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Ipswich Town 0-1 Coventry City - Match Report Saturday, 7th Mar 2020 17:13
Matt Godden’s 16th minute goal saw leaders Coventry City to a 1-0 victory over the Blues at Portman Road. Town were an improvement on Tuesday’s defeat to Fleetwood by the same scoreline but were unable to find an equaliser.
Will Norris, Teddy Bishop, Luke Woolfenden, Cole Skuse, Gwion Edwards and Freddie Sears all returned to the starting line-up as manager Paul Lambert made six changes for the teams’ fourth meeting this season.
Norris replaced Tomas Holy in goal behind a back four of Edwards, Woolfenden, skipper Luke Chambers and Luke Garbutt.
In midfield, Skuse and Andre Dozzell were behind Jon Nolan with Bishop and Alan Judge either side of Sears up front.
Striker Will Keane missed out with a groin injury, while leaders Coventry named an unchanged team.
The Blues might have won a penalty in the sixth minute when Nolan appeared to be caught as he went inside a defender on the right of the box. However, referee Trevor Kettle wasn’t interested and the Town protests were relatively muted.
But Coventry, in their Two-tone tribute away kit, began to see more of the ball and in the 16th minute they went ahead via their first shot of the game.
After Nolan had been dispossessed a few yards inside the Blues half, Liam Walsh played a slide-rule pass into the path of Godden on the right of the box from where the Sky Blues’ top scorer hit a shot across Norris and into the corner of the net.
Having got their lead, Coventry began to dominate as they looked for a second. On 24 Kyle McFadzean looped a header over following a short corner.
The Blues were struggling to regain a foothold but in the 29th minute they carved themselves a golden opportunity with a well-constructed move from their own area down the right involving Woolfenden Edwards, Judge and Sears.
Eventually, Judge played a bouncing ball forward into the path of Nolan, who was through on goal and in acres of space on the edge of the box. The former Shrewsbury man had time to take it down and pick his spot but instead opted to head towards goal but only succeeded in finding Coventry keeper Marko Marosi’s hands. Moments later, Walsh was booked for a foul on Bishop.
The Blues started to see more of the ball as the game passed the half-hour mark and in the 40th minute Dozzell found Nolan midway inside the visitors’ half from where he played it on to Sears, who hit a low which failed to trouble Marosi.
Four minutes later, Skuse played a ball forward to Nolan on the left of the box, who again avoided a linesman’s flag but this time shot over.
In injury time, Bishop looked to be sent flying just outside the area but referee Kettle somehow saw no infringement.
As the players made their way off at the end of the half, Norris took his protests too far and was booked, frustratedly throwing a water bottle after being shown the card.
As a result, referee Kettle was roundly booed by the Sir Alf Ramsey Stand as he made his way off the field.
Aside from the goal, there hadn’t been too much between the sides with penalty area action a rarity at both ends.
Once again, the Blues were the architects of their own downfall, losing possession in a dangerous area of the field, but Coventry did well to make the most of it.
Town, who had had their fair share of the ball and were much better than in the first half against Fleetwood, will feel they should have been on terms with Nolan’s chances one which really should have been taken, the midfielder presumably not having realised quite how much time he had or how far from goal he was. His later chance was tougher.
However, those opportunities, showed that the Sky Blues’ backline was far from impenetrable, and would have given Town hope ahead of the second half.
The Blues began the second period on the front foot and in the 49th minute Skuse played in Sears on the right of the box but the striker took the ball out of play as he tried round Marosi.
Seconds later, it could well have been 2-0. Fankaty Dabo whipped over a low ball from the right for Godden but the striker slid in and sent the ball over Norris’s crossbar.
On 52, Sears turned away from his man midway inside the Sky Blues’ half and played a ball into the path of the breaking Bishop but too close to Marosi.
Coventry began to look more threatening and in the 58th minute Godden was found by a ball over the top - having strayed offside according to the Town backline - and with Norris temporarily out of his goal Chambers blocked the striker’s shot.
As Town looked to break Kyle McFadzean was yellow-carded for a foul on Sears, who in turn was booked for a foul on Jamie Allen on 62.
