglas had won the ball, Bishop’s right-wing cross was cleared back out to Ward, whose lofted ball towards Murphy at the far post was diverted away from the striker by keeper Carl Ikeme’s flick.

The Blues began to see more of the ball and on 14 Ward’s cross from the right found Sears at the near post but Kortney Hause turned the ball out for a corner. Ward’s flag-kick was cleared out to Jonas Knudsen, but the Danish international half-volleyed well wide.

Hause picked up the game’s first yellow card in the 20th minute for tripping Ward after the former Spurs man had neatly spun away from Matt Doherty and was taking the ball away from the former Wycombe Wanderers defender. Ikeme somewhat flapped at Bishop’s freekick under pressure but the ball fell safely for the Midlanders.

The Blues had been on top since the early stages but in the 24th minute Wolves were given a golden chance to go in front from the penalty spot.

Joao Teixeira played Bodvarsson in on the left of the area and Adam Webster rather needlessly slid and sent the Icelander tumbling. There were no protests from the Town players after referee Peter Bankes pointed the spot.

Bodvarsson took the kick himself and hit it low to Bialkowski’s right but the Pole got down quickly to stop it with a strong right hand, much to the relief of Webster.

A Wolves lead would have been harsh on the Blues, who four minutes later thought they had gone in front.


A Knudsen cross from the left was bundled behind ahead of Douglas and, after his first corner had been headed behind, Ward whipped in a ball to Murphy, who flicked a header home.

Just as the Town players started to celebrate, referee Bankes noticed that the linesman had raised his flag and ruled the goal out, presumably for offside as an indirect freekick was awarded.

Blues assistant Terry Connor subsequently spent several minutes in conference with the fourth official, who seemed equally bewildered regarding the decision.

Replays suggested the linesman may have thought Sears had added a final touch after Murphy’s header, however, he didn’t appear to and in any case looked to be onside.

Despite the disappointment, the Blues continued to have the better of the game and in the 36th minute Bishop screwed a shot well wide after a quickly taken freekick on the right, then soon afterwards the 20-year-old made a typically strong run into the area from deep before being crowded out.

As the half moved into injury time former Wolves defender Christophe Berra lost his man as Bishop sent over a freekick from the right but sent his header wide.

Knudsen won a corner on the Blues left just as referee Bankes brought an entertaining half to an end.

Town will be pleased with their 45 minutes’ work but disappointed to have had what looked a perfectly good goal ruled out.

Aside from the first few minutes the Blues had been on top and - other than the penalty which was well saved by Bialkowski - had created all the chances.

Wolves switched Dave Edwards for George Saville at the start of the second half, while Town remained unchanged.

Teixeira shot not too far wide two minutes after the restart after Webster had been caught in possession.

On 55 Bishop was yellow-carded for a mistimed challenge on the Portuguese midfielder, then two minutes later the academy product was replaced by Kevin Bru.

Wolves switched Bodvarsson for Helder Costa in the 65th minute with the Blues shading a half of few chances, while the home fans were becoming increasingly frustrated.

In the 67th minute a long spell of neat and tidy Town possession ended with Knudsen sending over a cross which was just too high for skipper Luke Chambers beyond the far post.

As the match moved into its final 20 minutes, Ward brought the ball forward from deep before hitting a shot which flew wide. Knudsen has his name added to referee Bankes’s book in the 72nd minute for a foul on Teixeira.

From the resultant freekick, a bouncing ball fell to Costa not far outside the area and the sub hit a powerful volley which Bialkowski did well to save across to his left.

Bru shot through to Ikeme after the ball fell to him on the edge of the area on 75 - Town’s first shot on target of the evening - the disallowed goal aside - then Murphy hit an effort on the turn, also straight at the Nigerian international keeper.

Doherty shot wide for the home side in the 79th minute but Town continued to look the more threatening of the two teams.

Three minutes later, Blues skipper Chambers was booked for a foul on Doherty not far outside the area on the left. Douglas blocked Evans’s freekick. With six minutes left on the clock Teixeira was replaced by Jed Wallace, a one-time team-mate of Webster’s at Portsmouth.

With a minute of scheduled time remaining, Ikeme failed to claim a Knudsen throw and Bru hooked goalwards but Danny Batth headed away with Berra looking to add another touch. Seconds later, Bru was somewhat harshly booked when Ikeme kicked the ball straight at him.

In three minutes of injury time Knudsen shot wide from distance, then Varney made his third debut for the club taking over from Sears.

Just before the final whistle Berra was more understandably booked for impeding the keeper as he sought to get rid of the ball quickly.

A 0-0 draw of the more entertaining variety - the second successive stalemate between the teams at Molineux - with Town certainly the better of the two teams having put in their best - and most stylish - display of the season.

A point would have been welcome at the start of the game but after the performance and particularly the disallowed goal the Blues will return to Suffolk disappointed that they hadn’t claimed all three.

Town: Bialkowski, Chambers (c), Webster, Berra, Knudsen, Skuse, Douglas, Bishop (Bru 57), Ward, Sears (Varney 90), Murphy. Unused: Gerken, Smith, Emmanuel, Kenlock, Dozzell.

Wolves: Ikeme, Iorfa, Batth (c), Hause, Doherty, Coady, Edwards (Saville 46), Evans, Mason, Bodvarsson (Costa 65), Teixeira (Wallace 86). Unused: Lonergan, Henry, Price, Deslandes. Referee: Peter Bankes (Liverpool). Att: 19,991.


Photo: TWTD



Please report offensive, libellous or inappropriate posts by using the links provided.



brazilblue added 21:45 - Aug 16
Really good away performance by a team hampered by injury. believe in the white wizard !
12

brazilblue added 21:45 - Aug 16
Really good away performance by a team hampered by injury. believe in the white wizard !
5

jocasaja added 21:47 - Aug 16
listening to the game on radio - sounded like a very solid performance - would play same starting 11 on Sunday - COYB !!
7

Ashinbarnsley added 21:48 - Aug 16
Terrible decision by the linesman
10

jocasaja added 21:50 - Aug 16
Well done Jonathan Douglas. Sounded like he played well in this midfield 3 with Bishop just in front
19

lightingblue added 21:51 - Aug 16
And we are still flying in the Olympics.
-3

TrueBlue1998 added 21:52 - Aug 16
Good performance. I think this midfield 3 is the way forward
6

BlueMachines added 21:54 - Aug 16
A good point. Well done lads.
7

unknown100 added 21:55 - Aug 16
Good result, that will be the story of our season though, wins, draws and loses pretty much even but yeah well done, thought we'd get stuffed honestly
3

jas0999 added 21:56 - Aug 16
Shame about the controversial decision to disallow the goal, but equally Bart had to save us from going one down after another error. Much better performance, but the way some are celebrating you would think we won the game. Perhaps my ambitions don't match others, but for me we shouldn't be delighted with an away point, particularly when we went there to achieve just that in the hope we could nick a win. Maybe this is how low the club has become, people delighted with a point at Wolves. Solid performance yes, but for people to say we should play two defence minded midfielders for a home game - something which didn't work last season - is baffling. Each to their own of course.

Decent point, but just like 4/9 points and exit from the cup - distinctly average so far. Desperately need new quality additions, as bench looked lacking of game changers tonight. Three games without a goal isn't great.

But a point is a point and more than some expected.
-1

StochesStotasBlewe added 21:56 - Aug 16
Decent point away. Shame about Murphy,s disallowed "goal", but something to build on for the big game Sunday. Will need to be at the very top of our game.
Well done all for a much improved performance.
9

PortmanTerrorist added 21:56 - Aug 16
Disappointed not to get 3? We had 3 shots on target all game. Get real.

We simply don't set up like we are the better team. Ever.

Nicking results is the best we can hope for and the occasional 0-0 of the entertaining variety. Seems like both MM and TWTD lost the plot.
5

yogiblue added 22:00 - Aug 16
Delighted with a clean sheet! Something to build on for Sunday
6

Dissboyitfc added 22:01 - Aug 16
just heard MM saying about being brave and going for wins, WTF ???? he never goes for the win, he sets out not to lose. He makes me fume with the words that spill out of his mouth.
6

oldegold added 22:03 - Aug 16
I just love Ipswich Town forever and ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They should improve though
4

BlueNomad added 22:04 - Aug 16
Win your home games and draw your away ones and you will be in the promotion race. We are one point off. It is mid-August so let's moan shall we!
7

oldegold added 22:04 - Aug 16
i like sprite
3

ITFC_Cotton added 22:06 - Aug 16
Ahhh another 90 minutes of lacklustre attacking effort, Bart without a doubt the highlight. That save from the pen and also a worldy save from a volley even the home fans were stood up applauding him. I'm still not sure why the goal wasn't given but other than that we were very toothless in front of goal. Sears a shadow of himself last season but that's probably him being played along the left. It wasn't a terrible performance just huffing and puffing with no end product. Good to see a clean sheet but apart from the rare chance Wolves were as bad in front of goal than us.
8

runaround added 22:09 - Aug 16
Considering the injuries & all the negativity surrounding the club, I feared a heavy defeat so am pleasantly surprised we got a creditable away draw. Now we need to build on this
7

oldegold added 22:14 - Aug 16
I HAVE HAD ENOUGH OF IPSWICH TOWN FC PLAYING THIS WAY!!!!! Can't MM understand that the way he wants his football too be played was created when the first football was created. STOP IT!!! Supporters are running away and the football has NO SENSE!!!!! Come on Ipswich do something.
0

blue86 added 22:20 - Aug 16
Good away point, and really pleased to keep a clean sheet. Gives me a bit more hope for Sunday, also well done Bart! Everyone will have to have a good game on Sunday for us to have any hope... but we owe the budgies one big time!! Coyb
7

leahcar88 added 22:23 - Aug 16
If some where celebrating then perhaps it was a bad result and poor performance on Saturday. For just a few days later to come against arguably a stronger side at present, play better and not concede. Would hope to think it'll be a confidence boost just before scum? I'm probably wrong just a positive person I suppose.
4

braveblue added 22:31 - Aug 16
People asking for two defensive midfielders at home. Short memories. Douglas being tipped to keep place. NIl nil draw and he is suddenly good. Amazing.
1

GerkensBeard added 22:34 - Aug 16
Wasn't at the game tonight was at work but this is a good result to take into Sunday. From what I've read we've had our best performance so far tonight. Eventually when Grant is back I'd like to see him in this formation instead of Douglas and really work at it.
Hilarious that some fans aren't happy they seem to think we have the right to win every game 😂 at anywhere in the country this early on in the season I'm happy with an away point on a Tuesday night as I believe the home team has the advantage straight away under their lights, better atmosphere and taking travelling and fatigue into account.
7

EssexTractor added 22:38 - Aug 16
Excellent penalty save
Controversial disallowed goal
A point
But more importantly no goal for 278 minutes against three teams of mediocre ability!!
Entertainment?
Arguable.
And on to the real real first test of the year on Sunday....
12


You need to login in order to post your comments

Blogs 298 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls





About Us Contact Us Terms & Conditions Privacy Cookies Advertising
© TWTD 1995-2024