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Ipswich Town 2-2 Rotherham United - Match Report
Saturday, 29th Oct 2016 17:21

David McGoldrick netted a brilliant low drive deep in injury time to grab Town a last-gasp 2-2 draw against bottom club Rotherham United at Portman Road. Freddie Sears had put the Blues in front in the third minute but man of the match Danny Ward equalised four minutes later, then put the visitors in front three minutes after the break. Town rarely looked like getting back on terms in a lacklustre second half until McGoldrick’s late strike.

McGoldrick, Teddy Bishop, Cole Skuse and Myles Kenlock all returned to what was an unusually attacking Town starting line-up.

McGoldrick, who was making his first start since the opening day of the season, formed a a front two with Sears, while Bishop came back into the middle of midfield with Skuse, who was back after missing out at Newcastle with a toe injury.

Kenlock was handed his first appearance of the season at left-back in place of Jonas Knudsen, who suffered a back injury at Newcastle.

Conor Grant dropped to the bench, alongside ex-Millers striker Leon Best, and there was no place in the 18 for Jonathan Douglas.

Rotherham included former Town keeper Lewis Price among their subs, along with their new signing, veteran Nigerian international striker Peter Odemwingie.

The Blues started brightly with Sears and Tom Lawrence, playing wide on the left, both having early crosses blocked.

And in only the third minute Town went in front. Lawrence appeared to rather scuff his freekick in from the right but Sears reacted quickly to the miscue and turned the ball past Millers’ keeper Lee Camp at the near post to claim his second goal in three games following his long goal drought.

But the Blues’ lead lasted only four minutes. Centre-half Adam Webster cleared Joe Newell’s corner from the right to 18-yard line, Jon Taylor beat Bishop in the air and headed it back into edge of the six-yard box, and Danny Ward turned home his seventh goal of the season from close range.

On 10 Town keeper Bialkowski came off his line quickly to punch away from Dexter Blackstock as the former Forest striker chased a header from halfway down the middle. Blackstock required treatment having collided with Bialkowski but was eventually OK to carry on.

Blues strike pair Sears and McGoldrick combined to create an opportunity on 21, the former West Ham man eventually cutting the ball back from the right but behind the Irish international. Kenlock ran in from deep on the left and smashed a shot against a defender.

Town were starting to get on top and for a spell the visitors found themselves pinned back in their half following a corner on the left won by Lawrence, with the Blues passing the ball around with what has recently been uncharacteristic confidence.

However, it was Rotherham who created the next serious chance, a loose ball falling to scorer Ward in the box and Webster doing well to block his shot.

McGoldrick threatened for the first time on 26, the striker heading over from Lawrence’s freekick on the right with the on-loan Leicester man starting to find his range with his set pieces.


On 32 Will Vaulks shot wide off a Town defender after a long throw from the right had been cleared to the edge of the box.

A minute later, Bishop, who had had a quiet half up to that point, skipped his way past a number of Rotherham players and rode a couple of tackles as he broke into the area from the left but scraped his shot wide.

In the 35th minute the visitors were forced to swap ex-Colchester man Greg Halford, who had picked up a knock, for Dominic Ball.

Kenlock, who was enjoying an impressive first half, wasn’t too far away from putting the Blues back in front on 36 when he forced Camp to scramble away his far post header from Grant Ward’s looping cross from the right.

McGoldrick and Sears interchanged again in the 38th minute on the Town left, the latter eventually cutting the ball into the area but a defender cleared before it reached his strike partner.

In injury time Berra was caught in the head by a Rotherham boot following a Town corner but referee Darren Bond waved away the Blues’ penalty appeals. The loose ball fell to Webster but his snapshot flew out for a throw on the far side.

The final whistle was greeted by scattered applause from the home support, who will have been pleased with an enterprising first-half display from their side.

Having claimed the early lead Town will have been disappointed to concede the equaliser almost immediately with set pieces Rotherham’s main threat throughout the period.

The Blues had kept the ball better than has often been the case recently and passed it around confidently in spells with Sears and McGoldrick combining well on a number of occasions.

However, aside from Kenlock’s header, Millers keeper Camp hadn’t been forced into making many saves with the visitors’ backline defending with greater solidity than has often been the case this season.

