Ipswich Town 1-1 Plymouth: Norwich City loanee Bali Mumba denies Blues

In a hectic contest in front of a crowd of more than 29,000, it looked as though Wes Burns’ strike just after the hour was going to settle the game, only for Plymouth to dig deep and level late on as Town dropped deep and invited pressure. 

Mumba’s strike found the top corner, breaking Ipswich hearts in the process at the end of a battle between two sides with serious designs on Championship football next season. 

Both teams hit the crossbar in a game characterised by plenty of endeavor, moments of quality and the potential for errors, with Marcus Harness narrowly off target for Ipswich before Ryan Hardie produced an astonishing miss, rattling the woodwork from just six yards out and with the goal at his mercy. 

Wes Burns looked like he had won the game for Town (Image: Steve Waller)

The points were shared, though, meaning Plymouth retain their seven-point lead over Town in third, with Sheffield Wednesday, in second, closing the gap to Plymouth to three and extending their advantage over Town to four, by virtue of their own victory at Wycombe this afternoon. Town hold a game in hand on both of the teams above them. 

Next up for Ipswich is a visit to Oxford next weekend. 

McKenna named the same side which beat Oxford on Boxing Day and drew 2-2 at Portsmouth a few days later, with new signing George Hirst beginning the afternoon on the bench.  

Nathan Broadhead didn’t make the 18, though, with the arrival from Everton dealing with muscle tightness. 

Christian Walton began in goal, behind a defence of Janoi Donacien, Luke Woolfenden, Cameron Burgess and Leif Davis. Sam Morsy and Lee Evans started in midfield, with Burns, Conor Chaplin and Harness supporting striker Freddie Ladapo. 

Sam Morsy, pictured in action against Plymouth (Image: Steve Waller)

There was a huge roar as the two sides emerged from the tunnel for a clash between two sides with serious designs on Championship football next season, with both taking a while to settle into a frenetic encounter. 

Ipswich had more of the early possession but Argyle worked the first real opening, as Niall Ennis broke into the left side of the Ipswich area, sending in a low shot which Walton pushed away, needing Burns to beat Danny Mayor to the loose ball. 

Both teams were looking to play as the atmosphere increased in volume, helped by some questionable refereeing and an unnecessarily harsh booking for Burns for a foul in midfield. 

With both sides still trying to find their feet, official Andy Woolmer then opted against what appeared to be a sure yellow card as Ladapo turned Dan Scarr on halfway, denying Ipswich the opportunity to spring an attack they had worked hard to open up.  

Chaplin and Ladapo combined for the later to fire a bouncing ball towards goal, which Michael Cooper did well to hold, before the striker let himself down when presented with an opportunity by Chaplin, opting to hit a tame shot at goal rather than look up and see a screaming Burns in space to his right. The winger let the striker know what he thought. 

Marcus Stewart spoke to Ipswich Town fans during half-time of the Blues' game with Plymouth (Image: Steve Waller)

There was little between the two sides, as mistakes began to creep into the contest before Town saw penalty appeals turned away when Chaplin’s cross struck former Blue James Wilson inside the box. There was nothing doing from the referee. 

The Argyle skipper had been carded a few minutes earlier, after tangling with Chaplin in midfield, with both sides continuing to throw in tackles before Davis was required to produce an excellent block to stop Ennis’s shot threatening his side’s goal. 

The first half ended with Morsy seeing a low shot saved by Cooper, with the second beginning in agonising fashion as a brilliant Davis pass found Harness in acres of space, only for the attacker’s curling shot to bounce to safety off the Plymouth crossbar. 

The Town woodwork was the next to rattle, with Ryan Hardie somehow managing to miss inside the box when picked out by a low Ennis cross, after the Argyle No.11 had picked Burgess’ pocket.  

Morsy’s drive through the middle of the pitch opened things up nicely for Ladapo, who twisted and turned inside the box before seeing his eventual shot blocked by Scarr, before the two players combined again, with Morsy’s through-ball ending with his striker’s shot being deflected over the top.  

And that corner is where Ipswich’s breakthrough came from.  

The first delivery was cleared but, when Woolfenden was able to play the ball back into danger, Burns was there to let fly and las a shot into the top corner, beating Cooper for power. 

McKenna turned to his bench almost immediately, unleashing Hirst and bringing on Cameron Humphreys for Ladapo and Harness, with both sides continuing to trade blows. 

Walton was nearly caught out when Argyle substitute Ben Waine charged down his kick inside the box, as Ipswich looked to play from the back, but thankfully the ball flew wide of the Town goal. 

Plymouth looked to apply pressure to the Ipswich goal and, soon after the board went up to indicate nine minutes of stoppage time, Mumba drove the ball home to rescue a point for his side. 

The full-time whistle was greeted with a warm applause from the home fans and a loud roar from the packed away end, signifying the contrasting emotions this result will bring. 

Ipswich Town: Walton; Donacien, Woolfenden, Burgess, Davis; Morsy (Edwards, 90+5), Evans; Burns (Vincent-Young, 84), Chaplin, Harness (Humphreys, 67); Ladapo (Hirst, 67) 

Subs: Hladky, Keogh, Jackson 

Plymouth Argyle: Cooper; Wilson (Azaz, 79), Gillesphey, Scarr, Lonwijk; Randell, Matete (Houghton, 66); Mumba, Mayor (Wright, 59), Ennis (Cosgrove, 79), Hardie (Waine, 66) 

Subs: Burton; Earley 

Att: 29,069 (2,144 Plymouth fans)