Ipswich Town v Birmingham City preview and matchday thread

[Kerry Blue]

Get in

[lucy]

1-1 Pitman

[ipswichtownNo1]

Penalty 1- 1

[arana peligrosa]

Birmingham look a decent team, creating chances themselves, appearing dangerous. Going to be one of those games where the greater desire will prove decisive. Seems a few fouls out there also.

[Quasar]

lets hope we close them down quicker and stop leaving the wings open, they seem to be getting crosses in

[arana peligrosa]

No changes at the interval, McCarthy content to allow the starting XI to carry on although guessing either Murphy or McGoldrick may be introduced at some stage of this second period. Really, Birmingham appear dangerous often and we're going to have to raise our game a little if we are to take maximum points from today. Come on three points would be a great achievement before the other teams have to play this weekend.

[Kerry Blue]

Murphy on come on Town

[ipswichtownNo1]

Murphy misses lovely chance, puts header wide

[lucy]

5 mins added on. Come on Town!

[ipswichtownNo1]

Murphy misses another great chance

[ipswichtownNo1]

Lmao. Pitman man of the match??

[lucy]

Ref at the end what a douche. There was time to take that corner.

[Bluemike]

A strange game to assess really, I feel frustrated to have dropped 2 points but at the same time despite us edging it a draw was not that much of an unjust result. We clearly held the greater goal threat and had more chances but Birmingham also caused us problems on the counter attack. I felt their goal was fortunate with Berra slipping at the crucial time but what a tidy finish, don 't blame Gerken for that one, he had already made a good stop to keep it at 0-0.

1-1 at the interval was a fair reflection but not sure about our penalty, it looked bloody soft from where I was sitting but what a great run from Maitland-Niles in the first place, Pitman buried it with ease and it was probably the best penalty we have taken for years. I was very impressed with Toure first half, for me he did some great work in tracking back to deal with the very lively Gray as Chambers was finding him a real handfull.

I thought the more the second half wore on we looked the stronger and created some half decent chances although I also felt we were vulnerable at the back and never seemed totally secure when they broke, for me Berra is still to reach the heights of last season and at times looked shaky although between him and Smith they dealt with Donaldson pretty well. Didsy & Murphy made a difference when they came on and at times linked up well, both had chances, Murphy with the header that went over and Didsy with the good shot from the acute angle that so nearly crept inside the post.

On balance a draw was probably not far off over the 90 minutes and while it is a tad disappointing after the Leeds result it keeps us ticking along and still in the mix. Pitman MOTM ??? Seriously ??? I look forward to the return of Bishop and Bru to inject more drive through the middle.

[hallamblue]

If we had brought on our best players at half time Fraser, Mcgoldrick and Murphy ( although the latter still looks well not of sorts to me) and teamed up with Sears we would have won that game tonight. Subs were made far too late. We lacked any midfield creativity - a problem since Bru and Bishop have been out injured and is the major reason the back four hoof it so much, they have no outlets.

Much better to come from Town once we have our creative players all fit again. Overall I was very frustrated to watch this game tonight. And it was 2 points dropped.

[J4ck22]

It was a pretty even game, but I feel that we edged it and could well have closed it a few times but we just couldn't stick it in the net. From where I sat I thought the penalty was stonewall, but that was just my view and I haven't seen the proper angle to actually tell but it was really well converted by Pitman who also had a decent game and very nearly made an amazing run but was just beaten to it.

I'm still not convinced on Douglas yet, felt he had a quiet game and gave away some unnecessary fouls. We could definitely do with Bru/Bish back there. I don't know about anyone else but I thought Toure had a very good game, despite being a winger he won nearly everything in the air, could capably bring it down to the floor if needed and made some decent runs. Niles too had a great game and a lovely run for the penalty. Murph, McGoldrick and Fraser all mixed it up when they came on and played well. Thinking more about it, I definitely think we had enough to win that game, just unfortunately we couldn't convert the chances. I'm also still bitter about Skuse's great effort to win that corner then for the ref to blow for full time. Come oooooon now.

