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Flying High
Report: (Brighton 1 - 1 Ipswich) |
After only four minutes it looked like it could all be over already! An
early goal by Kuqi took Ipswich 1 – 0 up, however, a half turn volley from
Virgs brought the score back level 1-1 on 10 mins.
It
wasn’t long before both player were back in the spotlight - Kuqi goes for
block on Virgo cross, resulting in yellow card. Virgo takes the free kick,
-but it goes a little too far ending up just wide of the goal.
Wigan soon take the lead at the JJB over Reading. This means even more
pressure on Ipswich to get a win, while hoping Wigan slip up later in the
game. They didn’t, soon taking their lead to 2-0! It started so well for
Ipswich, however we have come back and Wigan are making sure there is no
way forward for Ipswich.
And
to make the day even better, Coventry were soon taking the lead against
Crewe. The crowd were singing there’s only one Micky Adams! This would
ensure Crewe were going down no matter the result…
Nailor almost gets his head to the ball from an Ipswich corner. He gets
their slightly early and the ball goes wide.
Free
kick to Brighton after a foul on Leon Knight. Reid passes the ball but no
one in the area could get their head to it.
Ipswich were helping to move the ball around, and Harding and El Abd
managed to get the ball to Leon to give him a number of good chances.
Luckily though,
Shot
by Kuqi is saved by Blayney, and the Ipswich players were not pleased that
they were not awarded a penalty for a foul on Darren Bent. The keeper
slipped and missed the incident!
The
ball is soon up the Ipswich end, and a Oatway got a yellow card for a
clash of heads when going for the cross. Harding then gets mixed up in
another similar collision with Wilnis, resulting in a considerable 7
minute addition to injury time – this time however no yellow is given.
Half
time was soon upon us, and despite only needing a point to save our place
in the Championship, the other results were favouring us anyway. However,
this was not the attitude to take, as we needed to continue to play as we
did in the first half – its not over yet!
Knight went straight in with a shot in the second half, however failed to
get it in the net.
Curries turn to take a free kick after a foul by Oatway, luckily it went
wide. However, Crewe were coming back getting an equaliser with Coventry.
If they managed another this would increase the pressure to keep the score
level.
Despite this, the second half did seem to look like Ipswich had heard the
news that Wigan were 2 – 0 up! The ball was bouncing around between the
two teams, however neither could get control.
Magilton took another free kick after a hand ball by Richard Carpenter,
however it went straight down the middle, giving Blayney and easy save.
Unsworth gave Brighton a free kick after holding on to Leon Knight – it
was a decent delivery by Carpenter but failed to end up where we wanted it
after a foul by Butters on Magilton resulted in open play.
The
ball went back up the Brighton end, with a corner by Magilton. Virgo soon
got hold it of and made a run for the Ipswich goal. Knight was waiting,
however Virgo took a long shot which was saved by Ipswich keeper Davis.
And
what was this – Crewe have scored another? It was now everything to play
for, and Ipswich were still pressing forward. Kuqi was looking for his
second of the day, and with every chance getting closer to his target.
Leon
Knight passed the ball and Hammond had a shot after some poor defending by
Ipswich, however it went straight into the keepers hands. We need to be
creating better chances if we are going to pick up, or even hold on to the
points.
Its
getting extremely tense – and Gillingham had now taken the lead against
Nottingham Forest! All it would need now was another gaol from Ipswich and
we would be down. Luckily, it wasn’t long before Forest had got them
selves back on level terms taking Gillingham back into the bottom three.
Would they get another in the dieing minutes? Wigan had now also scored
their third goal against Reading, meaning Ipswich would almost certainly
have to go through the playoffs if they wanted to be seeing Premiership
football next season.
The
end of the game was soon looming, only 15 minutes left – would this we the
first time in four years that we would be staying in a division for more
than one season? Surely not! Ipswich dream of automatic was slipping away,
and we were getting more and more confident by the minute, although you
could see the players were getting increasingly nervous.
McPhee came on in place of Hart in the last ten minutes. Counago had a
shot but missed on the right, which was shortly followed by another from
Kuqi. Suddenly, Hammond had a break running for goal – unselfishly he
passed to Knight but he failed to make anything of it. Carpenter had a go
but it went wide, just after Oatway just hit it over the cross bar. McPhee
and Reid went forward getting the ball again to Knight, however it was
another over the bar!
And
this was to be his final chance, as Robinson came on in the 88th
minute to replace Knight.
Four
minutes added time? This was to feel like an age, both for the fans and
the players.
When
the final whistle went, it felt like we were the ones who had just won
automatic promotion! After getting back a goal to make the score level, it
looked like we might be safe, however Crewe and Gillingham piled on the
pressure with their goals that took them ahead of their opponents. There’s
going to be some celebrations tonight!
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