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Accrington Stanley 2-0 Ipswich Town - Match Report
Sunday, 20th Oct 2019 13:59

Colby Bishop scored twice - the second a penalty - as Accrington Stanley ended Town’s unbeaten run by defeating the Blues 2-0 at the Wham Stadium. Bishop nodded the opener in the 17th minute before converting from the spot on 41 after a foul by Toto Nsiala. Both sides ended the match with 10 men after Armando Dobra and Ross Sykes were red-carded for an off-the-ball clash with 11 minutes remaining.

Town were without Flynn Downes, James Norwood, Kane Vincent-Young and James Wilson for their first ever league game against Stanley.

Downes suffered a hip injury while away with England’s U20s, Norwood underwent groin surgery early last week, Vincent-Young suffered a groin problem at Fleetwood a fortnight ago, while Wilson is suspended for one game after his red card at Highbury.

One-time Stanley centre-half Toto Nsiala came into the back three for the first time this season, Gwion Edwards was at right wing-back, Andre Dozzell in midfield and Alan Judge playing off lone striker Kayden Jackson, who was facing his old club.

The Blues’ third ex-Accrington man Janoi Donacien was among the subs, as were Will Keane, Emyr Huws and Dobra.

Ex-Accrington man Jackson hit the first shot of the game in the second minute, an effort on the turn following a neat moving involving Dozzell, Skuse and Judge which was blocked.

Rain began to fall persistently as skipper Luke Chambers required a few minutes’ treatment and a bandage after taking a blow to his right eye in a clash with Offrande Zanzala.

On eight Garbutt whipped over a freekick from the right, which Judge flicked into the side-netting at the near post.

Town defended a couple of corners and then a freekick as Accrington started to see most of the ball as the game passed the quarter-hour mark.

And in the 18th minute Stanley took the lead. Sam Finley sent over a high, looping cross from the right and Bishop was allowed to head back across Tomas Holy and into the corner of the net.

A minute after the goal Nsiala was booked for a foul on Zanzala just inside the Town half, although the Accrington man had appeared to have gone to ground very easily.

Accrington continued to look the more threatening side, particularly when crosses were put into the box with the Blues’ backline less assured than has usually been the case.

Accrington should have doubled their lead in the 27th minute when Callum Johnson sent the ball into the box and Zanzala headed well wide when he ought to at least have hit the target.


Town came within inches of getting on terms in the 32nd minute. Skuse played a clever ball to Edwards on the right, the Welshman in turn finding Jackson, who crossed into the area.

Keeper Dimitar Evtimov failed to gather low down and the ball ricocheted towards goal off Judge. However, as Garbutt looked to add the final touch, Jordan Clark was able to clear off the line.

On 37 Zanzala flicked an effort wide from a Clark cross from the right with Accrington still looking the more dangerous side. Two minutes later, Chambers blocked Sean McConville’s effort from a cross from the right, where most of the home side’s threat was coming from.

In the 41st minute Stanley went two in front from the penalty spot. Nsiala clumsily clattered into Bishop as the pair challenged aerially and referee Sebastian Stockbridge pointed straight to the spot. Bishop slammed the penalty to Holy’s right and into the net to claim his second goal of the afternoon.

Edwards was booked for a foul midway inside the Town half before referee Stockbridge brought to a close a very disappointing half for the Blues.

After making a tidy enough start, Accrington had began to frustrate the Blues in midfield, forcing them into too many long balls. The home side subsequently began to threaten more and more, particularly via crosses from the right.

Bishop appeared to be in acres of space as he headed the opener while the push from Nsiala, who had a tough return to first team football, for the penalty all but gifted the striker his second of the game.

Town needed to be significantly better in the second half if they were to maintain their undefeated record and it was no surprise that Paul Lambert made changes ahead of the restart.

Nsiala and Andre Dozzell were switched for Dobra, who was making his league debut, and Danny Rowe. The Blues moved to 4-4-1-1 with Dobra off Jackson up front and Judge on the left wing and Rowe on the right.

Dobra made an immediate impression, winning a couple of corners with his direct running and also drawing a foul from Jerome Opoku which led to a booking.

Rowe scuffed an effort wide from distance with the Blues seeing more of the ball in the Accrington half but still without looking particularly convincing.

Town just about kept an Accrington corner from the right out of their goal in the 57th minute after the ball ran loose in the box. Two minutes later, Nolan was yellow-carded for a foul.

Finley hit a powerful 25-yard effort which deflected through to Holy on 61 after Judge had given the ball away midway inside his own half, then a minute later Clark cut in from the left before shooting wide when he ought to have played a low ball into the box.

Town had the ball cleared off the line for the second time in the afternoon in the 64th minute.

Following a corner on the right, the ball was sent back in by Garbutt and with the keeper flapping reached Luke Woolfenden at the far post where the centre-half stabbed towards goal only for Clark to block it. The referee waved away Town protests that it had struck Clark’s hand or that it had crossed the line in any case.

The Blues made their final change of the afternoon in the 66th minute with Judge, who had had a quiet afternoon, replaced by Anthony Georgiou. A minute later, Stanley swapped Opoku for Aji Alese.

Dobra was booked for a foul Accrington skipper Seamus Conneely in the 72nd minute, before McConville joined him in the book for a two-footed lunge on Edwards which might have led to a red card on another day.

On 75 Accrington switched Zanzala for Dion Charles, then two minutes later Joe Pritchard took over from McConville.

In the 79th minute both teams were reduced to 10 men. Dobra and Ross Sykes clashed off the ball on halfway - Dobra appearing to swing and arm and Sykes knocked him to the ground - and referee Stockbridge sent both players off with the Town sub, who had been the Blues’ brightest player in the second half, protesting his innocence as he left the field.

With four minutes remaining of scheduled time, sub Charles cut on from the left and smashed a shot over Holy’s bar.

The home side saw out six minutes of additional time to end Town’s unbeaten run at 11 games from the start of this season plus the home victory over Leeds on the final day of the last campaign.

Aside from Woolfenden’s effort off the line - which looked a debatable decision - the Blues never really threatened and Accrington had more chances to add to their lead.

Other than a brief spell at the start of the first half, Town were never on top of the home side, who won the battle in midfield and deservedly grabbed their goals before seeing the game out in relative comfort in the second half.

Despite regular starters Downes, Norwood, Wilson and Vincent-Young having missed out, manager Lambert will have believed the team he fielded should to have been enough to beat Accrington, who are starting to emerge as a bogey side for the Blues.

The Blues' post-international break blues continue with 21 games now having passed since they beat Millwall 2-0 in September 2014, the last time they won following a gap for international fixtures.

Their record in front of the Sky cameras similarly stretches to 15 matches since a December 2015 win away against the MK Dons.

Town, whose lead at the top of the table is now one point with one game in hand, are next in action at Portman Road on Wednesday when Rotherham visit.

Accrington: Evtimov, Johnson, Hughes, Sykes, Clark, Finley, Zanzala (Charles 75), McConville (Pritchard 77), Bishop, Conneely (c), Opoku (Alese 67). Unused: Bursik, Edwards, Kaba Sharif, Carvahlo.

Town: Holy, Woolfenden, Chambers (c), Nsiala (Dobra 46), Edwards, Skuse, Dozzell (Rowe 46), Nolan, Garbutt, Judge (Georgiou 66), Jackson. Unused: Norris, Donacien, Huws, Keane. Referee: Sebastian Stockbridge (Tyne and Wear). Att: 3,567.


Photo: TWTD



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dangerous30 added 14:03 - Oct 20
Bad day at the office let's see how we respond
15

Dozzells_Bobblehat added 14:04 - Oct 20
Very poor performance. No one really played well . Nsiala is totally out of his depth and in my opinion should have had Keane up with Jackson .
Referee was awful . Clear red card for the two footed lunge and gave us nothing in the first half .
We clearly missed Norwood , KVY and Downes.
Please don't play that formation again . On to the next one and make sure we bounce back.
23

martin587 added 14:05 - Oct 20
Very disappointing all round today but full credit to Accrington they done there homework and deserved the three points.Its not the end of the world though.Lets hope the four not playing today return Tuesday.Dobra was a silly boy and will surely learn from this.Long drive home and I'm not used to this.Roll on Tuesday.Safe drive home Town supporters.👍
19

cat added 14:07 - Oct 20
That was poor, pish poor. Hard to name a player who came out of that with any credit. Still top of league, main men hopefully back next game, need a bounce back performance against Rotherham.
15

pragmatic added 14:08 - Oct 20

1

WhoisJimmyJuan added 14:10 - Oct 20
Pathetic. Nsiala, Edwards and Dozzell out in January I'm afraid. Judge not good enough he can go for a reasonable fee. Dobra will learn: I think he's going to be a feisty star. I like his attitude. Most of our players looked like they'd had their Sunday roast before the match not after. Wake up call.
10

RobITFC added 14:11 - Oct 20
Por starting selection, Dozzel, Judge, Nsiala were awful , the rest not much better, an off day , one to forget and we go again Wednesday. Hopefully the missing 4 will be back. Huw's should have started and why have Keane on the bench if you don't bring him on ?
8

StokeHigh97 added 14:12 - Oct 20
Poor from start to finish! Please can we not be on Tv again this season, that's 15 without a win & 21 games without winning after the international break! It was a very bad day all round let's hope we beat Rotherham and Norwood, KVY, Downes are Fit for Wednesday, badly missed today!
9

Saxonblue74 added 14:14 - Oct 20
Lambo really should have taken Nsiala off much, much earlier. It was clear from KO that he couldn't cope with Zanzala. Let's hope it's just a blip as it was a performance much like so many we saw last season.Still, a point clear with a game in hand so all is well.
3

muhrensleftfoot added 14:14 - Oct 20
Lambert needs to learn some lessons. 1 man up front doesn't work for us, Judge is only average at best and Dozzell is too lightweight for Division 3.
11

pragmatic added 14:15 - Oct 20
Another chance lost for Dozzell to impress bad injury a while ago now , granted but 2exquisite passes in a game not enough ( not today tho) overall a lot of players did not perform given the enforced changes,
7

oioihardy added 14:18 - Oct 20
We were terrible.

Judge and dozzell are terrible in the same team together . They are clueless sell them both .
Nsiala is a liability sell him bring in new cb .

But that ref is meant to be a "professional" he gets paid to make terrible terrible calls . Which could of changed the game massively in favour of us . We should of got a goal which could of changed the game . They should of had 9 men at the end of them .

Rant over .
1

tractorollson added 14:22 - Oct 20
from start to finish, back to front, team and manager it was awful but now we see if we have strong characters. Learnt today we dont have strength in depth but lets hope we have players back for Rotherham. PL got it wrong today
2

EssexTractor added 14:25 - Oct 20
Every team will have a " bad day at the office" but worryingly today was that " all employees, management and staff " we're in efficient
Maybe today's result was needed for in this League where despite our 11 match unbeaten run there have been large amounts of games where we have underwhelmed.
This is League One and Accrington demonstrated a League One performance.. They were up for it, might have played above their usual performance but we're playing the League Leaders.
Quicker to the ball, dangerous when attacking and largely due to our impotence their defenders rarely were called into series action.
We are " flimsy in game situations such as today's , most notably in midfield..our challenges , our abilities to move the ball forward to a teammate embarrassing.
Yes on paper we have players who should not succumb to such woefulness as today.
But maybe some of those players do not have the " guts" for League One encounters, many of which will resemble today's match.
Very difficult to praise anyone today , although Dobra showed skill and endeavour and was " forced" into his one silly moment by players with obvious more experience of the rough and tumbles of League One
So hopefully many lessons learned today, play the players in their right positions, do not play one man up front( sympathy for Jackson) and never underestimate any opposition in this League
And PS when Sky suggest a televised live match , say NO...
6

