Liz and I left about 2pm to meet some of the local vets Liz knows through her work. We had time for another couple of quick beers and then it was on the ground.
The away corner looked pretty full and I would guess at around 1,500 Albion fans, most of whom were in good voice.
I was worried about this game as Ipswich seam to score goals at will. We however defended stoutly. The game was not very pretty and Ipswich took the lead after around 20 minutes. The ball appeared to take a huge deflection which wrong footed everyone apart from Kuqi (sp?) who knocked the ball past Kuipers.
After that the game was pretty even. We desperately needed to change formation as we were never going to score with a lone striker. Second half and we had 2 good penalty shouts turned down.
Not sure about the hand ball appeal, but the Cullip one was a clear cut penalty. He had his legs taken from under him and the joker in the black booked him for diving.
Knight was finally allowed to warm up, for some reason he then stood ready to come on for about 10 minutes. In that time Claridge broke free, put over a superb cross and there was not an Albion player with 15 feet of the ball. Summed it up really.
Knight was allowed a 20 minute run out, and he nearly scored. One he stayed up well under pressure (I thought he was pulled back and it was a penalty), but Knight somehow kept his balance, but it came to nothing.
Right at the death Oatway headed the ball wide and then Knight scuffed a shot, and that was that.
Ipswich fans were pleased to hear the whistle, I was not. Had we started with the team that finished then we might have had a chance to get at least the point we deserved.
I still don't see how the formation can be described as 5-3-2. It was more like 5-4-1 with neither wing back getting that far forward. What do others at the game think?
IMHO we need to get back to 4-4-2. When did we last come from behind to win?
Kuipers - 6 dealt well with most things, not sure about the goal, probably the deflection took him out like everyone else
Reid - 6 played the ball about well
Hinshelwood - 8 IMHO the most improved player this season
Butters - 8 another superb display
Cullip - 9 my MOTM, get him signed up again
Harding - 6 better display
Nicolas - 5 still looks uncomfortable with his injury
Oatway - 6 battled hard
Carpenter - 6 back to better passing
Currie - 7 still creates most of our chances and holds the ball up well
Claridge - 6 would be better if he had a striking partner
Knight (for Nicolas) - 8 made an impact when he came on, unlucky not to score
Jones (for Harding) - 6 put in 100% effort
Hammond (for Carpenter) - 6 solid display
Roberts and Mayo not used
Mark R