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Birmingham City 2-1 Ipswich Town - Match Report Tuesday, 13th Dec 2016 22:08
Adam Webster’s first goal for Town wasn’t enough to prevent the Blues from falling to a 2-1 defeat at Birmingham City. Clayton Donaldson put the home side in front from the penalty spot in the 41st minute, Michael Morrison made it 2-0 eight minutes after the break before Webster headed his goal as the Blues attempted to stage a comeback in which Christophe Berra had what would have been a late equaliser harshly ruled out.
Myles Kenlock came in for the injured Jonas Knudsen at left-back in an otherwise unchanged Town side. The Dane travelled but missed out with an unspecified knock.
Andre Dozzell replaced Teddy Bishop, who is out for up to a month with an ankle ligament injury, on the bench.
The Blues, wearing their all white away kit, were first to threaten in the third minute when Webster sent Luke Varney away on the right. Saturday’s goalscorer crossed towards David McGoldrick, who failed to make contact as he looked to volley. Birmingham keeper Tomasz Kuszczak eventually cleared the danger ahead of the lurking Jonathan Douglas.
Blues keeper Bartosz Bialkowski was called into action for the first time on 10 when Jonathan Grounds’s long throw from the left bounced awkwardly in the area. However, the Pole punched away.
Town had looked the more dangerous side in the early stages, however, and in the 12th minute Tom Lawrence crossed from the left and McGoldrick hit a shot on the half-turn, which deflected over off Morrison.
Following the corner, the ball was cleared out to Kenlock, who had made a confident start, but his shot struck McGoldrick.
After Bialkowski had rushed off his line to clear the ball ahead of Maikel Kieftenbeld, Lawrence made a pacy run down the left and won a corner. The on-loan Leicester man took the flag-kick and Berra nodded down at the far post but no Town player was on hand to profit from it.
As the game reached the 20-minute mark Jonathan Spector sent a dangerous low ball across the Town area from the right but no one was able to get a touch.
A minute later, Webster found Kenlock on the right with a classy cross-field ball. The 20-year-old left-back crossed but Douglas’s header looped wide.
Bialkowski was forced to save on 25 when Berra headed away from Donaldson but only succeeded in finding Lukas Jutkiewicz 20 yards out, from where the striker hit a shot which the Town keeper palmed away to his right.
Kuszczak made an even better save at the other end on 32 after Lawrence had made another dangerous run down the left. The Welsh international cut the ball across and Morrison stabbed the ball out to McGoldrick, who hit a first-time effort which the former Manchester United man did well to push over.
The Blues had had the better of the half but so far without having anything to show for it. But on 36 there was danger at the other end when Spector crossed from the right towards David Davis but the midfielder was only able to head into the stand from a tight angle.
David Cotterill picked up the game’s first booking on 38 for a foul on Ward, then a minute later Blues skipper Luke Chambers joined him in the book for pulling back Jutkiewicz on halfway.
Birmingham were beginning to look the more threatening side and on 40 Jutkiewicz hit a shot which deflected wide off Chambers after a corner had been cleared and looped back into the box.
From the resultant flag-kick, the home side were awarded the penalty from which they would take the lead.
Jutkiewicz hit another shot and Varney tried to block but only succeeded in stopping it with his arm and referee Darren Bond pointed to the spot.
The Town players protested in vain, and with little cause, before Donaldson stepped up and chipped down the middle as Bialkowski dived to his left.
As the game moved into injury time goalscorer Donaldson was stretchered off after a long spell of treatment having fallen awkwardly when challenging with Webster on halfway. Che Adams took over in the home side’s attack.
Birmingham’s half-time lead was harsh on the Blues who had had the better opportunities up to the penalty with Kuszczak having made the game’s most significant save from McGoldrick.
However, the home side had started to look more dangerous just prior to winning the penalty with Jutkiewicz having hit a number of strikes from the edge of the box.
McGoldrick sent the second half’s first shot well wide from distance in the 47th minute but the home side began the period the stronger overall.
On 50 Kieftenbeld's cross from the right flicked off Douglas beyond Jutkiewicz, then from the corner Grounds’s shot was blocked and Berra eventually cleared.
But three minutes later the home side were 2-0 in front. Cotterill sent over a deep corner from the left and unmarked Birmingham skipper Morrison, who was born in Bury St Edmunds and brought up in Haverhill, nodded past Bialkowski.
Town looked to get a foothold back in the game but didn’t threaten until just before the hour mark when Lawrence hit a shot from distance which was too close to Kuszczak.
The Blues were making little headway and on 61 Brett Pitman replaced Varney, then five minutes later Freddie Sears and Jonny Williams took over from Ward and McGoldrick with Town now playing a front three of Lawrence, Pitman and Sears with Williams behind them.
On 68 Lawrence and Sears combined on the left and the former West Ham man stabbed out to Douglas, who scraped his shot well over.
