Fulham vs Ipswich Town Preview and Matchday Thread

[James Scharmann]

Brilliant first away game in 5 years in the VIP box, Happy Days

[loudnproud]

Only 5 teams above us in the table and we play 3 of them (Derby, Brighton & Burnley) over the next 18 days + QPR......

To say this could be a defining period of our season would be an understatement.

I have to agree with you chum....Im happy at present but still not quite convinced we are good enough to go up. Have to give MM credit though for giving us all belief on the budget he has had....Hats off to him

[Charnwood]

Thanks for your report Mike, it made me feel a little envious not to have been there to share the enjoyment. To take 2500 to a midweek night game is a fantastic credit to the Town fans and must give an uplift to the players as they walk onto the pitch, especially when playing in grounds with smallish attendances and silent fans. I just wish we could create the same atmosphere at Portman Road.

I'm a little worried we could lose Skuse for a couple of games especially those coming up between now and 2 Jan, his presence in the centre of midfield has been rock solid recently.

Freddie Sears opening goal last night reminded me of the situation at MK on Saturday when he should have been clear through running from his own half. Had he not been wrongly ruled offside he showed last night what would probably have been the outcome and how costly bad decisions can be.

Bring on Derby who I really fancy us against although even a draw would be perfectly acceptable given their recent results.

[James Scharmann]

Also forgot to add got Town prediction spot on 2-1 to the Town

[herforder]

Great team performance producing a deserved result, and 3 invaluable points. Some folks' recent moans and groans about everything from MM's tactics, team selection or individuals' shortcomings etc, need to be seen against the single fact that we're in a results-driven business, and we're well in credit. Yes there are potentially sterner tests on the radar, and yes we may be beaten; but until those matches are concluded let's take a moment to enjoy the team's current successes, achieved at such comparatively low cost, and take heart that MM/TC may yet be able to get more out of them. The second half of the season is going to prove really exciting for all taking the journey!

(Just hope our performance, and MM's astute management of the match, doesn't prompt Fulham to consider invoking Mick's contract buy-out clause!). They wouldn't, would they?!!

Another soccer irony - who finished the match playing hoofball??

[ashfordblue]

Just got home from another fantastic away day, a solid and gritty team performance from start to finish. We could hardly have got off to a better start with a goal inside 16 seconds and wow the away end erupted. To be honest could not believe what I was seeing in
the opening quarter of an hour as we were running their defence ragged and if AMN effort had not crashed off the bar it would have been game over at that very early stage. When Fulham pulled their goal back it was virtually the first time they had done anything of note and I would like to see it again because I am not even sure it was a foul that led to the free kick from which they scored. The first half had definitely een us hold the upper hand and it was somewhat disappointing to go in at HT level, Sears and AMN had caused them all sorts of problems while the centre Mid duo of Skuse and Douglas had won a lot of tackles and loose balls and had the upper hand on their opponents.

The second half was always going to see Fulham give it a go but actually it was pretty even in the opening exchanges after HT, I did feel that the loss of Skuse saw us lose control of the middle of the park a bit. The elation amongst the Town fans when Pitman restored our lead was something to behold, another nice move and finish right in front of us. Obviously Fulham had to go for broke now and they threw on Smith & Woodrow giving them Four strikers on the pitch which was pinning us back a bit slthough we still looked dangerous on the break. I was pulling my hair out when we replaced Pitman with Malarczyk as it looked for all the world like we trying to hang on again but in hindsight it was to deal with the threat of Four strikers so I kinda get where MM was coming from this time. Thankfully there was to be no late hearbreak and we saw it through to the end to claim yet another great away win. The celebrations at the end were great to be part of and the noise was deafening at the final whistle


I think in the first half the plaudits have to go to Sears & AMN who caused no end of problems, while again JD looked composed inj the Centre, at the back Jonas Knudsen had a pretty good game tonight tpp so fair play to him. Truth is we should give a big pat on the back to everyone of them as it was a solid team effort, what we lack in class we sure as hell make up for in effort and hard work and it is reaping its rewards. I still firmly believe there is far more to come from us as I don't think we have ever properly clicked yet this season. Tough games coming up but we can beat anybody on our day and we are gaining in confidence and getting better and better, Fulham are no great shakes but they leave us standing on spending power etc and yet we did a job on them, a deserved job too. So many reasons to be positive. A great night, a great win and the 2500 Town fans did the club proud once again. Time for bed, gotta be up soon !!

Mike how did Malarcyzyk perform when he came on, is he ok or better, ??? please advise

[Shed on tour]

Just got home from another fantastic away day, a solid and gritty team performance from start to finish. We could hardly have got off to a better start with a goal inside 16 seconds and wow the away end erupted. To be honest could not believe what I was seeing in
the opening quarter of an hour as we were running their defence ragged and if AMN effort had not crashed off the bar it would have been game over at that very early stage. When Fulham pulled their goal back it was virtually the first time they had done anything of note and I would like to see it again because I am not even sure it was a foul that led to the free kick from which they scored. The first half had definitely een us hold the upper hand and it was somewhat disappointing to go in at HT level, Sears and AMN had caused them all sorts of problems while the centre Mid duo of Skuse and Douglas had won a lot of tackles and loose balls and had the upper hand on their opponents.

The second half was always going to see Fulham give it a go but actually it was pretty even in the opening exchanges after HT, I did feel that the loss of Skuse saw us lose control of the middle of the park a bit. The elation amongst the Town fans when Pitman restored our lead was something to behold, another nice move and finish right in front of us. Obviously Fulham had to go for broke now and they threw on Smith & Woodrow giving them Four strikers on the pitch which was pinning us back a bit slthough we still looked dangerous on the break. I was pulling my hair out when we replaced Pitman with Malarczyk as it looked for all the world like we trying to hang on again but in hindsight it was to deal with the threat of Four strikers so I kinda get where MM was coming from this time. Thankfully there was to be no late hearbreak and we saw it through to the end to claim yet another great away win. The celebrations at the end were great to be part of and the noise was deafening at the final whistle

I think in the first half the plaudits have to go to Sears & AMN who caused no end of problems, while again JD looked composed inj the Centre, at the back Jonas Knudsen had a pretty good game tonight tpp so fair play to him. Truth is we should give a big pat on the back to everyone of them as it was a solid team effort, what we lack in class we sure as hell make up for in effort and hard work and it is reaping its rewards. I still firmly believe there is far more to come from us as I don't think we have ever properly clicked yet this season. Tough games coming up but we can beat anybody on our day and we are gaining in confidence and getting better and better, Fulham are no great shakes but they leave us standing on spending power etc and yet we did a job on them, a deserved job too. So many reasons to be positive. A great night, a great win and the 2500 Town fans did the club proud once again. Time for bed, gotta be up soon !!

Summed up perfectly.

Good to see you again last night Mike, must admit I felt a lot better about getting soaked through after we got the 3 points.

For the first 15 minutes I thought I had turned up at the wrong stadium and I was watching Barcelona or Bayern Munich! As you say if AMN's effort had gone in I would not have been surprised to see us go on and get 4 or 5.

Perhaps we should play all our games away from home for the rest of the season.

[number 9]

Great result, and great to see MM turning things around! Four away wins in a row has certainly got my attention. It seems like the team is beginning to come together and 'click' as you say. COYB!

[Bluemike]

Ashford, it is hard to say just how Piotr Malarczyk did to be fair, he was sent on to help counter the threat of Four strikers, Matt Smith in particular and considering we didnt concede it worked. We were right up the other end and in the last few minutes there were times when our box was crowded to say the least, defenders were getting in headers and blocks but you had a job telling who it was at times.

Les give him the benefit of the doubt, he had a blinder and didnt put a foot wrong.

[Charnwood]

I wish we were playing Derby at their place on Saturday, I think I'd be feeling more confident.

Plus of course I'd only have to travel "up the road".