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Ipswich Town 1-1 Sunderland - Match Report
Saturday, 10th Aug 2019 17:06

Luke Garbutt netted his second goal in two games for the Blues on the quarter-half mark but Lynden Gooch levelled for Sunderland in the second half as Town and the Black Cats drew an entertaining game 1-1 at Portman Road. Garbutt shot low under Wearsiders’ keeper Jon McLaughlin in the 15th minute as the Blues dominated the first half but Gooch profited from skipper Luke Chambers’s error on 64 to claim an undeserved equaliser for the visitors.

Chambers returned to an otherwise unchanged Blues line-up having been suspended last week at Burton. The 33-year-old replaced James Wilson at the heart of the defence with the Wales international dropping to the bench.

Alan Judge and Emyr Huws were also among the subs, as was Andre Dozzell, who missed the game at the Pirelli Stadium due to a knee problem.

Sunderland made two changes with Luke O’Nien and skipper Aiden McGeady both starting, while Elliot Embleton and Will Grigg dropped to the bench. Ex-Blues captain Grant Leadbitter was also among the subs.

In blustery conditions, the Blues started on the front foot, winning an early corner on the left. Home debutant Garbutt’s ball in from the left was headed into the arms of Black Cats keeper McLaughlin by another man making his Portman Road bow, James Norwood.

Town felt they should have been awarded a penalty in the sixth minute when Kayden Jackson chased a Luke Woolfenden pass, took it into the area and looked to be felled by a Sunderland defender.

Referee Neil Hair immediately blew his whistle but instead of pointing to the spot gave a freekick to the visitors and booked Jackson for diving. It looked a very harsh decision and the Blues striker was evidently very frustrated at having been yellow-carded when he felt he had been fouled.

The Blues had kept the Wearsiders pinned back in their half for virtually the entire opening quarter of an hour and in the 15th minute they went in front.

A loose ball fell to Garbutt inside the area to the right. The Everton man took it on towards the touchline and from a tight angle squeezed a low shot through keeper McLaughlin’s legs and into the net to send the Portman Road crowd, which had already made itself heard, into raptures.

The midfielder celebrated his second goal in only his second game for the Blues in front of the East of England Co-op Stand with his team-mates.

The match continued after Jackson had received treatment for a blow on the head received in the attack which ultimately led to the goal.

On 20 goalscorer Garbutt won a freekick 25 yards out, took it himself and hit the wall with his effort.

Town twice went close from the corner when Skuse turned a shot goalwards only for it to be deflected away from goal. The ball was returned into the box and Norwood hooked a volley only just wide.

In the 24th minute Rowe intercepted a loose Sunderland pass on the Town right and sent in a cross which keeper McLaughlin only just diverted away from Norwood.

Danny Rowe, making his first home start, more than two and a half years after joining the club, thought he had won a penalty on the half hour as he appeared to be caught as he he sought to shoot but referee Hair instead awarded a freekick to the visitors for reasons which weren’t entirely clear.

Sunderland started to see more of the ball but with Tomas Holy, another making his home debut, still untested.


Skuse sent Jackson away on the left in the 33rd minute, the ex-Accrington man waiting for his team-mates before sending in a low cross which was cut out ahead of Norwood.

Garbutt underwent treatment for a knock in the 35th minute but soon got back on his feet and struck a shot from 25 yards which keeper McLaughlin kept out but couldn’t hold. The Everton loanee looked to get in another effort but was hampered by a grounded Sunderland player, however, again referee Hair waved away Town appeals for a penalty.

Town continued to search for their second goal and in the 37th minute Rowe burst down the right and fed Jackson, who moved the ball on to Norwood, whose shot on the turn was blocked by a defender and ricocheted through to McLaughlin.

A minute later, the Wearsiders, who had already switched to a back four from the three-man backline in which they had started, managed their first strike of the afternoon, Gooch cutting in from the left before hitting a shot which flew well wide.

The Blues were forced into a change in the 39th minute when Garbutt succumbed to his earlier injury and was replaced by Alan Judge. The goal-a-game midfielder was warmly applauded off by his new fans.

Judge immediately got into the game and in the 43rd minute curled a shot from distance into McLaughlin’s arms.

As the game moved into four minutes of injury time Norwood threatened three times, first smashing a shot against Tom Flanagan as he and Jackson chased a ball over the top, then volleyed a strike wide off a defender from the corner, then screwed an effort high and wide from the subsequent flag-kick.

Applause greeted the half-time whistle with the Blues having been very impressive and deserving more than just their one-goal lead.

Town had started strongly and had controlled the game from the off, not allowing the Black Cats to get a foothold in the game at any stage.

The Blues had had chances to add to their lead and were unlucky not to have been awarded a penalty in the incident in which Jackson was booked, while Holy in the Town goal had largely been a spectator.

Sunderland, who had been dismal in the first half, swapped Denver Hume for Chris Maguire ahead of the second half as they moved to 4-4-2.

The Blues continued to have most of the ball in the Wearsiders’ half, albeit without quite the same control of the first half, but without forcing McLaughlin into serious action.

There was a scare on 58 when McGeady whipped over a ball from the left which flew not too far in front of Marc McNulty and just past Holy’s left post.

Just after the hour George Dobson was shown his side’s first yellow card for a foul on Judge on halfway.

The Blues had looked in no danger but in the 64th minute the visitors equalised. After Town had lost possession on halfway, Maguire played the ball forward down the Sunderland left and Chambers tried to see the ball out for a goalkick.

However, McNulty closed him down and won the ball before squaring it to Gooch, who slammed into the net from 12 yards before running to celebrate with the Black Cats fans in Cobbold Stand to his left.

Having all but gifted the opposition an equaliser they didn’t deserve, the Blues went about restoring their lead. Norwood and Rowe both having efforts blocked as the Wearsiders made heavy weather of clearing in the aftermath of a corner.

On 73 Rowe made a darting run to the left of the box and played a pass to Norwood on the edge of the box but the striker’s shot was straight at McLaughlin. Moments later, Sunderland swapped McGeady for Will Grigg.

In the 78th minute Town switched Rowe for Dozzell with the England U20 international taking up a role on the right. Five minutes later, the Black Cats introduced Alim Ozturk for Jordan Willis, who had suffered a knock a few minutes earlier.

The Blues continued to see most of the ball as the game moved into its final scheduled five minutes.

On 86, Chambers claimed a penalty when O’Nien appeared to handled the ball away from goal as a cross came in from the right but referee Hair awarded a freekick against the Town captain for a push.

Jordan Roberts replaced the lively Jackson as the game moved into three minutes of injury time.

The Blues continued to look for their second goal, Judge hitting a low effort which McLaughlin just held on to ahead of waiting Town strikers.

But Town were unable to find a the goal which would have won them a game from which they really should have claimed three points from their first-half display.

Sunderland were more in it in the second half but aside from their goal - which was largely the result of Town errors - Holy had been unthreatened with the goal the Black Cats' only shot on target.

At the other end, McLaughlin was similarly not tested sufficiently with too many of Town's efforts - seven on target over the 90 minutes - too close to the former Burton keeper.

Town will also feel they were unfortunate not to have been awarded a penalty when Jackson was fouled early on.

However, overall it was a very positive Blues display against a Black Cats team all but certain to be in the promotion shake-up come May in front of a vociferous 24,051 crowd at Portman Road.

It was a more dominant display than at Burton last week, certainly in the first half, with the victory over the Brewers having been based more on a counter-attacking threat.

Town, who are sixth in the early-season table, will be hoping to continue their unbeaten start to the League One season when they travel to Peterborough, who are yet to pick up a point, next Saturday, following Tuesday’s Carabao Cup tie at Luton.