The Blues continued to press and in the 70th minute they pulled a goal back. Lawrence worked himself space on the left and sent over a perfect cross for Webster, who powered his first Town goal into the net.
The goal led to a few jitters around St Andrew’s and Town quickly won two more corners, Kenlock shooting high and wide after the second had been cleared to him midway inside the home side’s half.
Pitman squeezed the ball through to Sears on the left of the box in the 73rd minute but the ex-Colchester frontman shot into the side-netting. However, the move was enough to get the near-500 strong Town following singing for the first time.
Town went looking for an equaliser which had looked highly unlikely up to the introduction of the subs, dominating possession but failing to create another serious opportunity.
On 83, after Webster and then Lawrence had both slipped as Maghoma broke on the counter-attack, Jutkiewicz eventually headed into Bialkowski’s arms.
With a minute and a half of scheduled time remaining, the Blues thought they’d got back on terms.
Lawrence sent over a corner to the far post, Berra headed home only for referee Bond to adjudge that the Scotland international had been climbing on Ryan Shotton in front of him. The decision looked harsh on the Blues.
As the match moved into five minutes of injury time, Lawrence, Town’s man of the match, was felled by Kieftenbeld five yards outside the area to the left, earning the Birmingham midfielder a yellow card. The freekick was tapped to Lawrence, who curled his shot wide.
Berra, by now up front, knocked on a Lawrence cross from deep on the left to Pitman, but his pass failed to find Sears. Berra was subsequently booked for protesting - probably as much about the disallowed goal as that challenge - as he felt he had been fouled.
Just before the final whistle, Town claimed a penalty when Douglas chased a flick-on into the area and was felled by Birmingham sub Paul Robinson but referee Bond awarded the home side a freekick feeling the Irishman had committed the first foul.
The Blues made a slow start to the second half and looked dead and buried after conceding the second goal when Morrison was given a free header.
The introduction of Pitman, Sears and Williams livened Town up and Webster’s excellent goal gave the Blues hope.
They pushed during the remainder of the game and on another day Berra’s goal might well have been allowed to stand. But as so often recently they ended up the losers of a game in which there had been little between the sides, other than a couple of crucial defensive errors.
The result will add to fans’ frustrations with manager Mick McCarthy with the Blues remaining in 17th still five points from the relegation zone but with the gap to the top six having increased to nine. Town visit second-bottom Wigan, who play Newcastle at home tomorrow, on Saturday.
The sad thing is if we had beaten them last night he would have been given extended contract thats the difference with our shambles of a club.This is clearly a scrooge issue and the penny pinching is going to be our down fall and as we have seen today clubs act in the best interest of the club and fans but we continue to be told this manager has the cheap backing of our once great club.Can I just add as we are on our way to league one my christmas wish is a new manager and Chambo, Knudsun,Skuse,Douglas,nowhere near our first team this is clearly our problem but our manager cant see it.
I am now getting to the stage where I don't really care what happens, MM will not leave because he honestly believes he is doing a good job, all us long suffering supporters don't know what we are talking about. Evans won't sack him as it would cost too much so ITFC are stuck with him. We will continue to get loads of bovine excrement from the spin factory, promises will not be kept, money will not be made available, youth will not be given a fair run of games to blossom. MM disciples will celebrate the occasional win as justifications of there cult like reverence, anti MM devotees will continue to post their hatred of him. Life will go on much as normal until that beautiful day in the future when the throwback will leave.
As much as I love the club, its impossible to be a supporter when the club is in such a dire mess. Play youngsters, passing, GOOD football and lose, fair enough. Not this rubbish. Until something changes, i'll go to the odd away game but until then whenever I go visit home ( live in london) I'll go and watch Needham Market.
Birmingham beat us on Tuesday and go 7th we go 17th and THEIR manager gets sacked???!! That aint right. By sounds of things their fans actually liked their manager and are gutted he has gone. Wonder what thats like?
I went last night We were a team lacking confidence, hesitant on the ball and not very good at the 2 ends of the pitch that matter I do not blame McCarthy for selling Murphy, having to sign free transfers, even for not playing the kids- he plays Bishop and has given run outs to Kenlock and Emmanuel and I'm not sure about these 2 yet. Based on last night though I have some worries about what is going on at Portman Road:- Basics not done well Set Pieces- defending, surely something McCarthy knows all about - we look like conceding at every free kick. Set Pieces- attacking - free kicks, corners, we're rubbish - there seems to be no drills, no organisation, just get the ball to McGoldrick or hit in the box and hope- Not good enough when we create so little from open play Tactics- we spent the first half picking out Ryan Shotton who was by the far and away the best player on the pitch- had we watched Birmingham for 10 minutes before surely we would have picked this up and put Varney away from Shotton for passes / headers. Little things and there are more but they make a big difference.
Webster was shaky at the back- looked tired, Berra good, Chambers will ruin Ward - surely Ward is 100% better if someone is running past him and making some space. Ward has to be Messi everytime he gets the ball to create - simple pass and move triangles are not going to happen with Chambers near him. I feel sorry for Ward. Douglas, Skuse- first intention is not forward, we know this does not work but away at Birmingham I can see why he played them Lawrence looks very good - please no clause in his contract for Leicester to take him back. McGoldrick must be wondering what has happened since he was last fit.
A bit of a mess, no need for suicide or burning season tickets - some hard work on the training ground organising looks necessary but it is clear that some January spending is also required.
@swn98, so is it set in stone we have to play 442? Silly question really, McCarthy hasn't the balls to get 'flexible'! You state Williams couldn't get into a struggling Palace side, well it's a touch higher level to the boys we've taken in from the likes of ROTHERHAM! You know McCarthy wants TWO defensive centre midfielders, that's why he won't play a creative player in the centre. WHY does he continually play a very good centre back at right back? WHY does Sears get shunted out of position? WHY does he continually play aerial football? Are you enjoying this form of football? WHY is he always reverting back to type, in the knowledge over the last 2 years things have regressed! WHY does he continually refrain from giving youth a true run in team? WHY are our attendances plummeting? WHY doesn't Evans communicate with the fans? Does he care? DO you believe lack of investment justifies McCarthy's current league positions? DO you believe lack of investment is good enough reason for McCarthy playing aerial football? IS it fair to say McCarthy has become complacent and as such cannot see beyond 'proper blokes' when selecting team? HAS this resulted in these 'proper blokes ' becoming complacent. E.g. The continuation of mistakes resulting with the ball in the back of our net? IF you could just answer a few of these questions I would grateful appreciate it! I'm really trying to see your point of view, but if you can enlighten me, and 'some' others who knows where it might lead!!!
All I know oldclacton is that on a budget not too dissimilar to ours he had Brum 7th and only outside the playoffs on goal difference. I think we could do worse.
@Miles Well considering ALL info on the game available for us fans who opted to stay away from the match in either sheer PROTEST and/or because we nowadays simply find we have much better things to do with our hard earned cash (and private time) that traveling all across the country basically getting little more in return than a genuinely MASOCHISTIC experience as football fans of Ipswich about 80+% of the time!!! as long as the from a football pov crystal clearly belonging in the former century & tactical inept Master Mick is in charge! (and then not because the wast majority of us are generic "armchair fans" by default dear @swan98 / @mrs. McCarthy ... but only has become so to a varying degree within the last 3-4 years!!!)
....and by ALL info I mean besides the radio commentary then obviously additionally The Media's in-general "neutral" game reviews + fans' whom we personally trust to be OBJECTIVE and who went last night very own game reviews .... and the conclusion I here at about 20.30 PM arrives at is = That we might overall very well have been "The better team on field" but ehhhmmm we didn't actually played "WELL" generally speaking and over the entire 95 minutes! (And ohhhh I just now see that the thorough and always very "moderate" (i.e. neither ultra "rosy-tinted" nor inheritably "negative" by default) reviewer @MickMillsTash, whom I don't know personally I might add, also holds this opinion i.e. "not very good at the 2 ends of the pitch that matter"!
And lastly this afternoon's stunner that Birmingham subsequently has fired their manager Rowett DESPITE actually winning the bloody game???!!! .... really should tell everyone, you Miles included!, that we as Ipswich fans basically have very little to be impressed about regarding last night's performance by The Tractor Boys!
.... SINCE the Birmingham board and ownership apparently found their team's performance against us (a team who under MM for the last 2 years has been a serious candidate for the humorful but dubious title as 'Europe's most boring and negative top 2 tier football team' by a least one renowned internet football media source! lol) was sooo sooo UNACCEPTABLE & APPALLING incl. them then "not being the best team on field" despite playing at home, that they chose the very seldom seen reaction after a win, in the bloody middle of a season! to promptly relieve their manger of his duties???!!! and ohhh btw he Rowett had actually accomplished having them in 7th place about midway through after this win which isn't too shabby at all imho for at team with their current player material!!!
PS: Sorry Miles, but eventually I simply had to down-vote your lastet post above. Not because I disagree with all of it .... but simply because you also once again decides to COMPLETELY exonerate your beloved Master Mick???!!! Which tells me that either you must be wearing "horse blinders" .... or else you are firmly fixed in what is known within Clinical Psychology as "Being in Denial"! .... and without change obviously thus will deny "Being in Denial" btw :-)
@Gcon Yes "Mrs. McCarthy"! .... will do, as soon I as finish cleaning my false teeth that is! And as I lay down and get myself ready to count those awesome *Electic Sheeps*, I will also be imagining YOU, repeat YOU, tucking me in this very night! ... and after YOU having blown me a kiss then also would be so kind to begin reading from one of these here quite appropriate - for one such as wacky me -- immensely traquilizing classics found here:
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