Town continue to wait for an FA Cup victory as Sheffield United progressed to round four via a 1-0 victory at Portman Road, Nathan Thomas smashing the winner in the 25th minute. The Blues, who last won a match in the competition in January 2010, never looked like getting back into the game, failing to register a shot on target, and the Blades might have added to their lead in the second half.

Defender Tommy Smith, who is set to join the Colorado Rapids as revealed by TWTD earlier this afternoon, wasn’t included in a Town side featuring six changes from the one which lost 4-1 at Fulham in midweek.

Jonas Knudsen came in at centre-half alongside skipper Luke Chambers with Myles Kenlock at left-back and Dominic Iorfa at right-back as Town started in a 4-3-3 system.

Luke Hyam made his first start for 19 months in midfield alongside Callum Connolly and Kevin Bru

Up front, Freddie Sears was on the right and Bersant Celina on the left of central striker David McGoldrick.

New signing Aaron Drinan was on the bench alongside young defender Pat Webber and midfielder or striker Shane McLoughlin, whose only senior appearances for the Blues came at Crystal Palace in the Carabao Cup earlier in the season.

The Blades made eight changes with former Town academy striker Caolan Lavery up front with skipper Billy Sharp, a regular Blues target over the years.

Town claimed an early penalty when Chambers headed the ball towards goal from a Celina corner from the right and it appeared to strike Daniel Lafferty on the arm. The Blues captain was adamant that the Blues should have been awarded a spot-kick but referee Mike Jones waved away the protests.

The home side had started the brighter of the two teams and in the seventh minute Celina brought the ball in a long way from the left before hitting a shot which deflected behind.

Town continued to look the better side with Iorfa proving a danger down the right, but on 15 Nathan Thomas hit the Blades’ first effort of the game wide from the edge of the box.

On 24 a corner on the right was played to Hyam on the edge of the area by Celina and the returning midfielder shot over. As the Blades prepared to take their goalkick, Chambers was booked for dissent claiming it had taken a deflection and ought to have been a corner.

A minute later, the visitors took the lead. Thomas, making only his second start for the South Yorkshiremen, was played the ball by Lavery 25 yards out and lashed a superb strike into the top corner of the net, Bartosz Bialkowski only managing to help it on with his right hand.

Town hadn’t threatened to get back on terms before the Blades went close to a second, Chris Basham cutting in from the left and shooting just wide in the 38th minute.

The Blues continued to having the lion’s share possession as half-time approached but without being able to carve out a chance. In the final scheduled minute Kenlock was played in on the left of the box but his low ball was cut out.

Just before the break Basham was booked for catching Bru in the head with a high boot, the Mauritius international subsequently requiring lengthy treatment.

Town had had plenty of the ball in a not overly enthralling first half but without creating anything of note, while the visitors had similarly carved out little at the other end. Thomas’s excellent goal had been rather out of place in the half as a whole.

The Blades swapped their goalscorer for Regan Slater ahead of the second half and the visitors had the first opportunity in the 48th minute when Bialkowski came out of his area to the right but was beaten to the ball by Sharp, who fed Slater as the Blues keeper ran back towards his goal but the sub shot over.

Two minutes later the Blades had an even better chance after Chambers played a weak pass back to Bialkowski. Sharp was quickly on to it and fed Lavery on the right of the box but the Town skipper got back to divert it off the line and wide.

The visitors continued to look the most likely scorers of the game’s second goal and on 54 Sharp flicked a header towards goal which Bialkowski reacted quickly to save, although the linesman’s flag had already been raised.

Town hadn’t appeared likely to get back on terms and it was little surprise that in the 61st minute 10-goal top scorer Martyn Waghorn was introduced for Hyam, who had put in his usual combative display on his return to the team.

Connolly wasn’t too far away from netting his fourth goal of his loan spell from Everton in the 68th minute but was unable to keep his header from Celina’s cross from the right down.

Two minutes later, the Blades went somewhat nearer to doubling their lead, Samir Carruthers exchanging passes with Sharp before shooting from a tight angle on the left and Bialkowski saving well to his left. Moments later, Sam Baldock forced Bialkowski to save down to his right.

Lavery, who had put in a lively display against his old club, was replaced by Clayton Donaldson in the 73rd minute.

As the game moved into its final 10 minutes Jake Wright was booked for timewasting as the visitors prepared to take a freekick.

