Tractor-Boys.com

Ipswich Town vs Bristol City


Friday 30th December 2016 – 19:45


Portman Road





Opening Thought – Jamma

The omens were good for us to finally string together successive wins for the first time this season. The Blues had not lost to Fulham for 53 years, even if that infamous 10-1 record defeat had also occurred on Boxing Day. On the back of a morale-boosting result - if not performance - against Wigan last time out, we had as good a chance as any (you would have thought) to build up a head of steam. The Blue Army turned out in their numbers hoping for some festive cheer, but it very quickly became apparent that Town would be up against it if they were to provide a late Christmas present for their long-suffering supporters. Mick McCarthy predictably chose to focus on the quality of the opposition in his post-match interview, which is becoming increasingly more like a post-mortem, such is the gravitas with which he is made to pick over the bones of each defeat. To be fair to him, the Cottagers probably were the best side that has graced Portman Road in the first half of the campaign, but Ipswich for their part almost certainly turned in their worst home display of 2016/17, in what is a pretty hotly-contested competition. The biggest cheer of the afternoon accompanied the familiar 'We've had a shot!' chant, but in reality neither this screwed effort from Jonas Knudsen nor Luke Chambers' subsequent wild attempt were deserving of the name, with the closest we came to scoring a header from visiting defender Michael Madl which prompted David Button into his only meaningful contribution. Fulham, on the other hand, sliced through the Blues' line-up every time they ventured forward, and contrived to pass up three opportunities to build on their lead when it looked easier to score. Any remote hope that the footballing gods were smiling down on us and that we would rescue the unlikeliest of points were quashed when Radnar Sigurdsson headed home. From there on in, it was all about salvaging some pride, and being thankful that we hadn't been on the end of another 10-1 mauling, which would not have been too unreflective of Fulham's utter dominance.

With victory secured for the Cottagers, attention turned to the noise coming from the terraces, as opposed to the distinct lack of action from a Town perspective on the pitch. Mick has admitted that the tide of opinion has definitely turned against him, and that he perfectly understands where Ipswich supporters are coming from with their dissatisfaction. In the build-up, he had accepted the derogatory chants that would be sure to come his way with another poor showing, but also called upon the fans to get behind the players. Barring a handful of instances in the 90 minutes, that didn't happen, and when the crowd turn against the team as well as the manager the situation surely becomes irretrievable. While I can of course understand and empathise with the emotions behind the chanting, I am with many other Town supporters who believe that the booing and ironic cheering should be saved until the final whistle, or at least half time, and directed at the manager. The team have for the most part seemed bereft of confidence when playing in front of their own fans since the derby back in August. I just can't see how singing 'What a load of rubbish' will help our cause, or do anything other than make the players retreat further into their shells. Marcus Evans was said to have been in attendance on Monday, and must surely have food for thought ahead of a potentially crucial period in Ipswich Town's history, let alone season. Our next match, against Bristol City, takes on added significance, after we only faced them four weeks ago. With their 2-0 win that day being the last time the Robins tasted success, they will no doubt be eyeing this as a chance to give us another twist of the knife...



The Opposition – Bristol City





The club was founded in 1897 as Bristol South End and changed their name to Bristol City on adopting professionalism three years later when they were admitted into the Southern League. City joined the Football League in 1901. .

Winning the Second Division Championship with a record number of points when they became the first club in Football League history to win 30 games as well as equaling Manchester United's achievement of the previous season in winning 14 consecutive games (still a record today, which was also accomplished by Preston in 1950–51).

They finished as runners-up in their inaugural First Division campaign. Three years later they won through to their only FA Cup Final. After a five season stay in the top flight in the 1910/11season brought City's first ever taste of relegation and it was to be 65 years before top flight status would be regained.

The 1920s were a rocky time as City bounced between the Second Division and the Southern Section of the Third Division. By the 1930s they had slumped into the lower division, and stayed that way until the Second World War. Harry Dolman became chairman in 1949, a post he would hold for over 30 years. An engineer who had bought out the firm he worked for, he designed the first set of floodlights installed at Ashton Gate in the early 1950s. The late 1950s were a better time for City, with a five-year stay in the Second Division, a league they returned to for a further spell in 1965.

In 1967, Alan Dicks was appointed manager, and things gradually began to improve, with promotion to the First Division in 1976, ending a 65-year exile from the top flight.

