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Celina: My Best Goal So Far
Monday, 29th Nov 2021 10:50

Bersant Celina believes his brilliant chip against Crewe is the best goal of his career so far and was delighted to see work on the training field come off in a game.

Celina’s excellent chip sent the Blues in 2-0 up at half-time, Alex defender Luke Offord having scored an early own goal, with the visitors pulling a goal back via Chris Long in the second half.

Asked whether he has ever scored a better goal, Celina said: “I think this was the best so far. I know I’ve got some more stuffed in my locker, so hopefully maybe now or in a couple of years, you never know.”

The Kosovan international said he was delighted to see the ball nestle in the back of the net: “I was as surprised as anyone but I practised it many times, you know when you’re a kid you always practise stuff like that, so it’s good to see it coming off in a game.

“I made my mind up straight away, it was just a split-second decision, I just looked up and saw it was on.”

Celina says he noticed Crewe keeper Dave Richards off his line as he took down George Edmundson’s long ball forward, hardly an easy skill in itself.

“When I touched it, I just had a quick look and just felt like he was probably off his line,” he recalled. “In my peripheral vision? Yes, I just saw him on the side and I thought ‘Yeah!’.

“The first touch, you practise stuff like that and in the end it will come off. I have practised [taking down a long ball like that] many times. I’m just happy it came off in a game.”

The forward was pleased to score for the first time in front of the Sir Alf Ramsey Stand: “It’s the first one I’ve scored at this end, so that was on my mind all the time, I’ve never scored in the first half playing this way. So that was good for me.”


Would anyone else in the division have attempted the chip? “Probably we have some in the team that would. I know Chappers [Conor Chaplin] would try it.”

For once the 25-year-old’s shirt stayed on in his celebration.“[Kit man James] Pullen’s told me to keep it on so I had to keep it on,” he laughed.

Reflecting on the significance of the game within the game, he added: “It was important. I think we should have scored more but we’ll take the three points.

“The most important thing was to win the game and we did. Fair play to them as well, they made it difficult for us in the second half.”

Why were Town unable to kill the game off having had plenty of chances? “I think we were unlucky. Macca [Macauley Bonne] had some great chances, you know normally he would score them and Kyle [Edwards] had a big chance.

“I think on another day they’ll score, you see them do it in training every day, it’s just a shame it didn’t come off today.

“It’s really important that we kick on from here. We need to try and get more than just two wins in a row, our goal is to win three games, four, and hopefully we can start doing that.”

The win moved Town up to 11th but still seven points off the play-offs and 11 from the top two. Despite that, Celina still feels Town are in with a shout of promotion.

“I believe we can just because of the players we have,” he insisted. “You see some games, even when we lost against Sunderland, we were the better team and we lost. I think when it does come together we will start winning games, that’s how I feel.”

He added: “We lost the two games and the most important thing today was to win and we’ll take the next game on Wednesday, the two cup games and then Charlton away, we want to win all of them.”

Celina joined the Blues on loan from Dijon on deadline day in August having had a pre-season interrupted by Covid and then pericarditis. However, he now feels he is at the top of his fitness.

“I feel like I have energy in the last 10 minutes of the games and you see the gaffer doesn’t take me off, he keeps me on to try and win the game,” he said.

“That’s because I think he knows that I’m fit now and can make the difference at the end of the games as well.”

Celina has now scored four times since returning to the club but believes he should have more with last week’s misses at Sunderland still rankling.

“I should be scoring more than that,” he continued. “Obviously I missed two unbelievable chances at Sunderland, so it was important for me to score today. I was really frustrated, I still am.”

Having been free-scoring for most of the season so far - only the MK Dons have netted more than Town’s 36 in League One - latterly goals have been harder to come by with the Blues having failed to register in the three matches prior to Saturday.

Asked why that might have been the case, Celina said: “I don’t know, I think teams come here and when we play against teams they study us and see how we’re playing, man-marking us. I don’t know.

“You’ve seen we’ve been a bit unlucky as well, the chances I had at Sunderland should have been easy goals for me and today [the chances for] Macca.

“You know we should be scoring more, especially today, so I don’t think it’s going to be a problem.”

Town now have two cup games, the Papa John’s Trophy match against Arsenal’s U21s at Portman Road on Wednesday and then Barrow’s visit in the FA Cup on Saturday. Celina says he’s keen to be involved in every game.

“I always want to play, even if it’s against an U18s team or U21s, I don’t care, I want to play,” he said.

“But I understand that others have to have their chances as well. We need everyone to keep fit and to play and they deserve their chance as well. But hopefully I can play a part.”


