'Heroes in the stands': How one veteran's idea became Ipswich Town tradition

Prematch thoughts

We have already competed well with today’s opponents this season, so although I didn’t dwell on it, I thought it could be possible to steal a win from Nottingham Forest. Normally I would factor in home advantage too, but that seems to have been entirely lacking since our foray into the Premiership.

I discovered that Nottingham Forest are really touchy about their name. It’s slightly confusing - Notts refers to the county of Nottinghamshire, not the City of Nottingham. Therefore if you refer to the county you refer to their historic rivals Notts County, even though they are situated in Meadow Lane, just 300 metres away from Forest’s City ground. This makes them the two closest football stadiums in England, but not the UK.

So referring to them as ‘Notts Forest’ is allegedly a sure way to annoy their fans. One of them was pushed to say “Not Notts. We do not play cricket and we're not a tin pot league 2 side from the other side of the River Trent. If you want to abbreviate, it should be Nottm”.

Oh, and if you're referring to Notts County, don’t call them County. They don't like that either.

Annoyingly, since I found this out, I have been unable to refer to them as Notts Forest even in my head – so for brevity will call them Forest or the Reds in this report.

Chatted with Guy and Neil on the train about our yays and nays of those appearing on the team sheet today.

First half

Very even first 30 mins with chances both ends. For the Blues, Delap’s header from a Davis corner, Hutchinson’s strong left footed strike and Phillip’s 25 yard belter all managed to go tantalisingly just over the bar.

Phillips had to retreat to the touch line due to an injured foot but was back on the pitch fairly quickly.

Palmer made a couple of really good saves too and it was all to play for until Milenkovich scored on 35mins and Elanga on 37mins – a double whammy. Just 4 mins later Silva added another to compound Town’s woes.

The game played out to half time with everyone feeling a little stunned.

Ipswich 0-3 Nottingham Forest.

Half time

Chatted to my seat neighbour Gary who has just come back from New Zealand, and the people in front of me and those behind. All season ticket holders, it feels like a family meeting up every home game.

We were all pleased for Alhamedi (on loan) who had scored the winner for Stoke this week. My West Brom buddy Mike pointed out that, ironically, as Ali was originally going to the Baggies, before the move fell through, he has now helped them indirectly with this win over Blackburn Rovers.

Second half

Town came out showing renewed vigour, which must have been difficult given the score line. They continued to create chances throughout the half with Omari Hutchinson trying another shot, which went straight to the keeper.

Delap looped a ball over the keeper from the left but it was saved by Milenkovich off the line. Davis almost scored straight from a corner but a Selz save blocked the follow up from Hutchinson.

There was an entertaining few minutes when Domínguez had earned a yellow card for a foul on Cajuste, but chose to go down injured himself, clutching a leg and claiming to be the victim. The referee was waiting with the card, whilst we cheered every time he wobbled to his feet, then flopped down again, then up again, then down again, then up again, then down again – you get the picture. It was a dramatic masterclass, but he didn’t get the part. He did get the yellow card and was subbed, to more cheers, around ten minutes later.  We cheered him until he agilely bounded off the pitch. This episode buoyed the crowd up no end – little things.

On 77 mins, just as it seemed like more of the same, with the game out of sight but Town still battling unsuccessfully on, Jens Cajuste spun away from two markers on the edge of the box and curled a beauty of a shot into the top corner of the net. His first goal for Ipswich and a brilliant one too. It was good to have something to lift all our spirits. Even if it was a consolation prize.

Hirst, Clarke and Broadhead came on at 81 mins to replace Enciso, Delap and Philogene. The game immediately picked up the pace with everyone pushing for the points. Unfortunately, playing this high led to a breakaway goal from Silva on 87 mins and the door was slammed shut.

All credit is due to the Town team though, that even in the four minutes of added time and four goals adrift, they didn’t give up. Hirst scored with a peach of a header on 90 mins + 3 from a perfect long pass from O’Shea.

Final score: Town 2-4 Nottingham Forest.

Men of the match

Woolfenden – you don’t necessarily notice him, he just gets on and does the job.

O’Shea has turned into one of our most trustworthy players and shows his leadership skills and steadying influence as captain when Morsy is not on the field. He provided a pinpoint assist for the second goal.

I would like to have seen more of Broadhead, Hirst and Clarke as they seem to make a good combo.

Man of the match: Jens Cajuste – for more than just his goal.

Round up

Not the result we were hoping for, but it’s not been long since Forest were in a similar position. Now they are flying high and that is also something to remember, we were playing a team that are now 3rd from top in the table.

The disappointing side of this game was that I’m sure we had more shots on target and more corners than the Reds did. The difference was they executed their chances and ours were again near misses. Other than that rather important detail, Forest didn’t look the hugely dominant team on the day, apart from two or three standout players and moments. Their second goal was an inspired shot, but the first and third goals were sadly created from mistakes by Town and the fourth was a runaway when we were desperately trying to get something from the game, and had thrown everything upfront. No excuses.

The first half came alive for Forest when they scored twice in 2 minutes at the 30 min mark, but although 3 goals down at the break, Town still came out fighting in the second half. Perhaps controversially I felt the game changed for the better when Delap and Philogene came off, there was galvanisation and better team co-ordination somehow. And yes, some of that was due to new legs, but it underpins my thinking of the last several weeks, that perhaps the substitutions could be made earlier? I can understand not changing a winning team, but if they’re not, it seems worth a punt.

My wish? That Sam Szmodics, Wes Burns, Axel Tuanzebe and Conor Chaplin be fit to play again soon. They would give us much needed variety of style and skill set, to match against different opponents. They have been sorely missed.

Post-match thoughts

What I do like about the Premiership is the huge weight of history – players, managers and grounds - behind these big clubs. One son has been a Forest supporter since he was a young sprog, though slightly lapsed these days as he lives in France.

This weekend I asked him why. His response: “I started watching them simply because they have forest in their name and a tree as their emblem. Subsequently, I have never tired of watching videos of Cloughie and his antics, his interviews and especially stories from former players. I’ve been fortunate to know of such an extraordinary fellow in my lifetime”.

What I really don’t like about the Premiership (apart from VAR – which to be fair is sometimes useful) are the constant rumours that fly around of transfers, loans, contracts, sackings – players and managers. It must be doubly discombobulating for those in question, surely? I know they say it’s all part of the game at that level, but it sounds very stressful to me. I thought my experience was bad enough being constantly reorganised, compartmentalised, downsized, restructured or streamlined in the NHS.

View from the train

My pal T.J. walked down to the station with me and we verbally dissected the game on the way. He said that "all the new players at the front are trying to get goals." That sounds right and reasonable on the face of it, but I interpret his meaning as they want to be the ‘Ones’ who score, which of course is a whole different ball game (well clearly not), but one which can cause a big stumbling block to fluent play. There could be something in this as it also ties in with transfer rumours, values and career prospects, already mentioned, I’m guessing.

The train was quiet, a consequence of quite a few fans leaving the ground early no doubt, which is something I find unfathomable. If the team had been playing badly, or not making any effort – it would be easier to understand. My slightly evil consolation thought was that many of them would have missed Town’s 2 goals. Although they didn’t alter the result, they were real crackers!

I wish Forest well if they get into Europe, which was something they were singing about on the way to the station. They were also singing a non-complimentary song about Thomas Tuchel, a consequence of him snubbing three of their players, in particular Gibbs-White, for his newly announced England team.

In Church last week I said a small prayer for Town to win this week, and a large one for World peace, so He didn’t think I was being selfish. Let’s hope He was busy yesterday attending to the more important, all-encompassing problem I set him.