Two minutes later, Josh Earl took over from Garbutt, who had been struggling for the previous little while with what appeared to be a groin problem.
On 66, following a corner, Dozzell floated a cross over from the left which Chambers looked set to nod home at the far post until Sam McCallum’s toe diverted it behind.
A minute later, Town swapped Sears for Simpson and Coventry replaced Allen with Jordan Shipley. On 74 Bishop made way for Armando Dobra, then two minutes later Dozzell was yellow-carded for a foul on Callum O’Hare. Three minutes later, goalscorer Godden was switched for Amadou Bakayoko.
The game appeared to be drifting as it moved towards its final 10 minutes with the Blues not looking particularly threatening and Coventry happy enough with their one-goal lead.
On 85 the visitors replaced O’Hare with Zain Westbrooke,, then a minute later Edwards won a corner on the right but as so often in recent weeks the set play came to nothing.
As the game moved into four minutes of injury time, McCallum was booked for a foul on Edwards on the right. The freekick was cleared but was played back out to Earl on the right but his low cross-shot was blocked.
A late Earl cross from the left hit Dobra and was seen out of play by the Coventry defenders and soon afterwards the whistle was blown to cheers from the visitors and brief boos from the home fans.
In contrast to Tuesday, the Town players were applauded by most in the ground, while referee Kettle, who had frustrated the home support throughout having made a number of surprising decisions, was booed as he left the field.
At no stage were the Blues as abject as they were during the first half against Fleetwood on Tuesday but once Coventry had got the lead - and Town had missed their big chance to level through Nolan - the Sky Blues rarely looked too uncomfortable and you got the impression that the game could have gone on for much longer without the Blues troubling the scorers, even if their overall performance probably warranted a point.
However, equally Coventry, now unbeaten in 14 in the league back to December 14th, may well have been able to step their display up a gear had it been required.
A third home defeat in a row and a seventh loss in the last nine sees the Blues drop to 10th, now seven points off the play-offs and 15 behind the Sky Blues, who are now five points clear at the top and look promotion certainties, with eight games left to play.
I'm no manager or critic, but can regretfully say this season has seen some very bad decisions and tactics by PL, that sadly sees us in the position we are currently in. Very sad times at Town. I of course will be renewing next season as supporting the Ipswich is what I do. COYB....(please)
Until Lambert goes, I really don't see things changing on the pitch. Whatever players or formations he picks, the result is still the same. At least Norwich lost and are still bottom but even if they are relegated, we continue to be the laughing stock of East Anglia.
Improvement over the Fleetwood match....BUT ...we never looked like scoring. Best opportunity was a powder puff header from Nolan. Nobbynuts, our best player was Edwards. Same as the previous game the opposition defended a one goal lead without breaking sweat. Surely PL and coaches have some escape clauses for non performance in the 5 year deal.
I did go but didn't really enjoy it. It was better than Tues night but we never look like scoring. We started the second half ok for about 5 minutes then just run out of ideas. Would like to see Dobra getting more game time.
Mark me down if you like but you cant build a log cabin out of DEADWOOD and thats what we are and have been for years.It wont matter what formation or players picked this is the worst team/squad amassed at our club in yonks.There is something seriously wrong when we have a so called state of the art academy were most of the transfer monies went and we cant put a bloody team on the pitch play some kind of football sad times will continue and the powers to be look on and count the 20.000+ long suffering supporters money we cant do any more or can we.
