Ipswich Town v Bolton Wanderers
Tuesday 3rd November 2015 – 19:45
Portman Road
Opening Thought - Jamma
After bemoaning our recent luck in the Cardiff preview, I decided to go out of my way - literally - in an attempt to get the omens on our side on Saturday. I even altered my usual route to the ground when I saw that this would mean crossing paths with a black cat! Needless to say, it didn't work, as our winless run was extended to eight games, with just one victory to our name in eleven matches in all competitions now. Our second consecutive 0-0 home draw may mean that we have not lost at Portman Road in four outings, but neither have we won any of the last five on our own patch. If we are looking for positives, the first one has to be that we are now approaching something like the hard-to-beat side that Mick built when he first took over. But, on current evidence, it is hard to see the progress that we have undoubtedly made over the last three years. From possessing what was generally accepted to be amongst the division's most potent strikeforces at the start of the season, it has now been seven league matches since one of our strikers scored, and that was a penalty from apparent fourth choice Brett Pitman. I thought our general performance levels on Saturday were much improved with respect to the previous stalemate against Huddersfield. McCarthy praised the crowd for their tremendous level of support, which he said helped settle the team down after a difficult opening period. Kevin Bru's presence also appeared to lend his teammates added composure on the ball, as we looked much more assured in possession, with one particularly impressive move involving the front three being unfortunate not to be rewarded with a goal from Ainsley Maitland-Niles. We were once again left wondering what might have been, though, not least if a clearly confidence-shot Daryl Murphy had managed to convert one of his three or four chances.
I commented while coming away from the ground (not a black cat in sight, surprisingly) that there seemed to be even less to separate teams in the Championship this season. Brighton may have looked a class above when we faced them, and it was hard to tell just how much our 5-1 defeat to Reading was down to us not turning up as opposed to them being too good. But, in general terms, and certainly at Portman Road, there has been very little to choose between the two sides. This probably helps explain the number of home draws Town have picked up, as we have competed valiantly but just not had that extra bit of quality to turn 1 point into 3. Last season, of course, it was Murphy's goals that more often than not proved the difference in those tight affairs. So far in 2015/16, we have not had that luxury to fall back on. There were some fans on the radio on Saturday evening who were already ruling us out of the play-offs, saying that we weren't good enough to challenge. Personally, I think it is still too early to be dismissing our chances, with barely a quarter of the campaign gone. However, the more games we go without securing that elusive victory, the more of a concern it is inevitably becoming. With three of our next four fixtures against the current bottom three, we really need to start adding to our win tally, before we leave ourselves with too much ground to make up...
The Opposition – Bolton Wanderers
The club was founded by the Reverend Thomas Ogden, the schoolmaster at Christ Church in 1874 as Christ Church F.C. It was initially run from the church of the same name on Deane Road, Bolton, on the site where the Innovation factory of the University of Bolton now stands. The club left the location following a dispute with the vicar, and changed its name to Bolton Wanderers in 1877. The name was chosen as the club initially had a lot of difficulty finding a permanent ground to play on, having used three venues in its first four years of existence.
Bolton were one of the 12 founder members of the Football League, which formed in 1888. Having remained in the Football League since its formation, Bolton have spent more time in the top flight (Premier League/old First Division) than out of it.
The period before and after the First World War was Bolton's most consistent period of top-flight success as measured by league finishes, with the club finishing outside the top 8 of the First Division on only two occasions between 1911–12 and 1927–28. In this period Bolton equalled their record finish of third twice, in 1920–21 and 1924–25.
On 28 April 1923, Bolton won their first major trophy in their third FA Cup final, beating West Ham United in the first ever Wembley FA Cup final. They followed this up with two further FA Cup Final victories in 1926 & 1929.
From 1935 to 1964, Bolton enjoyed an uninterrupted stay in the top flight.
The years of the Second World War saw most of the Wanderers' playing staff see action on the front, a rare occurrence within elite football, as top sportsmen were generally assigned to physical training assignments, away from enemy fire. However, 15 Bolton professionals, led by their captain Harry Goslin, volunteered for active service in 1939, and were enlisted in the 53rd Bolton Artillery regiment. Only Goslin would not return from the war.
On 9 March 1946, the club's home was the scene of the Burnden Park disaster, which at the time was the worst tragedy in British football history. 33 Bolton Wanderers fans were crushed to death, and another 400 injured, in an FA Cup quarter-final.
Bolton Wanderers have not won a major trophy since 1958, when they overcame Manchester United in the FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium.
