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Ipswich Town 1-2 Reading - Match Report
Saturday, 2nd Mar 2019 17:18

Town’s 62-year stay in the top two divisions looks to be over after a 2-1 defeat to Reading saw the gap to safety extend to 12 points plus goal difference with only 11 to play. Nelson Oliveira’s 19th-minute opener gave the Royals a half-time lead before sub Gwion Edwards gave the Blues hope on 83 but Modou Barrow claimed the visitors’ second away win of the season and their first since September in the final minute.

James Collins and Teddy Bishop returned to the Town line-up with Jonas Knudsen suspended and Will Keane injured.

Collins, who had been out for five games with a hamstring problem, returned to the Blues’ defence for Knudsen with manager Paul Lambert, who was serving the second game of his two-match touchline ban, sticking with a three-man backline.

Trevoh Chalobah and Jon Nolan were in deeper midfield roles with Alan Judge and Bishop, who missed the draw at Wigan last Saturday as he had been ill earlier in the week, starting ahead of them behind lone striker Collin Quaner.

Reading fielded the same team which drew 1-1 at home to fellow strugglers Rotherham a week ago.

There was a late change of referee with Geoff Eltringham from County Durham in charge rather than Darren England who was initially slated to cover the fixture.

On 12 Tyler Blackett was yellow-carded for handball then a minute later, much to the delight of the home fans, be-masked on-loan Norwich striker Oliveira joined him in the book for an obvious dive after Bartosz Bialkowski had pulled out of a challenge in the area on the byline as the ball went out of play.

In the 15th minute Jon Nolan sent Quaner away down the right after a Reading attack had broken down. The German was breaking towards goal when the linesman’s flag was raised.

Town, watched by a crowd of 23,009, looked to be getting up a head of steam but in the 19th minute they went behind. Garath McCleary was sent away behind the Blues’ backline on the left and cut the ball back to Oliveira, who had held his run, and the Portuguese frontman had little problem in finding the net.

Olivera, already booked, celebrated in front of the Sir Bobby Robson Stand and was subsequently spoken to by referee Eltringham but wasn’t shown a further card.

The Royals weren’t far from a second in the 26th minute when one-time Blues trialist John Swift curled a shot wide from distance on the left.

On 32 Swift hit a low shot from the edge of the box which gave Bialkowski no problem, then a minute later Meite’s overhead kick was too close to the Town keeper to trouble him.

Town were seeing a fair amount of the ball but without being able to create a serious chance. On 36 Judge volleyed wide from 25 yards, then a minute later Royals skipper Liam Moore was booked for pulling down Quaner as the striker broke away in the Reading half.

There was a lucky escape for the Blues in the 38th minute when McCleary was sent away down the left into the space behind wing-back James Bree and to the right of skipper Luke Chambers but rather fortunately shot across the face and wide.


The Blues, who had struggled to settle into their system at both ends of the field, were forced into a substitution a minute later when Collins, who had been out for five games prior to the match and who had suffered a heavy late challenge earlier in the match, was replaced by Toto Nsiala.

Reading keeper Emiliano Martinez saved low from Judge on 42, then two minutes later the Blues should have levelled with their best move of the game.

Quaner did well to take down Kenlock’s long ball forward after a Town freekick had been cleared, then burst into the area on the right before cutting across to Bishop, who moved it on to Nolan to his left, but the former Shrewsbury man’s shot was somehow kept out by Martinez.

Town just about bundled a Reading corner from the left wide seconds before referee Eltringham ended two minutes of additional time.

It had been a struttering first-half performance from the Blues who never hit the level of their display prior to the red card at Wigan, although while still having one or two decent moments.

Nolan’s late chance was the best of them and the midfielder will feel he really should have been celebrating his third goal of the season.

Reading had looked the more dangerous side having created the better chances with Town not always appearing comfortable with their system, particularly at the back.

Town, desperately needing to win the fixture with half-time scorelines elsewhere also going against them, made a double change at the break with Cole Skuse and Edwards replacing Chalobah and Bree as the Blues moved to a four-man backline with Pennington at right-back.