Town had had long spells on the ball but had failed to create a single chance to level.

On 83 Slater shot over for the Blades, then with two minutes remaining - and a frustrated Sir Bobby Robson Stand singing ‘We want a shot’ - Sharp was switched for John Fleck, who immediately shot over from distance.

The Blades looked the more likely scorers in injury time with sections of the Town support berating manager Mick McCarthy and singing ‘What a load of rubbish’.

Cameron Carter-Vickers was booked for a foul on McGoldrick just before the end and Chambers headed Celina’s freekick wide, before Knudsen blocked a Donaldson strike. Moments later, loud boos greeted the final whistle.

While the second half was more entertaining than the first, the Blades - who fielded a much less senior team than the Blues - had been the better side and ought to have won more comfortably.

The result and the dismal performance on top of the disappointing Christmas spell saw fans loudly express their frustration with manager McCarthy for the first time in a few months.

Town, now without a win in their last five, four of them defeats, rarely created anything throughout and the 40th anniversary of their 1978 FA Cup win will pass without a run in the competition.

Town: Bialkowski, Iorfa, Chambers (c), Knudsen, Kenlock, Connolly, Hyam (Waghorn 61), Bru, Celina, Sears, McGoldrick. Unused: M Crowe, Skuse, Garner, Drinan, Webber, McLoughlin.

Sheffield United: Blackman, Baldock, Basham, Thomas (Slater 46), Sharp (c) (Fleck 88), Wright, Carter-Vickers, Stearman, Lavery (Donaldson 73), Lafferty, Carruthers. Unused: Moore, Stevens, O’Connell, Norrington-Davies. Referee: Mike Jones (Cheshire). Att:12,057 (Blades: 1,110).

Photo: TWTD

Swn98 added 08:33 - Jan 8 Mick certainly NOT the issue here....... on 10:00 - Jan 7 by blue75 If you believe a manager like McCarthy doesn't have full control on who comes and goes you don't know much about the man. Love or hate him you have to have respect for him, he's an old school manager what he says goes if not you're outta the door. He would've been hire by Evans knowing that and I believe if anyone at the club told him what to do with his playing staff he'd let the world know, he wouldn't quit not his style but any player he had forced on him would sit in the reserves. Remember he said the more the fans call for a player the less chance of said player coming on it would be the same with a player forced on him by Evans. For McCarthy there is only one way and that's his way, and unless Evans grows a pair and sacks McCarthy he'll leave on his terms when he's ready. It's just bizarre people think McCarthy will do what he wants. Like he's some kind of Svengali, a fakir with Evans under his control. Evans holds all the cards and makes the decisions. He owns the club. McCarthy is his employee. I agree McCarthy not Evans ultimately decides which players come and go, though bear in mind the players and their agents have most of the power here, e.g. Murphy. But McCarthy will not leave "on his own terms", he will leave on MEG's and his contract's terms. McCarthy is not blameless for our malaise. His tactics are prosaic, the injuries notwithstanding (I'm prepared to cut him some slack with this in mind). But he needs to go. We need a new approach, top to bottom. Let's not kid ourselves though, he's done a good job with the cards he's been dealt. He knew the score. He deserves some credit, even if you don't like his tactics and forthright comments. Does giving him credit mean you are a happy clapper? No. Does it mean you can see this whilst also wanting a completely different approach? Yes. Fans need to look beyond McCarthy at the real power and decision making at ITFC, and the context of what is going on in football here and now. And shudder, because MEG controlled ITFC is truly fooked, due to all sorts of factors that are beyond even Evans' control.

0

blue75 added 09:39 - Jan 8 What's your point Swn98?
2

Swn98 added 10:56 - Jan 8 Blue75 thought it was a very good post that should be shared with news site users.
1

blue75 added 11:29 - Jan 8 Swn98 you've surprised me that you like one of my posts lol.
1

Swn98 added 11:55 - Jan 8 I always appreciate a well balanced post as this one is youve only got to see who down marked it to prove that.
2

warktheline added 13:05 - Jan 8 @swn, so are we to assume you fully agree with blue75 well constructed post?
1

Swn98 added 13:07 - Jan 8 I do
1

warktheline added 17:42 - Jan 8 So to conclude, McCarthy is his own man! I would imagine all agree with that! McCarthy deserves some praise! I would imagine all agree with that! McCarthy needs to jog on! I would imagine most would agree with that! DO YOU Swn? Under the Evans ‘umbrella' we are ‘fooked'! I would imagine most would agree! DO YOU Swn?
0

Swn98 added 19:17 - Jan 8 I have stated many times what will be will be and support whoever and whatever . Its called evolution yes there are lots of things i dont like at ITFC but can i change anything? i would be deluded to think that i can. However yet again i have been drawn into a running dialogue with some body who i fundamentally disagree with something i wish in the future to avoid. The greatest thing i dislike about ITFC at the moment is anyone who has anything positive to say is called a todger a Scum supporter etc etc very very sad. I have supported this club since 1975 and will do so without the input of TWTD.

