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Ipswich Town 1-1 Birmingham City - Match Report Saturday, 1st Apr 2017 17:23
Grant Ward’s 72nd minute cross-shot saw the Blues to a 1-1 draw with Birmingham at a fractious Portman Road. Jonathan Grounds gave the visitors the lead three minutes after the break but Ward equalised with a cross which fortuitously flew over Birmingham keeper Tomasz Kuszczak.
Brett Pitman, Freddie Sears and Jonathan Douglas all returned to the Blues starting line-up with top scorer Tom Lawrence and midfielder Emyr Huws both missing out.
Toumani Diagouraga dropped to the bench, while Tommy Smith, who only arrived back from New Zealand duty yesterday afternoon, was also left out of the 18.
Town switched to a 4-4-2 diamond with Bartosz Bialkowski in goal, Jordan Spence and Jonas Knudsen the full-backs and skipper Luke Chambers and Christophe Berra the central defenders
In midfield Cole Skuse sat deep with Douglas and Ward ahead of him in narrow roles to the left and right respectively, with David McGoldrick behind strikers Sears and Pitman.
Birmingham were the first to threaten in the seventh minute, Lukas Jutkiewicz playing a ball through to the breaking David Davis but Bialkowski came off his line quickly to claim.
The Blues were unable to create an opening in a scruffy early spell with the visitors having most of the ball. In the 14th minute Craig Gardner sent over a freekick from the left which grazed Berra’s head before Bialkowski caught on his line.
Town threatened for the first time in the 16th minute when, after good work from Douglas, Sears and Knudsen, a bouncing ball dropped to McGoldrick in the area but his shot was too close to Kuszczak.
The Blues were starting to get on top and two minutes later Sears found space at a tight angle on the left but his shot was blocked by Ryan Shotton.
Town briefly began to put the Midlanders under pressure and on 22 Spence cut in from the right but scuffed his shot wide.
There was a scare for the visitors in the 32nd minute when McGoldrick caught Krystian Bielik in possession on the Town left but his low cross was too close to Kuszczak, who claimed at a stretch.
A minute later Jutkiewicz sent a dangerous ball across the Blues box from the right but Davis arrived too late to add a final touch.
The Blues went closer to opening the scoring moments later, a loose ball falling to Sears on the right of the box after McGoldrick had fed Knudsen on the right. The former Colchester man’s shot rippled the net having struck a defender but having gone the wrong side of the post.
Town continued to take the game to the visitors and on 38 Sears crossed from the right and Knudsen’s flicked header very obviously caught Maikel Kieftenbeld’s hand, however from so close a penalty award would have been harsh.
On 41 Jutkiewicz looped a header over at the far post, then just before half-time Skuse was forced off having undergone treatment on the field after Davis had arrived late and caught him in the face after the Bristolian had nodded the ball to a team-mate. Kevin Bru took over with Douglas dropping into the holding role.
The rest of a not hugely enthralling half passed without further incident. Birmingham had started the stronger but the Blues had gradually got themselves on top but without being able to create too many opportunities, although McGoldrick and Sears had both gone close to scoring what could prove to be a vital goal in Town’s season.
But four minutes after the restart it was the visitors who went in front. Bialkowski saved Jutkiewicz’s shot from the edge of the area but Grounds reached the rebound first to slam in, however looking to have strayed offside.
However, no flag was raised and the goal led to the first boos of the afternoon from the home support.
The Blues immediately looked to hit back. Sears cut the ball back from the byline on the right but a defender cleared, then soon after Pitman headed wide before McGoldrick nodded straight at Kuszczak.
Birmingham went close to making it 2-0 in the 54th minute when Gardner played in Jutkiewicz but Bialkowski blocked superbly.
Just before the hour, Emilio Nsue took the ball across the area before hitting a shot well over. The Birmingham chances led to terrace abuse aimed in the direction of manager McCarthy, owner Marcus Evans and MD Ian Milne as well as a chant of “We want our Ipswich back”.
With the Blues making little headway in an increasingly poisonous atmosphere, loanee Dominic Samuel was handed his Town debut for Pitman in the 71st minute.
