Ipswich Away Drew 1 – 1
Third game of the season at Ipswich, and our third back three: Harwood-Bellis, Stephens and Quarshie this time. We have a problem with Quarshie at the moment – a big lad but he doesn’t use his physique as much as he needs to in our league, and this game showed a worrying lack of pace over ten yards… plus he joined TH-B and Stephens in some poor passing moments. Elsewhere, Fernandes got a League start so Fraser moved back as Sugarwara made way. As early as the fourth minute, Quarshie played an awkward ball forward to Welington, struggled to control when the ball came back his way and was comprehensively out paced by Hirst as he made his way to the by-line; the forward’s cross was met by Clarke but the ball was drifting wide until it hit Harwood-Bellis who deflected it into the net. Hirst, an honest Championship striker, was proving a handful for all of the trio and he was helped by Stephens being caught in possession, only a save by Bazunu’s boot preventing a second home goal. It wasn’t all gloom and doom on a sunny Sunday afternoon, though, as Saints provided a threat of their own when going forward. After half an hour Fernandes and Fraser led a promising break and although Ipswich got players back, they were never in a position to clear – eventually Fraser sent in a cross that was headed in by Robinson, the ball rather going through goalkeeper Palmer. Now is a good time to be playing Ipswich as they haven’t yet replaced transferred out players properly, so reasons to be cheerful at the break. Reality raised its ugly head soon after the restart as Philogene found an opportunity on the left and shot against the inside of the post, the rebound going straight to a grateful Bazunu. At the other end, potential pickings were now few and I don’t think our substitutions helped: Matsuki and Archer for Fernandes (not his best game but the potential for something special is always there) and Robinson (not sure what he was doing wrong) on 69; Dibling and Sugarwara for Armstrong and Fraser on 83; Manning for injured Welington on 86. Amongst it all, Welington could only manage an air shot from a corner and as he was the last line of defence, Szmodics raced clear – but not as fast as recovering Downes and Welington who managed to rescue the situation. Then Quarshie and Stephens got themselves in a mess and had to be rescued by Bazunu getting a touch on the bouncing ball just before Szmodics – not that Ipswich saw it that way, but replays show referee Madeley got it right (something he didn’t always manage). A fair result over 90 minutes as Town shaded the second 45 after Saints were just on top in the first.
Three LSSC Man of the Match candidates to choose from:
26. Ryan Fraser. Happier in the Championship than the Premier League.
31. Gavin Bazunu. Some important moments from him.
46. Jay Robinson. A first goal but denied the opportunity to look for another in the final stages.
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