Town: Holy, Donacien, Woolfenden, Chambers (c), Kenlock, Skuse, Downes, Rowe (Dozzell 78), Garbutt (Judge 39), Jackson (Roberts (90), Norwood. Unused: Norris, Wilson, El Mizouni, Huws.

Sunderland: J McLaughlin, C McLaughlin, Willis (Ozturk 83), Flanagan, Gooch, McGeouch, O'Nien, Hume (Maguire 46), Dobson, McGeady (c) (Grigg 73), McNulty. Unused: Burge, Power, Embleton, Leadbitter. Referee: Neil Hair (Cambridgeshire). Att: 24,041 (Sunderland: 1,847).


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Sindre94 added 17:09 - Aug 10
Decent first half, but really disappoint second. Norwood, Chambo, Rowe and Judge well below par. Woolfy and Skuse were great. Need to control games better, but its 4 points in two. On to the next.
12

DJpatrovers1 added 17:10 - Aug 10
Chambers cost us 3 points, simple as that, Woolfenden a class above him. Shame as we were dominant without managing to get a 2nd. Promising though, COYB
29

Naylorsboots added 17:11 - Aug 10
Not good enough. Get yoir cheque book out Evans!
-8

TimmyH added 17:14 - Aug 10
Well snatched a draw from the jaws of victory and yes on his League One debut Chambo does it again, I wonder how many points he has cost us over the last 10 months?

Sounded like we played well 1st half and deserved the lead but as I've said many times how often do we play well over 90 minutes?...answer very very rarely and let them back in, oh well crumbs of comfort in that first half display.
22

midastouch added 17:15 - Aug 10
Luke before you leap!
Woody Allen once said:
"Most of the time I don't have much fun. The rest of the time I don't have any fun at all."
Well the second sentence of that quote pretty much sums up our second half performance today! Shame as the first half was very encouraging but one goal leads are often far too vulnerable for Ipswich to defend. Last week however we managed to hang on to our one goal lead. This week though we didn't. So then, what was the main difference between last Saturday and this Saturday? I wonder!
3

agravenor added 17:16 - Aug 10
Positives:
1)Sunderland are meant to be the big boys of the league and for the vast majority, we out played them.
2) Jackson's consistent non stop pressure will cause havoc at this level
3) Downes is looking good on and off the ball. Also thought Skuse swept up well.
4)Garbutt looks a player. Hopefully nothing serious...
5) we are hunting in packs. At this level that will really help us.
6) PORTMAN ROAD WAS ROCKING

Negatives:
1) 1-1
2) Holy doesn't seem to command his area well. I think the goal could've been avoided.
3) chambers doing chambers things...
4)) not enough end product.
30

richardpaul added 17:17 - Aug 10
What a great attendance I bet it beats many in the championship BBC stats say they had most possession but that we overran them in all other areas Well done lads and lets have a good cup result on Tuesday
5

martin587 added 17:19 - Aug 10
Cannot believe we didn't get three points today.Very good performance from the lads.Sunderland One shot on target had very little conviction and were gifted a goal.Enough said.Promising start from two games and I find it hard to see we will loose many games if we stop making stupid errors.Roll on next Saturday.Well done lads.
14

ShropshireBluenago09 added 17:19 - Aug 10
1-1 is a decent result against one of the topsides in the division, however a silly mistake (again) by our captain - he cannot keep doing this!
Definitely need another striker in, Murphy or someone with height and presence like him would be ideal.
15

warktheline added 17:22 - Aug 10
Captain fist pump does it again! Groundhog Day! On the plus side 4 points on the board 👍
19

Pezzer added 17:23 - Aug 10
Clean sheet last week no Chambers.
No clean sheet this week another Chambers horror moment, the guy isn't good enough basic schoolboy error.
21

BobbyPetta11 added 17:23 - Aug 10
I hate to get on his back as he is Ipswich through & through. However, Chambers showed last season how shakey he was & I was surprised when he was kept on this season, he really struggles to play under pressure.

