Ipswich vs Norwich (El Tractico) Playoff Semi Leg 1

[Veggie Legs]

Happy with that, think we were the better team for an hour and it's still all to play for next week.

 

[Veggie Legs]

Some more considered thoughts than what I wrote on my phone on Saturday:

I think Mick got his tactics spot on, the 4-3-3 was quite effective at stopping Norwich's midfield playing. Bishop and Bru's pressing was great and Skuse was brilliant as ever (MOTM for me). It did mean Murphy was a bit more isolated without Sears alongside him, but I thought he had a good game too, caused Bassong and Martin a lot more problems than last time. Defence was solid too, maybe could have done better on their goal but overall I don't think anyone had a bad game.

1-1 was a fair result and one that I think both teams are fairly happy with, knowing that any kind of win will do next week. I thought we were stronger in the first half and Norwich in the second, Norwich certainly looked more dangerous towards the end when our midfield was tiring. I was pretty worried when Hoolahan came on but he was awful, found good spaces but wasted the ball every time.

 

[LondonOrn]

Ipswich fans might be both amused and heartened to see this - even if it seems a bit of an OTT way to celebrate an equalising goal in a play-off first leg:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-suffolk-32686659

 

[Tom_ITFC]

Yeah saw that!! A good bunch of lads at Town this season!

As for OTT, I think I'd have done the same! In both games against Norwich in the league, we failed to score. To then go behind at home again, that goal was massive! Given every Town fan so much more confidence

 

[LondonOrn]

Fair enough, and given you hadn't played them for quite a while before this season, I can see how much that goal would have meant to you.

 

[Munkiki]

Some more considered thoughts than what I wrote on my phone on Saturday:

I think Mick got his tactics spot on, the 4-3-3 was quite effective at stopping Norwich's midfield playing. Bishop and Bru's pressing was great and Skuse was brilliant as ever (MOTM for me). It did mean Murphy was a bit more isolated without Sears alongside him, but I thought he had a good game too, caused Bassong and Martin a lot more problems than last time. Defence was solid too, maybe could have done better on their goal but overall I don't think anyone had a bad game.

1-1 was a fair result and one that I think both teams are fairly happy with, knowing that any kind of win will do next week. I thought we were stronger in the first half and Norwich in the second, Norwich certainly looked more dangerous towards the end when our midfield was tiring. I was pretty worried when Hoolahan came on but he was awful, found good spaces but wasted the ball every time.

Varney's injury seemed to help you out in the first half. Although you started the first 15 minutes stronger, we started to control the game and looked to increase pressure on you. The stoppage in play due to his injury halted our momentum and seemed to rejuvenate you. I know we then scored (and what a classy goal it was) but it was against the run of play. Then you equalise (deservedly) in the injury time added for his injury and by the player replacing him (obviously).

Second half was poor, presumably with neither side wanting to overcommit and risk losing. If we'd not been so pathetic defensively and had managed to hold onto the lead going into the break, I reckon you'd have taken more risks in the second half trying to push for an equaliser and we'd have been able to exploit the gaps left behind. Probably didn't help that Wes' radar was well off - like you say, he got involved but think he passed more to your keeper than he did Norwich players. Unusual for him.

We had a lot of the ball without creating chances while you had decent chances but not the quality to finish them. A little surprised Town fans are happy with that performance/result. Personally, I thought both sides looked poor. Maybe the occasion just got to them. Or maybe we just cancelled each other out, it was joint-best home record this season vs joint-best away record this season after-all. The second leg terrifies me. Our home record (7th) this season hasn't been great but then again, nor has your away record (10th). Our defence worries me - it can be solid for the most part but it still makes silly mistakes pretty much every game, scary how many chances we've gift-wrapped for teams this season.

 

[Hooray]

It's going to be a long, long week waiting for Saturday to arrive.