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Ipswich Town 0-1 Wolverhampton Wanderers - Half-Time
Saturday, 27th Jan 2018 15:59

Matt Doherty’s 15th minute goal has given top-of-the-table Wolves a 1-0 lead over Town at half-time at Portman Road.

Stephen Gleeson and Jordan Spence came into the side for the injured Cole Skuse and ineligible Dominic Iorfa.

Gleeson, facing the club where he started his career, was making his first full appearance for the Blues having come on as a sub at Bolton last week as well as his home debut, along with central defender Cameron Carter-Vickers, who started the 1-1 draw at the Macron Stadium.

The Irishman lined-up in the centre of midfield alongside Callum Connolly with Spence, back from his three-game ban, at right-back, Iorfa having been unavailable against his parent club.

Wolves also made two changes with Alfred N’Diaye and Helder Costa replacing Romain Saiss and Leo Bonatini.

The visitors won an early freekick on the right but David McGoldrick read their intentions as the ball was played back to Barry Douglas and the Ireland international blocked the Scottish full-back’s shot.

Town threatened for the first time in the fourth minute when Bersant Celina made a blistering run down the left which led to the first of two corners.

From the second, the ball was cleared to Gleeson, whose shot was diverted through to Connolly, but the on-loan Everton man was crowded out as he looked to get in an effort at goal.

On 10 Connolly struck the Blues’ first shot on target from 25 yards but without seriously testing Wolves keeper John Ruddy.

A minute later, Martyn Waghorn tried to catch former Canary Ruddy out with a dipping lob from the edge of the box which the keeper claimed, then moments later the Town top scorer was yellow-carded for a foul on Willy Boly.

In the quarter hour Wolves went in front via their first serious attack of the game. Connolly held up Ivan Cavaleiro on left of the area and the Portuguese wideman backheeled into the overlapping Douglas, who crossed from the byline to the far post, where Doherty headed down and into the top corner of the net.

Referee Simon Hooper had irked the Town players on a number of occasions in the early stages, he had pulled back play for a Blues freekick with Waghorn well-placed, while the striker’s yellow card had been somewhat harsh.

This was compounded in 26th minute when Gleeson joined him in the book for a challenge on Ruben Neves not far outside the area when the home debutant had very evidently won the ball.

From the freekick, Douglas curled a shot to Bartosz Bialkowski’s right but the Town keeper, fresh from agreeing a new contract, did well to get across to save.

Bialkowski saved sharply to his right again from Diogo Jota after Wolves had broken quickly, then at the other end Connolly struck a powerful effort which Ruddy stopped to his right.

Town were playing well and went close to an equaliser in the 33rd minute when, following a corner, Celina brought the ball in from the left before lashing a shot across the face of goal and just wide. Moments later, Neves smashed well wide of the the Blues’ goal from distance.

On 44 Celina broke forward on the left and teed-up McGoldrick 25 yards out, the Blues’ number 10 curling a goal-bound shot which Ruddy tipped over.

That was to prove the final action of a first half from which Town were a little unfortunate to be behind.

The Blues had passed the ball around well for the most part, however, without creating too many chances, while Wolves had defended resolutely and looked the more dangerous side on the break, Bialkowski having been forced into a couple of important saves in addition to the well-worked goal.

Town: Bialkowski, Spence, Carter-Vickers, Chambers (c), Gleeson, Connolly, McGoldrick, Waghorn, Celina, Garner. Subs: M Crowe, Webster, Ward, Hyam, Sears, Bru, Kenlock.

Wolves: Ruddy, Bennett, Coady (c), Boly, Doherty, N’Diaye, Neves, Douglas, Costa, Cavaleiro, Jota. Subs: Norris, Batth, Gibbs-White, Miranda, Enobakhare, Vinagre, Bonatini. Referee: Simon Hooper (Wilshire).


Photo: Action Images



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