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Irish Pair on Target as U23s Stage Late Comeback to Beat Cardiff
Wednesday, 4th Apr 2018 15:36 by Blair Ferguson

Two goals in a minute from Irish January signings Barry Cotter and Aaron Drinan gave Ipswich Town’s U23s a 2-1 victory against Cardiff City after spending much of the game behind. Despite the first-team players and staff having two days off, manager Mick McCarthy was in attendance for the entire game, dampening online rumours that he is set to leave the club imminently rather than when his contract is up at the end of the season.

McCarthy was making his way to the pitch when Ibraham Meite put the visitors in front inside the first minute, and it took until the 80th minute for Cotter to score the equaliser, with Drinan netting the winner a minute later.

The wind played a big part in the game and caught Ipswich out almost immediately. Mark Harris ran through on goal from a long-ball that had the Blues defence left watching, giving him plenty of time to pick out Meite who tapped in.

Michael Crowe, who was in the Wales squad for their recent visit to China but without making his full international debut, had to be alert with the unpredictable flight of the ball during the game, and reacted quickly to come to the edge of the box and smother the ball at the feet of Harris.

Ipswich’s first attempt on goal didn’t come until the 39th minute, Drinan’s dragged shot past the left post the only threat on the Cardiff goal during the opening 45 minutes.

The visitors almost doubled their lead in first-half injury-time, but Crowe stood his ground and got down well to block Josh Walker’s poor effort from inside the box for a corner.

Gerard Nash’s side looked more threatening in the second half and came close to leveller on the hour mark.

Shane McLoughlin played a precise pass through the Cardiff defence and into the path of substitute Kai Brown, but Connor King did well to get out and block.

The Bluebirds were still looking for a second and Ipswich — not for the first time in the game — had Crowe to thank for keeping them in it. The keeper got down quickly to his right to tip Harris’s volley from the edge of the box away from danger.

Ipswich passed up another great chance to draw level in the 69th minute when Drinan robbed a Cardiff defender of the ball and rolled it back into the path of Ben Morris, who took it into the area before firing over.

The Blues continued to trouble Cardiff and finally got their breakthrough in the 79th minute. Drinan saw a shot saved by the keeper and the ball eventually fell to Cotter on the right side of the area and the Irish defender, a January signing from Limerick, lashed a low volley across the box and into the goal.

Seconds after the restart Ipswich were on the attack again with Morris collecting the ball to the right of the box and playing it across goal to Drinan, Town’s other Irish January signing, from Waterford, who confidently struck in from close range.

A victory means Ipswich took advantage of their game in-hand in the Professional Development League Two, putting a three-point gap between themselves in second and Charlton Athletic in third.

Team: M Crowe, D Crowe, Cotter, Ndaba, Clements, Blanchfield (Sagaf 54), Nydam (McGavin 46), McLoughlin, McKendry (K Brown 51), Morris, Drinan. Unused: Wright, Lankester.


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MoscowBlueMule added 15:43 - Apr 4
Looking at some of the potential managers we are being linked with, beginning to wonder if we'd be better keeping MM on!
0

Terry_Nutkins added 15:50 - Apr 4
Fair play to Mick for attending this. Didnt need to. When it comes to looking after and respecting his players he is a class act.
19

lightingblue added 15:59 - Apr 4

Maybe assessing who he can take to West Brom.
1

algarvefan added 16:17 - Apr 4
Terry_Nutkins I'm with you on that one, can't say I'm overly excited with those linked but as usual a minority, by being overtly vocal, have gotten their way. Be careful what you wish for!

I see Evans is choosing his replacement, what the feck does he know about football????
-5

bluehook added 16:26 - Apr 4
Algarvefan - we haven't heard that one before. 😂
2

Seasider added 16:35 - Apr 4
I also agree with Terry Nutkins about Micks attendance,and it looks like he will be in the chair for tomorrows press conference after all.Perhaps he thought that he would be snapped up;but it didn't materialize.Pity.

Don't agree however with algarvefan about the vocal minority getting rid of McCarthy,who repeats the oft used phrase "Be careful what you wish for".

His/her handle leads me to believe that they are domiciled in the Algarve which would make it difficult to attend Portman Rd often;as there was no doubt from the local fans and press coverage that it was a MAJORITY who wanted Mick out.

I agree however that if Mr Evans chooses either McClaren or Pardew then most of the Mick outers will feel miffed,to say the least.
5

Terry_Nutkins added 16:35 - Apr 4
I accept its the right time for a change. The filth chucked his way is uncalled for though.
8

baxter7 added 16:41 - Apr 4
And it's a pity he didnt show the supporters a bit more respect as well not every town fan was against him he is going so let's just get behind the team and support the next manager
7

Monkey_Blue added 16:46 - Apr 4
Had Mick been given the cash Keane and Jewell wasted we'd have been promoted at least once by now even if we could have become a Yo-Yo club.
-5

dugoutdave added 16:55 - Apr 4
MM there/ - probably to say bye to them all
3

Radlett_blue added 17:08 - Apr 4
What has happened to Chris Goteni? Has he gone on French leave?
1

happybeingblue added 17:15 - Apr 4
first attempt on goal not until the 39th min hmmm
1

RonFearonsHair added 18:35 - Apr 4
Shame Martin O'Neill wasn't at this match!
0

grumpyoldman added 21:00 - Apr 4
Why are people obsessed with the lack of funds, read George Burley's interview in the EADT, it puts things into perspective. No manager at Ipswich has had masses of money, we always have sold players but we have had success.
5

leftie1972 added 21:34 - Apr 4
I'm not sure you can quantify the last ten years as a "success"!
I agree money doesn't buy you everything and in recent times clearly hasn't, but it has to be relative to the expectations of both the club and fans.
1

EatonBlue added 21:48 - Apr 4
Well done Mick for attending.
For those interested in history and political leadership, the position we find ourselves in with Mick is similar to Churchill's situation at the end of WW2. He was acknowledged by all as being the ideal leader to win the war and save Britain from disaster. He was a brilliant 'warlord' but in peacetime it was felt that a complete change was needed and Churchill and the Conservatives lost the 1945 General Election. It was felt that Churchill had no clear sense of direction for the country after the War had ended.
1

Kirbmeister added 23:08 - Apr 4
algarvefan- Evans is only the owner. If he wants to pick the new manager he can. If you don't like it why don't you but the club off him?
0

Pilgrimblue added 08:00 - Apr 5
Give Nash a chance with first X1 as clearly Mick wants off with his "driverless car".
He knows the squad and has got success against other clubs that would appear to be better than Town. He could bring back loans and give youth a chance which I'm sure would help new manager.
0


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