Summer signings Martyn Waghorn and Joe Garner were on target again as Ipswich Town kept up their perfect start to the season with a 2-0 home victory over Brentford this afternoon.
Waghorn once again popped up in the right place at the right time to slam home a loose ball in the 35th minute and make it three goals in his first three Championship appearances for the Blues, while Garner’s header from a corner was ruled to have crossed the line (51) making it three in four for him.
The forward duo were purchased for a combined £1m from Scottish club Rangers this transfer window and, with some of the exorbitant fees being spent by divisional rivals, it’s increasingly looking like a superb piece of business by manager Mick McCarthy.
Town have won their opening five matches, equalling the feat achieved at the start of the promotion campaign of 1999/00. Cardiff City keep them off the top of the table on goal difference, with those two the only sides with maximum points on the board.
This was a familiar tale to Town’s victories against Birmingham, Barnsley and Millwall. There were long periods where they rode their luck, especially in the first half as Bartosz Bialkowski made two smart stops and the crossbar was left rattling, before some clinical finishing made the difference.
In their four league games so far Town have produced 12 attempts on goals and converted nine of them – that’s a 75% success rate. And this achievement has come despite a lengthy injury list. Eight players were unavailable today, including all three senior centre-backs.
The bright Bees started on the front foot and dominated the first half. South African midfielder Kamo Mokotjo lashed an effort inches wide early on, Bialkowski clung onto Neal Maupay’s hooked attempt, then Ollie Wwatkins’ deep delivery almost found Yoann Barbet at the back post.
Bialkowski did well to get down sharply to his right to keep out Watkins’ low effort with a strong out-stretched arm in the 21st minute after the winger had cut inside from the left.
Town’s first real opening arrived in the 25th minute when Freddie Sears was sent scampering clear by Myles Kenlock. Unfortunately the Blues forward was far too hesitant when he reached the box and Barbet got back in time to make the tackle.
Brentford continued to pose the greater attacking threat, so Town’s 35th minute opener came against the run of play. Cole Skuse intercepted the ball on the halfway line and then allowed McGoldrick to drive forwards. Yennaris blocked his run well, but the ball span kindly out of the challenge for the alert Waghorn to sweep home at the far post.
The visitors then finished the half on top and twice went close in the final moments. First, after working the ball nicely from right to left, Romaine Sawyer’s angled attempt was beaten away by Bialkowski at the near post. Seconds later, Yennaris’ thunderous shot from 30 yards came back off the face of the crossbar.
Ipswich were fortunate to lead, but could have even nicked a second just before the break when McGoldrick’s near post attempt was smothered by keeper Daniel Bentley.
Jordan Spence put the ball narrowly past his own post when defending a cross soon after the restart. Town then doubled their lead in the 51st minute in slightly bizarre circumstances.
McGoldrick’s superb perseverance led to him robbing Harlee Dean of the ball high up the field and forcing a corner. Ward’s delivery from the right was met by the head of Garner eight yards out and, after Yennaris cleared by the post, the technology informed referee Oliver Langford the ball had crossed the line.
Bialkowski got away with a dodgy punch and comfortably saved from Mokotjo, but Town looked well-organised protecting a two-goal lead in front of a small but bouyant crowd.
IPSWICH TOWN (4-2-3-1): Bialkowski; Iorfa, Spence, Knudsen, Kenlock; Skuse, Ward; Waghorn (Downes 68), McGoldrick (Nydam 83), Sears; Garner.
Unused subs: Gerken, Woolfenden, McDonnell, Rowe, Celina.
Booked: Kenlock (78)
BRENTFORD (4-3-3): Bentley; Dalsgaard, Dean, Barbet, Colin; Mokotjo; Yennaris (cpt), Sawyers; Jozefzoon (Clarke 77), Maupay (Vibe 62, Archibald 72), Watkins.
Unused subs: Daniels, Bjelland, Egan, Westbrooke.
Booked: Sawyers (42), Maupay (45)
Attendance: 15,348 (773 away)
Referee: Oliver Langford
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