[arana peligrosa]

Almost feels like two points lost although kept up with enough of the game to realize Birmingham were good enough value for their share of the points. A lot of talk that the penalty awarded was unfair ? ,but over the course of the season guess these things even themselves out.

The opposition on tonights evidence alone are a useful team and should be contending for the play-off places also but whether the spot kick decision was fair or otherwise, still frustrated with only a point from today. Thought a draw at least would carry us into second place but the league table says otherwise and we're only in fourth ? Either way by the end of the weekend I would epxect the team to be knocked down a few places as other clubs play their respective matches.

Bottom line - it's a drawn game at home against an opposition that works hard at you and will be challenging for promotion also and maybe we were a little fortunate in the end to even finish level, and it's going to be another long hard season ahead but we're in a good enough position right now to once again challenge.

[ipswichtownNo1]

If we had brought on our best players at half time Fraser, Mcgoldrick and Murphy ( although the latter still looks well not of sorts to me) and teamed up with Sears we would have won that game tonight. Subs were made far too late. We lacked any midfield creativity - a problem since Bru and Bishop have been out injured and is the major reason the back four hoof it so much, they have no outlets.

Much better to come from Town once we have our creative players all fit again. Overall I was very frustrated to watch this game tonight. And it was 2 points dropped.

Cant fault the midfield too much. Skuse and douglas have got to sit and hold. Cant have a midfield full of creative players, some need to do the dirty work. With toure and niles and fraser playing we need to have cover in the middle. To be honest the only time i saw any hoofball was when the back 4 were under pressure, otherwise i think they played very well. Lots of positives and looked great going forward, 19 attempts on goal but only 3 on target, maybe we should be looking at the two up front to put more of these chances away. How pitman got motm i font know, my vote went to toure. Work rate was excellent and caused them problems. We would have won had Berra not slipped so i think they can consider themselves a little unlucky. Well done itfc

[Bluemike]

If we had brought on our best players at half time Fraser, Mcgoldrick and Murphy ( although the latter still looks well not of sorts to me) and teamed up with Sears we would have won that game tonight. Subs were made far too late. We lacked any midfield creativity - a problem since Bru and Bishop have been out injured and is the major reason the back four hoof it so much, they have no outlets.

Much better to come from Town once we have our creative players all fit again. Overall I was very frustrated to watch this game tonight. And it was 2 points dropped.

Cant fault the midfield too much. Skuse and douglas have got to sit and hold. Cant have a midfield full of creative players, some need to do the dirty work. With toure and niles and fraser playing we need to have cover in the middle. To be honest the only time i saw any hoofball was when the back 4 were under pressure, otherwise i think they played very well. Lots of positives and looked great going forward, 19 attempts on goal but only 3 on target, maybe we should be looking at the two up front to put more of these chances away. How pitman got motm i font know, my vote went to toure. Work rate was excellent and caused them problems. We would have won had Berra not slipped so i think they can consider themselves a little unlucky. Well done itfc

A good accurate summing up, to be honest I too did not see too much hoofball part from when they were trying to ease some pressure and catch a breather. The Berra slip was indeed most unfortunate.

[hallamblue]

For me all I can recall is a large % of headball going on in the middle of the park for a large proportion of the game.

[shabba]

Agree with many comments but I personally thought the 1st half was ALL hoofball from us, I was so annoyed, we have players with quick feet who can play yet we just long ball'd it up the field. Second half was better for this and we should have won the game, especially the Murphy header.

Toure shone, I was impressed, he could be a good signing for us. We have such depth now, which is nice given how many games we have to play in this league.

[Bluemike]

Agree with many comments but I personally thought the 1st half was ALL hoofball from us, I was so annoyed, we have players with quick feet who can play yet we just long ball'd it up the field. Second half was better for this and we should have won the game, especially the Murphy header.

Toure shone, I was impressed, he could be a good signing for us. We have such depth now, which is nice given how many games we have to play in this league.

Having watched it again the Chambers miss was dreadful and should have secured the win.