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Ipswich Town 1-1 Nottingham Forest - Match Report
Saturday, 16th Mar 2019 17:19

Collin Quaner’s first Blues goal gave Town a fifth minute lead but Molla Wague equalised for Nottingham Forest on 31 as Paul Lambert’s side recorded their sixth 1-1 draw in seven games. Quaner stabbed in an Edwards cross to put Town ahead but Wague scrambled home from a corner as Forest had the better of the first half. However, the Blues were dominant after the break but were unable to turn their superiority into their fourth win of the season.

Boss Lambert again made five changes with Cole Skuse, Matthew Pennington, James Bree, Teddy Bishop and Quaner all back in the team.

Toto Nsiala, Kayden Jackson, Andre Dozzell and Trevoh Chalobah dropped to the bench, while Josh Emmanuel was left out of the 18.

The Blues lined-up in their familiar 4-3-3 system with Alan Judge and Gwion Edwards either side of lone central striker Quaner. Keeper Dean Gerken was back among the subs having been ill last week.

Forest, with their assistant manager Roy Keane making his first return to Portman Road since his time as Town boss, made three changes with Jack Robinson, Molla Wague, making his first start for the Tricky Trees, and former Blue Daryl Murphy coming into the team.

Joao Carvalho, Karim Ansarifard and Alexander Milosevic all dropped to the bench. Former Blues loanee Jack Colback skippered.

At a blustery Portman Road Town went ahead with the game’s first serious attack in the fifth minute via a well-worked goal down the right.

Bishop fed Bree, who played the ball into the path of Edwards breaking ahead of him. The Welshman crossed low and Quaner turned his first Blues goal through Forest keeper Costel Pantilimon’s legs from a few feet out.

The goal inevitably led to chants of ‘Keano, what’s the score?’ from the Sir Bobby Robson Stand.

On 13 Murphy flicked a header well wide for Forest from Joe Lolley’s cross from the right following a corner with the visitors taking the game to the Blues, who in turn were looking a threat on the break.

In the 20th minute Ben Osborn was sent away down the left by Murphy and crossed low. Ex-Town loanee Colback worked himself an opportunity to shoot but Pennington slid in superbly to block. Two minutes later, Lolley found himself space but scuffed his effort through to Bartosz Bialkowski.

Eight minutes later good play on the right led to Bree sending over another dangerous cross but behind Quaner and with no one waiting behind him.

Right on the half hour Forest levelled. Lolley’s corner from the right was scruffily bundled over the line at the near post by Wague having hit Jon Nolan as it had come into the box.


Skuse blazed over for the Blues from distance in the 32nd minute, then Murphy flicked a header straight at Bialkowski with the visitors having most of the ball and keeping Town in penned back in their own half for the most part.

Murphy looped a header over in the 41st minute from a Lolley freekick on the left before the Blues were forced into a change with Skuse, who had suffered a couple of knocks, replaced by Chalobah.

Just as the game went into two minutes of injury time, Forest thought they’d gone ahead. From a freekick on the right, Bialkowski saved from Yohan Benaloune, but the ball fell to Murphy at the far post and the Irishman squeezed the ball home, however, with the flag having been raised, wrongly video evidence suggests.

That fortunate escape was the last action of a half which had started very brightly for the Blues with Quaner netting his first goal for the club from a very well-worked move.

However, from there Forest had been in control with Bialkowski the only keeper forced into action and the equaliser - albeit a scruffy goal from a set piece Town will feel they should have kept out - was little surprise when it came. Had Murphy’s goal counted it wouldn’t have flattered the visitors.

Three minutes after the restart Nolan headed straight at Pantilimon after Bree had crossed following a patient Blues build-up down the right.

Town began the half positively, enjoying more of the ball than they had before the break. On 51 a cleverly-worked freekick almost saw Chambers play in Quaner but a defender’s toe intervened.

A minute later Chalobah was inches away from Town’s goal of the season smashing a volley from the edge of the box only just wide.

The Blues, with Judge increasingly involved following an unusually quiet first half from the Irishman, continued to take the game to the visitors and were much improved from the first half. On 57 Edwards burst down the right and whipped over a dangerous cross.

Quaner made way for Jackson in the 59th minute with Town still on top and Forest by now the ones rarely breaking into the opposition half of the field.

In the 63rd minute, the Blues almost scored a brilliant second goal. Bialkowski kicked long down the right for Judge, who bamboozled his man twice before sending in a superb cross for Nolan, who had made strong run into the six-yard box but somehow the former Shrewsbury man, who scored his first ever header at West Brom last week, nodded the ball just the wrong side of the post.

Moments later, Forest made a double with Carvalho and Matty Cash replacing Ryan Yates and Ben Osborn.

Town continued to press, Jackson hitting a low shot from 20 yards through to Pantilimon in the 71st minute.

The Blues were denied what would have been a brilliantly worked second goal in the 73rd minute. Judge pulled the ball back to Nolan, who smashed the ball home off the underside of the bar.

However, referee Stroud, never a popular official on his regular visits to Suffolk, pulled play back as he hadn’t blown his whistle, much to the annoyance of the Town players and fans.

Forest were next to go close, Bialkowski saving first from Cash and then from Murphy in the 76th minute. Soon after, Forest switched Pele for Karim Ansarifard.

But the Blues, who had been excellent since the break, were still presenting by far the greater threat. On 81 Chalobah sent Jackson away on the right but the ex-Accrington Stanley man’s shot from a tight angle was blocked by Pantilimon.

Jackson had an even better chance in the 83rd minute when Chalobah again played him in but once more the Blues striker was thwarted by the former Manchester City keeper.

Moments later, after Colback had been booked for a foul, Judge’s freekick from the right was sent just the wrong side of the post by Tendayi Darikwa with Forest by now pegged back in their own box with the Blues winning a succession of corners and freekicks.

Town were doing everything but scoring. On 86 Pantilimon found himself in no-man’s land when Bree sent a ball back into the area from deep but still somehow managed to paw Pennington’s header behind. A minute later, Chambers nodded Judge’s corner from the right wide.

The Blues continued what had been almost relentless pressure for most of the second half in three minutes of injury time in which Jackson had what looked a great shout for a penalty when he looked to be brought down by Wague as he tried to shoot following a Judge freekick.

Nsiala replaced Bishop for the final few seconds in which Judge’s 20-yard freekick was deflected wide off the wall.

Town did everything but score in a second half they dominated virtually from start to finish with Forest only threatening when Bialkowski made his double save. the performance after the break was if anything an even better display than at West Brom last week and certainly the best 45 minutes at home this season.

The Blues again had chances and Nolan will feel he ought to have been celebrating scoring a header for the second week running, while the midfielder was also extremely unlucky not to have scored with his strike following a freekick when referee Stroud - who was booed off by the Town support - took play back for the set piece to be taken again.

Stroud also once again involved himself in penalty controversy, as he did when Town were at Aston Villa in January, with Jackson appearing to have been fouled in the closing stages.

Overall, yet another positive performance against opposition with play-off aspirations but again one which wasn’t turned into three points, to some degree not entirely Town's fault in this instance given Stroud's refereeing, while Panilimon in the Forest goal was a safe pair of hands throughout.

The Blues, still 13 points plus goal difference from safety with just eight left to play, are next in action at Portman Road in a fortnight following the international break when Hull City make the trip to Suffolk.

Town: Bialkowski, Bree, Pennington, Chambers (c), Kenlock, Skuse (Chalobah 41), Nolan, Bishop (Nsiala 90), Judge, Edwards, Quaner (Jackson 59). Unused: Gerken, Knudsen, Dozzell, El Mizouni.

Nottingham Forest: Pantilimon, Darikwa, Benalouane, Wague, Robinson, Yates (Carvalho 64), Pele (Ansarifard 77), Colback (c), Lolley, Murphy, Osborn (Cash 64). Unused: Steele, Guedioura, Watson, Milosevic. Referee: Keith Stroud (Hampshire). Att: 16,709 (Forest: 1,691).


