Reply With QuoteIpswich – They came with nothing to play for and it showed. They barely got over half way. They tried to sit in and counter but it did not work as we swarmed all over then. Admittedly they have tried to mix it up and play some younger players or try a few different formations or players in different roles. They struggled to stem the tide today and were lucky to just lost 2-0. In the grand scheme they may see relegation as a chance to rebuild. I spoke to a few Ipswich fans as we ate after the game and many said they would prefer going down to watching dire football of the sort they saw under McCarthy but not sure it will be easy to get straight back up as we and another found. They will need to move towards youth and recruitment will also surely see them going for the best of the bets in terms of players in the bottom two divisions. Lambert will get to start next season but a poor start and they too may consider another change. I personally felt axing McCarthy was the wrong move. He had them punching above their weight really and the changes have seen a further decline although losing so many goals and not replacing them properly clearly turned out to be an issue.
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Opponent man of the match – Not sure anyone stood out that much, Bishop was busy and Nsiala got his foot in a few times but for the most part they looked a team that looked like they could not wait for the season to finish.
Weak link – The whole team may take this. They were all poor. Keeper looked a bit ropey but made a a few decent saves. It seemed like Skuse a midfielder ended up the back and he struggled with Didsy’s movement and pace. The whole defence got pulled apart a lot actually. Chambers tried to get close to McGoldrick but struggled with him all game.
Henderson 7/10 – Nothing to do really. He made one routine flicked over save at the end but mostly a spectator. Came on the mic and grabbed it off Gary Sinclair to announce ‘I am not f*****g leaving!’ which drew cheers from the crowd. Loved to see his passion on the goals and at full time as he walked round the ground.
Baldock 8/10 – Thought he played well today. He got up and down the flank all game and was tireless. Involved in a lot of out attacks and although a few he overplayed or made a poor final ball, I still thought he was very good and showed pace and hunger as well as a good football brain.
Stevens 7.5/10 – Another solid performance. He defended well and attacked when he could. A few decent crosses just evaded our players. Ended up right wing at times which showed our level of adventure. He kept pushing them back second half with surging runs.
Egan 7/10 – Solid. Not a lot to play against but did what he had to. Nearly scored with a header too.
O’Connell 8/10 – Deservedly United’s man of the match. Set up the first and scored the second. He was also onto the ball all game long and helped propel us forward. Was dominant in both boxes but also nice and calm defensively when he had to.
Basham 7/10 – Steady-ish. A few balls overplayed but overall, he set the tone by coming onto the ball and helping us move up the pitch. He was sensibly second half only going occasionally and weighing up when we may have an overload down that side.
Fleck 7/10 – Decent performance. Snapped round the Ipswich midfield and made sure we turner over possession quite quickly. He won tackles and the little loose balls and did send it forward quicker and had a few driving runs too. His corner led to the goal also.
Norwood 7/10 – As above. He got on it deep and helped us dictate play. Solid if not showy but he was decent in terms of helping us move it on and controlling things rom his position. Played a few lovely crossfield passes and also very unlucky when he hit the post.
Duffy 7/10 – First half thought he was very good and got in and made us tick. He did a lot of good thing and was involved. I felt his influence on the ball waned second half but his effort on and off the ball was excellent. He chased down and contested several opposition players. He made sure he did the defensive things too.
Hogan 7/10 – His mark is more about his goal than his performance. His goal was crucial with a lovely deft fleck. Before then he had a few half chances to get in but is offside a lot. Second half he then have a series of half chances but missed and this was the cue for Wilder to replace him. He at least moved them about with his pace and running but needs to do more for me; closing and effort as well as what he does on the ball.
McGoldrick 8/10 – Another excellent performance and for me just misses out to O’Connell for Man of the Match. Did his usual of coming off deep and picking up play really well. Drifted inside and showed his strength and skill as he keeps the ball but kept making chances. He was superb at times with the things he did. The ball to Baldock was sublime and then another opening he nearly made second half Maybe dithered a few times when he had a chance but that is being ultra-critical.
Subs –
Dowell –
Madine – Gave away a few silly fouls but he won a few flicks too. At this stage we did not really seem too concerned about going for the jugular so his work was more pressing/marking etc.
Sharp – Came on and nearly got in twice but his lack of pace and the fact the defender read his run, stopped the glory ending. Great to see him on the pitch though for the celebrations.
Lundstram – Just brought on to beef things up and stop them having any kind of foothold in midfield and it worked as we kept it simple in the final stages.
Wilder 9/10 – Brilliant. Kept the team disciplined but energetic and we were at them from the off. We played some of the stuff we have seen for some time and the pragmatic approach over the last two months since Villa, at least seems to have gone. We got back to the overlapping centre backs and wing backs bombing on. We saw the one touch stuff, the pass and move nc create an overload ad finally after a few half chances the goal came. We did not let up after the break too. The subs were timed well although felt we looked poorer after they came on and we did not keep it as much.
What an achievement though if we do go up as expected now. The man if a legend. He has turned around the style, ethos, personnel and more importantly, the togetherness and belief in thus club is sky high and it all down to him.
Referee – Tim Robinson. Not sent a man off all year and no need to panic today. Only one really poor tackle the one on O’Connell which was rightly a booking. We were keyed up and a few challenges we sought to get get it back, he blew up for and had a word. The rest of the game was easy with no poor tackles and no moment of much controversy.
Fans/Crowd – I felt the start was very loud and this carried on though kick off. We scored and you expected the noise to keep increasing but we actually did not have as much voice in this period. Everyone got a bit nervous and then the second went in, people relaxed as we saw it out. Good that only a few idiots went on and were quickly shooed off. After this to jubilant cheers and applause the team went around the ground to salute not only the final home game but hopefully the game that seals promotion.
After the game the streets round the Lane were full of noise and chants. It was all good natured despite a man falling through a bus stop on London Road and needing ambulance treatment. The rest of London Road was very merry with flares, fireworks and chants serenading the night air! The Police cordoned a section off but in affect it meant the whole road was closed. Most fans had bought bottles from local shops although Waitrose closed not long after we left around 7.30pm and other stores were doing the same. Still most had boxes/cans of lager and it seemed set to carry on after we left. We went back along there on the way home around 10ish but it had all supressed by the time. Maybe everyone will be back down there tomorrow 2ish if the Leeds game goes our way!
