Ipswich 2 Coventry 1 - 12/09/2006
Ipswich 2 Coventry 1 - 12/09/2006
Ipswich Town: Lewis Price, Jason De Vos, Daniel Harding, Alex Bruce, Fabian Wilnis (Richard Naylor 66), Simon Walton, Mark Noble (Darren Currie 84), Gavin Williams, Sylvain Legwinski, Jon Macken (Billy Clarke 80), Alan Lee
Subs not used: Luis Castro Sito, Shane Supple
Booked: Daniel Harding 90, Alex Bruce 38, Mark Noble 65
Goals: Noble 52, Clarke 85
Coventry City: Andy Marshall, Marcus Hall, Andrew Whing (Leon McKenzie 61), Elliott Ward, Robert Page, Christopher Birchall, Michael Doyle (Colin Cameron 72), Kevin Thornton (Don Hutchison 83), Stephen Hughes, Kevin Kyle, Stern John
Subs not used: Matt Heath, Dele Adebola
Booked: Elliott Ward 45, Kevin Kyle 69, Leon McKenzie 90
Goal: Ward 72
Attendance: 19465
Referee: P Taylor
Teamtalk
Billy Clarke's 85th-minute goal gave Ipswich a dramatic late 2-1 victory over Coventry in an entertaining game at Portman Road.
The substitute cut in from the left side of the penalty area before smashing an 18-yard drive into the bottom left of the Sky Blues' goal to give his side all three points.
With the scores level at 0-0, it was not until the second half that the fireworks really began but fans of both sides were in for a treat.
On-loan midfielder Mark Noble opened his Town account in the 52nd minute when he unleashed a right-footed strike from just inside the six-yard box after good work by fellow loanee Jon Macken.
Elliott Ward levelled for Coventry when he crashed home substitute Leon McKenzie's 72nd minute cross into the top corner, leaving Tractor Boys goalkeeper Lewis Price with no chance.
The first half was a much quieter affair with the home side making the better start. Macken's right-footed drive from 12 yards was blocked by the Sky Blues defence after three minutes.
Micky Adams' side began to find their feet following their impressive 3-0 defeat of high-flying Norwich over the weekend.
Both Stern John and Kevin Kyle were unfortunate to find themselves offside after being threaded through as the away side went in search of an opener.
But neither side could make a breakthrough with former Fulham midfielder Sylvain Legwinski's right-footed strike just missing the target on the half-hour mark.
Jim Magilton's side, who picked up a 2-1 victory over Southampton at the weekend, continued to pile on the pressure with Noble's inswinging corners giving Marshall all sorts of problems.
Noble, on loan from West Ham, was at the centre of things again, floating in a free-kick from the right for Jason de Vos' towering header to be cleared away.
Next it was the turn of Legwinski to turn provider, crossing for Republic of Ireland international Alan Lee, whose header forced a smart save from the Sky Blues goalkeeper.
CCFC
A late strike from Billy Clarke denies City a share of the spoils here at Portman Road tonight despite the Sky Blues doing enough to earn at least a point.
Defender Elliott Ward looked to have made himself the unlikely hero with a well-taken goal to cancel out Mark Noble's opener but Clarke's goal five minutes from time handed the home side all three points.
With the lads putting in their best display of the season so far in Saturday's fantastic three nil win over Norwich at the Ricoh it was no surprise that Micky Adams opted not to make any changes to personnel.
That decision meant that the deadly strike partnership of Kevin Kyle - who scored on his home debut against the Canaries - and Stern John both kept their places upfront, while new signing Leon McKenzie had to make do with a place on the bench.
And with the side clearly still full of confidence it was Micky Adams' men who started the brighter of the two teams, Kevin Kyle going close after just eight minutes.
The Scottish international, who was proving to be a real handful for the Town defence in the opening exchanges, rose highest in the box to meet a great Marcus Hall cross but the former Sunderland man nodded wide of the far post.
Kyle's near-miss seemed to sting the home side into action and three minutes later Alan Lee broke down the right wing before centering for Gavin Williams who dragged his shot wide of goal to hand City a huge let-off.