Photos: TWTD/Matchday Images



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Cakeman added 11:02 - Nov 29
Well done Bersant, one of the very best goals seen at Portman Road. With Bersant in the team we always have a chance of producing key moments. When our players don't have time to think too much the end result is usually a goal. Macauley Bonne is a good example of that.
13

Bazza8564 added 11:04 - Nov 29
Great goal fella, total quality and a taster of what we all hope we will see in the second half of the season.
6

Monkey_Blue added 11:10 - Nov 29
We have players capable of goals like this, but are still a million miles from being anything but average. I'd rate his goal almost as good as Finidi's against Sunderland, which because of the North stand redevelopment and season ticket holders being moved I was in a perfect position to view. Goals like Bersant's should be needed to win games against the best sides, not those rock bottom of the league. Cook is not doing a good job because he's getting way less out of this expensive squad than they are capable.
1

mutters added 11:29 - Nov 29
It's not just the finish that's fantastic but also the control pulling the ball down prior to the lob. Amazing skills by the lad.
13

SpiritOfJohn added 11:46 - Nov 29
It was a privilege to be at Portman Road to see that goal yesterday. Celina's first touch was sublime and the chip was exquisite. No goalkeeper would have got near it. It reminded me of the sort of thing Cantona would try. On a par with the goal that Kenny Dalglish scored at the same end in the 70s (or maybe Celina's was better)
4

Linkboy13 added 12:04 - Nov 29
Very good first half capped by two very good goals. We are still not learning from our previous mistakes by switching off and allowing teams back into the game even poor ones like Crewe. Paul Cook is showing a lack of tactical nouse. Young Clements who's shown a lot promise was clearly struggling defensively and was responsible for their goal by getting drawn out of position should have been replaced. We know that Penny is not the answer at left back but is still a better option than Clements at the moment who is one for the future. I know the play the youngsters brigade we mark me down but have they ever played the game.
-5

BlueBoots added 13:19 - Nov 29
I think Bersant's been watching some highlights of old Ipswich games...

https://www.premierleague.com/video/single/1595075
0

Karlosfandangal added 14:45 - Nov 29
Never thought he would better the goal he scored against Leeds, but the skill involved with the goal at Crewe is the difference for me.

More please against Sunderland with a full house the roof will come off Portman Road
5

BobbyBell added 16:00 - Nov 29
He should have had two. Why he passed to Bonne in the second half is beyond me as he could have buried it himself. Sometimes we're over elaborate when we should just shoot.
2

SpiritOfJohn added 16:47 - Nov 29
@BlueBoots great goal by Finidi George and agree there are several similarities. IMO Celina's strike was more difficult to execute as the Crewe keeper wasn't that far off his line. The Sunderland keeper was in No Man's Land, which made it an easy decision for George to go for the lob. Both terrific goals though!
5

townthroughmyveins added 16:50 - Nov 29
Monkey_blue. I could not agree more with your post. Cook is showing no tactical awareness IMO. No plan B. This enforced formation is crippling this team which clearly are capable of much better things. I always ask myself that if a new manager came in, would they be able to get more out of them and the answer is always the same. We are no Man City and I truly believe that if we step away from the enforced one up front mentality we could be ripping up this league. Sorry if that offends the Cook supporters on here but we struggle to beat anyone currently in that top 6 (Wycombe aside) playing this formation.. that will become more important if we do somehow creep into those elusive playoffs next year.? For me...i am not holding my breath coz where we are now in the table truly reflects our best capabilities under Cook..
-1

dirtydingusmagee added 17:02 - Nov 29
very well taken goal no arguing with that . Moving off that as have others imo weve had all the excuses and gone along with the ''PLAYERS NEED TO GEL'' plea's, we are not improving we still cant keep going for 90 and are one dimentional . Cook is the root cause .
-2

Hamish1979 added 17:39 - Nov 29
Nice to see SkyBet League 1 twitter account has our fans as its banner!
-1

cat added 21:38 - Nov 29
A ‘moment' of sheer class and at a time which should have put the game to bed. Unfortunately if you don't take your chances it puts the pressure on and gives the opposition a spark.
0

Fat_Boy_Tim added 06:06 - Nov 30
Goal of the century so far from town.
2

Beattiesballbag added 09:04 - Nov 30
Bobby Bell,....... Best goal seen at Portman road for years & probably for years to come , not just for the finish but the superb control when taking it down..........& all you can focus on is he shouldn't have passed to Bonne who was in a much better position to score & missed an absolute sitter, didn't even hit the target.......so many on here shouldn't even be allowed near a key board.
3

TonyHumesIpswich added 09:19 - Nov 30
Superb goal and well done.
1

Linkboy13 added 09:29 - Nov 30
When judging great goals the quality of the opposition must be taken into account.
-1

Razor added 11:55 - Nov 30
We are so lucky to have a player of his quality in this division----OK--he does not do it all the time but because he can do it he has to play
0

SickParrot added 12:38 - Nov 30
A really superb goal. Amazing ball control for his first touch and the sublime chip. Reminiscent of Messi at his best!
1

JewellintheTown added 10:08 - Dec 1
Credit to Celina, but lets not forget that long ball inch perfect assist from Edmundson. Celina will deservedly get the glory but Edmundson made it.
Happy to see the ball hoofed from the back in this case.
0


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