Ipswich vs Sunderland Preview & Matchday Thread

[Frosty]

Ipswich Town v Sunderland



Tuesday 26th September 2017 – 19:45


Portman Road








Pre-Match Thoughts - Mike



For many years now we have been a team that seems to come unstuck against shall we say the "lesser teams" in the division while raising our game against the much stronger outfits, this was never more evident than over the last Two games. Bolton was not great by any means, a team floundering at the bottom of the Championship proved anything but easy and yes we got the win but we sure as hell had to grind it out, by contrast Leeds on Saturday was a game that very few Town fans truly fancied us to get anything from and yet we rose to the occasion and for much of the game, especially the second half, we were in the ascendancy and really did deserve something for our efforts and but for some slack defensive errors and a howler from the big man we would indeed have got at the very least a point. One very pleasing thing for me was the quality of our play, it wasn't direct or long ball by any means, instead we got the ball down, tried to pass it and took the game to a shaky Leeds defence, it shows we can do it and at the same time we look far more likely to score this season, we may not pepper the oppositions goal with numerous efforts but the attempts we do have are of a high standard, hence our strike rate being so impressive. A defeat is never easy to stomach but I gained more positive vibes form the Leeds defeat than I did from the Bolton win, what a strange game this is. David McGoldrick continues to play at the top of his game and is looking the player we all knew he could be if fully fit, long may it continue, on the other hand you have to feel for joint top scorer Martyn Waghorn who currently finds himself on the bench, while he may not be overly impressed it is a good position for us to be in for a change and strength in depth is something us fans have been crying out for for years.

Another discussion that has often been had on this forum is would you rather see us play poor and win or play really well and lose ? Well the last Two games are a classic case in point, I know for a fact as a spectacle I enjoyed the Leeds game far more than the Bolton one, that said on the journey home from Yorkshire I still felt I would rather have seen a poor display with Three points in the bag, it was a no brainer for me as points make prizes. I know Andym is very strong in his opinion that he would rather see us play well and lose and he is probably not alone and while I accept my entertainment levels over the Two games backs that up I still wanted the points at Elland Road over every thing, being greedy we almost had both !!!

Tuesday evening sees another of those struggling sides come to Portman Road with Sunderland the visitors. It is hard to comprehend the Mackems fall into the same bracket as Bolton given their recent history but they are falling on hard times right now and financially they are in the mire. It is not beyond the realms of possibility that they face another relegation scrap this season too, Sunderland in league One ? Surely not !! They must be low on confidence and we need to take advantage of it, go for them from the off, an early goal would work wonders and have them on the back foot, being fragile they could implode. I still think it will be anything but an easy ride as they need to start picking up points, it takes us back to the fact we struggle against the weaker sides that should be beaten so I am a bit dubious of this game, that said I see us getting the job done and getting the points to cement our place back in the top Six. It may be tight but a home win for me. COYB'S



The Opposition – Sunderland








Founded 17 October 1879 as 'Sunderland and District Teachers A.F.C.' by schoolmaster James Allan, Sunderland joined The Football League for the 1890–91 season. They replaced Stoke, who had failed to be re-elected, becoming the first new club to join the league since its inauguration in 1888.

During the late 19th century, they were declared the "Team of All Talents" by William McGregor. Sunderland won the league championship in the 1891–92 season, one season after joining The Football League. Sunderland successfully defended the title the following season. In the process, they became the first team to score 100 goals in a season, a feat not matched until 1919–20.

Sunderland came close to winning a third successive league championship in the 1893–94 season, finishing second behind Aston Villa. However, they regained the title in the 1894–95 season.

Sunderland came close to winning another league title in the 1897–98 season, when they finished as runners-up. That season was their last at Newcastle Road, as they moved to Roker Park the following season. After coming second in 1900–01, the club won their fourth league title in the 1901–02 season.

The club won the league again in 1913, but lost their first FA Cup final to Aston Villa, in a very tough loss. This was the closest the club has come to winning the league title and the FA Cup in the same season.

Two seasons later the First World War brought the league to a halt. After the league's resumption, Sunderland came close to winning another championship in the 1922–23 season, when they were runners-up to Liverpool. They also came close the following season, finishing third, four points from the top of the league. The club escaped relegation from the First Division by one point in the 1927–28 season.

The club's sixth league championship came in the 1935–36 season, and they won the FA Cup the following season, after a victory against Preston North End at Wembley Stadium.

