Town Edge Closer To Play Play-Off’s!

The atmosphere was tense as was to be expected but when Freddie Sears latched on to a long ball from Christophe Berra to slot the ball home on 8 minutes there was relief all around the ground.

The calm did not last for long though because just 5 minutes later Cardiff City were level, when Scott Malone superb swirling cross was headed expertly downwards and into the Town net by Eoin Doyle to level things again to the exasperation of the 17,000 home fans.

The goal of the night was still to come though and from the least likely source. Cole Skuse charged towards the edge of the penalty area to unleash an exocet missile that arrowed its way into the net almost at the speed of light!

The Portman Road crowd were awoken and from that moment on, it became an intimidating atmosphere for the away team, who continued to try to play good football in spite of conceding one of the goals of the season and Skuse very first in an Ipswich shirt in 89 attempts!

For the neutral this was a very entertaining game as it ebbed and flowed with good football and at a blistering pace for the most part.

The blues manager recalled Stephen Hunt to the line-up for the first time since February and Teddy Bishop and Jonathan Parr also complimented the midfield to good effect.

Luke Varney was unfit as we had feared but this did not impact on the Tractor Boys ability to create chances and as the game developed, there were good chances for both sides.

I was particularly impressed with the team spirit and the blues will to win. Unlike other games at Portman Road when Town had gone back into their shell, this did not occur this time thankfully.

The Town continued to search for more goals as the game progressed and it came as a huge relief when Daryl Murphy increased the home sides lead with almost the last kick of the game, having been fed in by man of the match Cole Skuse!

We all know how important this win is in our quest to make it to the play-offs. Now we can go into that game at Wolves on Saturday with renewed hope; knowing that it is the home side that will be under the most pressure trailing as they do by three points to the Town and with an inferior goal difference!

In what turned out to be a fabulous night for Ipswich Town supporters, Brentford also went down to Sheffield Wednesday and now perhaps more than ever before, our fate is in our own hands.

Mick McCarthy is no longer talking about an away point always being a good point and suggests that if we played for a draw at Wolves,the chances are that we would come under more pressure than if we played with the attitude of trying to snatch a win.

He is probably right but if we do end up drawing at the weekend in another game that is being televised by Sky, then no one will be complaining with a home game against Nottingham Forest to come!