Ipswich Town 2-1 Sunderland: Terry Hunt on the Blues

We hadn’t won in five league games, we’d lost second place, we were missing four of our best players, we were facing a very good Sunderland team, and we went behind midway through the first half. Lots of adversity!

Sides with less will to win would have felt sorry for themselves and folded. Not this admirable bunch. They battled their way to a win which will stop the condescending “Ipswich have bottled it” comments in their tracks. 

There was so much to enjoy about that performance. Of course, it wasn’t our slickest display, but we demonstrated other vital qualities - grit, determination and a real never-say-die spirit.

Kayden Jackson makes it 1-1 (Image: Steve Waller)
Let’s not forget that Sunderland had won every league game in which they had taken the lead. Formidable opponents.

It was a big night for several individuals. Let’s start with the much-maligned Kayden Jackson. This is the sixth season at Portman Road for the striker, and he’s never really managed to nail down a regular starting place.

But he’s had his moments, and Saturday saw one of his best. He ran his socks off, used his pace to constantly worry the Sunderland defence, and scored a really good goal.

I’m sure all fair-minded Town fans were delighted for him. He could have a big part to play in the coming months in the long-term absence of George Hirst.

Similarly, it’s great to see George Edmundson back in the team and performing well. When he first joined, I thought Edmundson was a really top player, our best centre-half by some distance.

George Edmundson has been superb since returning to the starting XI (Image: Steve Waller)
But then he suffered that awful ankle injury, and when he came back he wasn’t quite the same player. Cameron Burgess established himself, and Edmundson’s Ipswich opportunities were limited. There’s been talk of him leaving.

Now, with Burgess away with Australia in the Asian Cup, Edmundson has his chance and looks determined to take it. Perhaps he will follow Vaclav Hladky’s example.

Talking of Burgess, I see he sat on the bench for the whole Aussie game on Saturday. It will be very frustrating all round if that keeps happening. Complete waste of time...

The other player worthy of special mention against Sunderland is Lewis Travis. The new loan signing had only been in the building for five minutes and can hardly have expected to start on Saturday.

But Massimo Luongo’s unfortunate injury in training forced our manager’s hand and I thought Travis was really excellent. For us to get that outstanding result without our engine room of Luongo and Morsy speaks volumes.

Lewis Travis had an excellent debut (Image: Ross Halls)
A special word also for our stand-in captain, Conor Chaplin. It was a magic moment for him to grab the winner, especially with his head. Ignore him in the penalty area at your peril - even if the ball is in the air. What a header - and yet another assist for Leif Davis.

So, approaching the two-thirds point of the season, we continue to confound the pundits, and supporters of other clubs who cannot believe that a newly-promoted team can possibly challenge for the top two places.

Of course, it will be tough. Logic says the three relegated teams should dominate the division. Leicester are certainties for the title, Southampton are 19 games unbeaten, and Leeds are looking good too.

Kayden Jackson celebrates his strike (Image: Ross Halls)
But performances and results like the one against Sunderland demonstrate that we’re not flash in the pan. We’re not going anywhere, and I’m convinced we’ll still be in the mix for the top two come those last few, nervy matches.

It certainly won’t be anything other than very difficult. Our next game emphasises that - the small matter of a trip to runaway leaders Leicester. Another huge test of our strength of character.