City's second stint in the top flight was less successful than the club's first, with thirteenth position in 1979 being their highest finish during this era.

In 1980, the City team went back to the Second Division in the first of three relegations, their debt mounted and their financial losses increased, with two successive relegations following. Thus, in 1982, they fell into the Fourth Division, and were declared bankrupt. BCFC (1982) Ltd acquired the club's player contracts, and the highly paid senior players who became known as the 'Ashton Gate Eight', each accepted termination of his contract for half the amount due. The club failed to pay its debts to many local businesses which left the new formed club difficulty in obtaining credit because of bad feeling toward them.

City spent two seasons in the Fourth Division before winning promotion in 1984. They consolidated themselves in the Third Division during the latter part of the 1980s, and in 1990 achieved promotion as Third Division runners-up.

Meanwhile, City remained in the new Division One (no longer the Second Division after the creation of the Premier League in 1992) but in the 1994/95 season were relegated to Division Two.

Bristol City again achieved promotion in 1998 as Division Two runners-up, but went straight back down again the following season.

City was a regular Division Two Top Six side over the next few seasons but couldn’t advance through the playoffs each time.

Despite a slow start to the 2006–07 season, City were in the top six of League One by November and at the end of the month began an 11-match unbeaten run which drove them to the top of the division. Promotion to the Championship was confirmed on the final day of the season securing the runners-up place in the division and resulting in automatic promotion.

After a stop start run of form City went top of the Championship on 1 March, However, a poor run ended City's chances of an automatic promotion place. They made the playoff final at Wembley but went down 1-0 to Hull.

After a poor start in the first half of the 2008–09 season, City finished the season in tenth place.

On 22 April 2010, it was announced that former Reading manager Steve Coppell would become the new City manager at the end of the 2009–10 campaign, when he would start a 12-month rolling contract, and that Keith Millen, who had guided the club to Championship safety in his brief spell as caretaker manager, would remain at the club as his assistant. It was announced on 12 August 2010 that Coppell had resigned as manager with immediate effect saying that he would retire from football management altogether citing a lack of passion for the job. This followed his only two competitive games at the club.

On 29 November 2011, the club announced a loss of £11.45 million.

After a promising start to the 2011/12 season City only just survived staying in the Championship having spent time in the relegation zone.

After a poor start to the 2012/13 campaign, Sean O'Driscoll was appointed head coach on a 12-month rolling contract however on 16 April 2013, City were relegated to League One.

After the sacking of Sean O'Driscoll on 28 November 2013, Steve Cotterill was appointed on a three and a half year contract. When he joined the club were bottom of the table and 5 points away from safety with a −7 goal difference. Cotterill made a huge impact and guided the club to safety and finished the season 12th.

Bristol City were promoted back to Championship for 2015–16 season after securing a top spot in 2014–15 Football League One on 14 April 2015. 1955 was the last time they won a league.

With Bristol City just inside the relegation zone, and only 256 days after Cotterill had lead them back to the Championship, Cotterill was sacked by club chairman Keith Dawe, on 14 January 2016.

Caretaker Manager John Pemberton was replaced by Lee Johnson on the 6th February 2016.

Last season Bristol City finished in 18th place with 52 points.


The Manager – Lee Johnson







Past Match - Video Highlights - Trev


A look back to a 2-2 draw last season






Media Watch - K L Blue

Mick's reaction to Monday's débâcle:

http://www.eadt.co.uk/sport/reaction_mi ... _1_4829603

Jim Magilton has his say on Town's current plight, and also the circumstances surrounding his departure from the club:

http://www.eadt.co.uk/sport/former_ipsw ... _1_4829917

The latest speculation surrounding Adam Webster:

http://www.twtd.co.uk/ipswich-town-news ... bster-move


Form Guide



Ipswich Last 5 Matches – Currently in 16th place with 28 points



Ipswich Town 0-2 Fulham FC

Wigan Athletic 2-3 Ipswich Town

Birmingham City 2-1 Ipswich Town

Ipswich Town 1-1 Cardiff City

Bristol City 2-0 Ipswich Town




Bristol City Last 5 Matches – Currently in 17th place with 27 points



Wolverhampton 3-2 Bristol City

Bristol City 1-2 Preston NE

Bristol City 0-1 Brentford FC

Huddersfield 2-1 Bristol City

Bristol City 2-0 Ipswich Town



Fixtures of Interest



NEWCASTLE VS NOTTINGHAM FOREST

READING VS FULHAM

WOLVES VS Q.P.R.

