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Ipswich Town 2-3 Swindon Town - Match Report
Saturday, 9th Jan 2021 19:35

James Norwood and Alan Judge were on target for the Blues but two goals from Diallang Jaiyesimi and a stunner from Scott Twine saw Swindon to a 3-2 victory over the Blues at Portman Road. Jaiyesimi gave the visitors the lead on 16 before sub Norwood levelled for the Blues in the 62nd minute, but Twine smashed home a brilliant 30-yard strike on 67 to restore the Robins’ lead and Jaiyesimi made it 3-1 with a cross which found its way into the net seven minutes later. Judge gave the Robins a fright with Town’s second in the 87th minute but the Blues, who stay eighth, were unable to find a third goal against the division’s 22nd-placed side.

Aaron Drinan and Armando Dobra returned to the Blues starting line-up, while Flynn Downes, James Norwood and Zanda Siziba were among the subs.

Drinan was the lone central striker with Oli Hawkins having dropped out of the 18, while Dobra was on the left of the front three for Keanan Bennetts, who suffered a knock in the Blues’ last game against Burton at home 25 days ago.

Kayden Jackson was again wide on the right of the front three with Andre Dozzell, Emyr Huws and Alan Judge the midfield trio.

At the back, skipper Luke Chambers and Stephen Ward were the fullbacks with ex-Swindon loanee Luke Woolfenden and Mark McGuinness the centre-halves. Dai Cornell was in goal.

Downes was back among the subs for the first time since suffering a knee injury at the start of October and Norwood returned after his latest hamstring problem, while midfielder Siziba, 17, was in the squad for a League One game for the first time having made one start and one sub appearance in the Papa John’s Trophy.

For Swindon, ex-Blues striker Brett Pitman and one-time loanee defender Zeki Fryers were in a starting XI which featured seven changes from their 4-1 defeat at home to the MK Dons last time out.

Forward Scott Twine, who played alongside Blues frontman Drinan for League of Ireland side Waterford, and midfielder Matty Palmer started having been recalled from loan spells, while keeper Mark Travers and Dominic Thompson made their debuts.

After both teams had taken a knee in support of Black Lives Matter, Swindon struck the first shot of the game in the third minute but Matt Smith hit his effort from the edge of the box over.

The Blues, with manager Paul Lambert watching from a box rather than the dugout having been among those at Portman Road to have suffered with Covid-19 over Christmas, created their first opportunity in the seventh minute when Dozzell sent Dobra away down the left. The Albanian U21 international crossed and Drinan’s awkward effort at goal was diverted out for a corner.

Three minutes later Paul Caddis crossed for Smith but his header from the edge of the box gave Cornell no trouble. Moments later, veteran Caddis was booked for tripping Dobra, whose direct running was already causing the visitors problems. From the free-kick, McGuinness looped a header to keeper Travers who claimed comfortably.

While Town had seen most of the ball, it was the Robins who would take the lead in the 16th minute.

Thompson was played in in space behind Jackson on the visitors’ left and sent over a cross which former Norwich academy winger Jaiyesimi headed back across Cornell and into the net as he ran into the area unchecked.

Town continued to see most of the ball but didn’t threaten until the 25th minute when Ward crossed from the left and Huws stooped to head well wide from the 18-yard line.


Swindon were looking more dangerous on the break and two minutes later, the ball was cut back from the right by Caddis to Jaiyesimi, whose effort was inadvertently blocked by his team-mate Pitman.

On the half hour, Dozzell’s clever chip played Judge in on goal inside the area to the left, Town’s best chance of the half, but the Irishman’s effort at goal was blocked by Travers.

From the resultant corner, the Robins broke quickly and after good work from Pitman, Jaiyesimi’s shot deflected through to Cornell.

On 37 Pitman found the net but with referee Sebastian Stockbridge having already blown his whistle.

Just before the half-time whistle, Chambers crossed from the right and the ball flicked off Dobra’s head and wide with the winger under pressure.

A disappointing half from the Blues, who as so often had seen plenty of the ball but without looking particularly threatening, aside from the couple of occasions when Dozzell had shown his passing quality.

