Ipswich Town's March is over, with the Blues ending the month with a perfect record and pushing themselves closer to the automatic promotion spots.
Here, Andy Warren hands out some award.
Game of the month
Ipswich Town’s March is in the books, with the Blues winning all four of their matches and scoring 11 goals in the process.
It’s been pretty much spotless.
But which of the four wins was the most impressive? They all have their merits but there is a clear winner.
No, not the 4-0 victory over Burton, nor the 3-0 success under the lights against Accrington or the dominant win Town delivered against Shrewsbury on Saturday.
Ipswich’s win at Bolton 10 days ago is the pick of the bunch, with Kieran McKenna’s men showing all sides of their game to beat a promotion rival and give their bid for an automatic promotion spot a real shot in the arm.
Player of the month
You could make a case for so many during what was a perfect month for Ipswich, but there is one man, for me, who stands above them all.
All four of Massimo Luongo’s Ipswich starts have come in March and, since he came into the side, he’s shown just how big a player he figures to be for the Blues.
He’s strong, dynamic, solid on the ball and solid in the tackle, adding some steel and direct creativity to Town at a vital time.
He’s lifted so many around him and has given Ipswich an extra edge heading into the run-in.
Christian Walton was exceptional in March, most-notably at Bolton where his penalty save was vital, while Sam Morsy has continued to be an influential figure in the midfield. Both would be worthy winners, as would plenty of other players.
But, for me, Luongo gets the nod.
Goal of the month
We have 11 to pick from here and there’s something for everyone.
If you like low crosses into the box and neat finishes, there’s a good few of those to pick from.
If you like clever headers, Ipswich sorted you out when George Hirst guided a ball expertly home against Shrewsbury.
If big, brutish headers are in your wheelhouse, then Cameron Burgess is your man.
And if brilliant free-kicks are your bag, then Kyle Edwards’ effort against Accrington may well be your winner.
But, for me, Hirst’s opener at Bolton gets it. A brilliant break by Wes Burns and then an excellent finish from the striker on the run. Not easy at all.
Lovely stuff.
Assist of the month
It may be a little boring to pick the same goal again, but Burns is going to get my nod here.
The 60-yard run is brilliant, charging from the edge of his own box, but then to be able to stop, slow down and then pick out his man is excellent. The finish was great, too.
An honourable mention here to Conor Chaplin’s sliding pass which set Freddie Ladapo away to score against Burton. That was beautiful.
Unsung hero
When you’re on winning runs like Ipswich are right now, plenty of players are naturally going to be receiving praise. And rightly so.
So this month’s winner of the Unsung Hero award may not actually be that unsung. He’s getting it anyway, though.
Burgess has well-and-truly secured the spot on the left side of central defence once again and has produced a string of top displays. We know he can dominate in the air but his work on the ground, both defensively and in terms of playing with ball at feet, has been top notch.
He gives Ipswich a really nice balance and deserves plenty of credit for the way he’s grown into Kieran McKenna’s side.
It was great to see him score a very good goal at Bolton, too. He deserved every bit of praise that came along with that.
Moment of the month
Goalkeeper Walton deserves to take one of these awards home this month. So here it is.
If Ipswich get to where we want them to get to this season, then we may well look back at his Bolton penalty save as being a huge moment.
The Blues were 1-0 up when Dion Charles stood over the second-half spot kick, with Walton going to his left to push the ball away.
It proved the catalyst for Town to go on and add a second, recording a huge victory in the process.
We could remember this as one of the moments of the season.
Villain of the month
There was a late contender for this award when former Ipswich loanee Matt Pennington, now of Shrewsbury, spent much of Saturday moaning at the referee and butting up against fellow ex-Toffee Nathan Broadhead.
Pennington was booked for his reaction to a second half foul on the Ipswich man, pushing him back to the turf while accusing Broadhead of diving. He did get his way later on, though, when the Blues’ No.33 was booked for simulation over a Pennington challenge inside the box.
The defender was jeered by the home fans for most of the afternoon.
But there is one winner, here.
John Coleman is always very quick to accuse officials of hindering his sides in games against Ipswich and he did it again in March, with what was a slightly bizarre take on what was a comfortable Town victory.
Coleman was upset with a late red card for goalkeeper Lukas Jensen launched straight into a speech accusing officials of consistently favouring the league’s biggest clubs. You can probably put the reaction down to the fact his side are struggling and in a real relegation fight.
He gets some silverware for it, though.
Biggest climber
Fair’s fair and, after Mr Burns was named the ‘biggest faller’ by my colleague Stuart Watson last month, his climb must be acknowledged.
A down February has made way for an up March, with the Welshman providing four assists and playing with the zip which made him such a force for the Blues’ during his first season at the club.
Burns has proven to be the man for the big moments and the big games during his Ipswich career to date.
So maybe he’s getting back to his best at just the right time.
Biggest faller
During what was such a positive month, it seems a shame to have to pick someone out for this award. But we must. That’s the game.
A preferred 18 has begun to emerge for McKenna, which has meant little to no match involvement for the likes of Richard Keogh, Sone Aluko and Kane Vincent-Young. But all three, though, continue to contribute back at the training ground.
Injuries, though, have meant the end of the road this season for both George Edmundson and Tyreece John-Jules.
A real shame for both players, who share this award as a result.
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