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Barrow 2-0 Ipswich Town - Match Report
Wednesday, 15th Dec 2021 21:45

Wretched Town suffered yet another embarrassing FA Cup exit as first-half goals from Jordan Stevens and Robbie Gotts saw League Two Barrow to a 2-0 second-round replay victory at Holker Street. The Blues deserved little more having been woeful in a first half in which Stevens netted on 26 and Gotts nine minutes later. Town huffed and puffed after the break but never looked like getting back into the match.

Interim manager John McGreal made eight changes to the Blues side with only Christian Walton, Kane Vincent-Young and Cameron Burgess remaining from Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Wigan.

Walton continued in goal behind a back four of, from the right, Vincent-Young, Toto Nsiala, Burgess and Matt Penney.

In midfield, Idris El Mizouni and Tom Carroll were in the centre with Scott Fraser on the left and Sone Aluko, who skippered, on the right. Up front, James Norwood started alongside Kayden Jackson.

Among those on the bench are captain Sam Morsy, Conor Chaplin and Janoi Donacien, while Ben Morris was included in the first-team squad for the first time since the Coventry game in March 2020, the final match before that season was suspended due to the pandemic.

Young midfielder Cameron Humphreys was due to be in the squad but was left out as his room-mate has Covid, according to Blues legend Terry Butcher, who was part of the team covering the game live for ITV4

League Two Barrow made two changes with Josh Gordon and Matt Platt coming into the team for Ozzy Zanzala and Mark Ellis, who dropped to the bench.

Prior to kick-off both teams took a knee aside from Aluko and Nsiala, who both raised an arm.

Barrow saw most of the ball in the early stages and on five Gordon got behind Burgess on the right but screwed his shot well wide.

The Bluebirds continued to dominate the ball and in the 12th minute came close to going in front when Patrick Brough crossed from the left after a flowing move from halfway and Gotts shot just over from the edge of the area.

Barrow felt they should have been awarded a penalty in the 19th minute when Burgess sent Gordon flying as he cleared after dallying not realising the Barrow striker was behind him. The Town defender looked to have got something on the ball as well as the player but some referees might have given it.

The Blues had shown very little with the home side controlling the game and in the 26th minute they went in front with their first goal in open play in seven matches.

A corner was played short to Gott, who laid it to Stevens on the edge of the box from where he smashed a shot into the net off El Mizouni. It was all the League Two side deserved with the Blues yet to get going.


Barrow threatened again on the half hour when Gotts shot not too far wide at the near post from a right-sided cross.

The Blues continued to labour and in the 35th minute the home side doubled their lead. Stevens crossed from the left, Brough couldn’t direct it goalwards but it dropped to Gotts, who smashed into the net to make it 2-0.

The scoreline far from flattered the Cumbrians, who had been much the better side with the Blues having shown nothing.

Town finally threatened as the half reached its final minutes, a Fraser free-kick from the right leading to a corner from which Burgess flicked a header well wide, much to his frustration.

The half-time whistle was greeted by cheers from the home side who thoroughly deserved their two-goal lead with the Blues as bad as they’ve been at any point over the last few seasons.

Town had been embarrassingly schooled by League Two’s 19th-place team, who had passed the ball around tidily and created the game’s only chances.

The Blues had struggled to keep hold of the ball, had carved out nothing in front of goal and had looked shaky at the back.

It was little surprise that McGreal made changes at the break with skipper Morsy and Luke Woolfenden taking over from Fraser and Carroll as he moved the team into a 3-5-2 system with Aluko ahead of El Mizouni and Morsy in the centre.

Town threatened within a minute of the restart, Norwood stabbing wide from inside the area.

On 48 sub Woolfenden headed wide after a corner which had been played to the edge of the box had been looped back towards the post.

In the 54th minute Morsy hit a well-struck shot from just outside the box which home keeper Paul Farman saved down to his left and then claimed ahead of Jackson as the striker sought to follow-up, suffering a knock which required treatment as he did so.

Farman, who was in goal for Lincoln when they beat Town in the FA Cup at Sincil Bank in 2017, was eventually OK to carry on.

Barrow created their first opportunities of the second half in the 58th minute, First, Ollie Banks’s shot was blocked then Stevens sent his volley over the bar.

Just after the hour, Norwood chased a long ball down the middle but Farman was quickly off his line to claim in front of the striker.

On 66 Morsy was shown the game’s first yellow card for a late challenge on Banks inside the centre circle. Two minutes later, Norwood was swapped for Joe Pigott after a frustrating evening.