BRENTFORD VS NORWICH



Match Referee – David Coote






Final Thought - Bluemike

Well I didn't think it would happen, I didn't want it to happen but following yet another dismal showing by the team against Fulham I finally lost patience and find myself firmly in the Mick OUT camp. I actually feel quite sad that I feel the way I do but it has to stop. The ill feeling and apathy running through the club has to be addressed and I know for a fact - I actually said it weeks ago - that once the manager loses the fans to the extent Mick has it will not be retrievable and it is only a matter of time before the inevitable happens, so we have to make the change sooner rather than later. I do not think the manager has lost the dressing room but I do think he is backed into a corner and has lost the plot with certain things like best line-up, formations, etc. etc.. I also think the players are now like rabbits in the headlights and they too need a new direction.

Of course, despite what many Town fans think, change is fraught with danger too. I am convinced that if Mick were to stay on then no way would we be in danger of relegation. I don't think that is an issue at all. Bringing in a new manager on the same budgets as Mick has is, however, a gamble. Will the new manager settle? Will he have the experience of working with sod all spending as Mick has had to do? It could all go terribly wrong and a wrong appointment could well take us down. If Marcus Evans is sticking to his guns with limited funds being made available, it matters not who comes in because little will change apart from the missing fans returning to give the new man their backing in the hope of a bright new dawn. It's a very precarious position we find ourselves in and there is no easy solution or quick fix. This season can be forgotten. I have already accepted it is about consolidating what we have and sorting out the negativity around the club. A change of manager may just do the trick and bring the missing fans back to Portman Road in the hope of better times ahead.

Next up is Bristol City, another team who have fallen from grace after a promising start. No game is easy right now and this will be no exception. I do think another poor showing and result will lead to the worst anti-Mick scenes yet and it will not be pleasant. Defeat could well force the hand of Evans, although I won't be holding my breath. For what it is worth, I see Town somehow getting a win to keep the club in limbo for a bit longer. Pretty it most certainly won't be, hostile it definitely will, but it's a narrow Town win for me. Let's at least end 2016 on a bit of a high. COYB'S



IPSWICH TOWN 2 BRISTOL CITY 1

Thanks for putting the Preview together chaps, appreciated as always.

Funnily enough I reckon we could 'nick' this one 3-0


Equally, I wouldn't be surprised if it ended 0-0, 1-1, 2-1, 1-2 etc .............. so the reality i have absolutely no idea and is it's just a standard 'Box of Chocolates' type Town fixture.

Great preview guys. Well done again!

I've gone for a Town win simply because we HAVE to win!

Bristol were no great shakes at their place. Town just gifted them the points as per usual. If can avoid shooting ourselves in the foot as usual as PR we might actually get all 3 pts. Just don't hold your breath though.

2-0 Town Pitman, Lawrence

There's much on offer for both teams and with a more adventurous manager you'd feel we could take the win, but the defense minded McCarthy would p*ss his pants at anything more daring than trying to keep the score level by the end of ninety minutes.

Like it or not there's a minority who wish we'd lose games of this nature if only to get relevant names out of the club once and for all. If we win on the day, it keeps McCarthy in position for a while longer, if we lose then hardly a goddamn thing will change or be done about it. Two mediocre teams going at it and while would hope for the venue to be a deciding factor, McCarthy will simply sh*t himself at the prospect of anything beyond safety first.

Ipswich 1 Bristol City 1

It is virtually impossible to predict any Town game these days with any level of confidence, I have gone for the win based purely on the fact I think we have to win given how bad the atmosphere at PR is now. While I appreciate peoples feelings and anti MM stance I do agree 100% with Jamma in that ironic cheering and booing during a game is completely counter productive and makes and already extremely hard job a virtually impossible one, add to that the negative songs and we really are on a loser all round, as Jamma says keep it for the full time whistle if you must do it. I cannot and will never accept any Town fan wanting the team to lose to get rid of a manager, no matter how bad things may seem to be I just can't abide the thought that any real fan would want their team to lose no matter what.

God knows what the starting line up will be, I doubt very much Dozzell will start again and Douglas too may well be out again, I can see Bru or ward coming back in for this one, oh what excitement at the thought. Either way I think we will scrape out a narrow but unconvincing win to ease a little bit on the pressure on the team.