The remainder of the decade saw mid-table finishes, until the league and FA Cup were suspended for the duration of the Second World War.

For Sunderland, the immediate post-war years were characterised by significant spending. This, along with record-breaking transfer fees, led to a contemporary nickname, the "Bank of England club". The club finished third in the First Division in 1950, their highest finish since the 1936 championship.

The late 1950s saw a sharp downturn in Sunderland's fortunes, and in 1958 they were relegated from the highest division for the first time in their 68-year league history.

Sunderland's absence from the top flight lasted six years. After the close call in the previous season, the club was promoted to Division One in 1964 after finishing in second place. At the end of the decade, they were again relegated to the Second Division.

Sunderland won their last major trophy in 1973, in a 1–0 victory over Leeds United in the FA Cup Final. Since 1973 only two other clubs, Southampton in 1976, and West Ham United in 1980, have equalled Sunderland's achievement of lifting the FA Cup while playing outside the top tier of English football.

By winning the 1973 FA Cup Final, Sunderland qualified for the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, the club's only appearance in European competition to date.

After spending six seasons in the Second Division, Sunderland were promoted to Division One in the 1975–76 season, however, they were relegated the following season back into Division Two.

Sunderland appeared in their first League Cup final in 1985, but lost to Norwich City.

In 1987, Sunderland saw one of the lowest points in their history, when they were relegated to the Third Division of the English league for the first time, but were promoted straight away the following season.

In 1990, they were promoted back to the top flight in unusual circumstances. Sunderland lost to Swindon Town in the play-off final, but Swindon's promotion was revoked after the club was found guilty of financial irregularities and Sunderland were promoted instead. They stayed up for one year before being relegated on the final day of the following season.

Sunderland's next outing in a major final came in 1992 when, as a Second Division club, they returned to the FA Cup final. There was to be no repeat of the heroics of 1973, as Sunderland lost to Liverpool.

After promotion from Division One in the 1995–96 season,[56] Sunderland began their first season in the Premier League, but finished third from the bottom and were relegated back to the First Division.

In 1997, Sunderland left Roker Park, their home for 99 years. The club moved to the Stadium of Light, a 42,000-seat arena that, at the time, was the largest stadium built in England after the Second World War.

Sunderland returned to the Premier League as First Division champions in 1999 with a then-record 105 points. At the end of the season Sunderland finished seventh, with Kevin Phillips winning the European Golden Shoe in his first top-flight season, scoring 30 goals.

Another seventh-place finish in the 2000–01 season was followed by two less successful seasons, and they were relegated to the second-tier with a then-record low 19 points in 2003.

Former Ireland manager Mick McCarthy took over at the club, and, in 2005, he took Sunderland up as champions for the third time in less than ten years. However, the club's stay in the top flight was short-live as Sunderland were once again relegated, this time with a new record-low total of 15 points.

Following Sunderland's relegation from the Premier League, the club was taken over by the Irish Drumaville Consortium, headed by ex-player Niall Quinn, who appointed former Manchester United captain Roy Keane as the new manager.

Under Keane, the club rose steadily up the table with an unbeaten run of 17 games to win promotion to the Premier League, and were named winners of the Championship.

At the start of the 2009/10 campaign, Irish-American businessman Ellis Short completed a full takeover of the club, and Steve Bruce was announced as the next manager on 3 June.

Sunderland started the 2010–11 season strongly and they eventually finished 10th — which was still their highest top-flight finish for 10 years.

Bruce was sacked in November 2011, and replaced by Martin O'Neill. In February 2012, Quinn left the club with immediate effect. O'Neill was sacked in March 2013 and Italian Paolo Di Canio was announced as his replacement the following day. The appointment prompted the immediate resignation of club Vice Chairman David Miliband due to Di Canio's "past political statements". Sunderland went on to survive relegation with one game to go.

Di Canio was sacked after a poor start to the 2013–14 season, and reports of a complete breakdown in relations with his players. Gus Poyet was announced as his replacement, and led Sunderland to the 2014 Football League Cup Final, where they were defeated by Manchester City.

In March 2015 Poyet was sacked, and veteran Dutchman d*ck Advocaat was appointed as the club's new head coach, saving the club from relegation. Eight games into the 2015–16 season he resigned from the position. Sam Allardyce was appointed the next manager in October 2015. Sunderland remained in the relegation zone for much of the remainder of the 2015–16 season, but Allardyce was able to save the club from being relegated with improved form in the second half of the season.

