Please log in or register. Registered visitors get fewer ads.
Ipswich Town 0-2 Middlesbrough - Half-Time
Tuesday, 2nd Oct 2018 20:45

Early goals from Mo Besic and Stewart Downing have given Middlesbrough a 2-0 half-time lead over the Blues at Portman Road.

Janoi Donacien and Jordan Graham returned to the Town line-up for Matthew Pennington, who was suspended for one game following Saturday’s red card, and Gwion Edwards, who dropped to the bench.

Donacien came into the team at right-back with Graham on the left of midfield, while Grant Ward moved to the right. There was no place in the Middlesbrough 18 for ex-Blues skipper Grant Leadbitter.

Town saw plenty of the ball early on and passed it around but without getting into dangerous areas.

However, the visitors took their lead via their first serious attack in the 12th minute. Besic brought the ball forward from halfway unchallenged and hit a 25-yard strike which cannoned off Toto Nsiala, knocking the defender over.

The loose ball fell kindly for the Bosnian, giving him a free run at goal and he struck a low shot from the edge of the box past Dean Gerken to his right.

Four minutes later it was 2-0. Skipper Luke Chambers played a loose pass from the edge of the box straight to Downing on the Middlesbrough right and the ex-England international cut into the area and hit a low shot which hit the net off Donacien, leading to brief boos from the Blues support.

Town set about trying to get back into a game which already looked lost but without creating anything until the 25th minute when a Ward cross caused brief hesitation in the Teessiders’ defence before the danger was averted.

Daniel Ayala was fortunate referee Andy Madley failed to spot his late, studs-up challenge on Cole Skuse in the 28th minute otherwise the former Canary might well have seen at least a yellow card.

Town failed to make much impression on a Boro side happy to sit back on their two-goal lead until the 42nd minute when Donacien crossed from the right and Jonas Knudsen looped a header over the bar at the far post.

Three minutes later, Trevoh Chalobah sent a low ball into the box from midway inside the Boro half on the right but no Blues player was able to get a touch before Boro keeper Darren Randolph claimed.

Ayala looped a header over the bar just before the whistle which was met by further boos from an understandably frustrated Portman Road crowd.

The Blues had gifted Boro their two-goal and subsequently looked to have little idea of how to break down a visiting team largely happy to sit back and hold on to their lead, presumably well aware of Town’s lack of attacking threat this season.

Paul Hurst’s side will have to dramatically up their game in the second half - with changes at the break looking certain - if their long winless run is to come to an unlikely end in the second half.

Town: Gerken, Donacien, Nsiala, Chambers (c), Knudsen, Skuse, Chalobah, Ward, Nolan, Graham, Jackson. Subs: Bialkowski, Edwards, Spence, Sears, Downes, Dozzell, Edun.

Middlesbrough: Randolph, Shotton, Ayala, Flint, Friend (c), Besic, Howson, Saville, Downing, Braithwaite, Hugill. Subs: Lonergan, Batth, Assombalonga, McQueen, McNair, Fry, Gestede. Ref: Andy Madley (West Yorkshire).


Photo: TWTD



Please report offensive, libellous or inappropriate posts by using the links provided.



Felstow1978 added 20:48 - Oct 2
the Closet Canares on this site will struggle to contain their orgasmic delight at the Town losing again this evening. Watch the onanistic hordes reaching for their keyboard to out-pour their bile and spite at PH. Once more.
-17

Tractorboy1985 added 20:50 - Oct 2
Happy are you felstow??
4

Henrietta_R_Hippo added 20:50 - Oct 2
Captain Calamity strikes again!!!

(If only him & fellow undroppable proper bloke SkuseMe could pass the ball forward with any remotely finesse, where wouldn't be today, maybe even back in the PL? lol)

ONE attempt on goal (not on target though!)... in the 42 minute! Aye the Hurst's "Lone Strike" obsession still works to perfection, doesn't it all you super super patient fans???.
Alas Hurst is by now seriously guilty of what Albert E amusingly called the "Definition of Insanity" (or in my book at the very least: Complete cluelessness) i.e. Doing the same thing over and over expecting different results!