The Sky Blues were living dangerously and on 19 Mark Noble was allowed space to advance before hitting a tame-looking shot goalwards, which Lee somehow managed to re-direct inches wide of Marshall's goal.
Both sides were pushing men forward and just a minute later Stephen Hughes sent a free-kick deep into the home side's box towards Robert Page who sent his header across goal only for the lively Kyle to head over the bar.
City were continuing to have knock the ball around with confidence, but on the half hour Town's new signing Sylvain Legwinski showed he wasn't afraid to shoot from distance, however the former Fulham man couldn't find the target.
With 37 on the clock it was Alan Lee who was again causing problems for the City rearguard, but he could only send a weak header into the arms of Marshall.
Just two minutes into the second period City looked to have broken the deadlock with Stern John going agonisingly close to giving the Sky Blues the lead.
Kev Thornton did well down the left wing before whipping a low ball for John who could only sidefoot wide of the upright with only the 'keeper to beat.
Despite City looking the more dangerous at the start of the second half it was the Tractor Boys who took the lead on 52.
Jon Macken did well to create space on the right before sending in a cross which the on-loan West Ham man Mark Noble placed home to give the home side the advantage.
And Noble almost doubled his and Ipswich's tally four minutes later as he raced onto an in-swinging cross only to volley over the bar.
Just after the hour mark Micky Adams decided to make his first change of the evening with new signing Leon McKenzie coming on for his first appearance in a City shirt.
Ironically McKenzie made his debut for former club Norwich on the same ground, scoring a brace in the process and the 28-year-old was immediately giving the Tractor Boys something to think about.
On 71 Kev Thornton almost put the Sky Blues back on level terms in spectacular fashion, rattling the crossbar with a well struck free-kick before the leveler arrived from centre-back Elliott Ward a minute later.
Leon McKenzie - who was enjoying a hot reception from the Town faithful - picked up the ball before crossing for the former West Ham defender to finish well past Lewis Price.
It was Ward's first goal for the Club and with it he became the third player to score their first goals for City in the past two games following the strikes by Chris Birchall and Kevin Kyle against Norwich.
With just five minutes remaining and with City looking on course for a share of the spoils the home side took the lead for the second time through substitute Billy Clarke.
Given far too much space to run into the player surged goalwards and hit a shot which Andy Marshall will have been disappointed to let slip under his hands and into the back of the net to deal Micky Adams' men a cruel blow.
Deep into stoppage time Marshall almost redeemed his earlier error as he went up for City corner.
The shot-stopper got his head to the ball but he couldn't direct it on target with practically the last touch of the game.
4thegame
Ipswich made it three successive Championship wins after super sub Billy Clarke again came on to fire home the winner.
On Saturday, his first League goal downed Southampton 2-1, and he secured a repeat with a thunderous 25-yard left-footer which defeated former Town keeper Andy Marshall.
Marshall almost atoned with a header in the Ipswich box in the sixth minute of added time, but it just floated wide of the far post.
Earlier in the half, Mark Noble, on loan from West Ham, had fired Town in front with his first goal for the Blues, after good work from fellow loanee Jon Macken, before Elliott Ward levelled with his first Coventry strike.
The first half had little to recommend it, although both teams played some neat passing football, but both lacked a killer touch in the final third.
Indeed, it was fully 36 minutes before the first effort on target, and that was a floated Alan Lee header from Sylvain Legwinski's cross which Marshall caught easily.
Kevin Kyle should have put Coventry ahead just seven minutes in when he stole in at the far post onto Marcus Hall's deep cross, but he nodded wide from just six yards.
Otherwise, the only other moments of note in the first period were a Chris Birchall free-kick which Lewis Price claimed comfortably and a fifth caution of the season for Alex Bruce after a foul on Kevin Thornton.
The second half began with Thornton wriggling to the byline and crossing for Stern John to sidefoot narrowly wide, but from a similar move on 52 minutes, Ipswich went in front.
Simon Walton fed Macken on the left wing and his pull back was perfect for Noble, stealing in off the left wing, to sidefoot beyond Marshall from six yards.
Price back-pedalled to claim a clever Kyle lob and Coventry were beginning to force the pace, with Ipswich looking surprisingly edgy for a side with two wins behind them and leading this one.