This game will be tight and can see it going
down to the wire!! Town to edge this one!!

Town 1. Bristol City 0.

Well seeing as City have gone on a poor run of losing their last 4 games since we met, we at Ipswich are a very charitable side to teams that are on the downward spiral, so I'm going for a duplicate city win of 0-2 as per what we lost at Ashton Gate, until we get rid of a moron of a manager in MM, I cant really get behind a team that lacks the so much wants to win at all costs enthusiasm, and plays for the Shirt we all love, we want players that will die for Ipswich, not retired journey loan men, and play Ben Morris up top Mick, give the lad a few games as he scores for the reserves.

Tip-top preview, once again - efforts much appreciated!

Whilst BC are not Fulham, whoever trots out tomorrow night will have to put in significantly better individual and team performances if we have any real prospect of winning. Confidence is such an important part of the game, and we'll get an early indication of just how badly - or not - the Fulham performance has impacted upon it. However, it also provides an opportunity to regroup, show some mental strength and be determined to go and win the game. Professional pride alone should be sufficient motivation, given everything that's swirling around the Club at present. But the key issue, however, must be that MM sends them out to WIN, eases the shackles, and allows his team to play football! (Assuming they can remember what that concept is )

Going for a 1-0 win. If nothing else to dampen down the toxic reaction that will surely
follow another poor performance/defeat.

ITFC 1: BCFC 1.

I can understand some Town fans wanting us to lose so we can bring the seemingly inevitable closer to a final conclusion. Like putting down your favourite pet who's suffering. Not necessarily anti-ITFC, but a different way of looking at things.
I'd like to think we can put out a performance and a result tomorrow. That comes before we even get out on the field, though, with a positive team selection and allowing the team to express themselves. An early goal would be the best, as I can see that if the team doesn't start well, the atmosphere will turn even more toxic.

Have not made a score prediction on here for ages. I am hoping for a 3-1 win to us, based on (clutching at straws) that this is an Evening game, and it doesn't seem all that long ago that we had an impressive record (albeit Tuesdays) for non-televised Evening matches. Besides, as others have said, Mick seems to have a knack of pulling a result out of the bag when he needs it most.... and boy oh boy does he need it right now, because the cracks are getting so big now that even Polyfila would struggle.

I will be in attendance tomorrow night for my second game of the season, a rare chance of getting to a night match as I am not working. That alone has probably consigned us to a boring draw, with my last four PR visits ending 2-2 (Rotherham), 0-0, 1-1 and 0-0!

I have a good idea of what I can expect, atmosphere -wise, however this 'supporter' will do just as the dictionary describes that word, by remaining as positive in my actions as I can. If it is obvious that I cannot muster that positivity then I shall just stand quietly during the game. Yes I will want to tear my (decreasing levels of) hair out, yes I might jump up and down on the spot in a frenzied paddy, but any negative noise passed on to the players will not be coming from me.

Finally, thank you for the great reviews, even at times when it must be so difficult to raise much enthusiasm. COYB

1-1 for me....Town scrape a point and MM says how well City played,Tough side ect...

I think Brizzle will covet the win more than us. They know how to beat us...and as far as ITFC is concerned nothing has changed since they beat us several weeks ago. MM does have an opportunity to shake things up a bit by playing attacking football, but he won't. MM will be more concerned about not losing.

ITFC 1 v 2 BC.

COYB! Make me wrong...

Given our recent run of results I wonder who is going to show up Dr.Jekyll or Mr. Hyde. I going to go with an optimistic 2-0 win..... I have to be right soon!!

3-0 Bristol. Simple defensive mistakes
4 shots from us none on target.
We are doomed, doomed!

tangfastic wrote: I'd like to think we can put out a performance and a result tomorrow. That comes before we even get out on the field, though, with a positive team selection and allowing the team to express themselves.

I think they are the crucial bits. We've seen "attacking teams" selected before. And then we find out that they're playing defensively. It's quite difficult to put forward a team selection that I'd like to see. If I did, it would probably involve 3 or 4 changers, which are too many to make at once. And certainly a different formation.