In July 2016, Allardyce left the club to be announced as manager for the English national team following the dismissal of Roy Hodgson. Former Everton and Manchester United manager David Moyes was appointed as his replacement on a 4-year contract. Under Moyes, Sunderland made the worst ever start to a Premier League season, taking just 2 points from their opening 10 matches. The club was relegated to the second tier for the first time in ten years at the end of the 2016–17 season, finishing bottom of the table with 24 points. On 22 May 2017, Moyes resigned as manager of the club. On 15 June 2017, goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, product of the Sunderland's academy, having joined the club aged eight, was transferred to Everton for a fee of £25 million, rising to a possible £30 million, a record for a British goalkeeper.

On 29 June 2017, Simon Grayson was named as the new manager of Sunderland, replacing David Moyes, on a three-year contract.



The Manager – Simon Grayson








Past Match - Video Highlights - Trev








Media Watch - K L Blue


Simon Grayson on Sunderland and the Town Game


https://rokerreport.sbnation.com/2017/9 ... wich-clash


Webster's comeback


https://www.twtd.co.uk/ipswich-town-news/32324


Northstander's view on Leeds game


http://www.greenun24.co.uk/ipswich-town ... -1-5207610


Bru Back


https://www.twtd.co.uk/ipswich-town-news/32328


MM on 5th loan for Williams


https://www.twtd.co.uk/ipswich-town-news/32335



Form Guide




Ipswich Last 5 Matches – Currently in 7th place with 15 points



Leeds United 3-2 Ipswich Town

Ipswich Town 2-0 Bolton Wanderers

QPR 2-1 Ipswich Town

Ipswich Town 0-2 Fulham FC

Crystal Palace 2-1 Ipswich Town




Sunderland Last 5 Matches – Currently in 22nd place with 6 points



Sunderland 1-2 Cardiff City

Everton FC 3-0 Sunderland

Hull City 1-1 Sunderland

Sunderland 0-1 Nottingham F.

Sunderland 1-2 Sheffield Utd




Fixtures of Interest




MIDDLESBROUGH VS NORWICH

HULL CITY VS PRESTON NE

BRISTOL VS BOLTON

BURTON VS ASTON VILLA





Match referee – Darren Bond









IPSWICH TOWN 2 SUNDERLAND 1

[marko69]

Loving the Portman Road picture up there ^^^^.

Another good write up and yes, Waghorn won't be impressed. He'll be thinking……, "I go out in one lifeboat for a few hours and all of a sudden, I can't play football anymore!"
Seriously Mick, if you read the forum, please don't forget that Martyn is proper goalscorer, especially playing in front of a large home crowd. Thrives on it.

Thinking 3-0 Ipswich Town in this one.

Ref caption:

Crowd, to ref: "WHO ARE YA? WHO ARE YA?
Ref: The name's Bond. Darren Bond. Licence to be really really sh!t.

Oppostion pic caption:

Headline:
JUST AS WINDOW CLOSES, NEW SIGNING POPES UP FOR THE BLACK CATS!

[BLUEBLOOD]

Did you say a LARGE home crowd.....
Probably less than 14,000 I reckon on tues.

[arana peligrosa]

Ideally this event should result in home league victory. Yes we've improved considerably in recent time and the opposiiton (who were picked as pre-season promotion favorites) have not met with expectation, but taking nothing for granted with this.

Hope to take all available points from this event as it provides a good opportunity to overcome an opposition who have fallen below standard. As before, this league is unpredicatable and open to all manner of potential outcome.

Ipswich 1 Sunderland 0

Furthermore, and for what it's worth, this is how the opposition club emblem came about. Something of an interesting find :

"A fantastic stadium wasn't the only new change at Sunderland at the start of the 1997 - 98 season. A new club crest was also introduced to celebrate the dawning of a new era with a more complex design replacing it's simpler predecessor, which still lies fondly in the hearts of many fans due to it's affinity with Sunderland's shipbuilding tradition.

The new badge concentrates more on the mining industry of Wearside, strongly associated with the Stadium of Light, built, as it is, on top of the old Monkwearmouth Colliery. This is represented by the appearance of the mining wheel on the top of the main shield.

The shield itself is split into four segements with two quarters encasing the famous red and white stripes and the remaining two representing important symbols in the city - Penshaw Monument and the Wearmouth Bridge. The former, resembling a Greek ruin, is situated just outside Sunderland and can be seen in all directions for miles. The join of the bridge symbolises the two sides of the city, North and South"

[Frosty]

A really big thanks to Mike, Colin & Trev for contributing to this preview so quickly as I was late getting this week's preview template through to them.

Let's hope for a 3 pointer which would be a fantastic tribute on the anniversary of Rob's (The Don) passing.

Cheers Dave

[Tangfastic]

We should approach this as a 3-pointer.

Nothing wrong with a bit of swagger at home and against a struggling side.

Can't help think this will be a draw, though. 8 games and no draws - law of averages says we'll get a draw soon. I'll go for 1-1.

[Quasar]

4-0 come on boys - lets have some thumping goals

[Watership Down]

Don't underestimate a struggling competitor, it could be against you he comes to life. We have to kill them off early....... a proud club with emotional supporters. Going for a 2 - 0 win

[Bluemike]

That line up is ridiculous, way too attacking, gonna be exposed at the back. Could be a tough nite but the fans have what they wanted.

[marko69]

That is definitely looking like a line up that means business. But with Kay Nood back at LB, (which I understand he has been for a few weeks) there could be dangerous openings down that side. In Mick the fans must trust!!

[lucy]

Waghorn 1-0

[lucy]

1-1

[Tangfastic]

2-1. Spence header. Bloody good game so far. Town going for it.

[BLUEBLOOD]

HT 2-1 town COYB

[Tangfastic]

Really enjoyable half. Should be leading by 2 or 3 goals.

Hope we can keep up tempo in the second half and go for third.

Could get twitchy if we can't kill them off.

[BLUEBLOOD]

3-1 celina coyb

[lucy]

Damn it i had to miss this game because of work sounds like a great game

[BLUEBLOOD]

4-1 Didsy

[shamm]

Wow

[shamm]

4-2. Need to secure that defense!!

[BLUEBLOOD]

4-2. Need to secure that defense!!

Mcgeady

[BLUEBLOOD]

5-2 Get in there ward

[shamm]

5-2.

[marko69]

B-E-A-UTIFUL

[marko69]

Said 3-0, but 5-2 will do!

[Quasar]

Well I got the thumping goals right... whooohooo

[Magicmark]

Wow well done lads

[Bluemike]

Wow !!!! What a Five star performance from Town. It was so important to back up the Leeds game with another positive showing to dispel any fears that it was a one off and the lads did it in some style. Upon seeing the starting line up I was actually concerned we had gone too attack minded and that our fragile defence was going to be left exposed to the Sunderland counter attack and while that was the case on a few occasions Town really had way too much going forward and Sunderland just could not cope with it, a side containing Garner, McGoldrick, Waghorn and Celina had to create chances and we did it in abundance.

From the off Town took the game to the visitors and as early as the 6th minute we took the lead from a deft flicked header from Martyn Waghorn, reacting quickest to Garner's cross he angled his header just right to leave Steele with no chance, it was just the start we craved against fragile opposition. Once again we fail to defend after scoring and from a corner we gift them a free header with Iorfa looking to have lost his man all too easily. Despite the set back Town really were on top and the lively Waghorn was causing them all sorts of problems as was celina who delivered Two or Three quality balls into the box from which Garner had a half chance from a header. Chances were coming Town's way with regularity and waghorn spurned a great chance to grab his second as his effort went wide. It wasn't long before we did get back in front, Celina being ushered away by waghorn who fired in a rocket of a corner for Jordan Spence to meet it with a perfect header that sailed into the net, it was no more than Town deserved as apart from the one lapse we really deserved to be at least a goal ahead. It was all Town with Waghorn having a wail of a time, Skuse was very effective in the Middle of the park and Adeyemi was marshalling Sunderlands playmaker Luke Cattermole really well, McGoldrick was starting to have more of an influence too but we still looked just a bit shaky at times at the back. The last real chance of the half saw Adeyemi's header comfortably saved by Steele. It had been a good half of football from Town with some lovely football played at times, plenty of movement off the ball and loads of options going forward, our passing was crisp and incisive and we could possibly be a bit frustrated at only being One goal ahead.