The formation change was little surprise given the problems Town had had with their first-half system.

The Blues began to look more of a threat, Quaner made a strong run across the edge of the box but failed to find Judge with his pass, then on 55 the Irishman was sent away on the left by a superb Nsiala ball and struck a shot which Martinez saved.

The rebound bounced out to the former Brentford man who appeared to be manhandled out of the way as he looked to get in a second shot but referee Eltringham waved away Town’s protests.

Pantomime villain Oliveira departed in the 58th minute having pulled a hamstring, Nsiala having picked up an unfortunate yellow card with the linesman seeing him as the cause of the Reading striker’s fall rather than his injury. Oliveira was replaced by Modou Barrow.

Town continued to press, Skuse shooting just over on the hour mark, then Judge just getting crowded out as he chased a ball down the middle. On 65 Nolan was booked for a late challenge on Matt Miazga.

In the 68th minute, soon after Bishop had unsuccessfully claimed a penalty as he broke into the area on the left, the Blues went close to a fortunate equaliser when Andy Yiadom inadvertently diverted an Edwards cross from the right towards his own goal but Martinez clawed it away from his line. Kenlock sought to get on to the rebound but the ball was bundled behind.

On 74 Judge whipped over a freekick from the right which Bishop flicked on and Martinez saved ahead of Nsiala, who was breaking in at the far post.

The Blues had found openings harder to come by as the game entered its final 10 minutes but on 83 they levelled. After a ball into the box had been half-cleared to the edge of the box, Skuse looped it back in, Quaner flicked wide and Edwards slammed home from close range.

The Welshman’s fifth goal of the season gave the Blues, both on the field and off it, renewed hope going into the final minutes.

However, any momentum from the goal was temporarily nullified as Reading won a number of freekicks with players going down requiring treatment, Edwards picking up a yellow card for one of the transgressions.

Quaner won a freekick to the left of goal after he was felled following a strong break forward on 88 but Judge’s curling effort flew over.

But in the final minute of scheduled time, just prior to the fourth official showing a board indicating six additional minutes, Reading regained the lead.

Meite got the better of Nsiala just inside the Town half and fed Barrow, who beat Chambers as he broke into the area on the left and slipped the ball past the advancing Bialkowski. The Reading players celebrated wildly with their fans, a number of them leaping the hoarding to join them in the stand.

Town looked for what was now an unlikely comeback in injury time with Nsiala pressed forward as an additional frontman and they went close to levelling again twice in quick succession.

First Martinez, who made a number of crucial saves during the game, brilliantly tipped over Edwards’s strike from the edge of the box, then Chambers headed wide from a few feet out after Nsiala had flicked on when the skipper will feel he should have scored.

Deep in injury time Quaner nodded wide at the near post but referee Eltringham’s whistle brought the game to a close moments later with Town having lost another of their must-win home games, something which has been all too common this season.

After manager Lambert made a bold double change at half-time and switched his system, the Blues were on the front foot for much of the half but with the final ball lacking quality all too often, while Martinez in the Reading goal made a number of vital saves when chances did come.

Edwards’s equaliser gave the Blues hope of grabbing a late win but in the end Reading caught them with a sucker punch - the second time in two games Town had to claim three points which was harsh on Town who probably deserved a point from the match.

But even that wouldn’t have been enough for the Blues with Rotherham beating Blackburn 3-2 at the New York Stadium.

The gap to safety - and indeed to third bottom - is now 12 points plus goal difference with 11 matches left to play and is surely insurmountable, particularly with the Blues having a tough run-in, starting with next week’s visits to West Brom and Bristol City.

Town: Bialkowski, Pennington, Collins (Nsiala 40), Chambers (c), Bree (Edwards 46), Chalobah (Skuse 46), Kenlock, Nolan, Judge, Bishop, Quaner. Unused: Gerken, Jackson, Downes, Dozzell.

Reading: Martinez, Yiadom, Miazga, Moore, Blackett, Ejaria (Loader 89), Baker, Meite, Swift, McCleary (Harriott 80), Oliveira (Barrow 58). Unused: Walker, Gunter, O’Shea, McShane. Referee: Geoff Eltringham (County Durham). Att: 23,009 (Reading 1,495).