While Bolton finished 4th the following season, the next 20 years would prove to be a fallow period. The club suffered relegation to the Second Division in 1963–64, and were then relegated again to the Third Division for the first time in their history in 1970–71. This stay in the Third Division lasted just two years before the club were promoted as champions in 1972–73. Hopes were high at Burnden Park in May 1978 when Bolton sealed the Second Division title and gained promotion to the First Division. However, they only remained there for two seasons before being relegated, and then slipped back into the 3rd Division at the end of the 1982/83 season.
Bolton failed to win promotion in the 1983–84 season, and would remain in the Third Division for another three seasons. In 1986 Nat Lofthouse was appointed President of the football club, a position he would hold until his death on 15 January 2011. At the end of the 1986–87 season, Bolton Wanderers suffered relegation to the Fourth Division for the first time in their history, but won promotion back to the Third Division at the first attempt.
Bolton reached the Premiership in 1995 in the Division One play-off Final. The same year Bolton progressed to the League Cup Final, but were defeated by Liverpool. Bolton were bottom for virtually all of the 1995–96 Premiership campaign and were relegated.
The club won promotion back to the Premiership at the first attempt thanks to a season in which they achieved 98 league points and 100 goals in the process of securing the Division One championship. Unfortunately yet again, Bolton were relegated after only one season in the top flight. This season also marked the club's departure from Burnden Park to the Reebok Stadium.
In 2000–01 Bolton were promoted back to the Premiership after winning the play-off final. Bolton struggled in the following two seasons, but survived in the Premiership.
Bolton reached the League Cup final in 2004, but lost to Middlesbrough. Nevertheless, the club finished eighth in the league, at the time the highest finish in their Premiership history.
In 2005 Bolton finished sixth in the league, thus earning qualification for the UEFA Cup for the first time in their history. Between 2003–04 and 2006–07, Bolton recorded consecutive top-eight finishes. Bolton survived in the 2009–10 season as they finished 14th with 39 points. This secured a tenth successive top flight campaign for Bolton.
On 13 May 2012, Bolton Wanderers were relegated to the Championship by one point on the last day of the season.
The Championship season started badly for Bolton, with only three wins in ten league matches and a second round exit from the League Cup following a loss at Crawley Town, Bolton sacked manager Owen Coyle on 9 October 2012. Fourteen days later Dougie Freedman joined the club as manager, who guided them to a 7th place finish at the conclusion of the season.
Although Freedman made a number of signings for the 2013/14 campaign, Bolton ended the season firmly mid-table, with the expectations of another promotion push not met.
The 14/15 season started similarly, failing to win any of their first 6 games and only one of the first ten. Freedman left the club on 3 October 2014 by mutual consent, with Neil Lennon taking the helm.
Under Lennon Bolton finished the season in 18th place on the table with 51 points.
One To Watch – Josh Vela
One of the few bright lights at the Macron Stadium over the last couple of years has been the emergence of young academy prospects. Zach Clough may have attracted most of the headlines, but versatile midfielder Josh Vela is also making a name for himself.
A glimpse of Vela’s potential was shown when he made his first team debut in the Premier League towards the end of the 2011/12 campaign. The then 18-year-old didn’t look out of place against Swansea and made two further appearances as a substitute as Bolton’s time in the top flight came to an end. He found chances harder to come by in the Championship, not helped by the club’s instability off the pitch, as Owen Coyle was replaced by Dougie Freedman in the hotseat. Having taken in time on loan at Notts County in 2013/14, Vela enjoyed an extended run in the team last season, making 32 appearances in league and cup. Rather like Jonny Parr at Town, the 21-year-old may have suffered as a result of his versatility, playing on both wings as well as in his favoured position of central midfield and also filling in at right-back on occasion. In a side with top level experience running through its spine, Vela adds a welcome touch of flair and an ability beyond his years to dictate play.
The Gaffer – Neil Lennon
Lennon was born in Lurgan, County Armaghand as a youngster he played gaelic football for the school and was also selected for the Armagh minor team.
Lennon joined Glenavon, after reaching the final of the Milk Cup. He then joined Manchester City as a trainee in 1987. He made one first team appearance during his time in Manchester before signing for Crewe Alexandra on a free transfer in August 1990.where he became an established member of the side.
Lennon's form saw win make his debut for Northern Ireland in 1994, and thus became the first Crewe Alexandra player in 60 years to win a full international cap. In 5½ years at Crewe, Lennon made 187 appearances for the club and scored 18 goals.
In February 1996, Lennon signed for Leicester City for a fee of £750,000.
