The ACN Match Review: Ipswich (h)

How did we play?

Not very well, although we were never out of this game. The set up at the start didn’t work – Kenny out on the right gave us little control of the game in the centre and that meant we were caught on the break too often, which led to both goals. Too many players had an off-day and that can’t be happening against rivals who have spent so much money. The Darling-Stacey-Cordoba axis when defending balls from the wings was as shaky as it was under Manning and resulted in the needless concession of the second goal just before half time.

At 1-0 anything was still possible, at 2-0 it became harder simply because we knew Ipswich could sit on their lead, helped in no small part by a referee who was determined to blow his whistle at the slightest gust of wind. It may be heresy, but Philippe got this one wrong: the starting XI was too weak and, as we’ve seen against the better equipped sides in this division, we don’t have enough to fight back when they take the lead. In summary, no team was definitively superior but if you’re going to give the ball away in midfield, allow the opposition to get into the box and not defend well enough, you get what you deserve.

What was the best bit of the game?

Slim pickings but watching a hysterical 23 minutes from The Snake – subbed on, subbed off, couldn’t pass for toffee, should’ve been sent off twice – was at least an amusing aside to what was a poor game all round. The chants about him dying, though. Is this really what we’ve come to?

What was the worst bit of the game?

This was gearing up to be an even contest until the undeserved penalty, which completely ruined the game and set the tone for the referee’s performance. On average he stopped the match every two and a half minutes, which halted any flow and as a result it’s hard to say either team was any good because they just weren’t allowed to play. It was awful to watch, with some bizarre decisions, and I hope on reflection he feels the same.

What was the atmosphere like?

Absolutely cracking until the penalty, then full-on burst-balloon. Again, the referee’s performance very much dictated the atmosphere and that’s never a good thing. Everyone, players and fans, did their best to get things going but the whistle was the winner in this one-sided contest between fun and farce.

Hero of the match

Kellen Fisher is not a left back. But bloody hell he tries hard to be one when asked. While others around him were failing to live up to their normal standard in their normal positions, he worked his little socks off trying to be the very best version of a left back that he could be. Give him Player of the Season now.

Summary in Five Words

Out-spent and out-whistled.