Ipswich Town v Stevenage preview and matchday thread
Posted: Sun Aug 09, 2015 10:15 pm
Ipswich Town vs Stevenage F.C. 
LEAGUE CUP 1ST ROUND
Tuesday 11th August 2015 – 19:45
Portman Road
Opening Thought – Jamma
Welcome back to the Championship...was I’m sure what a lot of Town fans were thinking as they left Griffin Park on Saturday! Having been second best for large periods of the opening 45 minutes, we managed to get our noses in front on the stroke of half time. The Blues took the confidence from this lead into the second half and looked likely to add to the scoreline once we had doubled our advantage. I even managed to beat the crowds heading back to the tube station by leaving as the 4th official’s board went up to signify 5 minutes of meaningless stoppage time... What do you mean, I missed Brentford’s sensational comeback?!
Before you start to think that I’ve been neglecting my official duties for the previews, I did, of course, stay to witness those crazy 5 minutes between 4.50pm and 4.55pm yesterday evening. ‘Football is a funny old game’ doesn’t come close to explaining it! We would probably all have taken a point if offered it before the game, against an unpredictable side that had defied all expectations last season. Even as Kevin Bru hooked the ball into the net just before the interval, the delirious Blue Army wouldn’t have been thinking that the scoreline was an accurate reflection of the balance of play. But, after grabbing the initiative in the second half, there should have been no outcome that we were contemplating other than an impressive opening day away win. Yet I’m sure I wasn’t the only one who had an uneasy sense heading into the last 10 minutes. The Bees had caused us too many problems throughout the game not to be a threat and, sure enough, they stung us with a quick-fire double at the death. A creditable win had turned into a deflating draw which seemed like a defeat in the blink of an eye.
In the week that Ipswich was declared as the 3rd happiest place to live in the U.K., that may not have been the case on Saturday night. It was obviously hard to see any positives in the immediate aftermath of the match, when emotions were still running high. But, as the shock gradually subsides, we can reflect back on what was generally a very good performance. As Mick McCarthy, clearly as frustrated as anyone, said in his post-match interview, if the referee had blown his whistle after 92 minutes, we would be praising the team for an excellent display away from home which had yielded the 3 points. There will be the inevitable inquest over whether we could have defended better for both of Brentford’s goals but there was plenty of cause for optimism in many other elements of our game. We should even be thankful that this has happened in the first match of the campaign, as opposed to at the business end of the season, to allow us to learn from our mistakes. The Capital One Cup may also serve more of a purpose this year than as a distraction from the league and our annual embarrassing exit to lower calibre opposition, as we aim to bounce back. Our conquerors of two seasons ago, Stevenage, will also be looking at Tuesday night as an opportunity to get back on track after their own first day disappointment...
The Opposition – Stevenage FC
Stevenage Borough were formed in 1976 following the bankruptcy of Stevenage Athletic.
The new club started out playing in the Chiltern Youth league on a roped-off pitch at the town's King George V playing fields. In 1980, the club reacquired the lease for Broadhall Way and the asset passed on to Stevenage Borough Council, who in turn allowed the football club to become its tenant. The club were also granted consent to incorporate the name “Borough” in their title and to adopt the town’s civic emblem as the club badge. With the council as their landlords and a refurbished stadium, Stevenage Borough took on senior status and joined the United Counties Football League in the same year.
During the 1993–94 season, Stevenage won the Isthmian Premier Division, and were subsequently promoted to the Football Conference. Two seasons later, they won the Conference, but were denied promotion to the Football League, due to insufficient ground facilities.
The 1996–97 season witnessed the club progress to the Third Round of the FA Cup for the first time and, the following season, the club went one better, reaching the Fourth Round, where they drew Premier League club Newcastle United.
Despite earning a vast amount of revenue from the two respective cup runs, news emerged that the club were in financial difficulties and that the chairman, Victor Green, was going to close the club down if no buyer was found. However, after several weeks of uncertainty, Phil Wallace purchased the club and set about rebuilding the finances and the relationship with the local council.
