Ipswich Town 0-1 Sheffield United - Match Report
Saturday, 6th Jan 2018 16:59

Town continue to wait for an FA Cup victory as Sheffield United progressed to round four via a 1-0 victory at Portman Road, Nathan Thomas smashing the winner in the 25th minute. The Blues, who last won a match in the competition in January 2010, never looked like getting back into the game, failing to register a shot on target, and the Blades might have added to their lead in the second half.

Defender Tommy Smith, who is set to join the Colorado Rapids as revealed by TWTD earlier this afternoon, wasn’t included in a Town side featuring six changes from the one which lost 4-1 at Fulham in midweek.

Jonas Knudsen came in at centre-half alongside skipper Luke Chambers with Myles Kenlock at left-back and Dominic Iorfa at right-back as Town started in a 4-3-3 system.

Luke Hyam made his first start for 19 months in midfield alongside Callum Connolly and Kevin Bru

Up front, Freddie Sears was on the right and Bersant Celina on the left of central striker David McGoldrick.

New signing Aaron Drinan was on the bench alongside young defender Pat Webber and midfielder or striker Shane McLoughlin, whose only senior appearances for the Blues came at Crystal Palace in the Carabao Cup earlier in the season.

The Blades made eight changes with former Town academy striker Caolan Lavery up front with skipper Billy Sharp, a regular Blues target over the years.

Town claimed an early penalty when Chambers headed the ball towards goal from a Celina corner from the right and it appeared to strike Daniel Lafferty on the arm. The Blues captain was adamant that the Blues should have been awarded a spot-kick but referee Mike Jones waved away the protests.

The home side had started the brighter of the two teams and in the seventh minute Celina brought the ball in a long way from the left before hitting a shot which deflected behind.

Town continued to look the better side with Iorfa proving a danger down the right, but on 15 Nathan Thomas hit the Blades’ first effort of the game wide from the edge of the box.

On 24 a corner on the right was played to Hyam on the edge of the area by Celina and the returning midfielder shot over. As the Blades prepared to take their goalkick, Chambers was booked for dissent claiming it had taken a deflection and ought to have been a corner.

A minute later, the visitors took the lead. Thomas, making only his second start for the South Yorkshiremen, was played the ball by Lavery 25 yards out and lashed a superb strike into the top corner of the net, Bartosz Bialkowski only managing to help it on with his right hand.

Town hadn’t threatened to get back on terms before the Blades went close to a second, Chris Basham cutting in from the left and shooting just wide in the 38th minute.

The Blues continued to having the lion’s share possession as half-time approached but without being able to carve out a chance. In the final scheduled minute Kenlock was played in on the left of the box but his low ball was cut out.

Just before the break Basham was booked for catching Bru in the head with a high boot, the Mauritius international subsequently requiring lengthy treatment.

Town had had plenty of the ball in a not overly enthralling first half but without creating anything of note, while the visitors had similarly carved out little at the other end. Thomas’s excellent goal had been rather out of place in the half as a whole.

The Blades swapped their goalscorer for Regan Slater ahead of the second half and the visitors had the first opportunity in the 48th minute when Bialkowski came out of his area to the right but was beaten to the ball by Sharp, who fed Slater as the Blues keeper ran back towards his goal but the sub shot over.

Two minutes later the Blades had an even better chance after Chambers played a weak pass back to Bialkowski. Sharp was quickly on to it and fed Lavery on the right of the box but the Town skipper got back to divert it off the line and wide.

The visitors continued to look the most likely scorers of the game’s second goal and on 54 Sharp flicked a header towards goal which Bialkowski reacted quickly to save, although the linesman’s flag had already been raised.

Town hadn’t appeared likely to get back on terms and it was little surprise that in the 61st minute 10-goal top scorer Martyn Waghorn was introduced for Hyam, who had put in his usual combative display on his return to the team.

Connolly wasn’t too far away from netting his fourth goal of his loan spell from Everton in the 68th minute but was unable to keep his header from Celina’s cross from the right down.

Two minutes later, the Blades went somewhat nearer to doubling their lead, Samir Carruthers exchanging passes with Sharp before shooting from a tight angle on the left and Bialkowski saving well to his left. Moments later, Sam Baldock forced Bialkowski to save down to his right.

Lavery, who had put in a lively display against his old club, was replaced by Clayton Donaldson in the 73rd minute.

As the game moved into its final 10 minutes Jake Wright was booked for timewasting as the visitors prepared to take a freekick.

Town had had long spells on the ball but had failed to create a single chance to level.

On 83 Slater shot over for the Blades, then with two minutes remaining - and a frustrated Sir Bobby Robson Stand singing ‘We want a shot’ - Sharp was switched for John Fleck, who immediately shot over from distance.