Overall positives from the game but left feeling very disheartened. Fingers crossed Garbutt isn't serious.
18

Suffolkboy added 17:24 - Aug 10
For heavens sake , we've only just started a new season : let's be only positive and supportive !
This total nonsense of severe criticism ,not only of the players ,but of the owner is the manic nonsense which seemed to colour judgements and comments ceaselessly last season !
Give everybody some time and exercise patience in the hope the team will grow in confidence
together and entertain us all with effort ,discipline ,enthusiasm and attractive attacking football !
BUT please remember it's no good expecting everyone to be on 100% top form either right away or every day .
So well done today ; it was heartening to hear on the radio we were actually winning ,and a draw with Sunderland should indicate a starter for ten as we go forward !
Well done ITFC !
COYB
7

richardpaul added 17:24 - Aug 10
seems we should only use Chambers in cup matches
9

Erics_size_5s added 17:25 - Aug 10
Must stop making defensive errors, which have cost us for some time now. How many others teams have most points dropped as a direct result of their captain? Hopefully, once Norwood breaks his duck the goals will roll in. However, we need goals from other forwards too. Would have taken 4 points from 1st two games, so feel positive. COYB
4

Dissboyitfc added 17:25 - Aug 10
Agravenor spot on post!! Well said
3

oldtimer added 17:26 - Aug 10
If Chambers had smacked the ball into his own net it wouldn't have been much worse than what he did do. My old mum could have cleared that
13

DifferentGravy added 17:27 - Aug 10
Well done home support absolutely fantastic. Really good to have that many back. Good performance overall but a shame we couldnt get a second goal which was deserved. Really need Norwood (and a livelier Jackson) to get a goal and get the confidence going. Woolfy was superb but even he cant do anything about the same old errors. Mark me down all you like, we need someone to replace Chambers.

Unlucky town, but 4 from 6. Onwards and upwards
21

afcfee added 17:27 - Aug 10
Gutted, I backed Chambers to come back into the line up and he does that! Just kick it out why play for free kick on a 1 on 1, all in all not a bad point but how we can't afford to throw away 2 points for stupid errors.
5

cat added 17:28 - Aug 10
Could not attend as I'm overseas. Four points from the opening games is a decent return. Good to read we are taking the game to the opposition. Garbutt got goals in him and looks like a decent loan. Moral of today's game, don't change a winning team. Shame as it sounds we completely dominated them.
6

terry_butchers_twin added 17:28 - Aug 10
Paul Lambert - they're young lads and they'll make mistakes. Hate to burst your bubble Mr Chambers but you are NOT a young lad.....,
11

baxter7 added 17:29 - Aug 10
Captain calamity strikes again for Christ sake Lambert drop him to many mistakes from him
9

TimmyH added 17:32 - Aug 10
Should take teams to the cleaners from how I heard we played first half so disappointed in the fact we couldn't see them off and by the sounds of it quite a few positives other than the obvious one...so reasons to be optimistic.

By the way I think a few are getting carried away with Sunderland and what a good result 1-1 is...I saw them twice last season, once live at Roots Hall and thought they were dreadful).
3

Wrightie added 17:35 - Aug 10
Yep, let's make a scapegoat out of chambers. Howler yes, but Holy should have came for it though. But blame Norwood, Jackson or judge for not being prolific upfront. 17 shots... Also, hoof football really. Positives for sure. But solely blaming chambers, come on, really?
-16

Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 17:36 - Aug 10
The Paul Lambert revolution is clearly underway based on this performance that was full of energy and not a little skill. We're going to make mistakes - any team does - but the first half was a master class of how to deal with a skilful team at this level: Press them hard and break up their rhythm. Second half pretty much evens in my book. There is rarely a match where one team dominates the whole 90 minutes: Just look how Liverpool let it slide a bit in the second half against the Budgies. I would certainly have taken a point beforehand, but afterwards I was disappointed we didn't get all three. If we play like this against the majority of teams in L1, we'll be up there, without a doubt. Great support too. COYB!
5


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