Town’s play-off hopes are gradually fading away after a disappointing draw with Blackpool.
Alan Quinn and David Norris were both suspended going into the game, while Jon Walters missed out with a stomach bug.
Richard Wright started in goal again for the Blues, protected by a back four of David Wright, Gareth McAuley, Alex Bruce and Ben Thatcher. This was Thatcher’s first appearance for a number of weeks although Pim Balkestein can count himself unfortunate to miss out.
The four-man midfield saw the pacey Danny Haynes recalled to the right flank. Tommy Miller partnered Owen Garvan in the centre, as Ipswich handed a debut to big money signing, Luciano Civelli on the left of midfield.
Statistically, Ipswich’s most successful strike partnership this season has been Pablo Counago and Jon Stead and this was the duo Magilton opted for.
Ipswich dominated possession for the majority of the game. Their play around the edge of the area was very neat most of the time, but it was the lack of penetration in this game that all but ended the Blues’ faint hopes of promotion.
The visitors themselves took a surprise lead when Alex Baptiste went on a fine run and buried it inside the post from 12 yards after a cute one-two with David Fox. Ipswich soon bounced back with Tommy Miller charging into the box and smashing the ball into the corner.
The first opportunity of the game fell to Blackpool. On 5 minutes, Owen Garvan ploughed into David Fox. It was a threatening position for a free kick, but the attempt by Stephen Crainie was poor as he blazed it over Richard Wright’s crossbar.
Ipswich were probably the better side in the opening half of the first period, but both sides were restricted to potshots from the edge of the goal areas. neither able to force the opposition keeper into a save.
However on 28 minutes, the home fans were stunned into silence, when Alex Baptiste was allowed too much time and space in the Ipswich box to blast into the top corner of Richard Wright’s net. Although goalkeepers shouldn’t be beaten at their near post, the power in the shot would have made it difficult for any keeper.
GOAL: Ipswich Town 0-1 Blackpool (Alex Baptiste)
This shocked Ipswich into desperate action, and the home side were on the attack right from the restart.
On 34 minutes, some fantastic play around the Blackpool area teed up Tommy Miller who opened himself up to hit a beautiful curling ball into the bottom corner of Matt Gilks’ net.
GOAL: Ipswich Town 1-1 Blackpool (Tommy Miller)
Danny Haynes had a quiet first half by his standards, seeming reluctant to take on players. However, he teed himself up for a sweetly-struck volley from the right that flashed past the Tangerines’ keeper’s post.
For the remainder of the half, Ipswich managed to dominate proceedings. Luciano Civelli did impress no end on the left wing, and it was he who managed to earn Ipswich a free kick in a promising area, but nothing came of it.
HALF TIME: Ipswich Town 1-1 Blackpool
Town came out in the second half all guns blazing, and almost took the lead within five minutes. Some terrific build up play allowed Danny Haynes to cross for Jon Stead who tested Gilks with a spectacular overhead kick. If it had gone in, I doubt you would have seen a better goal this season.
Ipswich were in control of the match, with Civelli and Stead impressing well. The home side won a number of corners, but still were unable to make anything of them. Pablo Counago was among the individuals trying his luck from distance. He was unable to test Gilks.
Blackpool however, did look threatening on the counter attack, but their generally defensive tactics were working well, as Ipswich huffed and puffed, but could not blow the defence down.
With the game moving into the last 20 minutes, the Blues upped the pressure. Tommy Miller was commanding in the centre of midfield, but Owen Garvan was beginning to look fatigued. He was replaced by Veliche Shumulikoski, with Dean Bowditch later replacing the classy, albeit unfit Luciano Civelli.
This was Bowditch’s first appearance in an Ipswich shirt since September, but was also his first league game for Town for a very long time. The former academy player showed some intelligent touches and neat pieces of skill. He seemed to carry quite a threat, although he was unable to produce a shot of any note. Maybe this was down to manager Jim Magilton playing him on the left of midfield.
With full time approaching, Ipswich began to look desperate. Pablo Counago was unable to get his shot on target in the 87th minute, and that was as good as it got for Town.
FULL TIME: Ipswich Town 1-1 Blackpool
At the end of the game there was a bust up in the North Stand upper, when one irresponsible ‘fan’ decided to raise a ‘Jim Out’ banner. Needless to say the stewards got involved before there was a spot of handbags.
This won’t overshadow yet another drab performance at Portman Road, with the players almost apologetically coming over to the North Stand at the end of the game. There were a few boos towards manager Jim Magilton as he trundled off down the tunnel, and the pressure will once again be increased on the Irishman as his side now only have 14 games to make up seven points that would see them in and around the play-off places.