Marshall comfortably saved a low Macken shot before the livewire Kevin Thornton curled a 25-yard free-kick against the bar after his run had brought a foul on him.
An equaliser was coming and it arrived on 72 minutes. Birchall's chip into the box found debutant Leon McKenzie who scuffed his shot but it fell perfectly for Ward to coolly sidefoot beyond a helpless Price from 10 yards.
Noble had a 20-yarder deflected over as Ipswich looked to hit back straight away, before Clarke entered the fray ten minutes from time, replacing Macken.
It took him just five minutes to score his third of the season with an explosive finish which had the Portman Road faithful in raptures again about the highly talented youngster.
Gavin Williams won the ball in the middle of his own half and fed Clarke who held off Hughes and let fly with a glorious 25-yard strike which beat the diving Marshall, seeming to bounce under his arms.
Town had chances to seal the win on the break as Coventry threw men forward but couldn't take them and were left to sweat throughout six added minutes.
In that period, sub Don Hutchison sliced one effort wide from a good position before his corner in the final seconds found Marshall, up from the back, on the six-yard line but he guided his effort narrowly wide.
Ipswich manager Jim Magilton said: "We've maybe ridden our luck, but again the players showed loads of spirit to win this one. We now have to take it on another step on Saturday when we go to Birmingham." About Alex Bruce's fifth yellow card of the season, Magilton added: "It's unfortunate for Alex as he will miss the next two games (the Birmingham one because of a clause in his contract) but it gives someone else a chance. I want that person to grab the chance and make it hard for Alex to get back in." Coventry boss Micky Adams said: "I felt we deserved something out of the game - we certainly made enough chances.
"Ipswich looked confident going forward. The wins they've had have shot their confidence through the roof. We had our chances but just couldn't finish them off.
"We've just got to pick ourselves up. They say it is better to be a lucky manager than a good one and Jim's a lucky one tonight.
"I'm disappointed with their goals. We should have dealt with the first one comfortably and the goalkeeper should have perhaps dealt with the second one better. He only had one other save to make all match."
Ipswich Town: Lewis Price, Jason De Vos, Daniel Harding, Alex Bruce, Fabian Wilnis (Richard Naylor 66), Simon Walton, Mark Noble (Darren Currie 84), Gavin Williams, Sylvain Legwinski, Jon Macken (Billy Clarke 80), Alan Lee
Subs not used: Luis Castro Sito, Shane Supple
Booked: Daniel Harding 90, Alex Bruce 38, Mark Noble 65
Goals: Noble 52, Clarke 85
Coventry City: Andy Marshall, Marcus Hall, Andrew Whing (Leon McKenzie 61), Elliott Ward, Robert Page, Christopher Birchall, Michael Doyle (Colin Cameron 72), Kevin Thornton (Don Hutchison 83), Stephen Hughes, Kevin Kyle, Stern John
Subs not used: Matt Heath, Dele Adebola
Booked: Elliott Ward 45, Kevin Kyle 69, Leon McKenzie 90
Goal: Ward 72
Attendance: 19465
Referee: P Taylor
Teamtalk
Billy Clarke's 85th-minute goal gave Ipswich a dramatic late 2-1 victory over Coventry in an entertaining game at Portman Road.
The substitute cut in from the left side of the penalty area before smashing an 18-yard drive into the bottom left of the Sky Blues' goal to give his side all three points.
With the scores level at 0-0, it was not until the second half that the fireworks really began but fans of both sides were in for a treat.
On-loan midfielder Mark Noble opened his Town account in the 52nd minute when he unleashed a right-footed strike from just inside the six-yard box after good work by fellow loanee Jon Macken.
Elliott Ward levelled for Coventry when he crashed home substitute Leon McKenzie's 72nd minute cross into the top corner, leaving Tractor Boys goalkeeper Lewis Price with no chance.
The first half was a much quieter affair with the home side making the better start. Macken's right-footed drive from 12 yards was blocked by the Sky Blues defence after three minutes.
Micky Adams' side began to find their feet following their impressive 3-0 defeat of high-flying Norwich over the weekend.
