Wes Burns scored one of the best Ipswich Town goals in recent history with an extraordinary trivela in the 2-1 win over Coventry City on Saturday. In the wake of that corker, Mark Heath takes a look at the best strikes ever seen at Portman Road...


Wes Burns v Coventry City, November 2023

What can we say which has not already been said in the days since Burns broke the internet with this effort?

Kieran McKenna crowned it as his favourite goal of his time at the club, and it's not hard to see why.

East Anglian Daily Times: Wes Burns celebrates his wonder goal on SaturdayWes Burns celebrates his wonder goal on Saturday (Image: PA Images)

The unbelievable strike comes at the end of a superb team move, with 13 passes seeing Town break the Coventry press, switch play and then find Wes for his wonder goal.

He picks the ball up on the right from Leif Davis, cuts inside and - rather than use his left foot - puts some extra mustard on the ball with the outside of his right boot, leading to a physics-defying bend on the ball as it smashes into the top right hand corner.

Will be one of the best goals scored anywhere in the world this year, and almost certainly the greatest goal of Burns' career. 


Bersant Celina v Crewe, November 2021

The second anniversary of this stone-cold classic came just a few days before Wesley's wonder, so maybe there's something in the Suffolk air at this time of year...

East Anglian Daily Times: Bersant Celina celebrates his cracker against CreweBersant Celina celebrates his cracker against Crewe

Celina killed a long ball from George Edmundson stone dead - somehow tracking the flight of it despite a defender in the way - before taking a glance up and deftly lofting the perfect chip diagonally over the keeper's head and into the net.

Most times a keeper is chipped he's off his line - but in this case Crewe's Dave Richards was in his own six-yard box and well-placed. It was just the perfect shot. Extraordinary.


Macauley Bonne v MK Dons, August 2021

Before Celina's sublime effort, we thought we'd seen Town's goal of the season already, just a few weeks into the campaign.

Bonne started the season like his shorts were on fire before ultimately tailing away and this is surely the pick of his goals for the club, with that sneaky strike against Sheffield Wednesday also being a memorable Portman Road moment.

East Anglian Daily Times: Macauley Bonne scored some memorable goals in his short time at TownMacauley Bonne scored some memorable goals in his short time at Town (Image: © Copyright Stephen Waller)
Kane Vincent-Young played a beautiful flighted ball diagonally across the pitch to set Bonne away and the Chantry boy took it superbly, drifting away from the defender with his first touch before hammering home with his 'weaker' left foot.

Would be goal of the season in almost every other season.


Aaron Cresswell v Crystal Palace, April 2013

When many fans discuss this topic, Cresswell's ripsnorter against Palace is usually pretty high up their lists.

A left back with a sledgehammer of a left foot, Cresswell let it all hang out here, taking a ball on the run and nodding it down in front of him as he galloped forward.

East Anglian Daily Times: Town players enjoy Aaron Cresswell's goal against Crystal PalaceTown players enjoy Aaron Cresswell's goal against Crystal Palace (Image: Archant)
From there he uncorked a wicked, swerving rocket of a shot which blazed into the top left corner of the Palace net.

As commentator Brenner Woolley exclaimed, 'What a goal!'


Connor Wickham v Sheffield United, February 2011

Do you remember how excited we all were about the manchild Wickham, a 17-year-old in the body of an elite athlete ten years his senior?

This goal showed exactly why he was one of the hottest properties in the game, as he surged forward with the ball from deep in his own half, beating one defender and galloping into the penalty area.

East Anglian Daily Times: Connor Wickham was a massive talentConnor Wickham was a massive talent (Image: Archant)
Once there he turned the final Blades defender and their keeper inside out with the same move, before calmly slotting into the net.

His career may not have hit the heights that everyone was expecting, but what a talent Wickham was.


Leighton Baines v Ipswich Town, December 2004

Yes, yes, I know - this wasn't a goal scored by Ipswich Town. But there's no way you can have a list like this without it.

Baines scored his first-ever career goal at Portman Road for Wigan with a thunderbolt from 40 yards, taking a touch as the ball broke to him before unleashing a missile with his left foot.

East Anglian Daily Times: Leighton Baines, right, scored a thunderbolt at Portman Road for Wigan AthleticLeighton Baines, right, scored a thunderbolt at Portman Road for Wigan Athletic (Image: PA Images)

The leathered ball travelled straight and true into the top corner of Kelvin Davis' net and would probably now be orbiting the earth, still gathering pace, were it not for the onion bag in the way.

There can't be many first-ever goals better than this. But that's a list for another day.


Finidi George v Sunderland, December 2001

Nigerian George was certainly a mixed bag after his much-trumpeted arrival at Town, but this was the sort of thing he was capable of, and fans were expecting.

He initiated a lovely three pass move, which ended with him charging onto a pass down the right wing as the Sunderland keeper advanced.

East Anglian Daily Times: Finidi George scored a great goal against SunderlandFinidi George scored a great goal against Sunderland

But George got there first and simply stroked a lofted, curling effort into the empty net. Sublime.


Dalian Atkinson v Middlesbrough, April 1988

The mercurial Atkinson was seemingly capable of almost anything on a football pitch and, on this April day at Portman Road, he was unstoppable, netting a hat-trick as Town saw off 'Boro.

Ether of his first two strikes would merit a place on this list, but my pick was his second.

East Anglian Daily Times: Dalian Atkinson bagged a brilliant hat-trick against 'BoroDalian Atkinson bagged a brilliant hat-trick against 'Boro

Picking up the ball wide right, he shifted inside on his right foot, accelerating away from a couple of defenders like they were standing still, before hammering a shot into the top corner.

Would, of course, go on to score one of the best goals of all time against Wimbledon, while playing for Aston Villa.

Paul Mariner v West Brom, November 1976

If Baines' goal was extraordinary for a first-ever strike, how about this for Mariner's Town debut, in a 7-0 win!

In truth, both Trevor Whymark and Kevin Beattie also scored goals in this game which probably merit a place on this list, but the effort from the late, great Mariner stands out for me.

Having set up Whymark for the second of his four goals on the day in a wonderful team move, Mariner took matters into his own hands to open his Town account.

East Anglian Daily Times: Paul Mariner netted a sublime goal on his debut against West BromPaul Mariner netted a sublime goal on his debut against West Brom (Image: Archant)
After the ball broke to him following a midfield scuffle, Mariner went charging off up field on his own, one man against a sea of yellow and green.

No matter. He cut inside, evading one Baggies' challenge, before lashing the ball into the roof of the net with his right foot from outside the area.

What a player. What a team.