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Ipswich Town 4-1 Burton Albion - Match Report
Saturday, 15th Feb 2020 17:16

Alan Judge and Kayden Jackson netted two goals apiece as the Blues came from behind to beat Burton Albion 4-1 at Portman Road. Jamie Murphy gave the Brewers the lead in the sixth minute but Judge levelled for Town on 29, then Jackson put the Blues in front just before the break. The former Accrington man made it 3-1 seven minutes after the restart, then Judge added the fourth on 63.

Judge, Luke Garbutt, Will Keane, Gwion Edwards and Jon Nolan all returned to the Blues line-up.

Garbutt was back as left wing-back having missed the last two with a thigh injury, while Edwards was on the right having served his two-match ban for 10 bookings. Janoi Donacien dropped out of the 18.

Josh Earl moved to the left of the three centre-halves with Luke Woolfenden on the right and skipper Luke Chambers in the middle with James Wilson on the bench.

Judge took up the more advanced midfield role ahead of Flynn Downes and Nolan with Cole Skuse and Emyr Huws among the subs.

Up front, Keane came in for James Norwood, who was among the subs, alongside Jackson. Teddy Bishop returned to the 18 after his knee injury.

Burton made three changes with Stephen Quinn, Joe Powell and Oliver Sarkic in for Kieran Wallace, Scott Fraser and Nathan Broadhead, who were on the bench.

With Storm Dennis beginning the blow around the ground and rain falling, Town started on the front foot and ought to have gone ahead in the fourth minute.

Earl played a great pass out of defence on the left to Judge, who moved it on to Jackson, and the striker sent in a low cross to Keane in space in the middle. The former Hull City man took a touch, probably due to the wind, but as he shot Reece Hutchinson toed the ball away from him.

Within a minute, Burton went in front. Ryan Edwards found Jamie Murphy in acres of space on the left, from where the on-loan Rangers winger cut inside and hit a low shot to Tomas Holy’s left and into the net. It looked a very poor goal to concede from a Town perspective.

Having got their goal, the Brewers were well on top with the Blues struggling to make any impact going forward. On 10 Murphy was again found in space to the left and unleashed a shot which Holy saved.

Five minutes later, Joe Powell hit a well-struck effort from 25 yards which Holy watched carefully in the wind and turned over.

Town began to get more into the game and in the 20th minute should have levelled. Downes intercepted a loose pass just inside the Burton half and sent Judge away on goal. The Irishman shot past Brewers keeper Kieran O’Hara to his right but his effort hit the angle of post and bar.

Three minutes later, Garbutt was shown the first yellow card of the game for a foul on Quinn, brother of ex-Blues midfielder Alan.


On 27 Earl sent over a swirling cross from the left which Judge turned wide at the near post.

Town again should have equalised a minute later when Keane played in Jackson on the right of the area. With the wind getting stronger, the striker was forced wide but took the ball past the advanced O’Hara. However, the ex-Accrington man rushed his shot and hit the side-netting from a tight angle.

But the Town support didn’t have to wait too much longer for a goal. On 29 Jackson again away on the right and this time sent over a low cross from the byline which Judge turned into the far corner of the net, perhaps off a defender’s toe.

The Irish international celebrated his by removing his boot and throwing it towards the East of England Co-op Stand.

Having got back on terms Town looked a more confident unit and in the 34th minute, Garbutt whipped in a freekick from the right, Chambers flicked on and Conor Shaughnessy nodded it behind ahead of Keane, who looked odds-on to score had it reached him.

Burton began to see more of the ball and in the 42nd minute Sarkic curled a freekick towards goal which Holy claimed comfortably down to his right.

But in the 44th minute the Blues went in front. A wind-assisted Tomas Holy long ball saw Jackson in on goal after defender Richard Nartey totally misjudged the flight. The striker took a deft touch inside the area before looping over O’Hara and into the net to claim his 10th of the season.

Burton keeper O’Hara appeared to turn his ankle as Jackson scored and after treatment was replaced by Ben Garratt.

Seconds before the whistle, the Blues almost made it 3-1. Jackson left his man for dead on the right and sent in a low ball which Keane cleverly turned goalwards with his heel, however, Garratt was able to block.

The end of the half was greeted by applause from the Town faithful after an entertaining half in difficult conditions with the Blues having done well to turn things around after conceding the early goal.

Having gone behind, Burton had a spell on top when they might have killed the game off but Town gradually found their feet again and had had chances prior to Judge and Jackson’s goals. The wind had certainly had an impact on the match, not least on Town’s second goal.

The Blues began the second half on the front foot, Jackson crossing to Keane, who slipped as Nartey struggled to clear.