Both Stern John and Kevin Kyle were unfortunate to find themselves offside after being threaded through as the away side went in search of an opener.
But neither side could make a breakthrough with former Fulham midfielder Sylvain Legwinski's right-footed strike just missing the target on the half-hour mark.
Jim Magilton's side, who picked up a 2-1 victory over Southampton at the weekend, continued to pile on the pressure with Noble's inswinging corners giving Marshall all sorts of problems.
Noble, on loan from West Ham, was at the centre of things again, floating in a free-kick from the right for Jason de Vos' towering header to be cleared away.
Next it was the turn of Legwinski to turn provider, crossing for Republic of Ireland international Alan Lee, whose header forced a smart save from the Sky Blues goalkeeper.
CCFC
A late strike from Billy Clarke denies City a share of the spoils here at Portman Road tonight despite the Sky Blues doing enough to earn at least a point.
Defender Elliott Ward looked to have made himself the unlikely hero with a well-taken goal to cancel out Mark Noble's opener but Clarke's goal five minutes from time handed the home side all three points.
With the lads putting in their best display of the season so far in Saturday's fantastic three nil win over Norwich at the Ricoh it was no surprise that Micky Adams opted not to make any changes to personnel.
That decision meant that the deadly strike partnership of Kevin Kyle - who scored on his home debut against the Canaries - and Stern John both kept their places upfront, while new signing Leon McKenzie had to make do with a place on the bench.
And with the side clearly still full of confidence it was Micky Adams' men who started the brighter of the two teams, Kevin Kyle going close after just eight minutes.
The Scottish international, who was proving to be a real handful for the Town defence in the opening exchanges, rose highest in the box to meet a great Marcus Hall cross but the former Sunderland man nodded wide of the far post.
Kyle's near-miss seemed to sting the home side into action and three minutes later Alan Lee broke down the right wing before centering for Gavin Williams who dragged his shot wide of goal to hand City a huge let-off.
The Sky Blues were living dangerously and on 19 Mark Noble was allowed space to advance before hitting a tame-looking shot goalwards, which Lee somehow managed to re-direct inches wide of Marshall's goal.
Both sides were pushing men forward and just a minute later Stephen Hughes sent a free-kick deep into the home side's box towards Robert Page who sent his header across goal only for the lively Kyle to head over the bar.
City were continuing to have knock the ball around with confidence, but on the half hour Town's new signing Sylvain Legwinski showed he wasn't afraid to shoot from distance, however the former Fulham man couldn't find the target.
With 37 on the clock it was Alan Lee who was again causing problems for the City rearguard, but he could only send a weak header into the arms of Marshall.
Just two minutes into the second period City looked to have broken the deadlock with Stern John going agonisingly close to giving the Sky Blues the lead.
Kev Thornton did well down the left wing before whipping a low ball for John who could only sidefoot wide of the upright with only the 'keeper to beat.
Despite City looking the more dangerous at the start of the second half it was the Tractor Boys who took the lead on 52.
Jon Macken did well to create space on the right before sending in a cross which the on-loan West Ham man Mark Noble placed home to give the home side the advantage.
And Noble almost doubled his and Ipswich's tally four minutes later as he raced onto an in-swinging cross only to volley over the bar.
Just after the hour mark Micky Adams decided to make his first change of the evening with new signing Leon McKenzie coming on for his first appearance in a City shirt.
Ironically McKenzie made his debut for former club Norwich on the same ground, scoring a brace in the process and the 28-year-old was immediately giving the Tractor Boys something to think about.
On 71 Kev Thornton almost put the Sky Blues back on level terms in spectacular fashion, rattling the crossbar with a well struck free-kick before the leveler arrived from centre-back Elliott Ward a minute later.
Leon McKenzie - who was enjoying a hot reception from the Town faithful - picked up the ball before crossing for the former West Ham defender to finish well past Lewis Price.
It was Ward's first goal for the Club and with it he became the third player to score their first goals for City in the past two games following the strikes by Chris Birchall and Kevin Kyle against Norwich.
With just five minutes remaining and with City looking on course for a share of the spoils the home side took the lead for the second time through substitute Billy Clarke.