Photo: TWTD



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ITFCsince73 added 20:46 - Mar 16
No Blueboy. Chambo will be the downfall. And is doing a damn good job of it.
-2

cressi added 20:47 - Mar 16
Chambers personally think alongside woolfy in league one will be a leader among the young players we have coming through sensible decision by club.
4

alfromcol added 20:48 - Mar 16
As I said before, social media, including TWTD, is a wonderful tool. But it does allow tools to post all sorts of rubbish!

Great entertainment today, would have liked 3 points, but entertaining it was. Not seen at PR for many years.
12

warkyisgod added 20:51 - Mar 16
I have to say the first time in a long time I came away from the match with a smile on my face every man played their part, chalobah motm for me although he still does the hard work only for his end product to let him down having said that his volley more than deserved a goal was right behind it and I thought it was going in. Referee again awful but we've said that all season starting to wonder if they get their ref licence from a corn flakes packet. My only down from today is our lack of goals who knows where we would be had say Freddie of Keane or even Walters had stayed fit . But even with the now inevitable of us going to league 1 I can honestly say this season has been more exciting than any of the mm seasons don't get me wrong I hate that we are going down and I don't think it will be as easy to bounce back like some but I really think we have the basis of a team now who want to play football yes the pressure is off which does help but we are actually passing and shooting at goal. I do think we will not be able to keep judge though which would be a shame but I'm sure a championship side will come in for him. Let's hope we can carry this on to the end of the season.ITID
12

RobsonWark added 20:59 - Mar 16
blueboy1981 I bet you have a pillow case with Chambers face printed on it? Sleep well knowing he is still in the team.
-2

RobsonWark added 21:04 - Mar 16
ITFCsince73 sorry!! one of my posts was meant to be directed at Blueboy1981 not you.
-1

Dolphinblue added 21:10 - Mar 16
Its a itfcsince1973 robsonwalk love in 😍❤
-1

Dolphinblue added 21:12 - Mar 16
If u added up all their minuses would it reach 100 😂😂😂😂
-1

blueboy1981 added 21:17 - Mar 16
........ oh well - you can't put it where it isn't, and of course it never will be.

Respectfully asking RobsonWark, and if it applies to ITFCsince73 - NOT to read my posts, if all you can do, for whatever reason of course, is respond in a juvenile way.

I do not wish to confer with such 'so called' True Blues. Goodnight, and Good Riddance.

Just enjoy yourselves, and leave the rest of us alone to have rational debate.
-1

blueboy1981 added 21:21 - Mar 16
....... add Carberry to that.

Maybe Chambers would be interested in meeting them ?
-2

ITFCsince73 added 21:28 - Mar 16
Dolphin blue. I don't post in hope of what way votes I get.
I don't post, only things people want to hear. Unlike many.
I post on how I see things. Everyone's entitled to there opinion. My opinion is the club wont move forward by dishing out 2 year contracts on the likes of Chambo. Especially when a 1 year option was there. Most posters it seemed on Wednesday was of the opinion that Chambo would be off the end of the season, and most agreed it was best as his playing days was coming to an end. Now a 2 year playing contract has been given. And everyone now thinks that's great, maybe his playing days aren't coming to an end then. Have I seen anything different to say he's worth another 2 years? Most definitely no. If we have a mid table finish next year, maybe people then might change there mind? I've seen nothing by this contract extension, to tell me we will ne a force to be reckoned with next season. Chambo has delivered no success upto now. Why would that change.
1

Carberry added 21:31 - Mar 16
No doubt you could arrange that could you, Blueboy?
1

ITFCsince73 added 21:33 - Mar 16
Blueboy. Robsonwark can post what he likes. So can I.
People don't like it, they down vote you.
You and just a very few others don't like it but still read it.
Maybe you should get of to bed....night, night.
0

Lightningboy added 23:43 - Mar 16
Let's hope we don't get that utter tw@t Keith Stroud in league 1.
The guy is an utter disgrace.
4

algarvefan added 00:32 - Mar 17
Well I for one really enjoyed that game today, just the final product missing sadly.

