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Ipswich Beat Toothless Tigers, But No Play Offs

May 4, 2008 | Author: Nuggets | Filed under: Ipswich Town

Well folks it all came down to this very day. Those football fanatics amongst us (I presume a majority) may have overlooked the two Premiership games, with all their global glamour and inconsequentual importance, to the Championship race where 14 out of 24 teams where still unsure of their final league position and with the emotional roller-coaster ride of the Play Offs, the top two automatic promotion places and the relegation spots to sort out, “Super Sunday” was looking to become a battleground of passion, hate, love and hopefulness.

It was no different at Portman Road, where yours truly and a fellow Ipswich compatriot, who will remain synonymous for privacy reasons until he can muster courage to identify himself to the global audience, were riden on a wave of ambition and Play Off jitters that so often accompanied an Ipswich season. Previous match articles ranged from my self-obsessed complimentary duties such as the opening season win against Sheffield Wednesday (4-1) and that away visit to Charlton which ended in all but tears (3-1). The previous 45 games were as my associate put it “null and void”, and rightly so. We had to beat Hull City and in turn hope for results to go our way, so Crystal Palace had to lose and Wolves needed to drop points. As fate would have it not everything went to plan but the collective minds of a 28,000 strong crowd plus the millions watching on Sky Sports only saw this as three points to Ipswich. Beating Hull was the number one priority, yet Hull were 3rd and if they won and Stoke lost, the Tigers would clinch a top two finish, meaning automatic promotion thus avoiding the often agonising Play Off ordeal.

My associate and myself raced to snap up the last of the tickets and after “tweaking our ages” in order to get a student ticket (which cost £21) we immediately got top row tickets sitting in front of three energetic Frenchmen whose passion matched our own.

The First Half

Does anything ever go for Ipswich? Seriously? Week after week I am informed (or witness) shocking refeering decisions that border on the edge of insanity and, daresay I say it, the old spot of corruption. Over the last two months Ipswich have been disallowed three legitimate goals (two didn’t “cross the line”), three penalty appeals and had one controversal red card. Manic! Nevertheless Town started in good steed and Sheki Kuqi’s header was disallowed for “offside”, typical Town then. An end to end contest evolved and Hull City certainly fancied their chances, our Tommy Miller, at his third stint for the club, hit the post with a dropping, curling effort. The atmosphere was carnival-like with the attendance upped several thousand as expectations heightened.

The first half was closing to a draw and already it felt like Town were leading given the amount of chances we had. Owen Garvan in particular was an integral, instrumental playmaker causing all sorts of problems for a startled Hull midfield. More notably was the sense of urgency around the stadium which created a free-flowing, end to end contest marred only by the physical behaviour of both sides as they got stuck into one another with a renewed sense of gusto and determination. These players were not pulling out of any tackles, particularly with so much riding at stake.

Second Half

Following results elsewhere (Wolves were drawing 0-0 and Palace winning 3-0), the benefit of fate which usually went hand in hand with Town at the best of times, nonetheless Town still had to win and the consequental spurred chances only galvanised an impatient audience. Alan Quinn missed the first of several decent chances which should have been tucked away, yet the midfielder failed to trouble the keeper in such welcoming positions, the result was a substitution and rightfully so. On the day when 30 years ago Sir Bobby Robson led his young Ipswich Town team to a 1-0 victory over Arsenal in the FA Cup Final, the nostalgia in the crowd remained with sporadic chants referring to the managerial legend who was also in the stands apparently dewy-eyed. Not that it took anything from current manager, Jim Magilton who has overturned Ipswich’s fortunes and it was his substitute, Alan Lee who only seconds after coming on neatly headed on a flicked pass by Walters to score beyond the despairing dive of Boaz Myhill to score the only goal of the game. Cue pandemonium as I danced awkwardly alongside my travelling comrade.

Play Offs?
Cue minutes later at the end of the game and scores filtered through that Crystal Palace had beaten Burnley 5-0 and Wolves had won, even Watford won.

Verdict

What a season. One home loss in the league all season which is a remarkable achievement in such a competitive Championship campaign and with our dithering away record, which was somewhat justified in the second half of the season, resulted in the hopeful charge to promotion yet it simply was not to be. The January signings, sparked by Marcus Evans multi-millionaire takeover brought in David Norris (injured), Velice Sumulikoski (one goal but decent performances), Alan Quinn (average, nothing more), Stephen Bywater (crap), Nick Colgan (barely played), Danny Simpson on loan from Manchester United and Shefki Kuqi on loan from Crystal Palace (both looking quality) has failed to truly improve the team but foundations have been built. Jim promised chances and signings in the needed and recommended departures and that would seemingly be in goalkeeper, centre back, left back and striker departments.

The retirement of Ipswich captain, Jason De Vos signalled an emotional standing ovation to an Ipswich Town side that not only has performed above personal expectations (12th) and numerous other fans, some thought Town would be down in the relegation places. But also the club has not conformed to the stereotypical Championship long ball style of play but brought an advanced form of short passing, free-flowing and attacking football to grace the division which has been more entertaining than a majority of other football teams.
The exuberant Jim Magilton and his proteges of learning, attacking Town side will be more experienced, prepared and confident than previous seasons and if they strive to achieve more they should take into consideration on improving away results whilst entertaining home fans (and the visitors) with a mezmerising, hypnotic display which has captured the imagination of numerous people around Suffolk. Next season… will it be the season.

On that note I state Ipswich have finished 8th this season and have made me proud of supporting my team. Now we need the success.

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This entry was posted on Sunday, May 4th, 2008 and is filed under Ipswich Town. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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