But on 52 Town put daylight between them and the Brewers. Judge, now playing out wide on the right with the Blues having moved to 4-4-2, won the ball on the flank and crossed towards Jackson, who stooped to loop a header inside the post behind Garratt to take the number nine to joint-top scorer alongside Norwood on 11.

Burton were forced into a sub in the 62nd minute when Nartey suffered a knock and was replaced by Kieran Wallace.

Two minutes later, the Blues made it 4-1. Nolan intercepted a loose pass a few yards inside the Burton half and fed Keane, who turned away from his man and played a pass into the path of Jackson. The ball held up in the wind and was stabbed out to Judge, who hit a low shot which squirmed under Garratt and just over the line before the keeper got back to paw it away.

Nolan was booked in the 67th minute for a foul on Edwards, then three minutes later Keane was found inside the box and hit a shot on the turn over. Seconds later, Town swapped the striker and Nolan for Bishop and Skuse.

Bishop immediately went looking for goal, curling a right-foot shot from just outside the box which Garratt did well to get down to his left to palm wide. From a very wind-assisted corner, the ball hit Chambers at the far post and looped over.

On 75 Jackson should have completed his first Town hat-trick. The striker was sent away behind the Burton defence by a superb defence splitting pass from Judge and was one-on-one with Garratt. However, the sub keeper stood his ground and blocked. The resultant corner scuffed off the top of Woolfenden’s newly-bleached hair and out.

Three minutes later, the visitors switched goalscorer Murphy for on-loan Everton striker Nathan Broadhead.

In the 81st minute Brewers skipper John Brayford brought the ball forward before hitting a shot well over. Moments later, Freddie Sears replaced Judge, who received a warm ovation as he left the field.

Sears might have made it five in the 87th minute when he was found on the right of the area but hit Garratt with his shot from a tight angle when the sub might have been better cutting it back to Jackson.

That was the final chance of the game with the final whistle warmly applauded by the home support.

After a concerning start to the afternoon, in the end it was as comfortable win as Town have had all season and the margin of victory should have been even wider.

Having got their noses in front at the end of the first half, the Blues maintained their momentum after the break and Jackson’s second of the game all but sealed it. Town had plenty more chances but were only able to add Judge’s second.

After three defeats and a draw, a win today was absolutely vital not just in terms of points but also the mood surrounding the club which was threatening to deteriorate just as the season reached its most crucial stage.

Town remain seventh, a point off Portsmouth in the final play-off place, and now five behind leaders Rotherham, who drew 2-2 at home to Wimbledon, and Coventry, who are up to second following their 2-0 win at Southend.

The Blues are next in action at home next Saturday when Oxford United, who were beaten 1-0 at home by Sunderland today, are the visitors.

Town: Holy, Earl, Chambers (c), Edwards, Jackson, Nolan (Skuse 70), Judge, Downes, Woolfenden, Garbutt, Keane (Bishop 70). Unused: Norris, Wilson, Norwood, Sears, Huws.

Burton: O’Hara (Garratt 45), Brayford (c), Edwards, Quinn, Akins, Hutchinson, Shaughnessy, Sarkic, Nartey (Wallace 62), Powell, Murphy (Broadhead 78). Unused: Fraser, Sbarra, O'Toole, Thomas. Referee: Charles Breakspear (Surrey). Att: 19,922 (Burton: 177).


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TimmyH added 19:43 - Feb 15
And as day turns to night you know who pops up after a win...the Dolphin!, granted good performance today but Burton are a mid-table team not a top 8 one, I'll start believing if we can now go on a run now that things are just starting to heat up!
6

dirtydingusmagee added 19:46 - Feb 15
Bettyblue i don't always disagree with you , but bloody hell they won today would you have been happier if they had blown this one as well.
6

Buryblue78 added 19:48 - Feb 15
On a slightly different note nearly 20000 town fans there today
despite recent form
Not comparable to the mood on here lately!
10

londontractorboy57 added 19:49 - Feb 15
Just got home after a horrendous journey home much needed 3 points will not get to excited until we have put a run of wins together as Burton were very very poor still as they say you can only beat whats in front of you.
3

blueboy1981 added 19:56 - Feb 15
Bobblehat - you need a temperature check - get it done !
4

heathen66 added 19:58 - Feb 15
Star men again. Jackson Downes and Edwards. However this time there were contributions from others.
PL got caught out tactically early on with none of the 3 CBs taking responsibility to mark the wide players. But again Edwards was solid playing in an unfamiliar rb role.
-2

budgieplucker added 20:18 - Feb 15
Whilst enjoying a vibrant performance today I am not going to get carried away until we can at least chalk up 3 consecutive decent home wins with some daylight between us and the opposition in respect of the score margin.

Nigel Clough has done a great job with Burton on a budget that is a fraction of ours and with a Stadium that holds barely more than 5,000. His name would be the top of my list should Lambo depart, Burton are a decent side at this level and try to play football but they are not a top six side and mid table is about their level.