finidi added 14:28 - Oct 20
Trying not to overreact didnt go today but was at Fleetwood similar first half little overrun. PL you got wrong today why didnt Huws play
What has happened to Dozzell games seam to pass him buy. Clearly must give Wilson a contract. Judge busy no end product Jackson cannot play up front alone. Shame about Dobra only bright spark. One word complacency thought we only had to turn y
Up. Not the end of the world got another game Weds to put things right still top lots of football to play.
4

DeanoBlue added 14:29 - Oct 20
Team selection wrong today
Jackson doesn't suit lone striker Keane should of played up top with Jackson and maybe he would of won headers from constant long balls to no one
That's hope the team shows character and bounces back in next game
6

inghamspur added 14:30 - Oct 20
I've always thought all along see how we do with a few injuries and first test of that was today, which obviously didn't go well. Clearly missing Norwood, Vincent-Young & Downes but should still be able to cope against a team who were in the bottom 3 and only 3 wins all season. Dozzell is clearly not good enough and needs to be moved on. Dobra looks good every time I've seen him and unlucky to be sent off. Referee was appalling.
1

tractorollson added 14:32 - Oct 20
Cant blame sky lol thats pathetic, we just werent good enough today, never hurts for a reality check although it does right now, bring on Rotherham
4

RobbieBobson added 14:33 - Oct 20
If there is still any doubt over whether to give Wilson a new contract, just watch a replay of Nsiala today, absolutely shocking. Sign him up NOW. As above, agreed that Dozzell is just not up to L1 level and Judge is not the player we had hoped for. A warning here that perhaps our squad depth is not quite as deep as we had hoped.

Playing for a 1-0 is a dangerous game and we were caught out today. Hopefully a blip rather than a reality check. God bless those that travelled the 500 miles to be there today. You lot are amazing.

It was a perfect storm today, the game after a controversial international break now L11 drawn 11, on sky and the other side of the UK, on a Sunday lunchtime, I should have had money on an ITFC loss. On to the next one lads
5

runningout added 14:35 - Oct 20
looked like haunting from last season. Making iffy teams look decent! Our squad is in need of a mental check of how to be clinical when your brought in. Some players didn't do themselves any favours today and haven't when previously camera shy
1

Walk_the_Wark added 14:35 - Oct 20
KVY and Downes run the game for us. Add Norwood and Wilson and our spine was missing today. No surprise
2

TimmyH added 14:38 - Oct 20
Well the writing was on the wall with that - SKY TV stage fright (again) and another inept performance after an international break. Dozzell and Judge continue to be relatively poor this season and believe Andre might be running out of attempts to prove himself. Saying that nobody can come away from the match with their head held high, and could be Toto's only starting game this season bar injuries (he looked woeful).

Well that is the loss and to be honest we have been lucky in one or two games this season and as mentioned it's all about how we bounce back, hopefully at least a couple of the 4 missing today will be back for the mid-week game!
3

ThaiBlue added 14:39 - Oct 20
Very poor performance from everyone apart from holy.2nd best all round they wanted it more.ref was ok and dobra desrved his red with the accrington player.roll on rotherham canott be any worse.
2

istanblue added 14:40 - Oct 20
Never understood the Nsiala hype. He was a liability more often than not last season, and again so today. Not good enough!
6

ringwoodblue added 14:42 - Oct 20
Was hoping Keane and Huws would play instead of Judge and Doz but Lambo knows best I guess. The live TV curse struck again but I'm not worried until I see how we react against Rotherham. If we don't win that game then I'll be worried!

I think today proved that we don't have suitable replacements for Norwood, KVY and Wilson. Nsiala was particularly dreadful.

Accept defeat and move on
2


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