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Ipswich Town 2-2 AFC Wimbledon - Match Report
Saturday, 28th Aug 2021 17:02

Town are still waiting for their first win of the season after AFC Wimbledon scored deep in injury time to come from two goals behind to claim a 2-2 draw at Portman Road. Joe Pigott, who joined Town after leaving the Dons in the summer, put the Blues in front from the penalty spot in the 52nd minute after Wes Burns had been fouled, then Burns made it 2-0 two minutes later, before Ben Heneghan pulled one back for the visitors on 58. Town looked on their way to their first win of the campaign until Jack Rudoni scored a second for the Dons five minutes into injury time.

Pigott returned to the Blues’ XI against his old club with Macauley Bonne missing from the squad having picked up a knock.

Town were otherwise unchanged from last week’s 2-2 home draw with MK Dons, while Sone Aluko was among the subs in the league for the first time having returned from injury.

There was no place for Armando Dobra on the bench with the Albanian U21 international looking set to go out on loan earlier this week with Colchester showing strong interest.

Heavy rain before kick-off had subsided prior to the players from both teams taking a knee mainly to applause but also muted some boos.

Town began the game on the front foot and in the fourth minute Scott Fraser shot at goal from just outside the area but without overly testing Wombles number one Nik Tzanev.

Wimbledon started to come into the game more as the quarter-hour approached with the Blues clearing somewhat aimlessly on occasion and on others were caught in possession trying to overplay out from the back.

On 16 Dons skipper Alex Woodyard was booked for a foul on Pigott, who had been booed by his old fans from his first touch.

Town quickly regained full control with dangerous low crosses from the right from Kane Vincent-Young and Burns both failing to find team-mate in the box, while Rekeem Harper shot into keeper Tzanev’s midriff from distance.

In the 22nd minute, Vincent-Young tricked his way past a couple of Wimbledon defenders on the right of the box before teeing-up Pigott, whose shot pole-axed Dons striker Ollie Palmer, who required attention before continuing.

Two minutes later, Coulson did well to dispossess Palmer as the striker worked his way into the area with the Blues not for the first time looking troubled when run at by Wimbledon attackers.

Town continued to dominate but with the Dons presenting a threat on the counter. On 31 Henry Lawrence crossed from the right and Aaron Pressley diverted it well over when under pressure from Cameron Burgess. It looked a very decent opportunity.


Four minutes later, Palmer headed an Anthony Hartigan corner from the left against Blues skipper Lee Evans and on to the roof of Vaclav Hladky’s net.

From a subsequent Wimbledon flag-kick, the Blues broke quickly. Pigott sent Burns away down the right, the Welshman cut inside to Fraser, who turned it on to Harper, whose shot from the edge of the box deflected over off a defender.

Town continued to dominate but without being able to create a really clear-cut opportunity. On 42 Kyle Edwards, who had had another lively half down the left, shot towards goal from a central area not far outside the area but Tzanev was able to claim down to his right.

Moments before the fourth official indicated an additional one minute, Hartigan became the second Dons player to be shown a yellow card after pulling back Edwards.

Just before referee David Rock ended an entertaining half, Evans shot high and wide from 40 yards after latching on to a Tzanev clearance with the keeper well out of his goal.

The Blues had been on top for the vast majority of the half playing some good stuff at times, but without creating much in the way of clear-cut opportunities.

At the other end, Town hadn’t always looked comfortable with Wimbledon a threat on the break, indeed Pressley’s chance was probably the best of the half.

Hayden Coulson, who had enjoyed an impressive first 45 minutes, struck Town’s first effort of the second period, cutting inside before hitting a right-foot effort which flew well wide.

The early minutes of the second half followed the same pattern as the first and in the 52nd minute the Blues were awarded a penalty.

Burns was fed in on the right of the box and touched it beyond Will Nightingale, who pulled him back. Referee Rock pointed straight to the spot and booked Nightingale.

Former Dons striker Pigott stepped up and calmly stroked the ball to Tzanev’s left as the keeper dived to his right for his second goal in a Town shirt.

Two minutes later, the Blues were two in front. Again the ball was played in front of Burns on the right of the box by Vincent-Young and this time the Welshman smashed a shot across Tzanev and into the corner of the net for his first goal for Town.

However, the two-goal lead last only four minutes. Edwards fouled Lawrence to the right of the box, Hartigan sent the free-kick into the area, it flicked off Pigott’s head and Heneghan nodded across Hladky and into the corner of the net.

Heneghan wasn’t too far away from a second in the 63rd minute when allowed a free header from a corner from the right but this time his effort was straight against Pigott.