After Martin O'Neill became the new manager of Celtic in June 2000, he made several attempts to sign Lennon. Finally after months of protracted negotiations with Leicester City, on 6 December 2000 Lennon joined the club he supported as boy for a fee of £5.75 million. That season saw Lennon pick-up three winner's medals as Celtic swept to a domestic treble, winning the Scottish Premier League, Scottish Cup and Scottish League Cup. The next four seasons at Celtic saw Lennon win a further two league championships and two Scottish Cups. He was also an integral part of the Celtic side that reached the UEFA Cup Final in 2003.
When Gordon Strachan took over from Martin O'Neill as Celtic manager in the summer of 2005, he made Lennon Celtic captain, and he picked up his fourth League Championship medal that season on 5 April 2006 when Celtic defeated Hearts.
Although he was also linked with a move to Crystal Palace in a player-manager role in the summer of 2006, but he signed a new one-year contract with Celtic.
On 25 April 2007, Lennon announced he would be leaving Celtic, and in his last game for the club on 26 May 2007, he captained the team to victory in the Scottish Cup Final against Dunfermline Athletic. Celtic's 1–0 win clinched the League and Cup Double.
Lennon joined Nottingham Forest on a one-year contract with an option for a second year on 12 June 2007, however he lost his place in the team and joined Wycombe Wanderers on 31 January 2008, leaving on 3 April to take up a coaching role with Celtic.
Lennon was capped 40 times by Northern Ireland, scoring two goals. He also captained the team on several occasions.
Lennon's first coaching appointment was as first team coach with Celtic in 2008. After the appointment of Tony Mowbray as Celtic manager, Lennon took charge of the Celtic reserve team. Following Mowbray's departure from Celtic on 25 March 2010, Lennon was appointed caretaker manager for the remainder of the 2009–10 season.
Lennon was appointed manager of Celtic on a full-time basis on 9 June 2010. In the 2010–11 season, Lennon was given a six match touchline ban for excessive misconduct, which was later reduced to four matches after appeal. He was given another four match touchline ban by the SFA following an altercation after a Scottish Cup match in March 2011. Lennon led Celtic to the final of the League Cup in March 2011, but they lost to Rangers after extra time, as well as finishing a point behind their rivals in the League title race. He won his first silverware as a manager when Celtic beat Motherwell in the Scottish Cup Final a week later.
After rallying from a poor start to season 2011-12, Lennon won the SPL Manager of the Month award for November 2011and the club went on to win the 2011–12 Scottish Premier League. Lennon was made SFWA Manager of the Year.
On 21 April 2013, Celtic retained the Premier League title. Lennon finished the season by leading Celtic to a League and Cup double with a win over Hibernian in the Scottish Cup Final.
Celtic qualified for the Group Stages of the Champions League again the following season, but had a dismal campaign. They fared little better in the domestic cup competitions being knocked out of the Scottish League Cup and Scottish Cup in the early rounds. The League campaign was much more impressive through, undefeated until February and losing only twice in all over the course of the season in which they scored 102 goals on the way to their third successive League title.
On 22 May 2014, Lennon announced that he was leaving Celtic after four years as manager. "I have parted company with Celtic," he said in a brief statement, adding "The club are in a very strong position and I wish the fans and the club all the very best for the future."
Lennon was announced as the new manager of Bolton Wanderers on 12 October 2014, signing a four year contract.
Past Match - Video Highlights - Trev
Lets relive this epic match again, was full of emotion. Magic Magilton ran the show!
Trev's Trivia
Player to play for both teams
Ivan Campo ITFC 2008–2009 Bolton 2003–2008
Media Watch - K L Blue
Another interesting wee article from the Sudbury Mercury on Ainsley Maitland-Niles
Things may not be going entirely to plan for Ipswich Town, but teenage loanee Ainsley Maitland-Niles is happy with the progress he’s made personally during his temporary spell at Portman Road.
Saturday’s 0-0 draw at home to Cardiff means the Blues have scored just one goal in five games and have one win in 10 league matches, slipping from top of the Championship to their current 14th position in the process.
Arsenal youngster Maitland-Niles, 18, has played in all 14 of the Blues’ Championship games this season and has enjoyed his first taste of the second tier, even if results have not been entirely to his liking.
“At first I found it tough, I still do find it tough, but it’s a matter of getting over it and working hard for the team,” he said.
“I’m learning a lot more, I feel like I’m fitting in well and I think a lot of that’s down to the players and the manager.
“I’m happy to play any type of football as long as I’m on the pitch.
“I’ve probably improved most on my heading but I don’t mind, I just take it as it comes.
“It’s really important (to track back) because it’s that one moment you switch off and you’re 1-0 down.
“Hopefully the fans can keep behind us and we can come through with the three points.”