We started as we have often done so before with sloppiness at the back and I have to say Gwion Edwards frustrates me, against Peterborough he was our best players and can be a match winner at this level but then in the next game he can be equally poor and sloppy, he did ok when he was sent to full back, but for me at wing back he gets caught out and has a petulant side in some of his challenges. No wonder he has picked up so many bookings. Anyway tonight is not the night to moan after a good performance after a poor start.

I actually thought the conditions played right into our hands making the conditions difficult for central defenders to judge, so balls over the type were largely successful.

I very much liked the look of Josh Earl who looked so composed, when he moved to left back he equally did well getting forward and looks a good athlete and footballer. Would be a good acquisition to the squad longer term if Preston wanted to make him available. He also allowed Luke Garbutt to play left midfield and this really suits Luke and gives him a little extra freedom to get forward.

Flynn Downes is playing himself into a bigger club with such consistency and tenacious performances.

Nolan had a very efficient game and is an asset in this league, worked well with Flynn and I thought when we went 4-4-2 (which I have not been a great advocate off) we did actually stretch the game and Judge being more disciplined on the right side with both he and Garbutt putting some excellent balls into the box early with Keane and Jackson making good attacking runs to get on the end of the crosses. So perhaps we do need to retune back to 4-4-2.

Bish looked good when he came on, but dare I say Mr Skuse put the breaks on the tempo when he arrived on the scene and apart from runs from Bish we lost our momentum.

Good result, very good performance.................now leta prove we can take OXFORD apart in a similar fashion!!!!
8

Doctor_Earman added 20:27 - Feb 15
Good result. Need to beat Oxford now otherwise it's all pretty meaningless.
3

blueboy1981 added 20:38 - Feb 15
Lets not build Oxford up to be anything they are not - they're nothing special, so lets not pretend otherwise.
Another win could, and should, be expected if we're heading in the right direction once again.
7

midastouch added 20:40 - Feb 15
Just back home. Braved the elements and took the whole family today, that was the first game for my youngest daughter and my eldest daughter too. Something must of gone right as they both asked when we can go again! Last time I took my son (who also came today) we won 4-1 so must be a lucky charm! Today was much more of what I was expecting this season. Sadly performances like today have been rather rare. But today they had a swagger about them. My only slight criticism would be that they were very wasteful and with a bit more composure in front of goal it could of quite easily been 8 goals!
Judge really surprised me today. He's been frustrating the hell out of me this season but today it clicked into place for him and hopefully that will be a massive confidence boost for him. When he hit the bar when he was clean through early in the game I worried it was going to be another one of those days for Judge. However, he kept going and more chances came his way and he took full advantage. I also thought Earl had a good game. Apart from one sloppy pass which he put out for a throw in he did well. It's perhaps unfair to pick out any individuals to be honest though as they played as a team today and looked in the mood.
What we really need I think, in order to show the others we mean business and we're still in the mix, is to beat one of the higher positioned teams. Next home game against Oxford could be the time to finally put that right. I do fear our chances of automatic promotion are pretty slim now, and I'm still a bit concerned if we'll make the Play Offs, but after seeing them turn it on today there is still hope.
It's nice to be able to come on here for the first time in a few games and give some much deserved praise to the team. While the defeats against Rotherham, Peterborough and Sunderland still feel very costly and have made it extra tough for us to get back into the automatic places, at least some hope has been restored again. Perhaps (dare I say it!) a day out to Wembley in the Play Offs might not be so implausible after all! That's probably my heart talking rather than my head but hey ho, it's always nice to dream! Enjoy your Saturday night and weekend all. CHEERS!!!
4

LWNR2013 added 20:52 - Feb 15
Good afternoon out. No negatives !
2

BangaloreBlues added 21:29 - Feb 15
blueboy1981

We all want to win, but supporters - I mean supporters - don't call for the manager to be sacked, the owner to leave, and players to go every time we lose.
Real supporters get behind the team. They say what a bad day we had, that we played crap, that hopefully we will improve, but never to get rid of everyone at the club. Because the funny thing is at every win you all say how wonderful we are... then the next defeat you want everyone out. including the manager, and then you all pick the team like you could do any better... then on the next win you say how wonderful we are, and so it goes on.
As a TRUE supporter of ITFC, I do not want the board, manager and players out, I want to give this situation time to build. We do not have a god given right to be in the Championship, we have to work for it.
And, as a club, we are all in this together.
The sad thing is, I suspect the players might read all of these comments and all you do is spread negativity, which in turn will affect their confidence and performance.
So, you should look at yourselves a bit more instead of blaming the entire staff and players. Negativity breeds negativity, and that's a fact.
Imagine being a 20-year-old player and reading all of this abuse? Can you imagine how that would knock their confidence?
But you don't care about that, you just care about getting your word across and hoping for as many upvotes as possible.
We are supposed to be a club, and we are supposed to band together as a club.
It's pathetic all of you saying mid table blah blah.... we are only a few points from top spot, and we have an excellent chance with the games we have left.
I've looked at other blogs and no other set of supporters support their team only on victory days.
Shame on the lot of you.
Now, for Fred's sake. get behind the team when we lose, not just when we win, then you can call yourself a supporter of Ipswich Town.
5