Wimbledon, who had swapped Pressley for Mebude just after the hour mark, made a double change on 70 with Rudoni and Nesta Guinness-Walker replacing Luke McCormick and Cheye Alexander.

Town started to look more in control and more threatening, but on 74 their defensive frailties were in evidence again when Palmer was allowed to bring an overhit Rudoni cross from the right in from the other flank before hitting a shot which Hladky palmed behind for a corner.

The Blues’ second goalscorer Burns was forced off in the 77th minute having taken a knock. Janoi Donacien, who made a quick dash down the tunnel, presumably to get his shirt, came on in his place a minute later with Vincent-Young then swapped for Aluko, who was making his Town league debut.

Two minutes later, Hladky was booked for stealing five or so yards as he prepared to take a free-kick.

Town continued to have jittery moments at the back as the Dons pushed for an equaliser, while the home crowd got behind their team.

On 87 Coulson was warmly applauded off after a very impressive performance at left-back with Matt Penney taking over.

Two minutes later, Harper was teed-up on the edge of the box following a Town break but slipped as he shot and the ball flew well over.

Town had only a minute of additional time to see out when the Wombles levelled. From a corner on the right, Heneghan’s header was saved by Hladky, but the Czech keeper couldn’t hold on and Rudoni slammed into the net from close range.

There was no time left for the Blues to hit back and for the third home league match out of three this season Town had to be content with a 2-2 draw. At the whistles boos briefly rang out, as they had done after last week’s game against MK Dons had ended in the same scoreline.

Once again, the game was all but won with the Blues’ defensive vulnerabilities again losing them two points.

The Blues are now 21st with a trip to Wycombe, who were beaten 3-1 at Sunderland today, scheduled for next week but potentially set to be postponed due to international calls for the Chairboys.

Town: Hladky, Vincent-Young (Aluko 78), Woolfenden, Burgess, Coulson (Penney 87), Harper, Evans (c), Burns (Donacien 78), Fraser, Edwards, Pigott. Unused: Holy, Carroll, Barry, Jackson.

AFC Wimbledon: Tzanev, Lawrence, Woodyard (c), Nightingale, Alexander (Guinness-Walker 70), Hartigan, Palmer, Assal, Pressley (Mebude 61), McCormick (Rudoni 70), Heneghan. Unused: Oualah, Marsh, Chislett, Kalambayi. Referee: David Rock (Hertfordshire). Att: 19,051 (AFC Wimbledon: 611).


Photo: Matchday Images



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prebbs007 added 17:19 - Aug 28
Utter 💩 defending AGAIN !!! 2 goals conceded in EVERY league game so far is totally unacceptable.
20

WhoisJimmyJuan added 17:19 - Aug 28
Have to say that although it's far too soon to say Cook out, the clock is now ticking. Losing a lead yet again suggests a confidence issue already which is a bad situation to be in so early in the season. Really starting to get bad memories of the Hurst regime now. I hope that results pick up immediately or that our new owners won't waste time making a change. But let's give it September first.
6

timkatieadamitfc added 17:19 - Aug 28
@coopersredjersey - not as much as I'm starting to be unconvinced by Cook, sh1t record last season and poor( considering teams played so far) so far this season, last season we had a decent defensive record but just couldn't score, conceding 2 goals in every league game is simply pis5 poor and not good enough.
So frustrating not to get that 1st win today, something I didn't think I'd be saying after 5 games looking at the opposition at the start of the season.
9

threescousers added 17:19 - Aug 28
Alright! Alright! Calm down, calm down
-11

martin587 added 17:20 - Aug 28
A mediocre performance at times and little understanding and partnerships in midfield.Still a work in progress and we must stop these terrible individual mistakes.A win has to come soon.My only criticism is are the coaches good enough.I rest my case.I'm too fed up to say any more.
5

BobbyBell added 17:20 - Aug 28
The last 20 minutes we just let them have the ball. I don't think we held onto it for more than a few seconds before they came at us again. I thought we were going to attack teams not sit back and let them come at us. We seem to play well until we go ahead and then just stop and hope to hold on.
4

barrystedmunds added 17:21 - Aug 28
Still , September cannot be any worse!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
0

tractorfromongar added 17:21 - Aug 28
My sink drain hole is less leaky than this team
0

bluesince76 added 17:21 - Aug 28
Cook out can't buy a win just not good enough all talk no action bring back burley or someone that knows the Ipswich way.
-3

SpiritOfJohn added 17:21 - Aug 28
Our game management from 2-0 up was so poor today. We undone all of the good work up to that point. Priority now must be to sign a goalkeeper. Holy should be ahead of Hladky - the rest of the defence did OK, especially Coulson.
3