Still doesn't grab 'Sport Scientific Pa'ls' starting personnel either btw, for instance can anyone enlighten me as to why LIONEL Graham is in there again... and thus ahead in the picking order of several other creative players the majority of fans would much rather see???

Evans you really did hit the managerial 'JACKPOT' this time,didn't you, you tighta@@ed nitwit???
6

WaltonBlueNaze added 20:54 - Oct 2
Well done PH - thanks for putting your stamp on the club- totally useless and clueless - League 1 here we come!
6

ipswichfann679 added 20:54 - Oct 2
league 1 here we come. PH IS A JOKE, he has lost his mind
6

Roystontown added 20:54 - Oct 2
Absolute load of sh?t...might go to me car and get my boots, then again I might embarrass this lot an I'm over 50
3

superblues9 added 20:57 - Oct 2
Felstow1978 what a prat
5

blue86 added 20:58 - Oct 2
felstow, are you enjoying watching town so far this season then? and if im not happy with how the season has started does that make me a budgie?
5

baxter7 added 20:58 - Oct 2
2-0 is a dangerous score so might get a draw Hurst out enough is enough our best midfielder sitting on the bench yet again
0

Tractorboy1985 added 21:07 - Oct 2
Best player he signed in the summer and he leaves him on the bench??? Then brings him on again and we look 100 times better!! Must be a rift!! Whatever.. these players may not be good enough but they are showing no passion for the shirt! Freddie sears frozen out then expected to be the saviour?? Clueless! We need a manager who is capable at this level!!
4

Ipswich_Sniffer added 21:08 - Oct 2
the problem is Chalobah!
-2

blueboy1981 added 21:10 - Oct 2
Shambolic - Chambers must be the easiest defender to turn in the Championship, as well as gift giver.

Has to be quicker and more switched on - being a good influence in the dressing road, and rallying the troops, is not where it all ends.
4

runningout added 21:11 - Oct 2
Winnable game, No insult to Boro but we're better than this
0

BlueandTruesince82 added 21:14 - Oct 2
We're $#!+ and we know we are.............
2

Bluearmy_81 added 21:15 - Oct 2
#Evansout
3

BooM76 added 21:16 - Oct 2
Just laughing at this point .... goodness gracious when are we going to get it right ... alllll that time to choose and this what we have. Can anyone forward a shortlist of managers to ME???
2

ihatecanaries added 21:17 - Oct 2
There once was a manager called paul
who sadly was a complete fool
His surname was hurst
He made town the worst
as one up front was his call
4

Tractorboy1985 added 21:24 - Oct 2
I'm not overwhelmed by Donacien's defending but im sure a Waghorn.. garner or McGoldrick would not be complaining about his delivery into the box! Shame we have a manager who persists on playing 1 up top!
3

SuperBlue67 added 21:24 - Oct 2
George Burleys Blue and white army
0

runningout added 21:28 - Oct 2
Preston doing the business at Villa
0

runningout added 21:29 - Oct 2
Burley Nooooooooooooooo!
-2

blueboy1981 added 21:29 - Oct 2
This Management Team is in dire need of GEORGE BURLEY'S experience - How much longer will it take to sink into those it needs to .... ??
1

19781981twtd added 21:29 - Oct 2
If this inept fool is still in charge tomorow then itfc have really lost the plot get rid and pray so one can take this croc of sh**e and help us at least survive and not stop into the league 1 abyss I bet the Norfolk scum are loving this , im sick of playing the fool to that bunch of twa*s but they are in the top 6 and we are in deep Sh*t well done the mm out morons you got what you wished for .
0

Telford_Blue added 21:32 - Oct 2
Sky have just shown Burley and Butcher in the crowd. I hope there's a good reason for that!!!
2

blueboy1981 added 21:38 - Oct 2
runningout ....... we're doing the business without him then - are we ?? Get real.

0


You need to login in order to post your comments

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls

About Us Contact Us Terms & Conditions Privacy Cookies Advertising
© TWTD 1995-2024