And a minute later the Reading man was involved as the Blues got level in somewhat fortuitous circumstances. Samuel laid the ball wide to Ward, who burst down the right and whipped over a powerfully hit cross which flew over Kuszczak and into the net.
The former Spurs man’s sixth goal for Town may have been his luckiest but it was also his most important.
Having levelled, the momentum was suddenly but all too briefly with the Blues, McGoldrick cutting the ball back from the left however without being able to find a team-mate.
On 79 the Irish international scuffed wide after battling to win a Bru clearance with Town on top but not able to put the visitors under sustained pressure.
As the match moved into its final minutes Birmingham began to look the more threatening side, Donaldson just failing to reach Gardner’s ball in from the right and Bialkowski pawing it out for a corner.
The Pole made his second superb save of the game from Gardner’s flag-kick which was arcing goalwards having been inadvertently flicked goalwards by McGoldrick until he clawed it over.
Town came closest to winning it in injury time after a corner was cleared to Bru, but the Mauritius international screwed his shot well wide.
The final whistle triggered more boos and further chants of “Marcus Evans, you’re killing our club”.
Overall the 1-1 draw was probably a fair reflection of the match. Having been the better side before the break, as so often this season the Blues allowed the opposition to gain the upper hand by going in front soon after the restart, although there looked to be a hint of offside.
From there the Portman Road crowd, which had been rather sullen during the first half, made their feelings known once the Blues went behind, only really getting behind their side again in a spell following Ward’s goal.
Town have now won just one of their last 14 in all competitions but have lost only one in their last 10.
The result sees Town remain 17th but now six points from the bottom three with seven left to play starting with Tuesday’s game against Wigan, who lost 2-1 at Newcastle.
........ after picking the team this Dinosaur did today - who would trust him with money to spend...... ??
He has totally disillusioned the Club from top to bottom - Evans did not pick the team today - but he did appoint the Manager - now it's time to do the blatantly obvious, and get him as far away from Portman Road as possible. We still have a decent squad - we don't have a Manager, in any respectable way, shape, or form.
He is obviously hell bent on destroying ITFC - how can anyone think differently .... ??
....... anyone who blames Evans for today - is so far off the radar, there's no hope for them.
The squad was there to do the business yet again - so don't keep blaming the lack of a cheque book, because it would be totally wasted. I am convinced that Evans knows this - and has no option now, but to get rid of MM or watch it all fall around his ears.
I just wish I knew the ME secret of him being able to amass his apparent multi million fortune from his business empire. It must be far easier than we think if this is an example of who he employs.
Another regulation boring performance from our once proud club. Nil skill and nil entertainment to match. A very poor match played between two very poor teams. Birmingham are similar to us with both of us being in rapid decline.
This match was more akin to that of league two and without doubt we would be at the wrong end of league one should we get relegated.
Mc Carthy's tactics of trying to gain 6 or 7 more points by drawing matches will most likely work but how can that be the way to play!
Once again player of the season elect Bart has saved us another point. I guess we shall not have that luxury next season when he will probably be sold off to a club in the Premier.
blueboy1981you still have to blame Evans as well, he should have outed the Yorkshire plank a long time ago,the state were in didn't happen over night, last week or last month it started midway 2015/16 season and Evans has one f#ck all about it .
Obviously you -- like anybody else -- are entitled to your opinion, also no matter how utterly unfounded it appears, especially to the vast majority of us here on TWTD .... so in that regard please please define "EXCELLENT" ..... plus also elaborate on what if anything there is "EXCELLENT" about how Mick "Honestly, I really don't give a flying fu@ck about your daft and fickle-minded fans" McCarthy goes about his weekly business -- and have gone about his weekly business -- as the manager of a still self-proclaimed ambitious football club of the 2nd tier, once revered & proud football club mind you!, say during he past 18-24 months??????????
Is anybody really surprised at the team MM picked? He is a creature of habit and will always revert back to his tried and trusted formula, setting up not to lose. His press conferences are the same, "my way or the highway" everybody knows less than him.
