Ipswich Town v Burton Albion preview and matchday thread

[Bluemike]

We scored Two goals, we scored Two goals, we scored Two goals, we scored Two goals, we scored Two goals........And so sang the North Stand. At last the drought is finally over and boy what a relief that is, not only that Freddie Sears has ended his horrific goal drought too !!!! reasons to be cheerful, well yes but still a long long way to go.

Talk about open and end to end but it actually made for quite enjoyable if at times nervy viewing. Town took the lead with pretty much our first foray into their box, a teasing cross from Sears being meet by the diving Chambo who's header flew into the net, I actually forgot how to celebrate such was the relief at seeing the net ripple. For a few minutes it seemed to give us a bit on much needed confidence but we had a lucky escape when they broke away down the right, thankfully Knudsen got back and did enough to put the striker off as he blazed his shot high and wide.

The game was so open and there were chances and openings being created at either end, to be fair to Burton they actually had more efforts at goal but most of them were clearing the bar by some distance although Bart did make one good save from Ward, the rebound again being sent high and wide when perhaps the Burton player should have scored. Town were also making chances and Bru was next to see his effort which seemed to get a deflection just go wide of the post. Just before the half time whistle Bart was again called upon to keep the lead intact with another neat save. We were perhaps a bit fortunate to go in ahead as burton had a fair few attempts at goal, most of which were well off target while we had also looked dangerous going forward although we failed to get enough shots away. I felt for much of the half our Three in Midfield were being a bit overrun at times by Burton's five.

It was the Blues that started the second half on the front foot, the impressive Leon Best, who looked so much better tonight the first to have an opening but he took too long and the chance was gone, we came even closer a few minutes later when we had a header (not sure who it was) blocked on the line before Bishop blazed the follow up over the bar. Again the game was so open and stretched and Burton were not rolling over and in fact they continued to play the more attractive and fluent football althought much of their neat passing play often came to nothing. We seemed to be affected by our own substitutions, Skuse going off meant we lost a bit of cover at the back and the defence seemed a bit more exposed. As the game was drawing to its conclusion the moment all Town fans have been waiting for finally arrived when Freddie Sears finished off some great work by Tom Lawrence to rifle the ball home and make the game safe, this time there was plenty of wild celebration, in the stands and on the pitch where every Town player raced to join in the celebrations with Sears in front of the North Stand.

One swallow does not make a Summer and Burton can count themselves unlucky to go home without at least a point but there have been times when we have deserved more than we have got, as we know only too well, goals win games and tonight we got the goals. Funnily enough I felt we didnt defend that well tonight, at times we were pulled about quite a bit but we got away with it, that is 5 clean sheets in 7 games now and 7 from 13 for the season which is damn good going. For me Chambers had a much better game and capped it with the crucial opening goal, while Teddy Bishop looked lively as did the vastly improved Tom Lawrence, I think also tonight was Leon Best's most effective game as he kind of played the Murphy role pretty well and was unlucky that a couple of times it just would not fall for him when in good positions. It didn't quite happen for Knudsen tonight and every decision he made seemed to be a wrong one.

So the crisis deepens, another clean sheet and a massive Three points off the top six, we are far from in full flow but with players slowly returning and our goaless run over maybe we can kick on now, it's just a bloody shame we have Newcastle next as I don't see us getting much from that one so a chance to build on this win looks slim. We are still on course for the 7/12 target that some of us felt was what was needed and expected.

Bart (7) Chambers (7) Berra (6) Webster (6) Knudsen (5) Skuse (6) Bru (6) Bishop (7) Sears (6) Lawrence (7) Best (7)

SUBS :- Ward (6) Grant (6) Digby (5)

[Andym]

Pretty well agree with Bluemike's report. A game we could easily have lost but for once we took our chances and the opposition didn't, despite Burton having the better openings.

Ipswich had 10 shots, 4 on target, 1 off and 5 blocked. Burton had 2 out of 18 on target and 10 off target. It could so easily have been a defeat.

But it wasn't. And it was entertaining. End to end, lots of chances.

Two good Town goals but we still give the ball away so much. Passing accuracy of 50%. That is really shocking.