Photo: TWTD



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JimmyP45 added 17:20 - Mar 2
Opportunity missed. Season over. We're in League One.
23

ashp19 added 17:21 - Mar 2
Agreed there is no way back from this result.
20

Jesney_Havoc added 17:22 - Mar 2
Must win match. One up front. Fail. No where to hide Lambert, you're no better than Hurst.
0

TimmyH added 17:23 - Mar 2
Go back to your constituencies and prepare for League One.

Sadly looks like we're going down not even putting up a fight, Reading winning their first away game since September.

Thanks # Marcus Evans # Paul Hurst - jury still out on Lambert for me, though he's inherited this mess he's been here enough time to change things somewhat but has only managed 2 fortuitous wins - litmus test comes next season!
14

positivity added 17:23 - Mar 2
sad, really wish we'd had a go.

1 striker at the start was negative
toto for collins was a missed opportunity to change it
skuse for chalobah was mystifying!
we may have gone down by more, but at least we'd have tried
9

Bluearmy_81 added 17:26 - Mar 2
I know I am criticised for being repetitive and boring but as a Town fan I find losing repetitive and more than boring. I choose to highlight the cause, the insufficient investment of Marcus Evans,, a cause which is massively underacknowledged, shamefully so in my opinion. In time many of you will wish you took more of a standand and demanded better for ITFC.
15

Bluearmy_81 added 17:27 - Mar 2
Stand
-1

leftie1972 added 17:29 - Mar 2
absolutely gutted to get back to 1-1 and then lose at the death! Collins off due to another injury!
2

shakytown added 17:30 - Mar 2
How many goals have we conceded 90 mins plus in the last 5 seasons???? And at the heart of our woeful defence is the undroppable captain calamity. Even if he is not responsible for all of the errors causing these soft goals why is the situation not changing????? There needs to be a major change in our defensive line up or we will drop another division next season.
12

alexsmith111 added 17:30 - Mar 2
Good morning, good afternoon, good evening and good night, we are gone.
On another note please now play you team you hope to have as your core league 1 team. Drop the loans, drop everyone you don't plan on having here next season. The time has past and we now need a different mentality. We are now no longer in the championship
12

Sparky85 added 17:30 - Mar 2
And that my friends is that. Fat lady is singing.
Time for the rebuild to commence. Play the youth and get everything ready for next season. Get those who either don't want to be here or won't be here next season away from the squad. We're down but the future is bright. Start preparing now!!
We support the Ipswich, when we're down and when we're up!
12

cornishblu added 17:31 - Mar 2
Simple...start preparing for league one by swapping loan players for the ones that will be here next season ....give them team/game time now so we can start off with a flyer....it's going to be a tough league to get out of
COYB
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bluemike1969 added 17:31 - Mar 2
Oh please someone on here tell me why we are playing that half wit Chambers. Guilty for the first goal and missed a sitter at the end. He's been crap for at least two seasons yet we continue to play him week in week out. The fans were brilliant and deserve so much better than what they put up with. The players were clapped off, they should be ashamed of themselves. A must win game played by gutless wonders and a guy that couldn't captain his way out of a paper bag. Can't wait to hear what Paul Lamebert has to say.
17

runningout added 17:32 - Mar 2
from kick off it looked inevitable that Reading would come out on top. We'll need some major luck now, and more luck in whatever league we're in. Paul Lambert needs to shake things up to avoid double and triple relegations
2

dirtydingusmagee added 17:32 - Mar 2
sorry Evans thats it for me IM DONE, Respect to Paul Lambert i was resigned to league 1 ,BUT to keep losing to every team is just a bridge to far, 65 YRS SUPPORT ,came to an end today sad sad day . Evans OUT.
14

delias_cheesy_flaps added 17:35 - Mar 2
Terrible performance first half, defense were totally awful, that Donkey scummer Olivera was made to look a decent forward by our pedestrian defence. Anyone who thinks we have a chance of avoiding relegation is either delusional, visually impaired or knows fake all about football.
4

alexsmith111 added 17:36 - Mar 2
Don't often agree with bluearmy but on this occasion, He has a point. This is fully Evans. A heinsight thought, learning our lessons from this season. Just imagine what McCarthy could have done with an actual budget!! His football was woeful, but needs must, was that really his choice, or was it all he had!! He did better than his predecessors despite the football improving, a bit.
2