The Blades looked the more likely scorers in injury time with sections of the Town support berating manager Mick McCarthy and singing ‘What a load of rubbish’.

Cameron Carter-Vickers was booked for a foul on McGoldrick just before the end and Chambers headed Celina’s freekick wide, before Knudsen blocked a Donaldson strike. Moments later, loud boos greeted the final whistle.

While the second half was more entertaining than the first, the Blades - who fielded a much less senior team than the Blues - had been the better side and ought to have won more comfortably.

The result and the dismal performance on top of the disappointing Christmas spell saw fans loudly express their frustration with manager McCarthy for the first time in a few months.

Town, now without a win in their last five, four of them defeats, rarely created anything throughout and the 40th anniversary of their 1978 FA Cup win will pass without a run in the competition.

Town: Bialkowski, Iorfa, Chambers (c), Knudsen, Kenlock, Connolly, Hyam (Waghorn 61), Bru, Celina, Sears, McGoldrick. Unused: M Crowe, Skuse, Garner, Drinan, Webber, McLoughlin.

Sheffield United: Blackman, Baldock, Basham, Thomas (Slater 46), Sharp (c) (Fleck 88), Wright, Carter-Vickers, Stearman, Lavery (Donaldson 73), Lafferty, Carruthers. Unused: Moore, Stevens, O’Connell, Norrington-Davies. Referee: Mike Jones (Cheshire). Att:12,057 (Blades: 1,110).

Photo: TWTD

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finidi added 18:26 - Jan 6

Havn,t posted for a while but cannot stay quiet any longer. No shots on target at home against Sheff Utd reserves, I know we have had terrible luck with injuries but there were senior players out there who have downed tools and clearly don,t want to play for dino.
One of the players discarded was Jack Marriott two more today and top scorer in football league. You don,t need coaching badges to become an idiot!!! Did you hear him being interviewed by Brenner reckons Tommy Smith was ill!!!! what!!!

norfstanda added 18:28 - Jan 6 Moan moan moan. Whinge whinge whinge. Grumble grumble grumble. Boring miserable ipswich fans.
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Esseeja added 18:30 - Jan 6 Swn98 - Can't you see our problem, NO WIN IN 5, 1 POINT IN 4, It's going to get worse and worse and worse, and we are now selling smith? I don't understand what the hell will convince you to get rid of him. Agree with the Kenlock comment but we keep conceding to 25 yard goals because we defend so poorly.
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warktheline added 18:30 - Jan 6 Swn, still waiting for it to warm up! What a joker! Or should I say loser!
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Northstandveteran added 18:36 - Jan 6 Protests? Just don't go! Rocket science it ain't
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wayway added 18:37 - Jan 6 Did you hear Boring Billy on Radio Suffolk, 'I thought we played well'
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ShropshireBluenago09 added 18:38 - Jan 6

McCarthy is devoid of any new ideas. How the team sprit is good is beyond me. Playing sh*t football and mid-table mediocrity must be disheartening.
His after match interview was his usual dour tone, praising the opposition.
We need new impetus from the top down; new board, management, captain and players, to a certain extent. The woeful truth is, this isnt likely to happen any time soon.

BraveDave added 18:44 - Jan 6

Well, that was really depressing. We have our fair share of dim fans who think we should be competing for the Champions League, and who think McArthy's departure is the simple answer to everything, but I think the vast majority of fans will correctly say that today was exceptionally poor. There is clearly a lack of confidence or ambition to play an open attacking game, and fans quite rightly should expect a lot better than that. Now would be a good time for Evans to show the passion he has for our club, but sadly I don't see any likelihood of that, and so fans will naturally become disillusioned and alienated

dirtydingusmagee added 18:46 - Jan 6 Warktheline at least you've owned up, lol what a pillock he is, been telling people they are not supporters then blames them for staying away , yep its all your fault .
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NorthFar added 19:03 - Jan 6

ITFC are merely used to offset tax for Marcus Evans. As a club we are dead. The only thing that keeps people going is sentimentality for the old days and habit. All hope has been extinguished. That was the message from today's debacle. Nobody cares. If you are happy with this, keep going and keep moaning. If you're not then it's time to start thinking about what we can do about it. This forum has been a constant argument for years but twin things are even more constant: the football is dire and the ambition is limited. Today was an exercise in how not to win a football match - in case it necessitated another football match.