The second half got off to the worst possible start for Town with Rotherham taking the lead in only the 48th minute.

Webster and Berra got in one another’s way as Vaulks’s long throw came into the area from the right and Danny Ward turned a volley past Bialkowski, the striker’s eighth goal of the campaign.

A minute later, as Town looked to get back in the match, Grant Ward volleyed over from not far outside the area after a Lawrence corner had been cleared.

There was another scare for the Blues from a Rotherham long throw, this time from the left, in the 56th minute when Vaulks’s ball into the area avoided everyone until it reached Richard Wood beyond the far post but the Millers’ skipper shot wide.

At the other end, Grant Ward went well wide after Lawrence had brought the ball deep into the Rotherham half.

The goal had given the visitors confidence, however, and they were having most of the ball, while Vaulks’s long throws continued to cause problems.

McGoldrick rode a couple of tackles and shot over on 63 with the Blues still to really get going after the break.

Two minutes later, Ward crossed from the Town right, McGoldrick flicked on but Lawrence’s header was easy for Camp to claim.

Moments later, Town made two changes, Ward and Bishop making way for Leon Best and Jonny Williams with Sears moving to wide left and Lawrence to the right.

On 71 Williams crossed from the left towards Best but the ball was headed clear to McGoldrick, but the striker curled his shot well over.

With the Sir Bobby Robson Stand vocally complaining about Town’s style of football in no uncertain terms - “Mick McCarthy, your football is s–t” - Luke Varney took over from Kenlock, who will have been very happy with his display.

Rotherham looked to be seeing out four minutes of injury time until McGoldrick’s dramatic equaliser.

Webster crossed from the left, a defender headed the ball out to McGoldrick, who smashed a low drive through a crowd of players and past his old Forest team-mate Camp. The Rotherham players, who thought they had claimed their first away win of the season, collapsed to the floor.

There wasn’t time for any further action before referee Bond ended the game. Despite the late goal there were still boos on the final whistle and further frustrated chants aimed at manager McCarthy.

The Blues failed to capitalise on their early lead, giving away the first of two set-piece goals soon afterwards, and while they were on top and played well in spells in the first half, they created few chances.

Town struggled to get going in the second half after conceding Rotherham’s second goal so early on. They huffed and puffed but never created a clear-cut opportunity until McGoldrick - who looked out on his feet by that stage - hammered home his goal.

Despite the late equaliser, a home draw with the division’s bottom side - Rotherham had lost their last seven games, had lost all seven of their away games and were eight points from safety - is huge disappointment for Town and added to fans’ frustrations with manager McCarthy, as was evident from the chants from the terraces.

The point moves the Blues up to 15th in the table with a trip to Sheffield Wednesday, who lost 2-0 at Derby today, next week.

Town: Bialkowski, Chambers (c), Webster, Berra, Kenlock (Varney 84), Skuse, Lawrence, Bishop (Williams 66), G Ward (Best 66), Sears, McGoldrick. Unused: Gerken, Emmanuel, Bru, Grant.

Rotherham: Camp, Fisher (Odemwingie 80), Fry, Wood (c), Mattock, Taylor, Halford (Ball 35), Vaulks, Newell, D Ward, Blackstock. Unused: Price, Kelly, Forde, Forster-Caskey, Brown. Referee: Darren Bond (Lancashire). Attendance: 15,247 (Rotherham: 205).


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BillBlue added 19:27 - Oct 29
Pencilpete - I think everyone on here hates all the negativity that is about it never used to be that way. However with your conclusions I am sorry to say I am left with only one question - are you a nut case or what?
11

warktheline added 19:39 - Oct 29
@pencilpete,you're as clueless as McCarthy! McCarthy hasn't a positive bone in his body in regards to playing attacking football, his mentality has and always will be, to stop the opposition playing, then see if he can nick a goal here or there! That was fine initially considering our club's predicament when he was installed. BUT 4 years on! Sorry but the players have become complacent under McCarthy, the fault for that rests firmly at his door. He too has become very complacent at leafy East Anglia, ultimately things will need to change, with him, in my opinion, the first OUT!
16

mantreeblue added 19:44 - Oct 29
Mr Evens please please please get rid of McCarty and get someone like Jorge Sampaoli in.
2

blueboy1981 added 19:54 - Oct 29
BillBlue ........ sound suggestion of yours ref running a TWTD Poll - but don't hold your breath on that - it just will not happen.

Prove me wrong Phil .... !!
5

milliem added 19:55 - Oct 29
@blueboy1981 5-0 Suck on that Budgie Boy. GIRFUY!
-5

Swn98 added 19:56 - Oct 29
Pencilpete couldn't of written a better synopsis of the situation I would like to add I applaud one of the last texts read out on radio Suffolk re the atmosphere and appalling chanting especially at the end of the match in the SBR.
Finally at some stage shouldn't the players be held accountable for part of the shambles that is ITFC at the present time.
-18

dirtydingusmagee added 20:04 - Oct 29
sorry Grubbyoik i didnt mean to mark you down,
0

dirtydingusmagee added 20:09 - Oct 29
im not normally blessed with much patience but on this occasion im prepared to be , MICK ,if you cant resign Monday ,TUESDAY WILL DO . .
8

StochesStotasBlewe added 20:12 - Oct 29
Swn98, The players are coached to play that way, so the buck stops with dinomick. No excuses, that was sh#te, tactically inept against a dreadful Rotherham side. I had a few beers beforehand in the hope things might look better, but it made not a sh#tsworth of difference. F#ck off MM, TC & ME. Your football is sh#t.
11

grumpyoldman added 20:18 - Oct 29
Which division do we need to end up in before some of the "super Mick McCarthy" brigade admit that the team is not performing very well and the cause is the manager, not the players, not Evans, not the coaching staff but MM? This is not a go at anybody just an honest question.
10

Murphys_Law added 20:24 - Oct 29
Not at all happy with the football,squad looks reasonable now. Not the time to change,the season is already over but MM won't get us relegated.changing now would be very hasty and put the club at serious risk. Patience is needed Marcus, wait and see how we finish and act accordingly in the summer.
-10

Pencilpete added 20:39 - Oct 29
I'm not a McCarthy lover or a hater, but i work in logic and looking at everything logivcally I think the situation at our club is everyones fault from Evans not putting up enough cash, to Micks selections and tactics to the Players not performing to the fans booing and negative chanting. until everyone stops blaming someone else and does something about their own part of this mess then nothing will change and the situation will get worse.

To respond to a few points asked of me above .....

To the person who asked what i was doing on here if i think you're all pathetic and don't agree with your views i could put a similar question to you, if you don't like Ipswich Town and what you are served up on a saturday what are you doing watching it or commenting on an Ipswich Town messageboard.

Billblue - am i a nutcase ? according to the last assessment i had ...... yes.

warktheline, you can't say MM doesn't have a positive bone in his body and then post a paragraph of negative dribble.

I will ask my question again because it seems to have been lost in all the waffle.

You all wanted Mick to play more attacking, he did. you wanted Mick to drop Douglas and play Bishop in the middle, hre did. you wanted him to put Sears up top and he did.
The result ? - a scrambled 2-2 draw with a side bottom of the table on a run of 7 straight defeats.

So geniuses and whingers what does Mick do next ?

(I'm expecting a load of rubbish saying 'resign' or 'jump of a cliff' - i'm hoping there is something constructive to come out of someone)
0

Swn98 added 20:49 - Oct 29
Pinewood your not telling me they are coached to make a dozen side way passes in midfield then pass it back to a defender instead of going forwards you see MM screaming during the match to go forward,switch the play etc etc at some stage the players have to look at themselves and ask some questions.
-6

BillBlue added 20:57 - Oct 29
Pencilblue - I love it (your response that is) BUT - you say you work in logics and look at everything logi(v)cally then suggest we the fans improve our part!! HOW? I don't chant, boo, or do anything nasty at all, probably because I can no longer get to matches so, to me, your suggestion is totally illogicalFull Stop
1

BrettenhamBlue added 21:00 - Oct 29
Make no mistake, we are in a relegation battle now. We are lucky we didn't just lose a 6 pointer.
2

