Seagulls Shot Down By Daryl Murphy!

You have to go back to the Bobby Robson era to recall anything remotely similar to this. It was in 1976 the last time that the blues won five games in a row away from home and once again, Town took the bull by the horns!

The blues started brightly in front of a fantastic away following of almost two thousand and Kevin Bru was twice unlucky when he hit both bar and post in the first half when the Tractor Boys were really on the front foot and firing on all cylinders.

The decisive goal when it came however was scored by last season’s Sky Bet Championship’s top scorer Daryl Murphy, who was gifted the opportunity when defender Lewis Dunk failed to trap the ball and let in our Irish striker and he raced forward and from an acute angle on the edge of the penalty box, fired home off the far post.

A Brighton defender tried in vain to stop the ball crossing the line but only succeeded in ensuring it nestled into the corner of the net to the delight of our away following!

This was as much as the blues deserved and it was testament to the never-say-die attitude of our number nine, who quickly took advantage of what was in truth, a woeful defensive error by Dunk.

As the game wore on the Tractor Boys felt the heat a little but Dean Gerken performed admirably in goal throughout and his punching and his handling was confident and contagious.

Ipswich played in all orange, which incidentally is their third kit but although the fans enjoy the Barcelona look alike colours, I doubt we will be seeing very much of it this season sadly.

Freddie Sears had another superb game and so too did most of the team. It was particularly pleasing to see Luke Hyam replace Kevin Bru in the second half, which I guess is an indication of the strength of our current squad.

Ryan Fraser started this time around but although Brett Pitman was on the bench it did not stop him seeing some of the action in the closing stages, in a game that was played at a frenetic pace.

Luke Varney also came on with moments to spare – although on this occasion, Tommy Oar remained on the sidelines.

So then, it is a visit to Lancashire that beckons on New Year’s day and given the current form that the blues are in, there is every incentive to keep this amazing away record going!

If we were to win on Friday we would leapfrog our Burnley and move into fifth place so perhaps once again it could be a case of fortune favours the brave for the blues?


Frank Weston Editor of Vital Football