In the 72nd minute Nsiala went down clearly in pain after colliding with Gordon and required treatment for what looked like a twisted knee. The centre-half eventually gingerly made his way to the touchline and was replaced by Donacien, while Chaplin took over from Aluko. On 79, Barrow swapped Stevens for Josh Kay and Connor Brown for Remeao Hutton.

Any momentum the Blues might have built up in the early minutes of the half had well and truly dissipated with the game petering out as a contest given the home’s side’s two-goal lead and the succession of substitutions preventing any flow.

However, in the 80th minute, Vincent-Young sent a low ball across the Bluebirds area but with no one on hand to add a final touch.

Town were seeing a fair bit of the ball but without finding a way through the Barrow XI, who by now were happy to sit on their lead. On 87 Pigott shot into the ground and through to Farman.

Morsy showed his frustration a minute later by dragging a Barrow player to his feet as he was on the ground waiting for treatment and was fortunate not to be shown a second yellow card.

As the match moved into six minutes of injury time, Pigott rose to head a Donacien cross from the right towards goal but Farman was again able to save with little fanfare.

The Blues kept pushing in the final minutes but with little conviction and cheers from the home fans rang around the ground at the final whistle after a famous and deserved cup upset.

Another FA Cup horror show - as was the case with then-non-league Lincoln in 2017 in front of TV cameras - to go with Town’s worst.

After an abject first-half display, the Blues improved after the break but never put Barrow under real pressure and Farman in goal had a quiet evening.

The Bluebirds progress to round three and an away tie at Barnsley, while the Blues will be without a game on Saturday 8th January with their league match with AFC Wimbledon off as the Dons are also in FA Cup action.

Town, led either by McGreal or perhaps a new manager, are next in action on Saturday when Sunderland are at Portman Road when the Blues will have to be very much better if they’re to take anything from the game.

Barrow: Farman, Brown (Hutton 79), Brough, Platt, Gordon (Zanzala 82), White, J Jones, Gotts (Ellis 90), Grayson, Banks (c), Stevens (Kay 79). Unused: Lillis, Taylor, M Jones, Beadling, James.

Town: Walton, Vincent-Young, Nsiala (Donacien 75), Burgess, Penney, Aluko (c) (Chaplin 75), El Mizouni, Carroll (Woolfenden 46), Fraser (Morsy 46), Jackson, Norwood (Pigott 68). Unused: Hladky, Kenlock, Morris. Referee: James Bell (Sheffield). Att: 2,756 (Town: 202).


Photo: Pagepix



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grumpyoldman added 21:58 - Dec 15
I am not angry, I am not disappointed. I have really ceased to be surprised by how low we have sunk! No disrespect to Barrow but if we can't beat a league two team how will we get to the Championship.
12

tractorboykent added 21:58 - Dec 15
Gutless, brainless and hopeless. Played off the park by L2 strugglers. Well done to Barrow - they totally deserved it. Our future gets more grim by the day.
11

Pezzer added 21:59 - Dec 15
Lee Dixon kept saying how narrow we were in the first half and it was easy for Barrow's full backs. Nsiala cannot pass and his punts up field are embarrassing. Burgess looks lumbering. Fraser was poor, Jackson like a headless chicken, Carroll average. The only positive is maybe 3-5-2 is worth a try but with the right selection.
10

abandon_hope1978 added 21:59 - Dec 15
Actually glad we witnessed this pathetic shambles of a performance tonight…… as it perfectly reflects the shambles of a club that we have now become. Hopefully our board will now realise how poor our coaches and players are. If anyone continues to say that we are a big club, then have a look at tonight's highlights, albeit they will only be focusing on Barrow, as we have none. I did think that JM was a decent appointment but he's proven me wrong within a fortnight. I couldn't believe it when we fell out of the championship but our current form suggests we are more likely to visit division 2 before we go back up. Absolutely disgusted with this club.
12

Northstandveteran added 21:59 - Dec 15
Come on!

Did anyone genuinely expect anything other than a humiliating loss?

Currently ( and still ) sporting my,

"Not in the least bit surprised face"

Still, at least it can't get any worse......
5

RobsonWark added 21:59 - Dec 15
Any manager that picks Penny and Fraser (especially in the same match) is setting us up for a loss!
And who the f is Carroll? Just as bad as Penny and Fraser.
10

delias_cheesy_flaps added 21:59 - Dec 15
Allegedly they are professional footballers?
7

runningout added 21:59 - Dec 15
Bet Grant Holt was struggling not to laugh. We are the biggest joke in League1. If next coach is watching that I hope he or she can rattle these slow powder puff so called professionals
7

Saxonblue74 added 21:59 - Dec 15
First job for the new manager (if we can convince anyone) should be to sit that lot down to read all these comments from tonight.....and if they don't like what they see......show them the door!
9

martin587 added 22:00 - Dec 15
67 years of supporting Town and this was the worst gutless pathetic clueless Ipswich team I have ever had the miss fortune to witness.To think I travelled all this way with my son expecting a good performance and how wrong was I.Just lost for words.Not sure if I will make the journey from Southend Saturday.Enough said. Once again great support. Well done lads enjoyed your company once again.
15

itfchorry added 22:01 - Dec 15
Man of the Match - Terry Butcher
24

DifferentGravy added 22:01 - Dec 15
Both players and JM have to hold their hands up on this.

Two up front first half but never turned their defence or found feet.

Mcgreal recognizes the pitch is bad and we need to win the battle....then plays a midfield of Aluko(luxury wide player) playing narrow - hardly received the ball. Carroll(lightweight) - only passed backwards and sideways, putting our back four under unnecessary pressure. Fraser (ineffective) - has done nothing all season. On top of this Toto gave the ball away EVERY single time. So, without feeding the forwards.....we were essentially playing with 5 men. What a surprise we got well and truly stuffed first half.

Second half Once we began to turn their defence and Morsey came on to get a grip of midfield....we were at least in the game.....and Ok, Mcgreal made the required changes.....but it was TOO LATE!

Carroll not good enough. Toto tries but is an accident waiting to happen and surrenders the ball far too often. Jackson is an athlete but not a footballer.

Regardless of formation you have to win the battle first. Stay solid and impose yourselves Mcgreals narrow tactics with lightweight fair players was completely the wrong thing and a home win was easy money an hour before kick off. But the desire from 7/8 of the players was beyond a joke.
11

Billysherlockblue added 22:02 - Dec 15
When i was young my dad told me if u try hard and do your best in life and sport you'll never be too disappointed with losing and the ups and downs. I luv u dad always rip and the town. Well done our supporters who went and watched that dross. And well done to terry butcher for keeping his composure as he like us must be fit to scream.
5

Westy added 22:03 - Dec 15
Well sacking Paul Cook has worked well. Not that it is an excuse for tonight's shambles. We played like pub team. The Board have panicked and made the situation worse and created some bad feeling.
11

grinch added 22:03 - Dec 15
utter garbage no fight or pride. Worst defence I have seen as a town supporter. Just put Sunderland ticket in bin can't watch anymore of this utter crap
7

Elizabeth added 22:04 - Dec 15
Words fail me .. turned off after twenty mins to watch some football at The Emirates !
It was absolutely abysmal .. Total embarrassment again on TV .. These players have no passion or commitment .. it will most likely be a heavy defeat on Saturday against Sunderland .. what a shame it coincides with the unveiling of the Kevin Beattie statue .. I was privileged to have seen him play .. we're worlds apart from those glory days ..
For goodness sake choose a manager who can get the best out of these players .. I begin to wonder whether our overseas friends are serious about this club .. I certainly hope so ..
6

Esseeja added 22:04 - Dec 15
Give me the strength to breathe in the presence of this football club because it doesn't deserve me or anyone else here.
3

churchmans81 added 22:04 - Dec 15
It's not the despair, I can take the despair. It's the hope I can't stand.
4

cat added 22:04 - Dec 15
What can you say other than “your not fit to wear the shirt” If they play like that on Saturday then they'll get destroyed. They hit a new low tonight and that's about all they can hit! Disgraceful
13

Sharkey added 22:04 - Dec 15
Barrow fans won't like being referred to as ‘the Cumbrians', that being the nickname of Carlisle Utd. In Barrow they still like to think of themselves as being in Lancashire.
1

dirtydingusmagee added 22:05 - Dec 15
tomorrow we will be reading another sob story about not playing well , usual s##t just a matter of who makes the speech ..
4

IpswichToon added 22:05 - Dec 15
Any chance of a refund for these xmas fixtures? I really don't fancy going anymore.
9

TimmyH added 22:05 - Dec 15
My wish is for londontractorboy to be swallowed up by a massive sinkhole so he can't post anymore clap trap EVERYTIME we have an embarrassing result! (yes he still thinks what's happening now is down to the knuckleheads who voted MM out).
3

blue added 22:06 - Dec 15
What was that I just watched , that was never Ipswich clowns taking a wheelbarrow ride , my word haven't we travelled high and far these last 20 years .
New manager isn't top of list it's players who don't treat the club as a circus , no 1st half commitment at all !!!
Sad times
3

Bluroo added 22:07 - Dec 15
So not 442, 4222, 343, 352 or 31212 either then!
1


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