The defence was looking at its shakiest but the highlights for me were excellent performances from Lawrence and Bishop. Bishop showed he can defend as well as attack, pass the ball as well as run with it, and make the right decisions. We looked poorer once he came off. Bru actually got in the box on a few occasions, including a burst when we scored the first goal. He gave the ball away a bit too much, but as Bluemike said, Knudsen was the worst offender with some terrible passes.

If Sheffield Wednesday win tonight we'll be 6 points off the playoffs ... and 6 points off relegation.

Let's celebrate a good result. And Chambers & Sears joining Pitman, Varney, McGoldrick and Knudsen as second leading goalscorers...

[Tangfastic]

As Mike stated, its a pity that Newcastle comes straight after this win. However, being realistic and with low expectations / less pressure - we could come away with something. 0 -0 would not seem like a regular 0 - 0 in that game.

Fully expect Douglas to come back in to midfield. Being realistic - he will aim to keep it tighter.

Would be good if Mick at least could continue with a more positive attacking approach in midfield at home - 'rest' Douglas for the home games. The guys nearly 35 and he puts himself about - unfair to hammer this guy if he's doing his job. The turgid away performances and picking up a point makes sense if we adopt a more home-winning mentality - and we have players like Williams, Bishop, Dozzel available. Team rotation isn't Mick's thing, but he could do well to tinker a bit more over 46 games. Hardly being disloyal to certain players - just using your squad.

[The Odious Mr Rossi]

A big 'well done' to MM and the players, and pleased to hear it was an entertaining game.

Will reserve judgement on MM and his tactics for a few games to see if there really is some improvement or whether this was just a flash-in-the-pan.

So for the time being, I will suspend my views on MM - he's not a tosser, he's not a bell-end, he's not a knob-head

[Watership Down]

I would rather be going into Newcastle with a win under my belt and another blank sheet for the opposition than a loss. The lads needed a bit of confidence around the goal

[Mach_Polish_Blue]

Thanks for the reports.

Nice result for a change. Win is a win. But it doesn't change anything.

If we struggle to score goals we'll be firmly in the relegation battle. Otherwise it's going to be a dull campaign with mixed results and midtable a possible destination. Certainly so and unfortunately we're a million miles away from the Premier League and this is what saddens me most. But at least the team has given us some nice change last night.

Really delighted for Sears having stopped his goal drought and I was thrilled with Lawrence's build-up for Freddies goal.

Off to Newcastle to watch ultra defensive approach from us.

[Watership Down]

Thanks for the reports.

Nice result for a change. Win is a win. But it doesn't change anything.

If we struggle to score goals we'll be firmly in the relegation battle. Otherwise it's going to be a dull campaign with mixed results and midtable a possible destination. Certainly so and unfortunately we're a million miles away from the Premier League and this is what saddens me most. But at least the team has given us some nice change last night.

Really delighted for Sears having stopped his goal drought and I was thrilled with Lawrence's build-up for Freddies goal.

Off to Newcastle to watch ultra defensive approach from us.

Would you be happy with a draw 0 - 0 or 1 - 1 I know I would

[Bluemike]

Thanks for the reports.

Nice result for a change. Win is a win. But it doesn't change anything.

If we struggle to score goals we'll be firmly in the relegation battle. Otherwise it's going to be a dull campaign with mixed results and midtable a possible destination. Certainly so and unfortunately we're a million miles away from the Premier League and this is what saddens me most. But at least the team has given us some nice change last night.

Really delighted for Sears having stopped his goal drought and I was thrilled with Lawrence's build-up for Freddies goal.

Off to Newcastle to watch ultra defensive approach from us.

Would you be happy with a draw 0 - 0 or 1 - 1 I know I would

Surely to god anyone would, well put it this way, they blooming well should be happy with it.

[Mach_Polish_Blue]

Thanks for the reports.

Nice result for a change. Win is a win. But it doesn't change anything.

If we struggle to score goals we'll be firmly in the relegation battle. Otherwise it's going to be a dull campaign with mixed results and midtable a possible destination. Certainly so and unfortunately we're a million miles away from the Premier League and this is what saddens me most. But at least the team has given us some nice change last night.

Really delighted for Sears having stopped his goal drought and I was thrilled with Lawrence's build-up for Freddies goal.

Off to Newcastle to watch ultra defensive approach from us.

Would you be happy with a draw 0 - 0 or 1 - 1 I know I would

I would take it but I want us to attack them too.