MK Dons vs Ipswich Town Preview and Matchday Thread

[marko69]

That was called "taking one for the team" Knudsen.

[James Scharmann]

COME ON!!!!!!

1-0 to Town

[marko69]

Just need the Hibs to win at Easter Road today then I'll be a very happy drunk bstd tonight. 'MON THE CABBAGE.

Well done MM, TC & all at ITFC today. Good stuff.

[arana peligrosa]

That's it it's over

Did we deserve the victory ? If stats are anything to go by it was a little fortunate to come away with all three points but what the hell, we'll take it.

Now in sixth position but other teams could take over later today if they win their respective games.

Some may say it's points taken from another team that are struggling in this division but just pleased to come away with maximum return. 13, 500 in attendance and we probably made up a good number of the crowd today, going to be a good journey back for those involved.

[lucy]

Absolutely shocking 2nd half!.

[shamm]

Absolutely shocking 2nd half!.

There was no belief that we had the potential to play our game and take them on. We let MK play and we were happy to defend. Very frustrating game.

[derick_ipsw]

Absolutely shocking 2nd half!.

There was no belief that we had the potential to play our game and take them on. We let MK play and we were happy to defend. Very frustrating game.

We should of been out of sight with chances we had and missed, which led to a needless nervy game. 3 points take it and lets move on!!

[lucy]

Very very lucky to get the 3 points

[Charnwood]

I know a wins a win but that was so scrappy and the second half so very poor.

Why oh why do we choose to sit back and defend a 1-0 lead, especially against such poor opposition that if the truth be known looked highly likely of grabbing a late equaliser but for the solid display by Dean Gerken who I guess will be our MOTM (if only his kicking could be improved).

Certainly I didn't see much to encourage another away outing on a cold winter day.

Three points yes but based on what I watched today promotion looks unlikely again this season.

[lucy]

I know a wins a win but that was so scrappy and the second half so very poor.

Why oh why do we choose to sit back and defend a 1-0 lead, especially against such poor opposition that if the truth be known looked highly likely of grabbing a late equaliser but for the solid display by Dean Gurken who I guess will be our MOTM (if only his kicking could be improved).

Certainly I didn't see much to encourage another away outing on a cold wimter day.

Three points yes but based on what I watched today promotion looks unlikely again this season.

Agree with everything you say mate, very frustrating and poor play

[BLUEBLOOD]

In the top 6 now that's all we have be in come the end of the season .

[Charnwood]

In the top 6 now that's all we have be in come the end of the season .

On today's performance I'd be very surprised, that said 6th place could well go to a quite ordinary side this season and whichever team it is they will have every chance in the play offs, however whether it be us or someone else they'll have to play one heluva lot better than we did today.

[lucy]

Up early and ready to go

Up early and wish I was still in bed. Bloody sky!!!!

We left on the Coaches at 8:30 got there for 10:45, I don't see the point why we left so early but oh well.

[arana peligrosa]

In the top 6 now that's all we have be in come the end of the season .

On today's performance I'd be very surprised, that said 6th place could well go to a quite ordinary side this season and whichever team it is they will have every chance in the play offs, however whether it be us or someone else they'll have to play one heluva lot better than we did today.

It's doubtful the club can remain where they are by end of season. Haven't seen any of the other scores from today but reading this it seems the teams around dropped points thus we are still in the play-off zone.

Bottom line despite reading a lackluster second period and the team failing to convince, we got the all important three points. Wasn't the greatest of games maybe but what do you expect from a mid-winters fixture in Milton Keynes.

[number 9]

This is what the manager thought of it:
http://www.twtd.co.uk/ipswich-town-news/28647/

[marko69]

Well the Hibs draw today ended up feeling like a win........, Boyle in the 90+2 minute, so all good.

I watched the ITFC game today. Yes the second half wasn't very good, (tactics last 10-15 minutes were insane) but I actually thought the back four played quite well. Their main threat was from long range efforts and Gerken was certainly up for it there. Thought Tommy was the most assured of the four in defence, (had one blip which could've been costly, but it wasn't) and they all generally had a decent game. Seeing Berra try some of his old tricks was hilarious!

I know Skuse got MOTM, but I thought Jonathan Douglas played just as well. Great positioning and always finds a blue shirt with his passes. The quick vision and pass to chambers in the build up to the goal was sublime. If I was to choose a player who I thought wasn't really on form, it'd have to be Sears. But that is only on memory from other times I've seen him, and knowing he is capable of more. (Didn't see last two lives games).

All in all I thought they deserved the three points......., even playing to defend a 1-0 lead, and succeeding, is worth applauding.

[Bluemike]

Summed up perfectly Marko. I must say I did not enjoy that second half one bit, quite how we managed to make MK Dons look like Real Madrid is beyond me but that is what we are about, we aint cultured and we aint pretty but we are definitely dogged and stubborn while the players are 100% genuine for the cause and for that they can't be faltered.