I'd probably try something like
Bart

Emmanuel Berra Webster Kenlock

Ward Skuse/Bru Lawrence

McGoldrick

Sears/Varney Pitman

Not happy with it as it's too attacking. I think that's why we don't work well - too many payers out of position or playing defensively because of our defensive options in midfield. It's why Skuse gets to start every bloody game - we have no other defensive minded midfielder apart from Douglas.

What line-up and formation would anyone else like to see?

I would try a 3-5-2

...........................Bart..........................

.............Chambo..Berra..Webster...........

Ward.......Skuse......Bru.....Dozzell.....Kenlock

..............McGoldrick......Lawrence...........

one thing is certain - it will be freezing cold!
I doubt the football will get us jumping up and down so wear something warm!
4-0 because we must.

bluemike wrote:I would try a 3-5-2

...........................Bart..........................

.............Chambo..Berra..Webster...........

Ward.......Skuse......Bru.....Dozzell.....Kenlock

..............McGoldrick......Lawrence...........

I like that. We are still short of someone to lead a front line but i think we all know that.

Andym wrote:

bluemike wrote:I would try a 3-5-2

...........................Bart..........................

.............Chambo..Berra..Webster...........

Ward.......Skuse......Bru.....Dozzell.....Kenlock

..............McGoldrick......Lawrence...........

I like that. We are still short of someone to lead a front line but i think we all know that.

I too like the idea of a 3-5-2, and Mick has hinted that he may be tempted to stick with a wing-back system after giving it a go in the latter stages against Fulham. With Knudsen a doubt, could we see something like this, I wonder:

-----------------Bialkowski-----------------



---------Chambers---Webster---Berra---------



Lawrence---Skuse---McGoldrick---Bru---Kenlock



-----------Sears-----------Pitman-----------

Very good and interesting preview. Well done !

This is going to be an utter shitfest. Shitfest of all shitfests.

Bristol City 7 defeats in last 8 games. That single game without a defeat was a 2-0 win over us. So our stubborn, ignorant git Mick McCarthy will certainly big up the opposition like he often does. 'We saw them 4 weeks ago when they beat us, they are no mugs aren't they? They should be in the top half as they are really good'.

Even though Bristol City have been poor lately he'll still set us up defensively. All his beloved 'proper blokes' who are in the team regardless of their form will be in the team again.

If we don't make Bristol City look like Barcelona that means we will have done well.

Ipswich 0-0 Bristol City........ and that stubborn idiot will be praising his proper blokes for that.

http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/lee-johnso ... story.html

Sound familiar ??

I wonder if there will be any football to watch with all this fog around. Ipswich is heavily fogged over.

lucy wrote:I wonder if there will be any football to watch with all this fog around. Ipswich is heavily fogged over.

There hasn't been much football to watch lately regardless of fog....

No more hope now. Town 1-3 Bristol City

At least in the fog we wont see the opposition skin Chambers. Can see us scoring a couple though - predict 2 -2 . Hope for a 4 - 0

Happy New Year to Town fans everywhere .....

this stream may or may not work :

http://www.olympicstreams.me/football/i ... /1-443155/

Encouraging Match facts for what they're worth.....

Ipswich are unbeaten in their last 11 home league games against the Robins (W7 D4).

Indeed, Bristol City have registered just one clean sheet in their last 11 league visits to Portman Road (0-0 in February 2010).

No Championship side have had more goalless draws this season than the Tractor Boys (4).

Lee Johnson's side have lost seven of their last eight games in the Championship, winning the other against Ipswich.

Encouraging ? Some view that as a cause for concern.

The starting XI for anyone who missed it

Bialkowski, Chambers, Webster, Berra, G Ward, Kenlock, Bru, Skuse, Lawrence, Pitman, McGoldrick

Subs : Gerken, Best, Knudsen, Sears, Varney, Dozzell, Emmanuel

30 minutes in, no score.

Seem to have the possession, but they're creating more opportunity.

The bit where Bristol have lost seven of the last eight games but beaten us with it, leaves a rather ominous outlook. Let's rectify the wrongs of recent weeks and beat this opposition, it's not as if it's outside the players capabilities FFS

1-0 ipswich bru scores

Was taking in another news item when the goal went in, hopefully the players can build on this and lead us to something of a comprehensive victory.

No messing about, keep at it and go for further goals : against this opposition there's real opportunity out there so McCarthy had better not decide the game is already over and sit on this lead for another 45 minutes. Never mind any tentative defense minded garbage, keep at them at it will bring further reward.