Youngster Aaron Cresswell put in a star performance as a much-improved Ipswich Town side recorded their biggest win at Portman Road since February with a 3-0 victory over Coventry City.
Vital Report:
Having spoken several times about the need to find a ‘winning formula’ for his squad following a slow start to the campaign, Ipswich manager Paul Jewell decided to make just one change to his starting lineup with Jason Scotland replacing Daryl Murphy up front in a standard 4-4-2 formation. Ibrahima Sonko and Danny Collins started together at centre-back again, whilst Lee Bowyer, Jimmy Bullard, Keith Andrews and Grant Leadbitter made up the four man midfield.
Ipswich and Coventry had vastly contrasting fortunes in their last televised matches, but despite the Sky Blues beating Derby County on TV last week, it was Town who got off to a flyer in front of the Sky Sports cameras. Having struck the first shot of the game wide on 3 minutes, Cresswell swung in an excellent cross from the left four minutes later which defender Martin Cranie could only head past his own keeper under pressure from Scotland.
Boosted by the early goal, Ipswich began to force their dominance on struggling Coventry with a string of chances. Andrews nodded Carlos Edwards’ cross from the right into the path of Michael Chopra only for the ex-Cardiff striker to slice wide from six yards out. Astonishingly, he then squandered another opportunity three minutes later, scuffing wide of the left-hand post after being played in by Leadbitter.
However, Town did extend their lead on the quarter-hour mark. Chopra made amends for his earlier misses with a neat touch to Keith Andrews, who slipped past the Coventry backline before smashing the ball high into the net for his fourth goal in six appearances since joining on loan from Blackburn Rovers.
Eager to get his name on the scoresheet, Chopra struck a low drive narrowly wide of the left-hand post on 20 minutes before heading just beyond the opposite post from another good cross by Cresswell. At the other end, some good work from David Bell set up Cody McDonald for Coventry’s first effort of the match, but his strike was charged down by Sonko who twisted his knee in the process.
With the half-hour mark approaching, Coventry were beginning to find their feet. Cranie headed wide from a corner then Sonko cleared from a dangerous free-kick into the Town box before Bell was booked for fouling Bullard on the counter attack. The former Hull City midfielder struck the subsequent free-kick narrowly wide with goalkeeper Joe Murphy rooted to the spot. Scotland then sliced a shot wildly off target before defender Sonko was forced off with his earlier knee injury to be replaced by Damien Delaney.
As half time approached, the game started to even out a little. McDonald looked to have sneaked beyond the Town backline from Lukas Jutkiewicz’s header only to be ruled offside, then at the other end, Bullard’s corner from the left was headed over from close range by Andrews. Leadbitter then struck a volley well wide from 25 yards before Coventry boss Andy Thorn made a change, bringing on Gary McSheffrey in place of Gael Bigirimana.
Just before the break, Coventry came close to snatching a goal back. Referee Craig Pawson handed the visitors a dubious corner from which Sammy Clingan set up McDonald to power a header towards goal, but Cresswell was in position to head superbly off the line. Jutkiewicz then headed wide of the near post from Bell’s cross before the half-time whistle sounded.
Town were fully deserving of their lead at the break and should probably have been further ahead had Chopra found the target. However, the backline was looking a little more unsettled following the exit of Sonko, offering Coventry a chance to threaten the Blues’ goal.
Following their poor second half display at Blackpool, this time Ipswich sought to maintain the momentum of the first 45 minutes. To begin with it seemed they would carry on where they left off, Edwards blasting a 35 yard drive well over before Scotland forced Murphy into a save with a low strike. McSheffrey then fired over from McDonald’s layoff at the other end before a great pass by Leadbitter set up Bowyer whose shot was blocked by Cyrus Christie.
However, Coventry were now carving out several chances of their own. First, Clingan swung a dangerous free kick deep into the Ipswich box which McDonald could only head into the floor and over the bar from six yards out. With Andrews drilling a Town free kick just wide, McSheffrey was then left unmarked to nod down Jutkiewicz’s cross only for McDonald to head off target again.
Just as Coventry might have been getting on top however, the Blues snatched a third goal somewhat against the run of play. With 67 minutes gone, Chopra played a neat one-two with Jason Scotland who shrugged off Richard Keogh and Chris Hussey before slotting perfectly past Murphy and inside the far post.
With 20 minutes remaining, Ipswich now looked on course for their third win of the season and were trying to make the scoreline even more emphatic. Cresswell hammered a low 35-yard free kick which Murphy was forced to tip around the far post, then the former Tranmere left-back tried his luck again from the subsequent corner only to fire well over. Ten minutes later, Chopra was substituted for Daryl Murphy before Scotland came off to be replaced by Jay Emmanuel-Thomas. Joe Murphy was then called into action again to push a long-range drive from Andrews wide of his right-hand post as the clock ticked towards 90 minutes.
Even though Town were comfortably in the lead, both sides continued to create chances as the game entered stoppage time. Roy O’Donovan had a header nodded off the line by Cresswell before heading back on the rebound, only for the young Town full-back to render goalkeeper David Stockdale redundant with another goal-saving header over the bar. Substitute Emmanuel-Thomas dragged a long shot wide for Town and Clingan’s corner was headed off target by Baker before the Coventry midfielder required a stretcher after falling awkwardly on his ankle, effectively bringing the match to a close.
The result is a welcome return to winning ways for Ipswich after last week’s setback at Blackpool, and despite missing a number of chances to make the scoreline more impressive, there were plenty of signs that the new players are finally starting to click. Particular praise will go to Man of the Match Cresswell – who played a major part at both ends of the pitch – and Andrews in midfield, whilst Jewell may finally have found an effective front pairing after a promising display from Scotland and Chopra.
The night was far from perfect for the Blues however, with Coventry by no means out of the game for much of the second half. Having dominated the first 45 minutes, Town became a little sloppy at times after the restart with some loose passing, particularly as the older players in the side began to tire. With Sonko going off, the backline also looked less solid and some poor marking granted the visitors a number of opportunities which better sides would have punished them for.
Despite having some areas for improvement however, the Portman Road crowd will be happy to see Town pick up a second successive home win as well as only their second clean sheet of the campaign. Having started the night just one point above Coventry in 19th, the win lifts the Blues to 13th in the Championship table and within 3pts of the playoff places. The victory comes at a crucial time too as Jewell’s side prepare for much stiffer tests in their next two games with trips to Middlesbrough and West Ham United.
Ipswich: Stockdale, Cresswell, Collins, Sonko (Delaney 35), Leadbitter, Edwards, Bowyer, Andrews, Bullard, Chopra (D Murphy 82), Scotland (Emmanuel-Thomas 86) – Not used: Lee-Barrett, Ainsley
Coventry: J Murphy, Keogh, Hussey, Cranie, Christie (Cameron 76), Clingan, Bell, Baker, Bigirimana (McSheffrey 44), Jutkiewicz, McDonald (O’Donovan 69) – Not used: Dunn, Thomas
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Were you at Portman Road on Monday, or did you watch the game on TV? What did you make of the win? Do you think Paul Jewell’s team are finally starting to gel, and does our season start here?
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