Our regular columnist CMC explains why the atmosphere was so different at Portman Road on Easter Monday.
Few could have predicted a 3-1 victory for 15th placed Ipswich, as they took on 2nd place Newcastle.
The sun shone on Portman Road and anyone visiting for the first time this season would not have guessed how disappointing much of it has been. A total of 25,684 came to the game and it was probably Ipswich’s best performance of the season.
Remarkably Ipswich outplayed Newcastle for much of the match and supporters were left thinking, if only they had played like this all season where would we be?
Mick’s after match comments about the effect a crowd can have didn’t go down well but we all know that the 12th man does actually make a massive difference.
Reports centred on trying to make something out of Mick’s typically dry sense of humour but he is a Yorkshireman, who has always said it as it is.
Goals from Freddie Sears, David McGoldrick and Emyr Huws delighted the crowd in a carnival-like atmosphere, where Sir Bobby’s name reverberated all around the ground from supporters of both teams.
As one fan remarked, we knew that ‘all we need is Daryl Murphy back at Portman Road and then we’d have back to back wins’. That happened though respectful Murphy, who didn’t celebrate after his Newcastle goal, was unexpectedly on the losing side.
Given the difference in budgets, this was a massive win – David v Goliath! With cash, just imagine what Ipswich could do next season!
It was a marvellous occasion in honour of our best ever manager. Sir Bobby would have loved the day with his family at Portman Road, watching and talking to the supporters.
As both sets of supporters sang the football anthem that is synonymous with both clubs, ‘There’s only one Bobby Robson’. And so there is.
CMC.
