Ipswich Town won 1-0 at MK Dons in a League One match yesterday. STUART WATSON reflects on the action.
LONG OVERDUE
There was much soul-searching, externally at least, after the 0-0 draw at Bristol Rovers on Valentine's Day. Town looked to be on the slide after losing that winning habit (just four in 15 league games at that point).
So you really can't underestimate how important it was that the Blues backed up their comprehensive 4-0 home win against Forest Green Rovers with another notch in the W column at Stadium MK.
This is the first time Town have won back-to-back league games since victories against Derby (1-0 at home) and Port Vale (3-2 away) back in late October.
It ends a seven-game winless run on the road in all competitions (LDDLDLD followed the 2-0 victory at Exeter back on November 19).
And it came in front of a vocal travelling army of away fans numbering close to 7,000.
Conor Chaplin's clench-fisted roar at the final whistle was probably born as much out of relief as it was joy.
Kieran McKenna admitted, for all of the above reasons, that this was a 'really important' victory.
SAM'S THE MAN
Town weren't exactly bang at it in the first half.
The Blues hadn't quite got their press right, were wasteful when they worked good positions in the final third and had moments of vulnerability to the rapid home counter.
But they were still able to go into the break ahead thanks to a fantastic goal from super skipper Sam Morsy.
He was switched on to intercept the ball high, strode purposely into space and then, having scanned what was around him, hit a sledgehammer shot into the bottom corner from the edge of the box.
There was a moment in the second half where he looked he might repeat the trick.
"His performances probably go under the radar a little bit if I'm honest," said McKenna afterwards. "He's been so consistent all season in two different roles."
Fair. Maybe many had started to take for granted the experienced midfielder's high standards on and off the field. I've possibly been guilty of that.
But I think it's also true to say that Morsy's central thrust and goal threat from earlier in the season had waned a little.
Hopefully this is a sign he can get back to doing that consistently again.
MORE PROFLIGACY
It sounds a strange thing to say about the division's leading scorers, but a theme of Ipswich Town's season has been a lack of clinicality during moments of dominance.
The one knock on this performance was that the Blues didn't put the game to bed sooner after getting well on top after the restart.
Nathan Broadhead fired over from six-yards out after Morsy's dipping shot was parried into his path. That was a sitter for a player of his calibre.
Town subsequently had prolonged spells of pressure, but couldn't make it count.
Chaplin, Wes Burns and Leif Davis all had good shooting opportunities inside the box, while Broadhead saw a header cleared off the line.
Thankfully, it didn't prove costly on this occasion.
"Look, anyone who was at the game knows that it should have been a bigger scoreline," admitted McKenna.
"On the other hand we've had some 4-0s, we've had some blow outs, so coming through a tight 1-0 away from home, where you have some tension and anxiety, might end up being more beneficial to us."
THOU SHALT NOT PASS
Town rattled out the clean sheets in the early days of McKenna's reign, but they've found shut-outs harder to come by this season.
It's therefore highly encouraging that this was the third game in a row that the Blues have kept a zero next to the opposition's name (something that's not happened, in the league, since mid-August).
A comination of things were required to make this one happen.
In the 10th minute, a mixture of fortune, brave defending and smart goalkeeping prevented MK Dons taking the lead during a five-shots-in-quick-succession penalty box frenzy.
Harry Clarke getting dispossessed high and Cameron Humphreys missing a tackle led to the home side having men over in attack. Mo Eisa and Jonathan Leko made a hash of big chances though, Luke Woolfenden flung himself in the way of the ball on the line and Christian Walton twice denied Sullay Kaikai's follow-up shots.
In the second half, attack was Town's best form of defence. MK Dons couldn't get out of their own half for long spells.
Most pleasingly of all, there were few signs of nerves when the game reached the latter stages at 0-1. Yes, discipline slipped on a couple of occasions to give away a couple of cheap free-kicks. But in general the game management was good.
"Clean sheets are going to be the bed rock for us over the last 13 games," said McKenna afterwards.
"I think that's partly why I was more calm after Bristol Rovers (0-0 away draw) than some, because I know if you go away from home and get a clean sheet then it's always something to build on."
GETTING UP TO SPEED
George Hirst is getting better by the game. The Leicester City loan striker was probably my pick of the Town players in this match. His well-rounded qualities make him a real handful.
Massimo Luongo replaced Humphreys at half-time due to the fact the latter had just picked up a booking. The experienced Australian played a big role in Town's much-improved second half.
Broadhead, though not at his influential best, will have benefitted from his first back-to-back starts in an Ipswich shirt too.
NOW KICK ON!
Plymouth's 5-2 defeat at Peterborough means the gap to second-place has been cut to five points.
Have Town turned a corner? Is momentum building? Is a top-two finish back on? I think it's too early to say that.
Forest Green are a League Two side in waiting, while MK Dons had conceded five goals in their previous two games. Town have simply done what they should be doing in beating two teams in the relegation zone.
As colleague Andy Warren pointed out last week, every team in the current top eight (bar Ipswich) has won at least six league games in a row this season. Those are the standards that have been set.
Next up is quickfire home games against 18th place Burton (Saturday) and 21st place Accrington (a week on Tuesday).
Win both of those and then we can start talking about momentum and a potential automatic promotion charge.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here