In the 2001–02 season, the club reached the FA Trophy final for the first time, but lost 2–0 to Yeovil Town at Villa Park. During the 2004–05 season, Boro managed to make the play–offs for the first time after finishing fifth. The 2006–07 campaign saw the club reach the FA Trophy final again, where they came back from 2–0 down to beat Kidderminster Harriers 3–2 in front of a record FA Trophy crowd of 53,262. The victory meant that Stevenage were the first team to win a competitive final at the new Wembley Stadium.
For the 2008/09 season, Graham Westley began his second stint as Stevenage Manager (having been their manager previously for a 3 ½ year period). Stevenage started the season slowly, but went on a 27–game unbeaten run from December to March and reached the play-offs, where they lost in the semi-finals. During the same season, Stevenage enjoyed success in cup competitions, winning the Herts Senior Cup for the first time, as well as winning the FA Trophy again.
The following season, Westley retained the majority of the squad and Stevenage were promoted to the Football League for the first time in the club's history with two games to spare, as well as appearing in the FA Trophy Final again.
Shortly after the end of the season, chairman Phil Wallace announced that the club would start its life in the Football League as Stevenage Football Club, dropping the word ‘Borough’ from its name as of June 2010.
Stevenage's first ever season in the Football League was a memorable one! Stevenage reached the League Two play-offs, in the club's first season in the Football League, following a sixth place finish. The club overcame fifth placed Accrington Stanley over two legs in the semi-finals and then beat Torquay United in the League Two play-off final on 28 May 2011 at Old Trafford. By securing a place in League One, the club had also earned back-to-back promotions. During the same season, Stevenage equalled their previous best performance in the FA Cup, reaching the Fourth Round.
Despite the dramatic rise through the leagues in such a short space of time, Stevenage started their first ever season in League One brightly, and a run of four wins in their last five games meant that Stevenage rallied late to finish sixth, their highest ever league placing to date.
Things started to decline, however, in the 2012/13 season, when they finished in 18th place, and things got even worse in the 2013/14 season, when they finished in last place and were relegated back to League 2.
Last season in League 2, they finished in 6th place, losing to Southend in the play-off semi-finals.
One To Watch – Chris Day
It’s hard to know which strike partnership will take to the field for Town on Tuesday night but, whichever combination Mick goes for, he will be hoping Stevenage goalkeeper Chris Day is in for a busy evening…
The former England U21 ‘keeper, who counts Tottenham, Crystal Palace, Watford and Millwall amongst his former clubs, is Stevenage’s longest-serving player, having signed ahead of the 2008/09 campaign. He has witnessed a dramatic upturn in their fortunes, after joining a side which was struggling at the wrong end of the Conference. They enjoyed a remarkable 24-game unbeaten run between December and March that first season, going on to make the play-offs and claim the FA Trophy at Wembley. Day continued to be a regular in each of ‘Boro’s subsequent two promotion-winning campaigns, including as part of the Conference’s best defence in 2009/10. The club just missed out on a historic third straight promotion, losing to Sheffield United in the 2011/12 play-offs, and ‘Daisy’, as he is rather affectionately known, dropped down the pecking order the following season. However, with the No. 1 jersey back in his possession, he has continued to build a reputation as one of the best goalkeepers in League Two.
The Gaffer – Teddy Sheringham
Sheringham began his professional career at Millwall in 1982 at the age of 16. He was signed up, initially as an apprentice, and scored on only his second appearance for the club in a match away at Bournemouth in January 1984. He quickly became first choice at Millwall and, during the late 1980s, was the club's top goalscorer in four seasons, including a season in Division 1 (nowadays the Premier League).