Given far too much space to run into the player surged goalwards and hit a shot which Andy Marshall will have been disappointed to let slip under his hands and into the back of the net to deal Micky Adams' men a cruel blow.
Deep into stoppage time Marshall almost redeemed his earlier error as he went up for City corner.
The shot-stopper got his head to the ball but he couldn't direct it on target with practically the last touch of the game.
4thegame
Ipswich made it three successive Championship wins after super sub Billy Clarke again came on to fire home the winner.
On Saturday, his first League goal downed Southampton 2-1, and he secured a repeat with a thunderous 25-yard left-footer which defeated former Town keeper Andy Marshall.
Marshall almost atoned with a header in the Ipswich box in the sixth minute of added time, but it just floated wide of the far post.
Earlier in the half, Mark Noble, on loan from West Ham, had fired Town in front with his first goal for the Blues, after good work from fellow loanee Jon Macken, before Elliott Ward levelled with his first Coventry strike.
The first half had little to recommend it, although both teams played some neat passing football, but both lacked a killer touch in the final third.
Indeed, it was fully 36 minutes before the first effort on target, and that was a floated Alan Lee header from Sylvain Legwinski's cross which Marshall caught easily.
Kevin Kyle should have put Coventry ahead just seven minutes in when he stole in at the far post onto Marcus Hall's deep cross, but he nodded wide from just six yards.
Otherwise, the only other moments of note in the first period were a Chris Birchall free-kick which Lewis Price claimed comfortably and a fifth caution of the season for Alex Bruce after a foul on Kevin Thornton.
The second half began with Thornton wriggling to the byline and crossing for Stern John to sidefoot narrowly wide, but from a similar move on 52 minutes, Ipswich went in front.
Simon Walton fed Macken on the left wing and his pull back was perfect for Noble, stealing in off the left wing, to sidefoot beyond Marshall from six yards.
Price back-pedalled to claim a clever Kyle lob and Coventry were beginning to force the pace, with Ipswich looking surprisingly edgy for a side with two wins behind them and leading this one.
Marshall comfortably saved a low Macken shot before the livewire Kevin Thornton curled a 25-yard free-kick against the bar after his run had brought a foul on him.
An equaliser was coming and it arrived on 72 minutes. Birchall's chip into the box found debutant Leon McKenzie who scuffed his shot but it fell perfectly for Ward to coolly sidefoot beyond a helpless Price from 10 yards.
Noble had a 20-yarder deflected over as Ipswich looked to hit back straight away, before Clarke entered the fray ten minutes from time, replacing Macken.
It took him just five minutes to score his third of the season with an explosive finish which had the Portman Road faithful in raptures again about the highly talented youngster.
Gavin Williams won the ball in the middle of his own half and fed Clarke who held off Hughes and let fly with a glorious 25-yard strike which beat the diving Marshall, seeming to bounce under his arms.
Town had chances to seal the win on the break as Coventry threw men forward but couldn't take them and were left to sweat throughout six added minutes.
In that period, sub Don Hutchison sliced one effort wide from a good position before his corner in the final seconds found Marshall, up from the back, on the six-yard line but he guided his effort narrowly wide.
Ipswich manager Jim Magilton said: "We've maybe ridden our luck, but again the players showed loads of spirit to win this one. We now have to take it on another step on Saturday when we go to Birmingham." About Alex Bruce's fifth yellow card of the season, Magilton added: "It's unfortunate for Alex as he will miss the next two games (the Birmingham one because of a clause in his contract) but it gives someone else a chance. I want that person to grab the chance and make it hard for Alex to get back in." Coventry boss Micky Adams said: "I felt we deserved something out of the game - we certainly made enough chances.
"Ipswich looked confident going forward. The wins they've had have shot their confidence through the roof. We had our chances but just couldn't finish them off.
"We've just got to pick ourselves up. They say it is better to be a lucky manager than a good one and Jim's a lucky one tonight.
"I'm disappointed with their goals. We should have dealt with the first one comfortably and the goalkeeper should have perhaps dealt with the second one better. He only had one other save to make all match."
posted by SkyBlueSnowy at 2:01 pm
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