Elizabeth added 17:36 - Mar 2
Barring a miracle I have now accepted that we will be playing in League 1 next season . A very sad day for the club and all the true supporters ! I was so privileged to be a season ticket holder in our glory days and feel that it will be a very long time until we reach such heights again .
It was so important to consolidate and retain our place in the Championship this season , too many changes and inept decisions have cost us ! In the past we had someone at the helm who embraced the club and supporters , this is not the case anymore .. what else is there to say ?
6

dukey44 added 17:38 - Mar 2
Surely he CAN'T come out and say the players gave everything and he's proud of them? MR LAMBERT WE ARE RUBBISH that's simple to say instead of beefing them up!!!
4

bluemike1969 added 17:40 - Mar 2
Elizabeth...... That we are crap?
1

bostonusablue added 17:45 - Mar 2
I want a manager who does more than talk the talk and pump his fists. Lambert hasn't been any better than Hurst.
2

Michael101 added 17:46 - Mar 2
Yes we are down.But that idiot mad Mick is gone ,so it's not all bad every cloud and all that😇
2

BeattiesBackPocket added 17:46 - Mar 2
How can we blame lambert yes the tactics today were not good but who was he supposed to sign in January when bottom and with a poor bottom 3 budget. People mention reading signed oliveira but they have a much bigger budget and weren't bottom by 7 points! Can we start blaming Evans now in ten years we've gone from a fortress at home with Magilton to league one in his time. No we don't need 20/30 million but give us a wage budget where we can compete in the top ten ours was comparable to burton Albion last season and what league are they in? 5 point plan of lower league players and kids isn't working is it who do the kids learn from league 2 players? Come on time to give Evans the grief he deserves!!!
4

martin587 added 17:48 - Mar 2
It's heart breaking to see my once great club deteriorate so bad I'm finding it very hard to recognise them anymore.Its as though the heart has been ripped out and there's nothing left.Once again terrible defending and only one striker in the most important game so far.The commitment was there but once again nothing to show for it.
Fantastic crowd,how many other clubs would get this support in our dire position.(not many I bet).
It's prepare for Div 1. Now. Best to leave out the loan players get our own playing so we hopefully can hit the ground running next season.
We have a good manager here and we need to get behind him and the players for next season as Div 1 is as hard to get out of as this league.
Sad drive home but not the end of the world even though Southend Pier seems like it on a clear day.I shall have a walk down it tomorrow to clear my head.
Keep smiling posters things could be worse.👍
13

Wishing4arightback added 17:51 - Mar 2
Well Acrington it is next year!!
As I was walking away from the match today I said to my mate I would try and stay balanced and not comment whilst being emotional.
Where do i start???
Odd set up, 5 defenders at home to a team we must beat.
I know people will mark me down but Chambers...... at fault for the first, questionable positioning for the second. In the first half totally out of position and they almost scored because he had been too interested in trying to bump into their goalkeeper, who had the ball in his hands!!!
Quainer.... I feel sorry for Jackson! To be behind him in the pecking order must make you question your own ability........
Collins needs to retire.
Judge, Nolan and Bishop. All I can do applaud you all. Never stopped running, wore their heart on their sleeves and did everything they could, they cared. Nolan was not great when he first joined us, but he is now a very important part of the team, credit where credit is due.
I will review my season ticket regardless, but PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE look forward. Chambers, show you do care about the club and do the honorable thing. Walk away, you currently are a liability on the pitch. You can do what you want off it, but on it is where a game is won or lost, and sorry but you cause us points far too often.
Mr Lambert come out and say we are down and say your plans for next year. Evan's, price tickets accordingly and help Lambert as much as he wants.
Today hurt!
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