Voting was locked for this match at midnight on Sunday 1st November but you may still add your mini match reports. Note that members and non-members alike were able to vote.

Your Ipswich Town v Crewe Alexandra Match Reports

timleatham added 17:15 - Oct 31 Well done Town on a very gritty win. Crewe were way better than us in the first half and Holy kept us in the game with some good saves - one in particular being exceptional. However second half was fairly even as we got better with Bishop making some great driving runs. Hawkins hold up play second half was much better and he took his headed goal really well. However why did Lambert them take him off and bring on Jackson? We were very much holding on for the last 15 minutes. Another strange substitution to take off Bishop who was playing well. Thought Wolfenden had a really strong game and McGuinness was very assured and steady. Three points and top of the league so time to celebrate!!

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Pilgrimblue added 17:29 - Oct 31 Our young defenders were immense against a good team. Holy did well but judge for me isn't good enough and now that Jackson is back I'd keep Sears on the bench/ I guess that Bishop was rested early with next game coming so soon.
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NormEmerges added 19:20 - Oct 31 I thought we were supposed to be playing out from the back? We actually played it around at the back until chased down, then it was a long ball forward back into Crewe possession. A fair result would have been 0-2, but somehow we nicked it. To be fair our defence was resolute, Woolfenden and McGuinness were excellent and Holy had perhaps his best game so far. The midfield was largely overrun and the forward line barely had a sniff. Only Bishop made any good runs, and these mostly came to naught as he had no support. A worrying lack of control and penetration ahead of the Sunderland test.

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RobsonWark added 19:45 - Oct 31 Pilgrimblue I'd keep Sears in the changing room!
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Bluefox added 21:09 - Oct 31 Midfield was overrun for most of the game – surely Huws would provided a bit more bite than Judge who seems to get selected whatever the performance he puts in.
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Bluefox added 21:10 - Oct 31 Midfield was overrun for most of the game – surely Huws would provided a bit more bite than Judge who seems to get selected whatever the performance he puts in.
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unstableblue added 21:17 - Oct 31 Well here we are... 10 games in, joint top of the table, : 7 wins, 1 draw, 2 losses, 16 goals scored (only Peterborough have scored more), 7 conceded (only 3 teams lower in the division). So that's good, yes? Well after being - in the main - second best to a lowly funded Crewe Alexendra, perhaps its time to join the 'Shambert' bandwagon and say we're papering over cracks? Well no, not really. Today watching Town against Crewe was like a Mick McCarthy Town match-day experience, inferior technically and in possession share, but robust defensively and more effective in limited attack. And I'd take that today, as long as I don't have to be subjected to it too often. What i've liked about this season has been the consistency of selection, formation/tactics/system (4-3-3) and the technical ability of players to execute the pass and move, provision of movement of options. Where we've struggled is the execution of the tactic of playing out of the back at times - I think this can be solved by the exciting youth of The Wolf and our Arsenal loanee, and the ability to flood the box and bring number forward quickly. For those negative about this season at least we are playing with identity, Lambert has given Dozzell and Bishop a place and system to shine, in Hawkins a proper foil, and at times (not consistently) some wide attacking bite in Edwards and Sears. I particularly the steel and experience at fullback Lambert has cemented. Ward is a massive signing, praise it. BUT, have we got over my continuous niggling concern that has come from ALL Marcus' managerial appointments - are we being coached to be technically/tactically superior to our league peers? Is Lambert finally going to PROGRESS us.... hmmmmm?! the good news is there is progress, significant. Crewe and Doncaster's moment of real technical brilliance worry me, but I don't think it's panic stations, and again we are passing, we are consistent and we are winning! So more detail on the game - I was pleased Lambert stuck with the young central defender duo. Its a credit to our manager highlighted the need and sourced such a good player in McGuiness. Our manager was right, in his new ethos, to stick with Toto and Wilson due to some fantastic performances - but The Wold and McGuiness are technically better players, and I thought both were excellent today. The Arsenal U23 captain had some minor negatives, but I love how he attacks the air. Overall 44% possession at home and 6 versus 14 shots is no where we want our beloved Town to be performing at fortress Portman Road, and I was bizzarely pleased that Lambert was much more critical of the way we played. It wasn't good enough. BUT, I thought Crewe were fired up, very well coached, and a challenge. You have to agree that there are no longer 'easy' games in this league, the standard of every opponent seems to have raised (cue the - its a sh!t league, we deserve me to be out sh!t). Whilst we didn't fire today, I still enjoyed much of our play and hey - WE WON! If you're going to get promoted, then win when not fully firing - and THEN BEAT CLUBS LIKE SUNDERLAND (which is the missing link this season). Our defence was good today, not perfect, but good. And out goalkeeper was excellent, big kudos to Hole. Success in football comes from individual players stepping up and owning a game. Have enough and you succeed. Our back four, our goalie, Bishop and Hawkins excelled today and brought the result. Dozzell also had moments.... but is there a risk with his consistency? I LOVE WATCHING HIM THOUGH... isn't it also making your week? or are just bringing your sh!t prejudices to spoil it all? Crewe had the best of the first half but we still managed to have those effective breaks, and get some of the triangles working... but we spluttered. The we came into our own start of the second half, and through some nice play and a well worked corner... a superb and very positive headed finish from Hawkins. So pleased for him. So what else of note... I was pleased by Jackson's energy, and just a few small things from Lankester make me feel again these will make our 'best team'. Get Huws AND Lankester into the Sunderland team - lose Sears and Judge (albeit don't right off the Irishman, he can do positive things) and perhaps that BIG TEAM win will come. Better to wobble against a very technical and fired up lower level team, that at the Stadium of Light. Still concerns... BUT COME ON, enjoy this, and BACK IT.

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Robert_Garrett added 10:21 - Nov 1 Midfield didnt seem to function in the same manner as before the two defeats but, hey, we are second so who cares.
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