@blueboy, don't hold your breath! Evans is utterly clueless, how else can anyone explain his tolerance of ineptness over the past couple of years and McCarthy's total arrogance towards the safety of his position? The lack of respect between these two in regards to the club and fans is astonishing. Its bloody awful when, as a supporter, you reach the point of helplessness!
I was one of the morons who spouted off the vile remarks against Evans, Milne & McCarthy today, I'm not proud of it & possibly slightly ashamed of it........but......for f***s sake, starting with Douglas & Skuse in midfield, what message did that send out? Draw here we come! Turgid, dreadful, shameful, these words describe the play & manager. If the chants offended anyone I apologise but this must show the level of total frustration we (the fans) are now feeling. I said before the game, knowing McCarthy's football brain, 8 games left, 8 draws, 8 points equals safety.......don't think I was far wrong?
This my 55th season of watching my beloved 'Towan' I have even been fortunate enough to have had a book published about my support and experience! Today I feel so sad! The game was awful and we were lucky to get a point. However I really didn't expect any thing else. What saddens me and hurts me was the venom and abuse directed at the owner, his mouthpiece and the manager. What a horrible and unbelievable state of affairs at such an honourable and well respected club? What really saddens me is that I cannot really blame the perpetrators of these vile chants! I am torn, I feel like I have suffered a bereavement? I am sure the Cobbold brothers, Mr Ramsey, Mr Robson! My grandfather and my father are wrestling in their graves!
@PJIAG LOL! Boring indeed!!! But hey I truly think that hyper obnoxious but undebatably fabulously adept at making-silly-money Mr. Simon Cowell might well be genuinely interested in this here "awesome" resonating voice (nevermind the person's "gifted" song-writing skills!) .... so who is this rather unorthodox wannabe-Bard in question??? :-)
MicksZZzzTactics No idea of who the bard is, but he sums up so much about our sorry state. Can't sing, poor lyrics, boring and going nowhere. I feel bored and depressed even thinking about our club right now.
If I was trying to spin one positive about the game, I'd say that point may be enough for us to avoid the drop. And surely Bart must win the player of the season award? How many games has he now been MOM for us? 25?
At the end of the day McCarthy is till sitting tight. And Evans who has absolutely zero knowledge about football has still not grown a pair, and done sod all about it, obviously happy to have a fabled 15,000 willing to turn up and shell out their hard earned cash. Moaning on here each week has had no effect whatsoever,and never will, its only when the turnstiles fall silent that you will be heard .
I have just read Big Micks comments on the Star website and I agree that the abuse of Douglas is disgusting! I do not and will not abuse Douglas, he is an honest pro who gives 100%. Unfortunately and it is no slight on him, but he is not good enough to turn us into a good side other than a less than average one! Apart from effort which is admirable he gives us nothing in a positive or game changing sense. The fact that he was picked today and that decision was nothing to do with him, there must be some sympathy foer him, how would anybody relish being abused by 10,000 people? I put the blame squarely on big Mick's, I believe thatbhebis arragant and stubborn enough to just stick two fingers up to the people who contribute to his I real terms his substantial wage packet!
I really cannot believe that again we have failed to win a home game .. What the hell is going on at this club ? The team selection and formation is absolutely cxxx! Unless we get three points on Tuesday , it is going to be a tense finale to the season ! Roll on August !!
Not much to choose between a Manager who needs to go and a minority of supporters who turn on their team during a game. Well done to the silent majority who accept we are rubbish but don't make it worse.
What do the people who run this site, BBC Radio Suffolk, the EADT and the Ipswich Evening Star have in common? It seems to me no one in the local media will come out and say what needs to be said, that Evans PLC should sell the club and McCarthy should be sacked NOW. If only one of the above had the guts to stand up and be counted then it would give the ordinery Jo fan who can only protest by not re newing their season ticket, a focal point and a voice. Are all the local media satisfied with the current situation at Portman Road or are they too cosy with the clb management and afraid to rock the boat. It is time for action not apathy.
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