Well done lads, keep the momentum going, sadly probably too late now but it was good to see some really good football played today.
6

Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 06:33 - Mar 17
Second half was a good performance overall, but two caveats for next season: 1) How many of Chalobah, Judge, Bree, Quarner, and Pennington will still be with us? Quite probably none. 2) How do we address our inability to put the ball in the net at the end of some reasonable build-up play? My point is the team will still need to be built during the summer and into our first foray into L1. Call me pessimistic, but I don't think we are going to walk it. On the other hand, I'm ready to buy into the expectation that this new adventure brings.
6

warktheline added 08:30 - Mar 17
As long as we don't lose, anybody with differing negativity towards players or owner are drowned out by the 'happy clappers'! How many games have this team led by Chambers won? Top captain, on what foundations? He's played through the 'pain barrier'.....yeah so have the terraces watching him! As for Evans, rewarding a player long associated with 'losing' defines his tenure! Totally inept and soul destroying !

On another note, looking at the squad, a couple of 'fresh faces', seasoned pros would complement the campaign next season!

On a final note, don't upset 'dolphin' or you'll post will quickly be removed 😂
2

inghamspur added 09:45 - Mar 17
That was really entertaining today, can't remember being on the edge of my seat so much at a Town game, especially second half. We look like a different team now. Stroud is a complete a**ehole. Never seen him have a decent game and Christ knows how he qualified to be a referee.
5

Dissboyitfc added 09:51 - Mar 17
I just want to add this, results wise its not great is it? no one can deny that, we are bottom! More and more Increasingly we are getting our team back, its slow progress and it will be. What i love about PL is this, he wants to win! Long gone is the attitude of lets keep the point we start with, kick it into there half and hope we can nick something, i love it so much more than before.

All of the teams McCarthy managed got relegated when he left, Millwall, Sunderland and wolves, were weaker teams when he left them!

I watched The game last night, loved seeing them beat Man U. Heres a question! does anybody think that the team Wolves are today, would be anywhere like that if McCarthy had stayed? All McCarthy is, he is a sticky plaster to cover the wound, Now the operation has been performed we will have to be patient while it all heals up, but i can see it healing real well, if given time and patience!

COYB,s
6

TimmyH added 11:11 - Mar 17
Wolves are a team based on largely foreign players and foreign coaches/staff (Portuguese) - look at Norwich not to dissimilar with many foreign players, at ITFC it's spot the foreign player other than Quaner - infact we've never had a foreign manager (that's if you don't call Scottish foreign).

Missed a trick when we didn't get Maurice Steijn in from VVV last summer, still doing well on a limited budget!
3

Linkboy13 added 11:28 - Mar 17
Must admit I'm not one of Luke Chambers biggest fans but i always give credit when credit is due and today i thought he played quite well. I think his career took a back would step when he was switched to playing right back and i don't think he's recovered from that but to his credit he's never complained and just got on with it. Next season he could play an important role in div 1 in a young side as i can't see us keeping players like Judge or Pennington who will receive better offers from championship clubs.
2

dirtydingusmagee added 11:41 - Mar 17
Well done lads, and thanks Murph for not killing our day .
1

ITFCsince73 added 12:52 - Mar 17
Well said walk the line
0

ITFCsince73 added 13:05 - Mar 17
Dolphinblue A great example of how we've let things come to this.
1

happybeingblue added 13:44 - Mar 17
hands up who is looking forward to the next game because that is what we have been missing for years for me anyway,why do so many posters on here drone on about the same old same old,turning their opinions into a bitchfest,time to look forward rather than moaning about mick marcus chambo YAWN and support the team all the players rather than singling out individuals,christ they all wear the badge on a sat do they not!
1


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