I thought both sides were poor first half, but a typically clinical COG strike made the difference. They didn't really test Steele, their best effort being a free kick from the best player on the park, Cresswell, which hit the post. However, the lad Shea was rightly hauled off at the break after his latest non-show. And yet folk yesterday were picking him ahead of Paddy. No wonder we're in the ****. Second half, we were way too deep, inviting them onto us, but getting away with it. Although I thought the back four were again to be commended, in particular, Tom Kennedy. He was fantastic at Swillsborough last weekend, and continued his recent good form today. Put some cracking balls over as well, one especially that COG ought to have done better with. The second goal came totally against the run of play, and looked deflected to me, but Cywka gives you the threat that Shea never will (based on the games I've seen him play). Did I feel comfortable at that point? No. Because as I say, it was all Ipswich prior to that free kick. And I fully expected them to pull one back within five minutes. And, as ever (no matter who the manager, or who plays for us) they did. I think the Hunt injury (like last week) was pivotal to our surrendering of our 2-0 cushion. It's easy to blame O'Brien if that's your way out, but he's played in two positions today that he's not good enough to play in. That's hardly his fault, is it? Blame the manager if you want, he's more culpable. Jim is a winger, and an inconsistent one. He works his bag off, no doubt. But a defender or central midfielder? No. And the more galling issue for me, is that it's not like we've got nobody else to play in there. Danny suggested every player was fit in his interview Thursday. So that's Etuhu, Digby, Lawrence, Woods and Hassell, all capable of playing in central midfield. I think the equaliser was another deflection, but it came about thanks to us giving away yet another soft free kick. We were asking for it. And, just prior to that goal, they'd nearly scored through Hunt. Not to forget the fantastic double save from Steele in the second half at 1-0. We huffed and puffed in injury time to no avail, but for me, we were lucky to get a point today. Ipswich were the better 'team' over 95 minutes, and deserved at least the point they salvaged. However, we should have won. 2-0 up at home, in the situation we find ourselves in, just ten minutes or so to go... Feels like a defeat. But as the title of the thread states, it was in my opinion a fair result. We move on now, and despite this latest kick in the nads we've cut the gap to four points, we've a game in hand, Fat Billy is suspended for three games (violent conduct is a three game ban isn't it?) starting on Saturday, and hopefully (you never know with managers, strange breed they are), hopefully, Danny will have sussed that a few of the lads he's recently shown unjustified faith in are in fact not deserving of a start. Final thought: I'd go one up top next weekend (COG) with Bobby alongside Frimpong, Cywka in the hole, Jennings and Paddy wide. Usual back five. You Reds.
A draw last week would've been a fair result.. fairness doesn't come into it We need to see games out. Too many times we are defending in panic mode, sliced clearances/ miskicks, incorrect decision- making when we're under the cosh, all these things have been prevalent all season. The free kick that led to the equaliser wasn't just soft , it was an incorrect decision, but once again we failed to deal with it.
Re: A draw last week would've been a fair result.. fairness doesn't come into it Fair write up , we missed quality in midfield today which cost us today. , we couldn't keep the ball and gave away possession too easy . Need to start a winning run ASAP
That's a great post. Totally agree with your summary of today's events. Danny is making mistakes. We're being too passive and sitting back too deep. More aggressive attacking intent needed. Just thinking about it right now......flicker wld have been a better asst than Micky maybe. My biggest issue is Shea....he has a pea for a heart. He has the smallest heart in pea world. Ship him off back to the stokies now. He is an absolute waste. People moan bout Kennedy and Dawson but at least they care. Hey and good for you that you're prepared to express a postive opinion about tk who had another good game today. We are so much in the **** but the next month could be a major turning point . I would trust danny to the ends of the earth but he does need to rethink the philosophy; lets not look to sit back and grind.....let's show more attacking intent.....a la the flitcroft approach last season. Ps Jennings is an absolute revelation. Our very own Eden hazard Pps ramage is a warrior Ppps jimbo ....FCK all you infantile knockers
Spot on, exactly how I saw it. However I would say nobody has touched on the wind and rain in their faces second half. With the wind the ball runs away and through balls often g straight to keeper, however I can't help but feel trying to clear your lines and build momentum head first into a hurricane is difficult. I don't think we particularly sat deep, we just never got a foothold in second half and Ipswich passed the ball around excellently given the conditions! moving Hunt to the wing and McGoldrick dropping even deeper was a master stroke. I thought in end we were lucky we didn't lose game. Rambo and Crainie superb again as was TK who's been boss for at least 4 games in a row now. Jennings best game today by far, looks the player we thought we'd signed. Onwards and upwards, a point towards the survival fund. Next two games will define season, win both and we will do it, anything less and I feel baring some Flickeresque wins against the promotion chases and we will be staring down the barrell
Agree too. We need to press higher up the pitch & put more pressure on players putting the ball in. Overall defensively we look a lot better. I think confidence is a big part of it. If we could have hung on for 2-0 that would have helped a lot, but I knew they'd get at least one back, that's the way things are at the moment. If Frimpong can learn from his debut debacle & add some quality in midfield we may still get out of the bottom 3. Jennings was superb yesterday.
