Teddy Bishop and Daryl Murphy were on target as Town twice came from behind to draw 2-2 at AFC Bournemouth. Yann Kermorgant put the Cherries in front with a spectacular second-minute overhead kick, Bishop equalised with his first senior goal five minutes after the break, Matt Ritchie restored the home side’s lead four minutes later and Murphy levelled in the 76th minute.

Bartosz Bialkowski kept his place in goal despite Dean Gerken’s return from injury, with Paul Anderson, Cole Skuse and Luke Hyam coming into the side for Jay Tabb, who dropped to the bench, and the injured Jonny Williams and Stephen Hunt.

Anderson took up the front three role alongside David McGoldrick, a former Bournemouth loanee, and Daryl Murphy in place of Hunt, who remained behind in Suffolk due to a hamstring niggle but is expected to be OK for next week’s visit to Charlton. One-time Town trialist Harry Arter started for the home side.

The home side started very brightly with the Blues immediately under pressure and they went close to going ahead in the second minute when Matt Ritchie slammed a powerful strike against Bialkowski’s crossbar from 20 yards with the keeper beaten.

Town were unable to clear the danger and the ball eventually reached Simon Francis out on the right. The full-back whipped over a cross and Kermorgant spectacularly hooked a powerful overhead kick into the net from 12 yards leaving Bialkowski motionless.

The Blues were struggling to make an impression on the game and in the ninth minute the Cherries were close to adding to their lead. Goalscorer Kermorgant was played in on goal by Marc Pugh and Bialkowski did superbly to get down and save low to his left.

The loose ball ran to Ritchie on the right but the Polish keeper again did well to come off his line to block.

Town were forced into an early change in the 17th minute when Kevin Bru turned his ankle as he challenged Pugh after a loose Luke Hyam pass. After briefly trying to carry on the Mauritius international was eventually replaced by Teddy Bishop.

Skuse hit Town’s first shot of the afternoon in the 20th minute, a scuffed and deflected effort which failed to trouble Cherries’ keeper Artur Boruc.

But from the corner Christophe Berra’s goal-bound header was diverted behind. And from Anderson’s subsequent flag-kick on the left Daryl Murphy went even closer, rising highest and flicking a near-post header on to the top of the bar.

However, it was Bournemouth who were still seeing most of the ball and they continued to look dangerous, Smith blocking a Pugh shot from the left with his face.

Town, who had switched to what was essentially a 4-5-1 system since the substitution with Murphy and Anderson on either flank, began to have more of the ball after the half hour mark, albeit without particularly threatening to get back on terms.

On 37 Francis escaped from Mings and crossed from the right towards Andrew Surman headed straight at Bialkowski.

Former Cherries loanee McGoldrick tried to make the most of left-back Steve Cook’s slip in the 42nd minute but Boruc blocked his shot from a tight angle at his near post.

The Blues were looking most dangerous from set pieces and from the resultant corner Boruc did well to tip Berra’s header over the bar.

As the half moved into its final moments, Bialkowski saved spectacularly from Pugh after the Bournemouth man had reached the keeper’s under-hit punch from Ritchie’s freekick on the right.

The 1-0 half-time scoreline was a fair reflection of the first 45 minutes. The home side started like a house on fire and had gone close even via Ritchie even before Kermorgant’s excellent goal. Only a superb double save from Bialkowski stopped them increasing their lead.

The Blues found it hard to make much impact in the opening 20 minutes or so with the Cherries closing them down quickly but came into the game more towards half-time.

Town had threatened most from set pieces with Murphy and Berra both close to equalising with headers.

Five minutes after the break, the Blues got back on terms with their most fluent move of the match. Mings played the ball into Murphy midway inside the Bournemouth half, the Irishman returning the ball to the left-back as he broke down the flank.

Mings crossed low and sub Bishop deftly cut the ball across Boruc and into the net to score his first senior goal.

But parity would last only four minutes. Bournemouth top scorer Callum Wilson battled his way through a number of Town challenges on the left of the area before cutting it across to an unmarked Ritchie, who gleefully slammed the ball into the net.