The start of the second half saw Bart called into action almost immediately and what a save it was, acrobatically tipping over Cattermole's header when he looked a cert to score, it really did go some way to atone for his c*ck up at Leeds Saturday, however from the resultant corner he almost went from hero to zero as he again flapped at the ball in no mans land, this time though he got some good fortune as went wide. I've got to say our third goal was an absolute beauty and real quality, a joy to watch. Following a passage of numerous passes Garner found Iorfa who's cross was superbly backheeled by Waghorn into the path odf the on rushing Celina who took a touch before smashing the ball past Steele, it really was a quality goal and followed some top notch football. Town were on fire now and it wasn't long before it was 4-1, Waghorn again the provider, this time he burst clear before sending a pin point cross into the box where Didsy slid in to get the vital touch before the hapless keeper could collect, Portman Road erupted as the Blues were ripping them apart at will.

There was still plenty of time to go when Aiden McGeady scored a stunning strike to reduce the arrears and it left Town with plenty of work still to do, a game that really should have seen us out of sight was now just one Sunderland goal away from being a real nail biter. Town made a double change with Fifteen minutes left, the superb Waghorn and Celina being replaced by Nydam & Ward as Town appeared to go 4-4-2 in an attempt to see out the game. To be fair to the visitors they had a really good Ten minute spell where ball after ball was lofted into our box where Chambers and Spence headed clear time and time again, thankfully we rode the storm and there was still time for us to get our Fifth of the night. A brilliant run by Didsy left defenders in his wake before playing in sub ward who took it around the keeper before smashing home from a crazy angle, it looked like he had taken it too far but what a finish to cap a fab night and a top display.

There were so many good performances tonight with Waghorn the pick for me, at times he was unplayable, scoring One and setting up Three others he gets my MOTM hands down, Celina, Garner and Didsy all put in top perfornaces too while Skusey for me had a super game, I never knew he had such an array of passes in his locker, Tom Adeyemi can be well pl;eased with his efforts too and when the mini Sunderland onslaught came late in the game the defence stood firm from a barrage of balls into the box. Playing such an attack minded team we were always going to get caught once or twice and som it proved but over all we more than deserved the win, in fact the scoreline slightly flattered Sunderland.

Bart (6) Iorfa (6) Chambers (6) Spence (7) Knudsen (6) Skuse (8) Adeyemi (8) McGoldrick (7) Garner (7) Waghorn (9) Celina (7)

SUBS :- Ward (6) Nydam (6) Sears (6)

What a five star show from Town, Five goals from Five different scorers and Fifth in the table, at times the crowd was rocking the North stand actually resembled the way it was back in the day when this type of performance was the norm. Most pleasing for me is the way the hoofball has totally gone from our game, our passing is improving all the time and going forward we cause anyone problems, we still have room to improve at the back and with players due to return hopefully it will come but it is hard to find fault after a night like that, we needed to show Leeds was no fluke and we did just that. Two of the Three home games have been won and now for Bristol City who it has to be said will be the hardest of the lot but in this sort of mood we can go into it with real confidence. Relegation fodder ?? Do me a favour !! Such was our impressive performance we even got a rendition of " EI EI EI O, up the football League we go, when we win promotion, this is what we'll sing, we are Ipswich, we are Ipswich, McCarthy is our king" !!! FICKLE BASTARDS. COYB'S

[arana peligrosa]

Club's a f**king enigma. How can any team go from sub-standard garbage to promotion material in such a short space of time.

Would have thought minimal chance of hitting five today past the opposition but it's another surprise and there has been real improvement since May. Could almost apologize to McCarthy and the team after the vitriol put their way at time of last season. (In defense, it was more than justified)

The opposition have fallen away badly and not met with expectation but all credit to ourselves (as) by all accounts it was something of an inspired performance and everybody played their part. Relief to learn of a more attacking deployment after months of the tentative mundane horseshit we endured so often at previous time.

Not get carried away, no campaign is won at such a premature stage, but reasons for optimism are here. Finally a way out of this division after 15 long years is coming into sight.

[Tangfastic]

Great performance. Right from the off there was intent and high tempo performance.

We're better of offensively, so glad to see MM loosen the shackles and not bulk up on defensive players. That means more work for Skuse and Adeyemi, but they did great. As Mike says, Skuse has got more passes in his locker than the usual side pass. Confidence can be infectious in a good way.

Was a bit twitchy when 4-2 up and we were sitting maybe too deep.

Waghorn must be a starter next game.... real competition for places now.