JimInGreensboro added 21:30 - Feb 15
Great work, Town.
22 points from our final 12 should get us in the post-season.
1

Dozzells_Bobblehat added 21:48 - Feb 15
Isn't it funny that when we lose certain people are on here in seconds , but when we win convincingly they are nowhere to be seen. It's almost like they enjoy us doing badly .
I rarely agree with old Blueboy but at least he's happy when we win .
4

BlueInBerks added 21:48 - Feb 15
Midastouch, take the family next week please
2

pazzy added 21:57 - Feb 15
at least burton came to play football not shut up shop well done young clough now lets take the bull by the horns and smash this league
4

Bert added 22:59 - Feb 15
Garbutt is class and gave the team the spark they needed. Burton are no slouches as the first half proved but our confidence grew as we slipped ball after ball past their midfield. Earl played his part. I understand why the regular negative posters feel as they do but some of their anti Evans and Lambert claims make them look ridiculous. Just remember that all posters on here represent on average less than 0.5 of the average gate. The vast majority of supporters keep with the team they support but acknowledge that a bit more investment from Evans would be welcome.
1

Linkboy13 added 23:41 - Feb 15
Good win today against a light weight looking Burton team . We seem to find it difficult against the big physical teams in this league, lmpressed with Judge today good first touch distribution movement and workrate and his goals were a bonus. We need to get KVY fit as Edwards is not a fullback and gets caught out of position as for Burtons goal.
0

runaround added 08:12 - Feb 16
We really needed that win. I thought we adapted so much better to the windy weather than Burton did getting the ball forward much quicker than of late & playing football in their half rather than our own half. We created chances at will & should have scored more. More regular performances like this & we still have a chance of getting promotion
0

Saxonblue74 added 08:39 - Feb 16
A really good, positive reaction from all after a disappointing recent run. That's what the fans want to see! Yes, it was Burton Albion who are not the best in the league, but they're no Southend either! The teams above us are no world beaters, a decent run now would put the pressure on. It's unfortunate that today's result hasn't made any impact on the league table, but it surely has done good for confidence levels and the general mood in the camp. This for me has reinforced my opinion that we do have enough resources to get out of this league, and with KVY, Lankester, Nydam to return and Bishop still not fully fit it can only get better. Perhaps outlines the importance of hanging onto Garbutt too? Well done boys, Oxford next please!
1

dirtydingusmagee added 09:33 - Feb 16
Saxon unfortunately I don't think Nydam or KVY will be able to get back in time to make any significant impact if at all .. If the team can keep up yesterdays work rate we could make playoffs, but it will be as much dependant on other teams slipping up as us doing well now, our early avantage has been lost, other teams have games in hand over us now. Going to have to give no less than 100% from now.
2

BettyBlue added 09:45 - Feb 16
Wonderful. We beat Burton Albion.

But how do we get promoted? We can't beat anyone in the top 6.

For automatic promotion you're betting on the current top 2 giving up 5-8 pts in the next 12 games.
And more importantly us winning almost all our remaining games. You've all seen this team this year. How many games have they not turned up for?

OK we manage to get into the play-offs? What then, our strikers haven't even scored a goal against the the top 6. How do you win the play-offs is it down to Garbutt and Judge to score the goals?

However, at the end of the season you'll all be able to reflect on that win at home against Burton while looking ahead at another season in League One without Downes and with Skuse and his new contract.

Happy Clapping.
-3

Saxonblue74 added 09:54 - Feb 16
DDM, I reckon you're right about Nydam but think we could see KVY sometime soon. Whether he'll find fitness and form soon enough may be a different matter. BettyBlue, you could suck the positivity out of a Liverpool fan!
3

BettyBlue added 10:13 - Feb 16
vs curent top six teams: Pl 11 W 0 D 5 L 6 F 7 A 18
1

ITFCsince73 added 11:39 - Feb 16
Lol Bobble talking drivel again.
A great win, but we've proved already this season we can beat the average and poor teams.
When we play anyone half decent the score line is the other way round.
We still have Coventry and Pompey to play so let's not get to carried away.
Personally feel the damage has already been done.
And Bobble let's not kid ourselves 4 & 8 are as bad now as last week...
1


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