Berra joined Ritchie - who had been yellow-carded for kicking the ball away shortly before his goal - in the referee’s book on 59 for blocking Wilson, who was replaced by South African international Tokelo Rantie three minutes later. Berra will miss next week’s game at Charlton as a result of reaching five bookings.

Bournemouth sub Rantie was immediately in the thick of the action, receiving the ball having retreated from what looked to be an offside position and quickly taking it on into the area before going to ground under pressure from Smith and Chambers. The home crowd appealed for a penalty - and they may have had a case - but referee Michael Bull waved away their protests.

The Cherries supporters were incensed by the referee’s failure to award a spotkick and - while Rantie received lengthy treatment in the aftermath of the incident - there was a brief exchange of views between a group of fans and Mings, who was on the touchline preparing to take a throw, much to the annoyance of the Town support further along the same stand.

Rantie was eventually stretchered off and replaced by Brett Pitman, then soon after the restart Pugh hit a low shot from distance which Bialkowski blocked. On 73 Mings was booked for a clash with Ritchie.

Two minutes later, the former Chippenham man was hauled over by Francis on the Blues left and from the freekick Town again got back on terms. Anderson delivered a fantastic ball into the area and Murphy once again rose highest to nod home his 11th goal of the season.

The Cherries quickly looked to get back ahead, Kermorgant looping a shot wide from distance, before Mings required treatment at the other end after a challenge with Francis. The left-back seemed OK but on 83 was replaced by Jonny Parr. Three minutes later, Hyam was booked for kicking the ball away.

As the game entered 12 minutes of injury time - largely as a result of Rantie’s treatment - Smith blocked from Pitman.

It was the home side who were having most of the ball with the Blues defending in numbers. Sub Bishop was replaced by Conor Sammon for the for the final minutes.

Midway through injury time the Cherries carved out a good opening for Arter but the midfielder scuffed his shot at Bialkowski, a ball striking Skuse's arm led to more home penalty appeals. At the other end, McGoldrick shot well over on a rare Town foray forward.

Deep, deep in added time Ritchie got around the outside of Parr on the right and found Pitman with a low cross but the former Bristol City man sent the ball well over.

But the Blues were not to be denied another hard-fought away point against an impressive Cherries side who on this evidence will certainly be amongst the automatic promotion contenders come May. Having been behind twice Town showed typical spirit to drag themselves back into the match.

While Bournemouth’s first goal was a superb strike, their second was a poor one from Town’s perspective.

Bishop’s goal was Town’s best move of the match and the second was another well executed set piece.

The draw sees the Blues - who have now lost only once in 14 games - move back to fourth in the table - having briefly slipped to fifth yesterday - four points behind leaders Derby.

AFC Bournemouth: Boruc, Daniels, Cook, Elphick (c), Francis, Pugh, Surman, Arter, Ritchie, Kermorgant, Wilson (Rantie 62 (Pitman 71). Unused: Camp, Smith, Stanislas, Gosling, Fraser.

Town: Bialkowski, Chambers (c), Mings (Parr 83), Berra, Smith, Skuse, Hyam, Bru (Bishop 17 (Sammon 90)), Anderson, McGoldrick, Murphy. Unused: Gerken, Parr, Tabb, Henshall, Bajner, Sammon. Referee Michael Bull (Essex). Att: 11,115 (1424).

Photo: Action Images

ITFC_Singapore added 20:08 - Nov 22 1425 ! I managed to get in the Bournemouth end :) The penalty incident happened right in front of me. I instinctively didn't think it was a pen, but in all fairness it was pretty much 50/50 and could as easily have been given as not. Always impressed with the honesty of town fans. We were indeed second best today although we didn't lack any guts, determination and will to win. We're just light on real quality especially when set against a neat , skillful team like Bournemouth. So even if not 100% deserved a gutsy point against a very decent side. Get in !!

