Ipswich Town lost 3-1 at Sheffield United yesterday afternoon. Stuart Watson reflects on the action.
WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN
Town had three big chances to score at 0-0. Two of them came inside the opening five minutes.
After George Hirst helped on a Darnell Furlong cross, Jack Clarke put a far post volley over with the outside of his right boot instead of using his weaker left.
Moments later, Ben Mees’ mistake allowed Sindre Walle Egeli to race away one-v-one. Not for the first time this season, the young Norwegian’s shot lacked conviction and accuracy.
In the 37th minute, Hirst found himself in a great position in the box. The weight and angle of his short pass prevented Clarke shooting. Then, when Clarke pulled back, Town’s No.9 failed to beat Cooper from close-range.
Sheffield United came into this game off the back of three straight defeats. The home crowd had collectively groaned at some mis-placed pass in the opening stages. If at least one of those early Ipswich chances had been taken then this could have been different story.
BAD GOALS AGAINST
I’ve been waxing lyrical about how solid Town have looked of late. The Blues had kept eight league clean sheets in 13 going into this one.
This, sadly, was a step backwards, with some of the defensive issues from earlier in the season rearing their head again.
Jacob Greaves’ poor back pass led to Dara O’Shea having to make a goalline clearance. Those sort of self inflicted squeaky bum moments are happening a little too often for my liking. Femi Seriki breezing past Jack Clarke then led to a smart double save from Walton. Warnings, frustratingly, were not heeded.
Sheffield United’s first goal was a counter attack from an Ipswich corner. A couple of lofted forward balls was all it took to get Callum O’Hare in behind.
When it comes to the second, many will blame Walton for pushing Patrick Bamford’s initial shot into a dangerous area. The collective lack of tracking back and desire to close down was, for me, the far bigger issue.
The third goal, which killed off hope of a comeback, originates from a big kick up field out of the hands of keeper Cooper. Two home touches later and the ball was in the back of the net. That can’t happen.
LOSING HEADS
Melees followed Sheffield United’s first two goals.
Blades players reacted angrily after Walton’s boot accidently caught O’Hare’s head a split second after he scored. I’ve got no issue with the boys in blue standing their ground there. I’m all for that.
The reaction to the hosts scoring again was a complete head loss moment though. Sydie Peck provocatively ruffling Hirst’s hair was, by all accounts, the catalyst. Words were no doubt exchanged. Szmodics saw red and had to be held back all the way to the tunnel.
All that served to do was further whip up the home crowd. Chris Wilder’s half-time team talk would no doubt have been, ‘See, you’re under their skin’. It was a moment of emotional immaturity. That fire should have been channelled into the action on the field.
There were some body language bits when the chips were down that I wasn’t keen on either. Furlong’s theatrical rolls on the floor after minimal contract were embarrassing. Jens Cajuste, infuriatingly, was more interested in sulky gestures towards the referee than lung-busting recovery runs when he came on.
TEAM LACKED BALANCE
Marcelino Nunez’s ankle injury is worse than first feared. We’re now told he’s going to be out for weeks. That’s a concern because without their assist leader the Blues lacked creativity in the No.10 role. Gustavo Hamer’s two lob pass assists were examples of the sort of thing that ‘Nacho’ could have produced to get a Blades back line lacking in pace facing their own goal.
On the right, once again, Town looked more effective when Wes Burns was on the field. His simple, yet effective straight line running and measured pull backs are paying more dividends than the twisty, inverted play of Walle Egeli. The Welsh winger’s smart one-two and cut-back led to Jack Taylor winning the penalty. I can understand why McKenna thought it too big a risk to start him twice in five days though so soon after a long-term injury comeback.
Starting Jacob Greaves ahead of Leif Davis at left-back was a more head-scratching choice. This was only the third time in three-and-a-half years that the Geordie had been named on the bench. McKenna’s reasoning was that the 26-year-old had put a lot into the previous two games and he couldn’t risk any more key men picking up injuries. Greaves was unable to replicate the left-back display he produced at Coventry though and the team suddenly looked a lot more balanced once Davis came on in the second half.
MEHMETI’S DEBUT
On Friday, Ipswich didn’t reveal if Anis Mehmeti’s transfer from Bristol City had gone through in time in order to keep Sheffield United guessing about his potential involvement.
He met his team mates properly for the first time on the coach journey north, was named on the bench and then introduced as a 71st minute sub.
I liked what I saw. The 25-year-old raced onto the field with enthusiasm and immediately started directing and cajoling team mates. On the ball, playing in the No.10 role, he looked to run and people and slip forward passes.
With Philogene and Nunez sidelined, his arrival to bolster the attack is certainly a timely one.
GROUND LOST
A seven-game unbeaten run is over. That’s now as many league losses (6) as there were in the entirety of the 23/24 promotion campaign.
Town are back to being five points behind second-place Middlesbrough. Hull, who have played the same number of games, have moved level. Millwall, who refuse to go away, are now just a point behind. It’s tight at the top.
I think it’s worth pointing out that the Blades’ aggregate scoreline over their last six home league games now reads 17-3. Facing a Wilder team at Bramall Lane is tough. The good news is that Middlesbrough, Coventry and Hull all still have to go there.
Ultimately though, it’s about what Ipswich do. This was a bad day at the office. Hopefully, this fiery, competitive game was a timely reminder, ahead of a run of five straight away games in February, that character is every bit as important as quality in a relentless division full of varied challenges.
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