2

BraveDave added 19:38 - Jan 8 Spot on Swn98. By polarising the argument, warktheline is trying to suggest that he is somehow speaking for the masses. The way I read it, there are a whole load of opinions, and many think it's time for MM to go (including me), but this doesn't mean they agree with warktheline and his ridiculously simplistic view of the world. There have been some very intelligent and passionate posts these past few days, and I thought there had been some good natured and completely legitimate conversations between fans with different views - even with many agreeing last night that we all ultimately want the same thing - but then warktheline has to hijack it again and try to suggest that unless you want to see MM immediately hung, drawn and quartered you are somehow part of the problem. Don't get dispirited, intelligent debate will always win through against ill informed sound bites.

2

warktheline added 19:57 - Jan 8 You just gotta love that! BRAVE Dave jumping into bed with a Norwich City supporter!😂
-1

Swn98 added 20:03 - Jan 8 Warktheline i find your comments at best Juvenile at the worst offensive. These are my final thoughts on the matter.
0

BraveDave added 20:07 - Jan 8 Warktheline. You've done it again. Not a single intelligent thing to say, but not even witty enough to come back with a clever response. Like swn98, I'll leave you alone to carry on posting to your biggest and only fan club
1

VulpineBlue added 21:59 - Jan 8 I quit my season ticket last year so I won't make a personal comment. This is from the Guardian. It says it for me and many others: 4) Ipswich's FA Cup glory days firmly in past Forty years ago this May, an exhausted Roger Osborne was helped from the Wembley pitch after scoring an FA Cup final winner for Ipswich against Arsenal. That day will never be forgotten at Portman Road but the same cannot be said for what passes there nowadays. Ipswich's limp third‑round defeat against a second-string Sheffield United team brought their eighth successive exit at this stage, many of them avoidable, and what a disservice this seems to a club that used to gleefully exchange punches with anyone. Those days are long gone. They have little chance of re-entering the Championship play-off pack and it is verging on open-secret status that Mick McCarthy, who has gone from local hero to figure of disproportionate vitriol, will depart in the summer. The club are dogged by a lack of money and imagination; their shocking form in a competition that brought them international renown is a handy analogue for their decline under Marcus Evans's ownership. Nick Ames

7

warktheline added 22:56 - Jan 8 A very well constructed article! Nowt more to say......some might!!!!
0

Minneapolis_ITFC added 20:02 - Jan 9 Other than any feeling of dismay and frustration, it was a score that didn't arrive completely by surprise. Guess it was another scenario of "well this competition isn't worth entering, let's not even bother" by those involved, (and) as for the 40 year celebratory factor, it could have been 4 or 400, the team wouldn't have broken their asses even then in trying to make it back. Apologize for whatever it's worth to those that wished for a run in this years tournament, not just this year, but a great many in recent time that have ended so prematurely, and without even a fight. Maybe in a month or two or even when the FA Cup reaches it's last stages around Easter, not many will be thinking back to the weekend, but while it remains fresh in the memory, this years "attempt" was little more than another sorry ass surrender and appears - once again - too many had no ambition whatsoever in wanting the club to succeed. The pity is we can't be out there, we can't make that difference and go out as supporters and rectify wrongs on the field, we can only feel the indignation together when these things occur. For some, time is against us in hope that another Town FA Cup run will emerge and we can indulge in later rounds and show belief. Will it ever happen again or is 1978 to be the first and only time the honors list will include the club name ? Not a question that's so easily answered, but on the basis of the Sheffield game, Lincoln last year, and many other examples like it in recent years, it's not absurd to clearly insist it's beyond our capabilities. Mick McCarthy is a wizard at raising white flags and giving up at earliest opportunities - not the caliber of individual you ideally want as manager of your club side.

1

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls