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Ipswich Town 2-2 Reading - Match Report
Saturday, 4th Feb 2017 17:23

Tom Lawrence scored twice to take his tally for the season to 10 - and eight in his last eight games - as Town drew 2-2 at home to Reading. The Blues will feel they deserved to claim the three points against an under par Royals side who levelled twice through Jordon Mutch and then Jordan Obita.

Steven Taylor and Emyr Huws were both handed their Town debuts as Mick McCarthy made five changes from the team that lost 3-0 at home to Derby County on Tuesday.

Josh Emmanuel, Toumani Diagouraga, making his first appearance at Portman Road, and David McGoldrick returned to the XI with the Blues again lining up in a 3-5-2 system.

The Royals made two changes from the team which won 1-0 at Birmingham in midweek with debutant Jordon Mutch and Yann Kermorgant, who had been out with a calf injury, coming into the team for Roy Beerens and George Evans.

Town, with Taylor playing in the middle of the central three with skipper Luke Chambers to his right and Christophe Berra to his left, started well and created the game’s first opening in the fourth minute.

Emmanuel beat his man on the right before cutting in and hitting a low shot towards Royals keeper Ali Al-Habsi’s near post but the keeper read it and saved.

While it was a clever effort which showed that the 19-year-old has the self-confidence to take the initiative, the right wing-back probably should have cut the ball back to his waiting team-mates.

On eight Cole Skuse underwent treatment after suffering a leg injury challenging Mutch on eight but carried on.

The Blues continued to look the better side, having most of the ball against a Reading side known for keeping possession for very long spells under Dutch manager Jaap Stam.

In the 11th minute, Lawrence sent in a dangerous freekick from deep on the right which flew just beyond Taylor and dropped just behind Berra, who was unable to get on to the loose ball before it was cleared.

Town went close again in the 20th minute when Huws broke forward and fed Diagouraga on the edge of the area after referee Geoff Eltringham had played a good advantage, Lawrence having been fouled.

The Frenchman might have shot but fed Emmanuel to his right. The wing-back exchanged passes with Huws, crossed and Jonas Knudsen flicked a header wide at the far post.

As Reading prepared to take the goalkick Skuse was replaced by Grant Ward, the Bristolian not having recovered from his earlier knock.

The visitors created their first opening of the game on 23, Garath McCleary sending in a low cross from the left which the sliding John Swift could only divert well over the bar.

Town were playing some good stuff at times with new recruits Huws and Diagouraga both impressing in midfield and Ward having settled into the game quickly.

But on the half hour Reading might have claimed an undeserved lead when a loose ball fell to Kermorgant on the edge of the box but his low shot was easy for Bartosz Bialkowski in the Town goal.

However, most of the game was still being played in the Reading half of the field and in the 34th minute Huws struck a sharp shot from distance which was hit powerfully but too close to Al-Habsi.


Huws made the pass of the game in the 38th minute, playing a 25-yard ball inside a Reading defender for Knudsen to run on to, but Al-Habis had come off his line quickly and blocked as the Dane looked either to shoot or cut across to McGoldrick.

The Irish international chased the loose ball but Al-Habsi reached it first and put it out of play off the Town number 10.

Reading were starting to have more of the ball but on 43 the Blues scored the goal their first-half performance had fully deserved and the goalscorer was no surprise.

Huws brought the ball out of defence to halfway before playing a pass into the path of Lawrence to his right. The on-loan Leicester man brought the ball forward, cut into the area, sold a couple of dummies and lashed a brilliant strike into the net off the underside of the bar.

It was yet another contender in the Welshman’s personal Goal of the Season competition owed a lot to Huws, who had quickly won over the Blues’ support with his first-half display.

Reading immediately looked to get back into it, Liam Kelly shooting over after McCleary’s cross had deflected out to him on the edge of the box, but in injury time the Blues came closer to adding to their lead.

Huws sent over a corner from the right and an unmarked Taylor rose high at the far post to nod down but across the face of goal.

Soon after, referee Eltringham’s whistle was greeted by warm applause from the Town faithful after the Blues’ best 45 minutes at Portman Road in some while.

Town had looked a completely different side to the one which was so comprehensively beaten by Derby on Tuesday and a second goal, had Taylor’s header bounced the other side of the post, wouldn’t have flattered them against a Reading team which had only shown fleeting signs of getting their passing going.

Lawrence’s goal and Huws’s debut were probably the main half-time talking points but Emmanuel and McGoldrick were also among those to have caught the eye, while Taylor had provided much-needed leadership and talking at the back.

Ahead of the second half, Reading switched Swift, who had a trial with Town during his Chelsea days with a view to a loan move, for former Norwich man Lewis Grabban.

Town began the second half as they had ended the first, McGoldrick hitting a cross-shot from a tight angle on the right into the side-netting, then shooting wide when cutting in from the other flank.

Lawrence came inches from netting his second of the game in the 50th minute when he brought the ball in from the right and hit a low curling strike, which just flew the wrong side of Al Habsi’s left post.

Town had started the half on top but in the 53rd minute the Royals got back on terms with their first attack since the restart.

With Chambers grounded after challenging with Kermorgant on halfway, the Blues were left short of men in the box when Jordan Obita cut the ball back from the left to an unmarked Mutch, who took his time before hitting a low shot past Bialkowski to claim a debut goal.

Danny Williams hit a shot which Bialkowski did well to palm wide to his left soon after the goal as the Royals briefly threatened to get on top, but Town quickly reasserted their superiority.

On 56 Lawrence cut in from the left and hit a shot which was blocked, McGoldrick and Ward having subsequent efforts deflected away from goal, while Diagouraga looked to have been tripped as he sought to get on a loose ball but referee Eltringham waved away muted protests.

Town maintained the pressure by winning two more corners but were unable to create another opportunity until the hour mark when McGoldrick broke away on the left and hit a low shot which Al-Habsi saved down to his right.

Moments later, the Irish international conjured a little bit of magic to create Lawrence’s second of the afternoon to restore Town’s lead, threading through an inch-perfect pass for the Welshman to take on into the area and slip past Al Habsi to take his season’s total into double figures.

Reading began to dominate possession as the game moved into its final 35 minutes but without looking particularly dangerous until 69 when McCleary was found in space on the right and whipped over a cross which Taylor superbly flicked past his own far post with Kelly behind him probably already celebrating heading the equaliser.

Town might have made it 3-1 in the 77th minute when Diagouraga sent Lawrence away down the left and the two-goal frontman found strike partner McGoldrick in space on the right of the area. The former Forest man’s first touch let him down and he took the ball too wide. However, he got in a cross but one which no Blues player was able to profit.

And three minutes later the Royals got back on terms for the second time. A corner on the right was cleared and Obita smashed an unstoppable low 25-yard strike just inside Bialkowski’s right post.

The goal was harsh on the Blues, who weren’t too far away from going back in front as the game moved into its final 10 minutes, Lawrence hitting a 20-yard freekick just over. Moments later, Grabban was booked for a foul on Knudsen.

As Al-Habsi prepared to take the goalkick, Teddy Bishop and Jordan Spence replaced the tiring Diagouraga and Huws in the Town midfield, while Reading switched George Evans for Kelly.

The Royals put the Blues under a brief spell of pressure with Chambers, Emmanuel and Taylor all making important interceptions, then in the final minute of scheduled time Lawrence played a clever freekick to McGoldrick into the right of the area, the Town number 10 crossed but no one was breaking into the six-yard box to add the final touch.

The Blues were the side pressing for a winner in injury time with Knudsen - who was booked late on for catching Kermorgant in an aerial challenge - sending in dangerous long throws from both sides but the match ended in a draw.

However, there was applause rather than boos from the home support, who had loudly got behind their side throughout and stayed on to give their team a warm ovation.

Despite not taking all three points the Blues had been as good as at any time this season and were unfortunate not to claim the win.

While Reading’s first equaliser was well-worked, the second came out of out of virtually nothing with the Royals rarely looking like a side which is third in the Championship.

There were excellent performances throughout the Town side with Lawrence continuing his unplayable form, taking both his goals superbly and looking to shoot at pretty much every available opportunity.

McGoldrick also put in one of his best displays of this season, and claimed his best assist, while Huws and Diagouraga were both hugely impressive in the second half, although perhaps inevitably tired after the break.

But all in all a much, much better afternoon at Portman Road and one which gave hope of a significant improvement during the remaining months of the season.

The result moves the Blues up to 15th but now only eight points off the bottom three with Blackburn and Burton both winning.

Town: Bialkowski, Emmanuel, Taylor, Chambers (c), Berra, Knudsen, Skuse (Ward 21), Diagouraga (Spence (82), Huws (Bishop 82), Lawrence, McGoldrick. Unused: Gerken, Pitman, Sears, Moore.

Reading: Al-Habsi, Gunter (c), Obita, Moore, Blackett, Swift (Grabban 46), Williams, Kelly (Evans, 83), Mutch, McCleary, Kermorgant. Unused: Jaakkola, Beerens, Meite, Popa, Oxford. Referee: Geoff Eltringham (County Durham). Att: 15,091 (Reading: 558).


Photo: TWTD



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blue75 added 17:25 - Feb 4
Best game for a while should've won!!!! Let's see McCarthy slate the fans after that game!!!
12

midastouch added 17:25 - Feb 4
Well that's 1 more point than I expected so well done! Shame to throw away our lead twice but I'm nit picking as Reading are no mugs (the table doesn't lie) and I was half expecting a similar episode to Tuesday night so credit to the team. The team showed some good resolve following midweek. Every point is precious between now and the end of the season to ensure we stay in this division. So this has to be more positive than negative.
35

prebsa added 17:26 - Feb 4
People will say it was better which it was, but it is still papering over cracks. Again its Tom Lawrence FC that gets us some more points!

Mick Out
-17

EssexTractor added 17:26 - Feb 4
Totally different
Lawrence excellent
Midfield closed opposition down
Taylor looked class
Chambers well done
MCGoldrick best pass of the season
Great team effort
Crowd appreciate entertainment and today it was there
55

ITFC_Cotton added 17:28 - Feb 4
A point against 3rd place for a team like us is good and anyone that says otherwise clearly has illusions of grandeur on how good we are this season! Milnes and Evans out.
14

jutever added 17:30 - Feb 4
COYB's......much better performance, player final back, quality new centre back, and a Welsh wizard or 2 or 3 if they all get fit…. COYB's
9

midastouch added 17:30 - Feb 4
Did we look better with or without Skuse?
Not a big fan of Skuse but nevertheless wishing him a speedy recovery as I would any of our players. Not sure how serious his injury was as I didn't see the match, just saw text updates.
Once he's back to fitness he should however need to earn his place back in the starting 11 rather than expect an automatic start again as it would seem the team coped well in his absence.
13

TractorCam added 17:31 - Feb 4
Left Portman Road very happy today. Very encouraging performance which was appreciated at full time and the players and Mick would have seen that. Diagouraga and Huws were incredible in midfield and Lawrence and Didz were a brilliant partnership up front. Taylor also looked very comfortable in defence.

Need to follow it up next week now!
26

Mick_Mills_Tache added 17:34 - Feb 4
Much better today....completely coincidental that neither Skuse or Douglas were on the pitch, of course....! Fully expect at least one of them will be back in the team next week, though. McCarthy can surely see that we're ten times better without them?

Tom Lawrence. What. A. Player.
20

Dissboyitfc added 17:34 - Feb 4
Sounded much much better, a good point towards safety.