5

Letchworth_Blue added 20:38 - Nov 22 2nd best in the first half and rode our luck not to go into the break more down. However sheer guts and determination got us back. Dids was outstanding again, and Christophe Berra is absoluely immense!!
3

ITFC_Singapore added 20:49 - Nov 22 Agree on Berra. Our man of the match for me.
3

runaround added 21:25 - Nov 22 Excellent result away to a good team in a fantastic run of form. Off to Charlton next weekend, keep it going Town
3

bugledog123 added 21:31 - Nov 22 Great result - we battled in a way that shows our progress this season. COYB!
3

cornishblu added 21:41 - Nov 22 ....just back from the game....bad accident on Coast road meant a diversion...and also discovering why bmouth only charge £1 for car parking...you have to wait nearly an hour to get out!! In the end a very good point albeit we would all have gone absolutely ballistic if we had scored from the last corner.....v poor start they were at us right from start and goal was very good.....disappointed to see Bru go off but teddy bishop didnt let anyone down and was delighted with his goal. We did enough against a very impressive bmouth side...oh and their twelfth man the referee who was absolutely diabolical today....shame to see the way the bmouth players got in his face right from the kick off....definitely turned him and is certainly not a trait that I thought an Eddie Howe team would operate....thought all but Skuse put in a good shift today....he continues to look out of his depth and hasn't got going all season....would win more plaudits if he knew which way we were kicking as he always passes backwards....infuriating !!!.....Bart had a good game and should keep his place...great crowd great atmosphere....even if a few of our fans need a hard look at themselves when kicking off with each other!!.

4

Elizabeth added 21:57 - Nov 22 Can't believe the lack of posts on here tonight. Team are doing really well and may it continue! I for one didn't think we would get anything today .. so pleased I was proved wrong. Well done Mick, Terry and the team !!!
4

TrabzonBlue added 22:09 - Nov 22 Bournemouth are a quality side, make no mistake, they played us off the park, how we managed to escape with a draw I will never know. I love the resilience and never say die attitude of this Town side and I am convinced we are a top 6 side.
4

stevelincsexile added 22:20 - Nov 22 Always the sign of a good team is when you get something out of a game when you were generally second best. With our great team spirit, determination, desire and will to be successful is always a great asset and gets us points we may not always deserve. I can see us in an automatic promotion spot COYB.
3

PJH added 22:33 - Nov 22 Just got home. This was a good point won against a very good team. We were over run in midfield at times but hung on when we had to. I thought Tommy Smith outstanding and Bart made a couple of very good saves. Bit of sorting out to do for next week because Berra suspended(I think) and Bru out injured. Hopefully Ty will be fit. We are now certainly serious promotion contenders and nobody is going to be looking forward to playing us.

3

TractorBeezer added 22:39 - Nov 22 Here is an interesting but extremely one-sided report from the Cherries' Forum which also sheds some light on the Mings incident. Am quite sure that he was provoked. http://www.bournemouth.vitalfootball.co.uk/matchrep.asp?a=377645 The author who writes with flair failed to disclose our injuries and loss of JW , cannot count very well (we had 10 attempts)..and does not understand the difference between there and their!

2

battyblue added 05:45 - Nov 23 Watched on live stream today we where completely outplayed for periods of the game and rode our luck but if you can do that and get a point it has to be massive and bodes well for the future still need more pace in the team imo but well done today to all it keeps us up there in the mix as long as we can hang in there a gap may appear in the table between top five or six and those beating each other below by after xmas.

3

Pendejo added 06:18 - Nov 23 Outplayed but not defeated. No Berra for Charlton - no probs, Tommy comes in. No Mings? Hmm Given current form, whoever comes in will work their nuts off not to let the team down. COYB give us another win in SE7
3

Matthew_Crush added 06:51 - Nov 23 Brilliant result for the TOWN , and still four points ahead of our yellow and green friends from down the road ! GET IN .. IN MICK WE TRUST !!!!!
2

BlueandTruesince82 added 09:18 - Nov 23 The Cherries are just pissy coz they didnt win. Its fashionable to bash us because teams arnt used to dropping points against little old ipswich. For me the difference this season is that we can play the game so many ways. We can ping it around (not helped today by no JW and KBs early injury) and we can rough it up if we need to. last season was merely about becoming competitive again and the squad limited how we could set up but now Mick has added that bit of sparkle which allows us to me much more flexible.