TonyMowbray added 21:10 - Oct 29
Booooooo. Enough is enough. Some relationships start off ok but after a few years end up unhappy, uninteresting and unproductive......that is when a relationship should end and not drag on for any longer unnecessarily.
7

surgery added 21:11 - Oct 29
Swn98 if that is the case, why does the manager continue to play these people who always ignore his instructions? Surely they are the chosen few different class proper blokes
6

carsey added 21:17 - Oct 29
Pencilpete - I have no doubt I and many others on here could do as badly as McCarthy and I would happily do my job with people screaming at me for the money he is on.
This is and always has been about football style and lack of tactical no how by someone who claims to be good at his job. He is not.
11

blueboy1981 added 21:20 - Oct 29
....... in certain pathetic minds - a 5-0 reverse for the budgies covers all our woes up - until the next time ... !!!
5

warktheline added 21:38 - Oct 29
@pencilpete, logic hahaha!!!!!! Please explain your logic in regards to my negativity in relation to McCarthy's? Where's the connection? 😳.......!
1

surgery added 21:44 - Oct 29
I'm sure Messrs Evans & Milne have this debacle in hand. Yeah right lol
1

NoelTheDub added 22:08 - Oct 29
Pencilpete- I respect tour view but disagree with it yes I was calling for Bish,Didzy,Williams,Best,Kenlock,and Emmaneul to start and I believe they should and from now on that should be our team because I think we are going down playing the way we were.Mick has dug this hole himself by playing players out of position for no reason other than sticking with his favourites who were playing badly.Our team is rotting but you cant now when its to late call on young guys who have been frozen out by slow ,flatfooted,trojan horses that Mick picks every bloody week.Yes we have injuries but some were bought in like that and as we have seen like young josh plays well as a natural RB is dropped for a CB to play RB like today why not play Best today and it would have been nice to see him link up with Didzy and Sears as a 3 attackers or as Mick himself said revert to 3 at the back but not when you are 1 2 down to a bottom team.The biggest gripe I have with Mick is stubbornness and reluctance to change before enjoy your evening even though we see things different pal.
5

FromIpswichToPhoenix added 22:10 - Oct 29
Until the 15,247 start voting with their £, nothing will change. Mick thinks he's doing a good job and I'm convinced Evans is using the club as a tax write off. And as to people like Pete who are upset when fans complain about sub par football, the bigger issue is when we have stopped caring and don't even bother talking about it at all. The one thing worse than complaining is indifference. Yes, we complain, but at least we care enough to complain. When these forums go dark, that's when you should really panic.
8

bonamassablue added 22:20 - Oct 29
How much lower can we get? It was frightening how the heads went down after their second goal and whilst we drew, I went away with the feeling that we had lost to the bottom team. Once again our opponents looked quicker on the ball and moved the game with pace. Mick Mills summary on the radio afterwards that the players look frightened to do anything other than the boss's instructions look right. I have been a fan of mick as a man but I cannot see any way forward now without a change. Look at what Jackett has done to Rotherham. We are in a relegation fight.
4

Pencilpete added 22:28 - Oct 29
billblue, i ment the fans collectively not you personally, if we create a positive atmosphere for the team to play in then it can only help, if you have youngsters like Bishop, Kenlock, Emmanuel, Dozzell playing and the crowd gets on their back or groan everytime they make a mistake or a misplaced pass it will destroy their confidence. Us fans play a much bigger part than we sometimes think we do. Mick probably thinks heis protecting the youngsters by not playing them at the moment (if you remember when MM first took over he dropped alot of the younger players saying we need men not boys atm)

warktheline - its an easy connection, you critisise MM for having a negative attitude, yet you have one yourself - it's hypocritical.

noelthedub - thank you for your reply i agree with alot of what you say, as i said earlier i am not a MM lover if he left tomorrow it wouldn't bother me that much, i am a supporter of ITFC and believe we should support our club whatever position we happen to find ourselves in and don't see the benefit of booing players, managers ETC they will know a 2-2 draw with Rotherham isn't good enough.

people talk on here as though MM actively encourages them to be cr@p, yes critisise his tactics and team selection which i have done on many occasions but don't question his integrity and honesty.
4


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