Ipswich Town left-back Leif Davis was delighted by the resilience his side showed in their 3-2 win against Bristol City.
The Blues fell behind after 54 minutes when Anis Mehmeti’s deflected strike looped into the net off Luke Woolfenden, but they were quick to respond when substitute Ali Al-Hamadi turned Davis’ shot into the net to equalise just after the hour-mark.
When Tommy Conway put the visitors back ahead, nobody felt that Town were out of the game. It wasn’t a surprise to see them level once again with 10 minutes to go as Conor Chaplin headed Davis’ free-kick into the back of the net.
Al-Hamadi’s missed penalty could’ve been the killer blow at the end of the game, but Ipswich weren’t going to drop points without a fight. Having been the creator throughout the game, and the season, Davis was the man who struck the winner, firing a fierce shot into the net off Rob Dickie to take all three points and extend his side’s winning run to six matches.
“It was a good game to be involved in, but a difficult game,” the 24-year-old admitted. “They’re a very well-coached team and it was hard to break them down in the first half, but we knew what we could do.
“We obviously went behind and I made a mistake for the second goal, but I know in myself that I’m mentally strong, I can get on with it and help the team do what we did there to get the three points.
“It was a tough game but I’m just buzzing that we got three points at the end of it.”
A common theme we see in games at Portman Road is that Ipswich dominate the first half, often bagging two or three before half time, then sitting off after the break to see out the win. This was the opposite.
The two sides went in level after 45 minutes as neither side had done too much in attacking areas. It would take an explosive second half to decide the match, and Town’s substitutes played a big part yet again.
“In the first half, they were well organised,” Davis admitted. “They’re a well-coached team and we did struggle to break them down. We found it hard to find the pockets in the middle of the pitch where we like to play from the midfielders and further up the pitch.
“In the second half, we didn’t let our heads drop. We kept fighting and, at the end of it, the two subs came on and changed the game, Wes [Burns] and Ali [Al-Hamadi]. Both powerful players that we knew could hurt the back line.
“Wes did that tonight when he came on tonight, so did Ali.”
The result means that Kieran McKenna’s side have taken 28 points from losing positions, which almost the name number of points that they accrued in their last Championship season [31 in 2018/19].
Doing it against the Robins, given the late setback they suffered when Al-Hamadi missed his penalty, feels particularly impressive.
“That’s how strong a team we are mentally,” Davis explained. “We don’t let our heads drop, we always keep pushing.
“The togetherness of the team is very, very strong. We suffer together, we enjoy the good moments of the game together. We obviously came from behind again tonight.”
On an individual level, it was an important night for Davis, who bagged his first goal since the 6-0 win against Charlton Athletic on April 23rd, 2023.
It’s been a long time coming, having taken 27 shots across 33 games so far this season. He’s come close on numerous occasions, but he was able to connect with the ball in the right place at the right time to score his first ever goal in the second tier.
“I was still thinking about the mistake I made at the time, but I couldn’t let it get to me too much,” he revealed.” I know my qualities higher up the pitch.
“I got my first goal and I was buzzing to take it, helping us take the lead again.
“I was buzzing, after my shot against Plymouth the other day that went straight to the back of the stand. The lads told me how much of a left foot I’ve got, and that I just need to be composed, do what I need to do and place it in the net.
“When it fell to me, I knew I just had to place it. That’s what I did, and obviously it fell perfectly for me.”
Assists are his bread and butter, and he now has 14 to his name. He’s closing in on the record number for a full-back in the Championship, which is 15, held by England international Kieran Trippier and former Leeds United defender Barry Douglas.
Davis knows Douglas from his time at Elland Road, revealing that the Lech Poznan defender had been in touch with him to jokingly warn him off breaking the record.
“It’s a good achievement, I’m absolutely buzzing,” he said. “I know the person who has the record, Barry. I had a message off him a few months ago, and he said ‘you better not break it’. That gave me more motivation to go and break it!
“I’m delighted. The main thing is that we get the three points at the end of the day and keep fighting until the end of the season.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel