Ipswich Town won 3-0 at Peterborough United yesterday. STUART WATSON reflects on the action.
A DERBY-LIKE INTENSITY
Less than 100 miles separate these two East Anglian sides and, with so much at stake, it made for a derby-like intensity to the atmosphere and action.
Sam Morsy crashed into an early tackle on Jack Taylor and was soon grappling with Hector Kyprianou.
Oliver Norburn shoved Conor Chaplin over from behind and then provocatively ruffled his hair. Moments later, he kicked at the heels of Morsy and was booked after the pair squared up.
George Hirst, up against a back three, seemed to constantly be sprinting. He charged everything and everyone down.
We’d been expecting a wide open game of football between two free-scoring sides. Quickly, however, it became apparent that this was going to be more of a war.
BREAKTHROUGH!
Town appear to have added ‘long throw’ to their list of weaponry.
It was Harry Clarke’s launch from the right which led to Conor Chaplin’s opener at Cheltenham recently.
This time it was Leif Davis’ forceful forward fling up the left that led to the 17th minute breakthrough.
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Hirst provided the headed knock down, Nathan Broadhead’s shot pinged off the legs of unsighted keeper Will Norris and Wes Burns arrived to coolly stroke home the rebound. That was a difficult finish on the angle.
The Welshman, caught up in the emotion of the game, cupped his ears to the Posh fans. One home supporter charged down the steps and, rather unpleasantly, spat towards the goalscorer’s direction before soon being arrested.
CHRISTIAN WALL-TON
Town were doing a great job of defending from the front and starving supply to the home side's dangerous attack.
On the couple of occasions that Peterborough were able to fashion a chance, Christian Walton was there to make smart stops.
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First, in the 26th minute, he showed good reactions to block Ephron Mason-Clark's acrobatic attempt after a deep corner delivery had been headed back into the danger area.
Then, in first half stoppage-time, he did even better to get down low to his right and keep out Jonson Clarke-Harris' well-struck effort from the edge of the box.
Town's keeper has come up with some big saves at big moments during this amazing run of results.
CLASSY AND CLINCAL
In a script so similar to both the wins at Bolton and Derby, the Blues went and doubled their lead after the break.
It was a quickly-taken Davis throw that started this move. Broadhead ate up more than 30 yards of pitch with the ball at his feet and then had the presence of mind to slow down, cut inside, and produce a perfectly-weighted pass.
Conor Chaplin, on the same wavelength, darted between two defenders and provided a crisp low finish on the run.
It was a goal that sparked jubliant scenes in an away end containing close to 4,000 Blues fans.
Chaplin has now scored 26 goals in all competitions this season (23 in the league). Eight of them have come in the last six games. He’s back to being two behind Clarke-Harris in the race for the Golden Boot now. One more would equal Daryl Murphy’s tally for Town in the 2014/15 campaign.
Broadhead now has six goals and five assists from his first 16 league appearances for the club.
SUPER SUB STRIKES AGAIN
Home boss Darren Ferguson, having gone with a cautious 3-5-2 from the start, reverted to his usual 4-2-3-1 system at this stage.
With nothing to lose, Posh loosened the shackles and subsequently had their best spell.
Walton had to beat away an effort from substitute Harrison Burrows, Cameron Burgess flung himself in the way of a shot during a real goalmouth scramble, then Taylor arrowed inches wide from outside the box.
Sensing the tide was turning, McKenna responded by turning to his bench for fresh legs in the form of Janoi Donacien, Dominic Ball and Freddie Ladapo. And it was the latter who sealed the win in the 82nd minute.
First season since 1981-82* that two Ipswich Town players have reached the 20 goal mark
— Renegade Statman Ⓜ️ (@CallMeStat) April 22, 2023
Fantastic achievement 👏
* Brazil 28 & Wark 23#ITFC https://t.co/qlX4eOMp1O
Once again, the goal originated from a throw - this time a Donacien hurl into the box.
The ball was half-cleared, worked out to the right and, following Burns’ cross, Ladapo produced an expert touch, swivel and finish under pressure.
That's 20 goals for him now across all competitions. Eight of them have come as a sub.
This is the first time Town have had two players hit 20 goals in the same season since Alan Brazil (28) and John Wark (23) in 1981/82.
WHAT’S REQUIRED...
Town are unbeaten in 16 league games.
They have won 11 of their last 12, scoring 34 goals and conceding just two in the process.
The goal difference is now a staggering +57.
A club-record 91 points are already on the board.
Incredibly, given all of the above, there is still work to do.
Plymouth, Sheffield Wednesday and Barnsley also won to leave it as you were in this high-quality automatic promotion race.
Town need not worry about what the others are doing though. Their task is clear. Five points from the final three games will seal a return to the Championship.
Barnsley away on Tuesday night. Exeter at home on Saturday. Fleetwood away the following Sunday.
“It’s going to take a hell of an effort to back up today but I trust these boys. I back them to do it,” said McKenna.
Me too, Kieran. Me too.
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