Evans is responsible for most of our mess. But even if he backed Lambert with all the gear, Lambo's still got no idea! All the gear and no idea! Obviously Evans needs to dig deeper into those deep (but very hard to penetrate!) pockets to get us out of this mess. Being a businessman I would of thought he understood the notion of personal responsibility! If he did ever decide to spend some money (I'm not holding my breath as my lungs would of packed up years ago!) then clearly it would be wiser to cut his losses with Lambert and get somebody else who is much more shrewd in the transfer market. Lambert's transfer dealings haven't been great have they! I expect we will be losing Downes or Wolfenden sooner rather than later, all of those funds will need to be reinvested by somebody who knows how to wheel and deal. Lambert isn't that man. And Evans isn't the man to find that man. Maybe by the law of averages he might finally get somebody who can do a better job but given his past track record in appointing managers it's hard to be too confident he'll get the right person in place! He seems to consult the wrong people, whoever has been advising him has clearly been advising him badly. Hence we're at our lowest point since the 1950s! I think after taking a punt on Hurst he's looking for a safe pair of hands. But safe hands in football are not so easy to find! You might argue Warnock fits that category but at 71 he's no long-term solution. I'd rather Warnock than Lambert, but we've already left it too late this season and Warnock's not getting any younger. I can't see a quick fix to this. There's way too much deadwood in the squad, it needs some drastic tough measures to turn the ship around!
It can't get any worse! Feeble effort. We have no intelligence when it comes to football on and off pitch. That's why Warnock won't be given a go. Sorry Paul Lambert, a lot of us know start of season was fortunate and You reaped a fake reward from our gullible owner and his puppet
And surprised Bishop or Skuse didn't score today, after all they have got 3 goals combined between them for the Town in nearly 370 appearances! Is it any wonder we are where we are! We bear gifts down one end thanks to Chambo and co. Moreover, the opposition often score with their first shot on target. We however struggle to score after 10 shots on target (think against Sunderland first half)! Any prospective manager looking at our stats this season will know they have a very big job on their hands!
I thought this was headed up “match report” not “ what are your views about Lambert and Evans”. So, powder puff first half, some half decent stuff second half. Posters can bang on and on about Lambert and Evans but scoring goals and having decent strikers is our problem. Come on, this was better today but not good enough against a team who flatter to be top of a poor division.
Lowest league position ever. And amazingly supporters can't wait for the season to end. To go through exactly the same next season. Although it won't just be bottom half of L1. Keep up the good work 4&8. Leadership at its finest.
Up next the mighty Bristol Rovers. Humiliated by Southend today. But live in hope as they beat us fair and square at PR. 1st names on the team sheet, Chambo and Skuse. This comedy club rolls on....Down.
We lack Goals as much as some fans lack rationale - of course, the buck stops with Evans. BUT I'll ask again for the umpteenth time - if Evans walks away, which he could afford to easily do - WHAT THEN ....... ????????? Because at that point, WITHOUT A BUYER, our Club is no longer in existence. FACT. Surely anyone with half a brain cell can see that - or is that asking too much to understand by people who appear compelled to use foul and abusive language on here, or know no better.
@midastouch... you mention kings lynn... you must be in the same area as myself... I've been 4 times this season and seen more structure.. determination and skill in 4 games than I have in 6 in a league 1 game at Portman road! Season ticket that's now in the bin!!! It's clear to see culverhouse was the brains of thee operation!! Taylor is his haggis supplier!! Utter clown who just moans at 4th officials!!! GET OUT
Blueboy oh dear dear dear (Scottish lingo) it's about putting PRESSURE on Evans... we haven't got a buyer granted... But when has he heard fans until Fleetwood at home call for his head?? We have fallen from 9th in the championship to 9th in league 1 and descending in 13 years... we are closer to league 2 than the premiership (which was his aim) the man is a fraud!! So many ponsy people around the club just accepting it and taking the wages off this pathetic man... I'm no longer going until he's gone OR I see an actual change where I see he generally cares about this football club!
This form into next season means relegation. This isn't to do with current injuries and suspensions - we have been sheeite all season (yes, even when we were scraping wins) and have won 4 in 25. Lambert is only capable of platitudes and the easy win of keeping supporters onside by saying how big and how great the club is. He is shocking. I never called for Mick out but it's so obvious to me that Lambert has to go and I hope he goes soon. Very very soon
@ Tractorboy1985, I noticed last night they are second in the league with games in hand, they are doing well. Never been to the Walks before, might give it a look. I'm just over the border in Norfolk near to Lowestoft so it's not much different me driving to Ipswich or Kings Lynn. My lad will never stop supporting Ipswich completely I don't think, he's just bored of them this season and wants to try something different for change as doesn't feel like we've got anything left to play for now this season. The season has gone out like a light!
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