As Derick said quite how we werent out of sight at half time I just don't know, we missed some really good chances what with Sears & Murphy clean through for virtual one on ones but somehow they contrived to squander them, in fact Murphy could well have been collecting another match ball but for some unusual wasteful finishing. Despite MK having loads of possession I didnt really see Gerken stretched too much in the first half and most of what he did was pretty routine for a keeper.

Even in the second half when we were playing so so deep we still carved out 2 or 3 really good chances, the Murphy one just passed the post and Skusey really should have scored when he put it straight at the keeper, a foot either side and it would have been 2-0. Having said that MK really did give it a go after the break and pinned us back for long spells, it was really uncomfortable and I was just waiting for another Brentford or Forest scenario which thankfully never came.

For me our stand out performers were Jonathon Douglas and Dean Gerken for his late saves again, I hope all those who continually slag these Two off are feeling daft right now cus they sure as hell should do, as Marko has pointed out JD never wastes a ball and his part in the goal was indeed sublime, just as his part in the 3rd goal at Charlton was or his sweet finish with the outside of his boot at home to Wolves, the guy is a very intelligent and cultured footballer. Gerken continues to go from strength to strength and has proved himself as the best keeper at the club, not that he had to prove it anyway, his kicking does get scruffy at times but that wind was strong yesterday. Also a big well done to Chambers for the great cross which set up the winning goal, he will be missed at Fulham.

I don'y buy into this "other teams did us favours" yesterday, you have to win your own games and let others take care of themselves, maybe we did other teams favours when we failed to turn up at Hull or Blackburn, or at home to Birmingham, Huddersfield and Bristol City ? We are where we are on merit, in the top six, yes we will have to play better than what we did in the second half yesterday to stay there and we will, but we won, reading some of the forums you would think we got stuffed. I know I would be feeling a whole lot worse today if we had played like Barcelona and come home beaten !!! That is one defeat in the last Eight, I think we are gaining a bit of momentum now although Tuesday will be a tough test and I would not be unhappy with a point. COYB'S

[Charnwood]

I'd also be happy with a point from the Fulham game. However with Gerken pretty solid in goal recently I think we're far more capable of nicking three points these days, whereas with a less than "in form" keeper we often let points slip.

I don't think we played particularly badly yesterday, we just made it more difficult than it would have been had we kept attacking. I just find it so frustrating when we appear to sit back and defend a narrow lead. That said, it may be we should be giving far more credit to MK for pushing us back.

As Marko says, our defensive display was quite solid, thanks a lot to Gerken who must be giving more confidence to those in front of him.

Dogged defensive displays like yesterday's will certainly see far more points coming our way, which a few weeks back wasn't happening.

[trimleyblue]

Why will Chambers be missed at Fulham, is he injured?

[Tangfastic]

It's weird.... we should be c*ck-a-hoop that we've sneaked back up into sixth with a shoe-string squad.... but we seem to be (mostly) downbeat.

Can only give Mick big compliments - he's assembled a squad of honest players who will put bodies on the line and tough out these results. Sixth place is good going.

After Keane and PJ, we know things could be a hell of a lot worse.

Just frustrating to play so deep and if it wasn't for some great saves by Gerken and last ditch tackles / face block, we wouldn't have won.

We're going to be playing some better teams now and hopefully we can carry on the form ( 1 loss in 8 is not be sniffed at).

I can't really criticise Mick, but we know what we're gonna get. We know we're never gonna play teams of the park whatever their position and going to have rely on sneaking points.

One point aside is that there seems like there's a bit of competition going on between Mick and many of the fans. Every week he's in the media bigging up certain players ( he's different class) who are taking a bit of criticism. Also, made comments about certain 'fans favourites' who don't make the team and I hope this doesn't degenerate into some pointless personal point-scoring.

If the Championship is a 46 game slog fest..... we have the right manager for it, but can see these same grumbles are going to continue all season. It's all about the results, because we ain't pretty on the eye.

[Kerry Blue]

Why will Chambers be missed at Fulham, is he injured?

5 yellow cards I think that Berra and Smith are on 4

[arana peligrosa]

Why will Chambers be missed at Fulham, is he injured?

5 yellow cards I think that Berra and Smith are on 4

The player will be under a one game suspension for Fulham after picking up a booking in yesterdays game.

If the player had remained clean for the remainder of the calendar year his previous cautions would have been expunged.

[trimleyblue]

According to the FA site the cut off date for 5 Yellow cards was November 30th in the Championship, December 31st in the Premier league. So according to that Chambers will be eligible for the Fulham game, next threshold is 10 yellow cards by the 2nd Sunday in March

[jaykay]

good result but not a great game.we should have killed them off in the first half.it took us 3 hours to get there,makes all the difference now bedford to M1 is a new road.
douglas was m.o.t.m.dont think many on here use to slate him,just his role in the team.people didnt like seeing 2 defensive holding midfield players at home.especialy with the other 2 playing realy wide and leaving a big hole in the middle.i think mick even saw this ,and moved douglas forward to his natural position,and this reaped the rewards, with goals and good forward passes.knudsen had a steady game to,as marko said he took one for the team.so prehaps he wont be slagged of so much as well

[Bluemike]

Oh really ??? Thanks for that Trimley, I did not realise that, good news then.

[Bluemike]

good result but not a great game.we should have killed them off in the first half.it took us 3 hours to get there,makes all the difference now bedford to M1 is a new road.
douglas was m.o.t.m.dont think many on here use to slate him,just his role in the team.people didnt like seeing 2 defensive holding midfield players at home.especialy with the other 2 playing realy wide and leaving a big hole in the middle.i think mick even saw this ,and moved douglas forward to his natural position,and this reaped the rewards, with goals and good forward passes.knudsen had a steady game to,as marko said he took one for the team.so prehaps he wont be slagged of so much as well

Trust me there are loads of fans slagging off Jonathon Douglas and I don't neccesarily mean on here, although unsurprisingly in recent weeks they have shut up a bit. Knudsen did ok yesterday but for me still not the answer.

[Charnwood]

good result but not a great game.we should have killed them off in the first half.it took us 3 hours to get there,makes all the difference now bedford to M1 is a new road.
douglas was m.o.t.m.dont think many on here use to slate him,just his role in the team.people didnt like seeing 2 defensive holding midfield players at home.especialy with the other 2 playing realy wide and leaving a big hole in the middle.i think mick even saw this ,and moved douglas forward to his natural position,and this reaped the rewards, with goals and good forward passes.knudsen had a steady game to,as marko said he took one for the team.so prehaps he wont be slagged of so much as well

Trust me there are loads of fans slagging off Jonathon Douglas and I don't neccesarily mean on here, although unsurprisingly in recent weeks they have shut up a bit. Knudsen did ok yesterday but for me still not the answer.

I like JD and think he's an asset to the team, not sure about MOTM, I had both Skuse & Gerken ahead of him yesterday and think without those two we wouldn't have come away with three points. Like you Mike I'm not sure about Knusden, far too often he gets caught out of position and his long throws aren't good enough to earn him a place, too many go straight to an opponent and there's no pace in them. I think I'd give Parr an extended run.

[herforder]

I was surprised that MKD didn't start the match the way that they finished it - given their manager's recent comments. Great to get the win and the points but, in truth, it was a fairly drab affair, with most of the better passing game played by MKD. But, as MM has said repeatedly, sometimes you have to win ugly, be strong and belligerent etc. We don't do neat, quick, progressive passing triangles! Perhaps we got away with it yesterday - although we should have been home and hosed had we taken more of our early chances. That said, the goal we did score displayed a bit of true team quality, and we did continued to create. Next two games will tell us more. Hopefully we'll see something of RF.

Not sure about the timing or performance of our subs - limited minutes on the pitch, but little impact; AMN presumably withdrawn for his own protection! Officials, particularly the linos, were poor.

As for Knudsen- read MM's lips!

[marko69]

If Douglas didn't receive the yellow card, (never a booking in a million years) he'd have won the MOTM award with ease. He visibly eased off his challenges, but even then, he done that well in the sense that he closed down all MKD options that were near him. Skuse; great game, and played most of the game as if sticking to the role he had....., the difference with Douglas was that he took care of his area, but also put in 3 or 4 very good blocks that went out for corners. I thought he read MKD attacks well enough to know that the back 4 needed his assistance.

Two possible other debatable points of view regarding Knudsen,
1/ at least 3 (maybe 4) very good forward passes to Sears, which Sears didn't read too well.
2/ some very lethargic offensive play on the end of his throws.

Let's be serious, (OK, he ain't Rory Delap) but Rory Delap didn't always throw to his own players. His players made moves to create something from the throw, and then Delap would throw accordingly. I shouted at the TV just prior to a first half Knudsen throw, "Fkn move for him then!" There weren't exactly too many players making themselves targets.

But as the commentator says, jury is still out with many ITFC fans, but following Cresswell & Mings was never going to be easy. He might still come good but I'd hesitate to put money on that.

[herforder]

M Tarricco had a similarly uncertain start, with supporters unsure whether he'd make it! JK probably not in MT's league, but it's clear that MM is going to stick with him ahead of JP. If he learns fast from each game, then he might be worth our patience. (Law of averages surely mean that at some stage one his long throws will strike gold. Not sure whether his team mates necessarily believe it, though!)