Millwall's spell in the top flight was not to last as they were relegated in the following season. In his final season at Millwall, Sheringham broke all of the club's goalscoring records, scoring a total of 111 goals in all competitions in his eight years at the club.
The 25-year-old Sheringham was sold to Nottingham Forest in a £2 million deal in July 1991 and helped them finish eighth in the First Division. In August, he was sold to Tottenham Hotspur for £2.1 million.
Sheringham had a successful start to his career at the club by being the Premier League's top goalscorer in its inaugural season, scoring 22 goals.
Sheringham was hugely popular with the Tottenham fans and, by the mid-1990s, was firmly established as one of the most highly-rated strikers in the Premiership. However, despite his prolific strike rate, by the end of the 1996–97 season he was 31 years old and had yet to win a major trophy in a career which had so far spanned 15 years.
In June 1997, Sheringham agreed to join Manchester United in a £3.5 million deal. Sheringham's first season at Old Trafford was difficult – although he scored 14 goals in all competitions, he failed to meet expectations as the 1997–98 season ended without a trophy.
Speculation that Sheringham would leave United increased just after the 1998–99 season got underway, when Dwight Yorke moved to Old Trafford. Sheringham's first team chances were relatively limited but he still managed to make enough appearances to qualify for a championship medal at the end of the season – at the age of 33, he had won his first major trophy. A week later, he came off the substitutes’ bench to score United's opening goal in the FA Cup final to secure the double. Four days after the FA Cup triumph, Sheringham scored a dramatic stoppage-time equaliser against Bayern Munich in the Champions League final, having come on as a substitute earlier in the game. Sheringham – having not won a major honour in his 15-year career on leaving Spurs – had now won every top-level trophy in the English game.
At the end of the 2000–01 season, Sheringham's four-year contract at Old Trafford expired and he returned to Tottenham on a free transfer. Tottenham topped the Premiership three games into the season. Sheringham made 80 appearances in all competitions for Tottenham in this period, scoring 26 goals.
Sheringham and Clive Allen were inducted into the Tottenham Hotspur Hall of Fame on 8 May 2008.
On the expiry of his Tottenham contract at the end of the 2002–03 season, Tottenham decided not to offer Sheringham a new contract and he joined Portsmouth in their first season in the Premier League. Sheringham became the oldest Premiership player to score a hat-trick when he scored three against Bolton early in the season. Portsmouth decided not to offer the 38-year-old striker another contract. Sheringham made 38 appearances for Portsmouth, scoring ten goals.
Sheringham then dropped down a division to West Ham United in the Football League Championship, and was the division's third-highest goalscorer with 20 goals. He won the Championship Player of the Season award, and helped West Ham return to the Premiership after two seasons in the Football League. On 2 April 2006, Sheringham joined a small group of footballers who have played top-flight football while in their forties. On 19 August 2006, he became the oldest outfield player in the history of the division, at 40 years 139 days.
After being released by West Ham, Sheringham signed for Colchester United in July 2007 and was given the number 8 shirt. Whilst at Colchester, Sheringham was the oldest player in all four divisions of the Football League, and is now part of the elite list of players who have achieved more than 700 league appearances in their career. He retired at the end of the 2007–08 season, his career ending on a low note as Colchester were relegated from the Championship – the club's first relegation for 18 years. In total, Sheringham played in 755 League matches and scored 288 goals.
Sheringham did not win his first England cap until the age of 27 in 1993.
He was selected as part of Eriksson's 2002 FIFA World Cup squad after impressing throughout the 01–02 season with his club, and played in the famous 1–0 win against Argentina, and made his final England appearance as a substitute in the 2–1 quarter-final defeat to Brazil in Japan. His twelve appearances for Eriksson were all as a substitute.
At the age of 36, that defeat signalled the end of Sheringham's international career, during which he had earned fifty-one caps and scored eleven times for England.
Upon his retirement from professional football in 2008, Sheringham has been a noticeable figure on the world poker scene, playing in various competitions worldwide.