At the other end, the visitors had looked a danger on the break and had taken their first real chance and might well have taken another.

Downes and Norwood spent half-time warming-up vigorously and took over from Drinan and Huws for the second half.

Swindon went close to making it 2-0 two minutes after the restart, Thompson cutting back from the left to the unmarked Twine, who shot over when he should have done much better.

In the 51st minute Judge wasn’t too far away from levelling for the Blues. After referee Stockbridge had waved play on following a foul on Dozzell, the ball dropped to the Irish international 25 yards out and his low shot scraped the outside of Travers’s left post.

A minute later, Downes was booked for a foul on Jordan Lyden with the substitute adamant he had won the ball, and he appeared to have a good case with the Robins man having made a lot of the challenge.

Norwood hit a low shot from an angle on the right of the box in the 55th minute but Travers was untroubled.

The Blues were again seeing most of the ball but without being able to carve out a significant opportunity.

However, in the 62nd minute Town equalised, slightly fortuitously. Jackson crossed from the right, Norwood completely missed the ball on the edge of the six-yard box when he seemed certain to score, but it struck Caddis and bounced back to the Blues striker who gratefully slammed home his first league goal of the season from a matter of inches.

Having levelled, Town continued to dominate possession and in the 66th minute Downes ran on to a ball played into the box as he broke from midfield but Travers was out quickly to claim.

And a minute later the visitors reclaimed their lead with a goal from the top drawer. Twine, who had been recalled from a loan spell at Newport earlier in the week, picked up the ball and smashed a superb 30-yard strike which flew over Cornell and dipped just under the bar giving the keeper no chance.

Norwood was booked for pulling back Twine in the 71st minute and two minutes later, the Robins increased their lead to two goals.

Jaiyesimi crossed from the left towards Pitman who threw out a foot as the ball passed him as it made its way beyond Cornell and inside the post. The striker appeared to indicate that he hadn’t got a touch and it was his team-mate’s goal.

The Blues had a mountain to climb against one of the division’s lowlier teams, the sort of side they have usually defeated this season. On 78 Jack Lankester took over from Dobra.

Town continued to huff and puff but without showing too many signs of getting back into the game. On 84 Norwood hit a deflected effort through to Travers after Dozzell had seized on some loose Swindon passing.

A minute later, Jaiyesimi slammed a shot wide from the edge of the box as he looked for his hat-trick.

At the other end, Downes headed over from a Judge cross from the left and in the 87th minute the Irishman pulled a goal back for the Blues.

Norwood chased a ball over the top and held off his man before playing inside to Judge, who slammed past Travers from six yards to give the Blues hope of grabbing a point.

But the Robins saw out the remaining scheduled minutes and four more in added-on time and referee Stockbridge’s whistle confirmed Swindon’s first win at Portman Road since September 1991 and the Blues’ fourth home defeat in their last five.

Town may have had 25 days without a game due to Covid-related postponements but it was a performance all too familiar to Blues supporters. Their side saw plenty of the ball but rarely created opportunities.

Norwood’s introduction at the break made a difference and the striker made a Town goal look more likely even before his leveller. However, the Blues’ possession to chances ratio remained low.

At the other end, no keeper would have saved Twine's strike but Jaiyesimi's was another soft goal to concede from the Blues' perspective.

Town started the weekend seventh but dropped to eighth following Accrington’s victory Charlton last night and that’s where they stay ahead of next week’s trip to bottom side Burton, which looks a must win game after today’s defeat.

Ipswich: Cornell, Chambers (c), Woolfenden, McGuinness, Ward, Dozzell, Huws (Downes 46), Jackson, Judge, Dobra (Lankester 78), Drinan (Norwood 46). Unused: Holy, Nsiala, Kenlock, Siziba, Lankester.

Swindon: Travers, Caddis, Fryers, Conroy (c), Jaiyesimi, Pitman, Twine, M Smith (Grant 90), Lyden, Palmer, Thompson. Unused: Matthews, T Smith, J Smith, Payne, Curran, Hope. Referee: Sebastian Stockbridge (Tyne and Wear).


Photo: Matchday Images



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martin587 added 19:47 - Jan 9
One up front at home is a joke.Too lightweight too much passing and very little penetration.Where do we go from here I think we all know the answer but it won't happen.I'm just lost for words now.
15

Tractorboy1985 added 19:47 - Jan 9
AND I hope Paul Cook is now coming down from the gantry to be interviewed for the managers job!
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BeattiesBackPocket added 19:49 - Jan 9
A better team out today and still struggling against a team bottom two! No shots on target first half Swindon should've been 3 nil up! Do fans on here really think this is good enough even on sky the commentators are saying anything less than top 6 is a failure yet our owner rewards that with a 5 year contract! The owner IS the reason we're where we are and yes we can't do anything about him selling etc but we have to start showing and letting him know his poor decisions are the reason where we are!! This is the worst team on paper and showing I've seen in all my years watching the club! You keep selling our best players replacing them with league two players that's where we are going! As they said on sky as a club we have slowly declined over the years yet the owner talks about improvement in his last propaganda statement! The manager is so inept even the passing at the back was slow and laboured there was no urgency nothing it's just terrible to watch only positive was Dozzell and a lone striker constantly isolated the play is poor. Go on about injuries but some are back and let's me blunt even start of the season we struggled over teams at the bottom and we've not beaten a top 8 side yet so how on Earth will we go up. It's so depressing being a town fan these days and too many fans on here show far too much epathy on here for our current state.
22

smurfsareblue added 19:51 - Jan 9
Quite simpky I feel we have the players to P**s this league. Tactics are crap. Play holy in goal. 4 at the back 2 upfront doesnt matter what formation really to be fair. Just more urgency more direct more shots more forwarf passes more guts more effirt. Less smiles and laughter after losing a game
9

Nobbysnuts added 19:53 - Jan 9
Im struggling for words to describe just how p#ss poor that performance was.... this team and this club is rotten to the core.... embarrassing just embarrassing....
28

BeattiesBackPocket added 19:55 - Jan 9
Smurfsareblue we have 4 players max who are good enough to play higher that's it. We are not as good as you think that was shown last and this season as we can't even beat a top 8 side and struggled even with a fully fit side against lower league teams.

As for the players coming off most were smiling chatting etc can you imagine Holland, Butcher, Beattie coming off laughing after losing to a team bottom two
12

pistolpete added 19:55 - Jan 9
Playing 4-5-1 against a team who have averaged conceding 2 goals per game this season - at home - what a joke. Lambert has to go but of course he won't as he'll use his usual spin when talking about today's match - players not been able to train properly ... can't defend against a Worldy of the 2nd goal ... I wasn't able to shout my words of wisdom at the team being self isolating up in the stands ... I've played for some big, big clubs ... blah, blah, blah
8

chopra777 added 19:57 - Jan 9
In the scheme of life football is not important at present. It was disappointing to lose to lowly Swindon, but their first two goals showed determination which we were lacking until the subs come on. Covid is partly to blame but Lambert's tactics were poor again. Evans please make the right decision before it is too late.
4

midastouch added 19:57 - Jan 9
It doesn't matter if all the players are fit or injured, we're still rubbish! We need a massive clear out. The squad is way too big. Too much quantity and not anywhere near enough quality! The same old tried and failed faces are taking us further and further down the league ladder. It feels like we've been playing Snakes and No Ladders for about 20 years now!
12

TimmyH added 19:58 - Jan 9
Break + live on SKY = inevitable defeat.

We have to be one of the worst teams when* we are shown on SKY.

* Thankfully for the nation it's not that often now days.
7

ArnieM added 19:58 - Jan 9
Utter garbage Lambert.