On Saturday’s game, the young attacking midfielder believes Ipswich did enough to win the contest but is convinced the long-awaited three points will arrive soon as long as the Blues keep their focus.
He said: “Championship games are always tough but I think we could have come away with more than a point. Unfortunately we didn’t but at least we had a point to come away with.
“It’s getting frustrating for all the players, the gaffer too, but we’ll keep plugging away and we’ll get out three points eventually.
“It’s about working hard for the whole 90 minutes and then we’ll get the three points we need. There were chances and we could have won 3-0 or drawn 2-2, but we didn’t concede or score and it’s one point.
“It’s a matter of everyone keeping trying and it’s going to come off. We need to work hard, stay focused, play hard and communicate well, all sorts of things, so sometimes it’s just a matter of one chance we have to take.”
Stat Time
Head To Head
Ipswich Town Wins................17 (43.59%)
Bolton Wins.........................13 (33.33%)
Draws.................................9 (23.08%)
Ipswich Town Goals................52 (Ave. 1.33 Per Match)
Bolton Goals........................56 (Ave. 1.44 Per Match)
Head To Head at Ipswich
Ipswich Town Wins.................11 (55.00%)
Bolton Wins...........................7 (35.00%)
Draws..................................2 (10.00%)
Ipswich Town Goals................32 (Ave. 1.60 Per Match)
Bolton Goals.........................28 (Ave. 1.40 Per Match)
The Predicted Teams
Ipswich Town
Having got the correct line-up for the first time in living memory last time out, I’m not likely to change tack now!
Joking apart, Mick will have seen enough from Saturday’s display to keep faith with the same starting XI.1 Dean Gerken
4 Luke Chambers
5 Tommy Smith
6 Christophe Berra
2 Jonathan Parr
7 Ainsley Maitland-Niles
8 Cole Skuse
17 Kevin Bru
10 David McGoldrick
9 Daryl Murphy
20 Freddie Sears
Bolton
Bolton have tightened up at the back in recent games but, like Ipswich, are struggling in attack, with just one goal scored in their last four matches. If Neil Lennon makes changes for his team’s trip to Suffolk, it is likely to be at the sharp end. This may or may not involve Shola Ameobi, whose brother Sammy featured for Cardiff at Portman Road on Saturday.
1 Ben Amos
15 Derik Osede
4 Dorian Dervite
31 David Wheater
20 José Manuel Casado
18 Neil Danns
8 Jay Spearing
21 Darren Pratley
6 Josh Vela
12 Max Clayton
14 Gary Madine
Match Referee – Darren Deadman
Final Thought - Frosty
Great to see the clean sheet on Saturday, sadly our opponents achieved this feat as well.
Bolton are definitely one of those sides you would be targeting 3 points from this season as they currently a occupy a relegation spot on the League table, however with our recent run of form the same probably applies to the ‘Trotters’ who will no doubt treat this as a winnable fixture. On paper there are some reasonable players which Lennon can call on, however this hasn’t translated to results so far this season.
Bolton’s recent form has seen them achieve two draws against Preston North End and Leeds and two losses against Birmingham and Burnley over their past four fixtures.
With our current dip in fortunes it is safe to say that we can’t target any fixture in this division as a probable 3 pointer at the moment as we just aren’t converting chances at present, the only positive being nor can Bolton this season.
I was extremely positive at the start of the season as we got out of the blocks fast for once and I felt we had far more depth to call on with the new signings. The reality is starting to appear different and unless we can bounce back soon, this season may not get even close to the heights of last season. Not being able to attend each week it’s hard to really be objective as others, as obviously when going to matches you can pick up the little nuances that define a side. However it is quite clear from reading the comments from others that tactically it’s not working, there are positional weaknesses and some players are a long way short of last year’s form, whether this is a side that can evolve, or one needs to be adjusted in January, will be defined over the next couple of weeks.
The above aside, if you are going on Tuesday night, I am sure they sell hot chips which is the other fantastic reason for having a night out at the football!
IPSWICH TOWN 1 BOLTON WANDERERS 0
Tough crowd!
you should Choose the Nacton Orwell bridge at low tide Mike, oh and take Mick with you, the mud gets nice and deep to bury him in it, but we all said we should have turned over Bristol City & Huddersfield, but we didn't, we seem to have shackled ourselves with the lets be nice to the opposing team label, give them a little help with some goals, we struggle against weaker teams, I wonder what will happen when Bishop and Hyam are available for selection, probably just bench warm, with us being 2-0 down and bring them on with 5 minutes to go and expect miracles to happen, as you rightly say Sears along side Murphy, with Diddsy sitting behind firing the ammo, just might work, but knowing Mick that wont happen.