In May 2014, Sheringham was appointed as an attacking coach with West Ham United.
On 21 May 2015, Sheringham received his first role in management at Stevenage FC.
Past Match - Video Highlights - Trev
Action from our last meeting with Stevenage, at the same stage of the competition a couple of seasons ago. Not the best memories…
Trev's Trivia
Players to play for both clubs
Andy Drury ITFC 2011-2013 Stevenage 2008-2010
Sammy Moore ITFC 2006-2008 Stevenage 2008
Media Watch - K L Blue
Didzy feels like he owes the Blue Army one, according to Mick:
http://www.twtd.co.uk/ipswich-town-news/27715/
Stat Time
Head To Head
Ipswich Town Wins................0 (00.00%)
Stevenage FC Wins................1 (100.00%)
Draws................................0 (00.00%)
Ipswich Town Goals...............0 (ave. 0.00 per match)
Stevenage FC Goals...............2 (ave. 2.00 per match)
Head To Head At Ipswich
Ipswich Town Wins.................0 (00.00%)
Stevenage FC Wins.................0 (00.00%)
Draws.................................0 (00.00%)
Ipswich Town Goals................0 (ave. 0.00 per match)
Stevenage FC Goals................0 (ave. 0.00 per match)
Marko’s Caption Contest
Have a go at putting the words to this image of Teddy Sheringham's other passion:
The scores from the Brentford and Stevenage entries will be announced in the Sheffield Wednesday preview.
The Predicted Teams
Ipswich Town
There is a good chance that Mick will shuffle his pack from Saturday, with a number of the fringe players and youngsters getting their chance to stake a claim. Christophe Berra is likely to come in to the heart of defence, having sat out the opening day due to suspension.
1 Dean Gerken
2 Jonathan Parr
4 Luke Chambers
6 Christophe Berra
30 Myles Kenlock
23 Alex Henshall
27 Teddy Bishop
22 Jonathan Douglas
24 Dylan Connolly
10 David McGoldrick
11 Brett Pitman
Stevenage FC
Teddy Sheringham doesn’t have so many options but will also be tempted to change things around after Stevenage’s 2-0 home defeat to Notts County.
16 Chris Day
25 Ronnie Henry
6 Mark Hughes
27 Ryan Johnson
23 Jerome Okimo
18 Dean Parrett
22 Charlie Lee
34 Dale Gorman
11 Tom Pett
20 Dipo Akinyemi
9 Brett Williams
Match Referee – Fred Graham
Final Thought – Jamma
As the clock ticked down at Griffin Park on Saturday, our attention might have drifted to the upcoming fixtures and the prospect of building up some momentum with three straight home matches. Tuesday night’s game now takes on a slightly different complexion, all of a sudden looking more like the proverbial banana skin that we are used to at this stage of the campaign. It does, however, provide an immediate chance to put the disappointment of Saturday behind us, and represents a good opportunity to get our first win of 2015/16 on the board. Teddy Sheringham will no doubt be adopting the same mentality, and will be keen for his side to exploit any nerves in our backline.
Mick McCarthy’s team selection will once again prove interesting. While it will be tempting to field a completely different starting XI, given his strength in depth and options across the park, he will also be conscious of the benefit that this match affords him in terms of breeding familiarity within his newly-assembled squad. He will also have next weekend’s clash with Sheffield Wednesday in mind, with the likes of Christophe Berra, Jonathan Douglas and Larsen Touré in need of competitive minutes on the pitch. If he can get this balance right, there is reason to believe that a long-overdue cup run could be to our advantage in more ways than one this season. Not only would it get us into the habit of winning but it would also ensure that the players on the fringes of the First Team are kept on their toes and are ready to step up for league action when required. Before we get ahead of ourselves, though, let’s get this game won first, whether it takes 95 minutes or 125...!
IPSWICH TOWN 2 STEVENAGE FC 0
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