2

warktheline added 09:20 - Nov 23 Looks like Mick has finally proved the anti mick posse wrong. Unreal, page after page of knee jerk reactions after we lost to Norwich, compared to 2 pages, when we earn a credible draw against top opposition. Mind you the dinosaur has a record of 1 defeat in 14, what else is there to say! The truth of it is, 1, Mick is a top draw manager at championship level and gets the best out of his players. 2, ME deserves credit for this recruitment. 3, ME stood by the manager and refused offers on our players, in last transfer window. The best is yet to come, these boys are gonna do our club proud.COYB.

1

bennyitfc added 09:38 - Nov 23 If anyone wants a chuckle... http://www.bournemouth.vitalfootball.co.uk/forum/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=6645 http://www.bournemouth.vitalfootball.co.uk/forum/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=6645
1

Surco72 added 10:31 - Nov 23 Great result and great atmosphere throughout in a game which could have gone either way right till the end. Fighting spirit a real credit to MM and fancy they had a half time roasting as they were out early for the second half. Completely over run in middle of park as Skuse for me was awful not helping back four and not marking in the middle which made Anderson come in and gave the Cherries a free man wide all afternoon . Rode our luck and Bart made some crucial saves to keep us in it and Tommy some great tackles but a very well earned away point that not many teams will get

3

TimmyH added 11:18 - Nov 23 Perhaps some of the Bournemouth fans want to watch Tyrone week in week out...then they'll find he's just a tad better than what they've got. Even Jacqui Oatley who was reporting on the game for BBC said he was a 'powerhouse'. Unfortunately this is typical banter from opposing supporters...the only time they would change their minds about him would be if he signed for them (and that's not going to happen).

0

Walk_the_Wark added 11:50 - Nov 23 Ha Tractorbreezer! The Tractor Boys and 'agricultural' Mick !
0

arablue added 11:54 - Nov 23 Well done boys...keep this up, getting a point even when we don't look like getting any, is an indicator of a team going up to the Prems!
2

Seasider added 12:19 - Nov 23 As soon as I saw that Skuse was straight back in alongside Luke guessed what sort of game we were about to witness ie their attack against our defence with long balls up to front man. Bournemouth are a quality football team who out played us especially in midfield where Skuse was his usual negative self when managing to get the ball which wasn't often.They had at least twice as much of the ball as we did;but when we did get forward they didn't look that secure as their philosophy seems to be that the opposing side wont score if they are rarely out of their own half. Having said all that we did very well to come from behind twice and it is an excellent point;but I worry that we are losing our creative players,Jonny Williams Hunty and now Kevin Bru;so will now presumably have to rely on the likes of Skuse and grinding out results again unless Mick decides to give the likes of Henshall Stewart et al a go which doesnt seem likely.Maybe he will dip into the loan market before it closes. Still Town are still 4th and one defeat in 14 is a terrific achievement;but when you see a team like Bournemouth play it makes one nostalgic!

2

Samassi100Abou added 12:21 - Nov 23 Wish I was a betting man called 2-2 great result, draw away win at home and you will there or there abouts come end of the season.
0

RaymondovicBlue added 15:01 - Nov 23 Tommy and Bart were outstanding.... Mings was quiet but that's in part due to AFCB's play. A great point against the better team on the day (doubt that anyone else who was there will argue with that).... Entertaining stuff and proud to be blue!!!
2

PJH added 15:35 - Nov 23 Agree RaymondovicBlue with all your points. I wore my sunhat like you suggested but no sun! We now have got very good away points at Derby,Forest and Bournemouth if we can add to those with wins at the lesser teams such as Norwich we will have a good chance of automatic promotion.
3

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls