Ipswich Town drew 1-1 at Cheltenham Town yesterday afternoon. STUART WATSON reflects on the action.
A DIFFERENT CHALLENGE
This was a reminder of the realities of League One life.
Town’s prior eight-game win streak had included seven games in front of crowds of 20k+ (five at home, plus Bolton and Derby away) plus the backing of more than 7,000 away fans at MK Dons.
At the modest Whaddon Road, Blues fans made up 1,509 of the 5,445 attendance.
It’s a tight pitch. Small stands and open corners offered little protection to strong gusts. One goalmouth was crudely patched up with rectangles of turf.
Cheltenham won the toss and opted to switch ends and have that wind at their backs in the first half. Early on it was clear this was going to be a battle.
The Robins closed spaces quickly, preventing Town getting any sort of passing rhythm. When the Blues tried to go more direct, as they have done to good effect of late, defenders were tight and physical.
Pernickety referee Sebastian Stockbridge added to the stop-start nature of proceedings.
This was a match that reminded me of Burton’s ‘aggressive chaos’ approach at The Pirelli Stadium last August.
Ipswich had to really dig deep to grind out a win that day. Could they do so again here?
HARNESS HOOKED
Nathan Broadhead, having taken kicks to his ankle in the games against Derby and Wycombe, failed a fitness test.
The in-form Welshman, who has been playing with a real swagger, left big boots to fill.
Marcus Harness was the man asked to do that.
Town’s biggest first half chance fell to him in the 19th minute.
But following Hirst’s neat lay-off and Chaplin’s inventive heeled flick, the 27-year-old fired wide from a golden position inside the box.
Having scored six goals in his first 14 appearances for the club, he has now netted just one in his last 22.
Harness, whose link play had been a little loose, was replaced at the break by Kyle Edwards and his direct running gave the team some added spark after the restart.
HARRY’S HURL
Cute cut-backs, direct free-kicks, rapid counter-attacks, outside of the box shots, headers from corners and crosses… Town have scored all sorts of goals this season.
Goal number 99 of the campaign came from something new though – a long throw.
Leif Davis’ throw into the box had led to a Wes Burns chance just before half-time.
Town then broke the deadlock with one from the other side in the 64th minute.
Harry Clarke’s delivery out the hands was like a bullet. It flew narrowly over the heads of two defenders at the near post and was side-footed home by Chaplin.
He’s now scored in three consecutive games. That’s his 22nd goal of the season in all competitions and 19th in the league.
"I think there would have been some nice irony had we beaten Cheltenham with a long throw given their history of having good long throwers here,” said Blues boss Kieran McKenna afterwards, with a smile.
Sadly, it didn’t prove to be the winner.
WIND V WALTON
A long punt forwards by Ryan Broom looked to be one for the goalkeeper to come and pluck high from the sky.
The ball caught up in the wind though and Christian Walton ended up stretching to collect over the head of a defender, spilling, and, after Luke Woolfenden could only half-clear with his head, the in-form Alfie May (who pipped Walton to the League One Player of the Month award for March) was able to coolly find the net.
Town had conceded for the first time in 950 minutes of football (more if you include all the stoppage time played over the previous 10 games).
It was a frustrating way for the clean sheet run to end.
A GOOD POINT?
Ipswich finished this game with 65% possession and 23 shots on goal (nine on target). George Hirst rattled the crossbar in the second half at 0-0.
The Blues did, however, live very dangerously on more than one occasion in the first half.
All things considered, I’d say a draw was the fair result.
So how do we feel about this point? Personally, I’m taking a glass half full outlook on it.
Remember when we all felt deflated after that goalless draw at Bristol Rovers on February 14? On reflection, that was a solid point at a difficult place on the road. This may yet prove to be the same.
It was a long journey after a quick turnaround from Good Friday and, in difficult conditions, some fatigue understandably showed in this display.
Credit, I should add, goes to Cheltenham too. It shouldn’t go unnoticed that they are now unbeaten in six games at Whaddon Road.
Town didn’t win, but they didn’t lose either. Plymouth did (at home to Lincoln). Barnsley and Sheffield Wednesday have lost games recently too.
Peterborough, by the way, were the only team in the top half to take maximum points over the Easter weekend.
McKenna’s men are now unbeaten in 13 league matches. They’ve still only lost four league games all season. Automatic promotion is still, crucially, in their hands.
Up next… back-to-back home games against Charlton and Port Vale. Don’t stop believing.
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