BobbyPetta11 added 17:21 - Aug 28
Paul Hurst era all over again

Left us all excited! Spent a fortune on slightly
Better players than we already had at our disposal

Piggot wouldn't stand out in my local Saturday side

Burns & Edwards show promise but our season will rely on Bonne

I'm not one to be OTT but Cook without his number 2 isn't the man

6

DaGremloid added 17:23 - Aug 28
Don't worry, Cook-ites - we'll bounce straight back up from League 2 next year!
-4

suffolkblueeye added 17:24 - Aug 28
Keeper is sh*t, rather holy ffs, central midfield not good enough, get edmundson in for wolfendown….don't care what I've spelt
2

Bluearmy_81 added 17:26 - Aug 28
Holy is not good enough imho. Hladky is better but we could do with another keeper before deadline ends
2

dirtydingusmagee added 17:27 - Aug 28
gutted, we should have sealed this one. GEL or not, we should have been in top 6 now after these opening games we are bottom 4 , that is worrying gaps are opening up we will be chasing now and the pressure will get greater. The games coming up dont offer much hope to honest. VERY DISAPPOINTING RESULT.
9

SickParrot added 17:27 - Aug 28
The football may be better and we are scoring goals but we can't win a game because we don't defend properly. Two goals a game conceded against five of the weaker teams. How many will we let in against a good team? Sort it out Mr Cook.
8

Rimsy added 17:31 - Aug 28
Hladky cost us again. He's just not good enough. Need to invest in a quality keeper who can command his area and organise the defence.
12

confederateblue added 17:32 - Aug 28
Fantastic performance from the lads, looks like Cookies got them going after his week off with them. We can really make an impression on the third tier this year if we all just believe.
-4

DavefromWatford added 17:33 - Aug 28
No disrespect to Hladky but this is what you get signing players from lower divisions. Cook could have got Siegrist from Dundee Utd but chose Hladky instead might be a bit of a mistake. Need to get Tommy Carroll on maybe instead of Evans. Hope Edmondson is fit enough soon cause we need him badly.
14

Esseeja added 17:34 - Aug 28
It's no longer a joke because it's happened to us for too long now.
4

Bert added 17:34 - Aug 28
A great game for a neutral but why oh why can't we defend corners and free kicks ? A horrible but sadly predictable end to what should have been a victory at 2-0. Time for Cook to work out why our defence is so inept yet likes to attack. Perhaps therein lies the answer.
5

Suffolkboy added 17:35 - Aug 28
Only too easy to understand the remarks , emotions and frustration expressed in the reports which precede !
We have supposedly imported players of better quality ,but once again ,sadly, physical stamina and fitness are called into question - and really rather early in the game !
Frankly it doesn't look like PC has acquired men of enthusiastic desire , intelligence and natural ability on a football pitch .Previously justifiable critique focused on lack of understanding , co- ordination and drive – what's changed for the better , why have we such a soft underbelly ?
Our Management team have lots to explain ,lots to answer for ,and a very great deal to put right !
In interview ahead of this game Cook spoke of out attacking promise and threat – well even that looks pretty thin in reality and as a commentary !
It'll be interesting to read P.C ‘s summation ,and the usual lament !
Very sadly after 2 1/2 hrs on the road , in the midst of yet another long traffic jam at 2pm this afternoon , we turned back for Kent not expecting to get into Ipswich before 3 pm and probably unable to therefore park anywhere near ITFC – to miss out on witnessing for real , to be in Portman Rd again after so so long ,but it's disappointing to have such a result to face !
DO get your wits together Blues ,do get your act together ,do give us some hope and reward , PLEASE !
COYB
2

cat added 17:35 - Aug 28
Credit to Coulson and Burns but the rest were non existent. Many more performances like that against a crap side them questions need to be asked.
2

Chris_Knights added 17:36 - Aug 28
The Cook out muppets just need to be ignored so I'm not gonna comment. Their stench is doing nothing for my club and never will

Players and the manager are good enough, they've already proved that. Give them a little time don't panic and keep the faith …. And ignore the negative muppets that just talk s**te
-4

ThaiBlue added 17:41 - Aug 28
Need a new keeper this guy is not the answer does not command his box 1bit.easier for me to say burns,coulson,edwards did well,the rest pretty poor.harper is not a 90min player and evans is pretty poor.dont understand the changes by cook looked all over the shop,a bit like cooks management not impressed with this 1bit.fair play wimbledon deserved the point.
3


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