How much more time are you going to give him Evans??
15

Steelmonkey added 19:59 - Jan 9
Our players just don't seem to have the legs when compared to any of the opponents we have faced this season, I'm sorry to say.
5

Vanisleblue2 added 19:59 - Jan 9
Robsonwark - thank you for your comment.
Butcher would have been devastated after losing. We need a character like Butcher right now. A winner!...where are the winners and the Butcher's in this team? No where
18

portmanteau added 20:00 - Jan 9
That possession states misleading as usual. because PL trains them to carefully walk around in their own half slowly passing backwards and sideways, the moment they cross the halfway line and meet some resistance, they panic and give the ball away.
Some of these players lack basic skills and are not fit for league 1, eg Jackson who time and again could only hit the ball against an opponent.
Still as someone has said the players seemed delighted with this poor performance so we mustn't expect too much.
5

BeattiesBackPocket added 20:01 - Jan 9
ArnieM 5 years apparently!
1

stiffy501 added 20:01 - Jan 9
Do those on here that keep on saying we have one of the best squads in this league wake up and smell the coffee, very average at best, would'nt bother renewing any who are out of contract at end of season.
8

pistolknight added 20:01 - Jan 9
Worrying times

Been a season ticket holder for 20+ seasons and as much as I want to believe it's going to get better I'm not sure I'll be going back. Just feel like there is no teeth to my football club any longer! Even when we sign good players they seem to deteriorate at the club🥴🥴.

Talking about Jackson going to Bournemouth at the start of the season, not sure he'd get in my pub side at the minute, absolutely shocking and if Andre Dozzell”s name was Andre Smith he'd never get a game for town.
7

inghamspur added 20:01 - Jan 9
Hang your heads in shame!!! What sort of performance was that? What a load of crap.
10

19781981twtd added 20:01 - Jan 9
Good night all fellow itfc sufferers dont let the nightmares get you down our woeful football club ca do that on its own☹
3

Bert added 20:01 - Jan 9
This should have been a fresh start with fresh players and fresh legs but all I feel is anger. That performance had little to do with Evans lack of investment but everything to do Lambert's woeful and stubborn tactics. I rarely attack managers but he surely must be one game away from the sack but no this charade will go on. Norwood and Judge the only players to hold their heads up. Fans rarely do not know best and our resident Evans out detractor certainly does not but the fans who back their club know when something is not ever going to work and that's playing one up front in a league that knows how we play and adapts accordingly. Sad beyond belief.
5

ArnieM added 20:02 - Jan 9
Ps ...I'd be looking to sign up their left back. He had Jackson in his back pocket the whole game.
8

RobsonWark added 20:02 - Jan 9
The Sky sports presenter asked the two guys in the studio after the game if they were surprised by the result.

I wasn't when I saw CHAMBERS name on the team sheet yet again. First and second goals both came from his right back position. First goal he was playing centre half instead of right back and avoided the cross go into the box. The second he let their player cross the ball. He'll still be the first name down on the team sheet for the next game because he is undroppable.

Every team knows our weak link. We don't stand a chance.

12

runaround added 20:03 - Jan 9
The positives were Norwood and Downes being back with both showing energy and desire.
Err that's about it!😞
After almost 4 weeks without a game the players should have been straining at the leash tonight but they were laboured, flat, slow, passionless, quiet whilst lacking in desire, heart & confidence. Forget about the injuries, they were not up for that tonight which rests firmly on their shoulders and the manager/coaches. Where is their professional pride? I know preparations are far from ideal but surely it should be better than that. Swindon's players should not have been a match for ours yet were far better & had everything we didn't. Lambert & his staff obviously cannot raise them & change is needed but the players should do better too despite poor coaching? Injured players should almost be back which will hopefully make a difference but the performance tonight was concerning & increasingly I think massive changes are needed
9

planetblue_2011 added 20:04 - Jan 9
When we equalised I thought there is only one team going to win now & it was us, then the sucker punch wonder goal came,, what a goal what can you do about that. Then another sucker punch came, a good cross which went in the net.
Basically we have to move on fast from this, Norwood was brilliant when he came on he got his goal, made Judges goal & looked really sharp. With Downes playing aswell & 3/4 more players coming back from injury I think we can sort it out.
We had other chances in the game to score, 2nd half was a lot better.
Anyway Swindon probably deserved the win from their goals, effort & commitment. How are they 2nd bottom?!! They would of been gutted if town did equalise again!!..
0

TimmyH added 20:05 - Jan 9
By the way I could mention a few other players here but did anybody notice Emyr Huws tonight?...nope I didn't either, to me he is now a very very average player. He's had his injury problems but he has so little influence.

Lambert out.
7


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