DurhamTownFan added 19:08 - Jan 6 Protest vs not going: Not going: dents ME wallet Protest: shows the club that the fans are unhappy, makes our voice heard, potentially damages ME reputation in the media and business world, gives fans at least something to say we're trying to do something about it. Fair enough, don't go, but is that really doing anything?!
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Swn98 added 19:10 - Jan 6 I suppose Dirty it must be expected you can only comment on what other people say as you don't attend games.
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Rensham added 19:11 - Jan 6

Peterborough manned up this afternoon and took their game seriously and were competitive and guess what they beat Villa away 3-1. We ITFC under Big Mick couldn't be bothered again. Going into a competition but being so feeble that you can't even turn up is embarrassing. And someone in the media should shine a light on MM and his scandalous FA Cup record. The professional footballers at ITFC only have 7 days to recover for Leeds. They bottle that game as well as we never win after the "tinkerman" has mucked about with the team. Shame on ITFC.

Dissboyitfc added 19:14 - Jan 6 Northstanda.... sorry i marked you up by mistake, ridiculous comment! McCarthy out!!!!!!!!!
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Northstandveteran added 19:24 - Jan 6 Good points well made Durhamtownfan. Protested during the Duncan reign but now choose not to go. Perhaps a one match boycott would combine both ideas?
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Mick_Mills_Tache added 19:27 - Jan 6

Esseeja - completely agree re the main three. Those who know me know that I never wanted McCarthy to come to Ipswich from the outset. You only have to look at Wolves, Sunderland, Millwall etc.

I'm surprised the midfield is as injury hit as it is, it's not exactly like they're doing too much box to box running and dominating games under Dinos style of play. Maybe they're not out with hamstring, groin, etc injuries and are actually out with sore backs and crook necks from watching the ball fly over their heads?!

Mick has to go. One substitution made today when chasing the game is just a joke. Shows just how much he holds the cup competitions in contempt. Surely the FA must look at his record in the cups and the teams and tactics used and think that he's throwing matches deliberately...which is an offence?

MicksZzzTactics added 19:34 - Jan 6

So ehmmm can we now ALL pleaZzze pleaZzze definitively put behind that ABERRATION that was the surprisingly *EXCITING* early part of the latest Dino-led season (but also to a serious degree undebatable fortuitous early part of the season! Fortuitous as in not only kindly scheduled but also nicking the points despite repeatedly being heavily heavily outshot etc. etc. also back then!)???

Cause as I implied to the luvable "credulous" or fickle-prone muppets here :-) :-) on my last visit: Whats has happened since said "aberration", is currently happening, and is GONNA HAPPEN at this once proud & revered but nowadays all-out *sanctimoniously* moribund football club ...well imho is like a near perfect representation of sorts of that very famous exchange from the evergreen & re-run New Year TV sketch from 63 'Dinner For One'!

(Thus for my latest super SILLY meme just for this predominantly humorless or otherwise beyond "special" TWTD audience :-) :-) I opted to hmmm spice-up said famous exchange just a tiny bit, imho as properly relating to the "Greek-like-Tragedy" (but where the protagonist is not one character but EACH AND EVERY non-complacent & non-happie-clappie Ipswich fans out there!) that is ITFC in this day & age ....and hence I also aptly replaced the butler James with Ian Milne! ...and Miss Sophie with Marcus Evans!!! :-) :-) LOL )

COMPLETE REGIME CHANGE NOW!!!!!!!!!!

Swn98 added 19:37 - Jan 6 Northfar you seem certain in your assumption that Evans uses ITFC as a Tax scam can you explain exactly how please.
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runaround added 19:43 - Jan 6

An embarrassing performance yet again. No shots on target in 96 minutes with just a handful of off target efforts. Celina & Waghorn were the only players who looked like they might create anything but even they didn't do much. Sears & Chambers were beyond awful with only Iorfa's comical attempts at playing football breaking the monotony! Yes we have injuries & are out of form but so we're Sheffield & they made 8 changes yet didn't have to get out of first gear to win & should have won by more. Today was an embarrassing eulogy to the 40 year anniversary of winning the cup the way we just didn't compete today & just capitulated. It feels like we're back to the bad times of last season again yet almost worse. To be allowing Smith to leave with so many defenders unavailable is ridiculous. This club is in danger of collapse & things have to change NOW. I really think both McCarthy AND Evans both need to go for things to improve as I don't think either give a damn about our club. This is horrific to watch and I think it's getting worse

OldClactonBlue added 19:44 - Jan 6 The manager apparently thought it was a good performance by our team! L
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pragmatic added 19:47 - Jan 6 Surco & others with same point of view those of us who go support the team irrespective of manager/ owner /players even tho it is sometimes to hard to digest & as I consider myself a “real supporter” will definately renew my season ticket. No doubt I will be marked down for that!
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