The West Stand Senior on Ipswich vs Wolves

Pre-match thoughts

Looking forward to today as the international break has left me with Ipswich-watching withdrawal symptoms. Our players involved in the various International games (especially the under 21s) reportedly gave a good account of themselves. Proud of them all.

Our opponents today have a long history in the game. Formed in 1879 from a school team as Wolverhampton Wanderers, they became one of the founding members of the Football League in 1888. They began playing in blue and white, then red and white stripes, until 1891 when they adopted the gold and black of today. These colours seek to commemorate the industrial town’s motto of “Out of Darkness Cometh the Light”. They are also known as the ‘Old Gold’.

Their badge has had many adaptations, from a coat of arms through three rather stylised leaping wolves, and a wolf with two W’s - to the distinctive ‘wolf head’ of today. It’s rumoured that the simplicity of the latest emblematic image helped attract the Chinese Investment Group Fosun to buy Wolves in 2016.

After a wobbly start this season, a sacking in December, after we defeated them at Molineux, has seen new manager Vitor Pereira begin to turn things around of late. We did them a favour by beating them at home!

This will not be an easy game. Wolves are a strong team, and having only lost one of their last five matches, I think we can expect a fierce fight. I’m trying not to think of the significance of this game, for both sides, a ‘six-pointer’, but it’s quite simply not something any of us can forget or ignore. I think if we win the noise will take the stadium roof off.

Fingers crossed. And toes.

The shape of the current image on the Wolves’ badge reminds me of a road sign – perhaps warning “Beware of Wolves”. We will do well to heed that message.

On the train…

Sam, Matt and I chatted about the possible line-up, hoping for a Broadhead start, and who might be fit to play. We were all feeling hopeful after Wednesday’s showing but still nervous about such a huge game today.

First half

The first half in general seemed fairly even, with both sides having chances and near misses. Palmer arguably had more action initially and made several good saves, with an incredible sit down on a shot from the right by Larsen, followed by an awkward bounced header from Gomez tipped over the bar.

On 16 mins from a throw in by Cajuste, Tuanzebe sent a long looping pass to O’Shea, whose centred header fell for DeLap to slot in. The crowd went wild.

The play carried on up and down the pitch with Ipswich slightly edging the chances until disaster struck just before half time. Dara O’Shea passed back to Palmer and he uncharacteristically failed to stop it with his foot (did it touch his boot? Jury’s out on that one), then turned to see it rolling into the net. Amazingly, he flung himself sideways and stopped it with an outstretched hand, but deemed as a back pass, this gave an indirect free kick from the six-yard box to the visitors.

The whole Town team lined up on the goal line, and after a lot of scuffling and shuffling by both teams they were finally ready. The minute it was taken Sam Morsy was out like a bullet out of a gun, blocking the ball and sending it away for a corner.

Good job done mon capitaine! Disaster averted.

I’ve never seen a free kick such as that before, it was interesting and if not so scary it would have been quite amusing. The guy in front of me considered if it had been from the penalty spot it would have been a definite goal, even with the wall of bodies – it was ‘too close’ for them to easily score. He also said that their best chance would have been to ‘first touch’ it backwards, to give them a longer-range shot – I would be interested to know if there’s anything in the rules to disallow that? If not – thank goodness they didn’t consider it.

HT Score:  Ipswich 1-0 Wolves

Second half

I thought the break would be beneficial and the Blues would come back calmer (after the free kick shenanigans) and encouraged by Kieran to keep up the pressure. It didn’t work out that way.

I’m not sure if they came back and played under par as everyone is saying, or if Wolves just stepped up their game, inspired by a Pereira half time team talk. Without a doubt the Old Gold gave the stronger showing for the next forty-five.

I have often laughed at the old joke of commentators et al saying it was a game of two halves – but in this match it was undoubtedly just that.

Sarabia came on around the 60th minute mark and turned the game around for Wolves within minutes, scoring their first goal and setting up their second in the 85th.

With 7 mins additional play some of us kept hoping – but it was not to be.

FT Score: Ipswich Town 1-2 Wolves.

Men of the Match: Burgess, Townsend, Morsy, and Cajuste all played well.

Man of the Match: Dara O’Shea for Ipswich. Strand Larsen, Sarabia and Agbadou were the standouts for Wolves.

Post-match thoughts

There is no doubt that Wolves deserved to win this game.

As I said, Wolves are a strong team, fielding Irish, Norwegian, Brazilian, Spanish, Uruguayan, Portuguese and French International players, they had more experience at this level of play and they looked generally bigger and stronger physically too.

And dare I say it – playing free from the one bad apple in their barrel – I think they will go on improving results in the days to come. They showed the desire. I wish them well.

I do like, however, that at Town we have young homegrown (UK and Ireland) talent, who will grow in experience with input and support from the multi-national elements of the team’s make-up, and those with longer careers.

Town often play a little raggedly after the International break. I used to think it was lack of cohesion with an ever-changing team sheet (often enforced by injuries), but they played like demons on Wednesday.

They looked weary today, and as it was the same team, were they still physically and emotionally drained from the huge effort of getting that game over the line? I know I was, just listening to it. I’m also now wondering if they are actually training too hard for this crucial run to the end of the season? Some incoming players have said they train harder here than ever before – whilst admitting the benefits of this work programme.

I was upset to see people leaving the ground as soon as Wolves scored their second, there was still six minutes of normal time and seven minutes of added time left.

Have they forgotten the Sarmiento thriller moment 3 seconds before the end of an extended extra time period? Or Jack Taylor’s winning header in added time in the reverse fixture at Molineux before Christmas? Some ‘fans’ have been heard to say “I pay my money so I leave when I want”, but do they not consider that it must impact on the players’ confidence and concentration to see them doing so?

It must be gutting when they have given their very best, which we know they always do – against what we knew at the start of the season would be mostly superior, experienced, high level opposition.

Hey ho.

I’m super proud of the away supporters, who undertake to turn up all over the country, come rain, come shine or come brass monkeys, and proceed to cheer and sing their hearts out all match long.

On the train

Met two handsome chaps called Paul and Jim and we debated the dreaded VAR situation. All three goals today were VAR'D for off-side, and the referee’s decision was upheld. There was no argument with the outcome from anyone, except for wondering why it was necessary at all, and why it took so many minutes to check in each case.

We agreed with the words of Ange Prostecoglou this week, which echoed all our sentiments - “If it’s a clear and obvious error – it should be clear and obvious, not take so long to examine – it’s ruining the game”. But I guess it’s here to stay.

I think we should just enjoy the games we have left now, without worrying about what next season will bring, as some are already doing – who will stay and who will go if we don’t win the next seven matches! I’m pretty sure we will have an awesome team whatever happens when the dust settles.

In conclusion, I can only repeat what Gary, my seat neighbour in the West Stand, says whenever we lose “Oh well. See you next time.”

I’ll be there.