It sounded the sort of game that was all we ask for!
15

mutters added 17:38 - Feb 4
Blue75 - bet some of the fans still have a good go at Mick.
-6

Elizabeth added 17:39 - Feb 4
Listened to full match commentary ! This was so much better with the changes that were made .. We actually played football on the deck !! Praise where it's due but unfortunately too late in the season !! It's a six pointer at Villa next Saturday , COYB go and win it !!
10

cromwellblue added 17:40 - Feb 4
Let hope we can keep that performance level.

Everyone has been slating the number of loans but today without Skuse & Douglas our midfield were able to defend and still have a forward intent. All courtesy of our loan players.....
14

Chondzoresk added 17:41 - Feb 4
I am pleased that it was a better performance, a positive result, however 1 Swallow does it not make a summer. I have seen enough to tell me a change is needed. A 2-2 drawn result does not change my mind. Also bear in mind our reliance of Tom Lawrence.
8

Steelmonkey added 17:45 - Feb 4
A much improved performance, thought we looked a more balanced side when Skuse went off, but as he is one of Mick's favourites so he will be back in the side as soon as he is fit.
Another poor attendance, but who can blame them for staying away having had to witness what has gone on before in recent weeks.
What on earth are we going to do if Tom Lawrence gets injured.
Just can't see any other player who is able to put the ball in the net at the moment.
A good point earned.
11

backwaywhen added 17:48 - Feb 4
Entertainment at last ...well done Town , really enjoyed that , thought we deserved to win that game to be honest ...keep going boys , even if we had lost i would have applauded you off ! COYBs
16

martin587 added 17:50 - Feb 4
Once again Tom saved us.Just wish he was ours.Taylor was class as was Chambers.Mc.G showed some good work as well.Just a shame we could not hold on,but I will take that.
Still a very long way to go,but onwards and upwards.
13

Pip50 added 17:52 - Feb 4
Better performance but how is this building with three loans three over the hills and outside Emanuel no Ipswich youth. Yes we need to get away from the bottom 3 but this is how it goes with McCarthy cr.p cr.p ok cr.p cr.p ok. No consistent build. Hopefully after this period we see him gone at end of season by his own hand or ME's.
3

OwainG1992 added 17:52 - Feb 4
Really good effort from the lads. Unlucky but my god Tom Lawrence he's wonderful!!!!
7

BlueMachines added 17:52 - Feb 4
So much better. We had a midfield that affected the game! Lawrence really is a different league. I couldn't bring myself to sing sign him up but I wish we could. Give the fans have a chance to back the team and we will. Proven today. Well done all. We pressed Reading so well so fair play on the tactics on that front. I enjoyed that one. More of the same please.
9

Bert added 17:53 - Feb 4
Great all round performance, great game to watch and great support. Taylor will make a massive difference to our defence and confidence.
9

therein61 added 17:56 - Feb 4
Don't like to see a player injured, but we were so more adventurous when Skuse went off we were so positive(but then he's a favourite so will be a shoe in when fit!! god knows why today proved how negative we are with him in the side and he should sit on the bench) and apart from our usual lapses could have had 3 points against an inform side(I remember when we were!!)
5

Geddis78 added 17:57 - Feb 4
Let's hope the moaners have a night off. Cracking game of football. Deserved to win. If we play like that, we will stay up and hopefully win back a few fans. Well done to those that went. Best atmosphere in ages. COYB!
7

blueboy1981 added 18:00 - Feb 4
I went today to have a look at the three new boys in the team - this was a much improved performance,and more akin to what we expect from an Ipswich Town team.

The new boys all looked good, and had good solid games - however, we must not get carried away with a draw at home, it could, and should, have been 3 points.

Reading are a good side, but we had the chances to win this one.

Let's hope this level of performance can be maintained - defence still needs tightening up, two rather sloppy goals conceded in my opinion. Lawrence continues to be different class, he and McGoldrick worked well together.

Good entertainment for a change today.
18

sydney added 18:04 - Feb 4
Sounds like a much better game and some entertainment as well!not sure where the goals would come from if we didn't have Lawrence though.
5


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