Ipswich Town drew 0-0 with QPR at Portman Road last night. Stuart Watson reflects on the action.
THE ABSENTEES
Away trips to Middlesbrough and Watford in quick succession, the first East Anglian derby in years, swiftly followed by matches against power-packed Leeds and Leicester sides either side of Christmas.
The amount of mental and physical energy that went into securing a more than respectable eight points from those five games cannot be underestimated. Sadly, it seems, that's come at a cost.
Kieran McKenna, who has had a good run when it comes to injuries, was suddenly without six key men going into this game.
Leif Davis, the team's leading goal provider, was ruled out with a calf strain that needs further assessment.
Sam Morsy, the influential skipper and beating heart of the side in midfield, was serving a one-game suspension following an FA charge.
Wes Burns, whose bespoke right-wing role is integral to the playing style, was out due to a sickness bug.
George Hirst, whose hard work up top sets the tone and creates space for others, was out with a 'significant' hamstring injury that could well see him sidelined until late February.
Nathan Broadhead, who so often provides the X-Factor in attack (especially at Portman Road), then had to be withdrawn from the starting XI minutes before kick-off after he started being sick.
Harry Clarke, who has been hitting form at right-back of late, was only deemed fit enough for the bench due to ongoing Achilles issues.
Combined, those six have provided 20 goals and 21 assists this season. Any team in world football would be significantly affected so many major absentees.
THE PERFORMANCE
As a result of the above, the only established outfield partnership Ipswich had on the field was between the two centre-halves of Luke Woolfenden and Cameron Burgess.
It's no wonder, really, that with such little preparation time, the performance was pretty disjointed.
Freddie Ladapo couldn't take a couple of early chances. The first saw him twist away from goal under pressure rather than get an early shot off. The second saw him fire too close to keeper Asmir Begovic when one-on-one. Can you put that down to rustiness for a player who was making his first league start since September 16? Probably. He put a decent headed opportunity wide in the second half too.
Omari Hutchinson's end product was lacking all night. The Chelsea loanee put so many crosses out of play or into the keeper's arms. Brandon Williams, making only his third start in two months, looked a yard off the pace. Dominic Ball, making only his fifth league start for the club, didn't quite provide the same forward thrust as Morsy in midfield. Massimo Luongo, captain for the night, looked a little leggy again.
Hutchinson and Marcus Harness both stung the gloves of Begovic with near post attempts in either half, but Ipswich didn't do enough to win this game. They never built any rhythm or pressure.
This was the first time Town had failed to score at Portman Road since a 0-0 draw against Burnley in the FA Cup third round back on January 28. It was the first time they'd drawn a blank on home soil in the league since a 1-0 loss to Lincoln way back in October 2022.
THE ATMOSPHERE
The vibe inside the stadium was never going to match the Norwich and Leicester games. It did feel rather flat from the off though and that flatness, I'm sad to say, soon turned into something a bit more negative.
Unified howls of frustration greeted a poor Ladapo touch, collective sighs followed a Cameron Humphreys cross drifting out of play, while there were groans when Hutchinson failed to beat his man. That was all inside the opening half hour. It must have sapped the energy out of the players.
Did Ladapo have a good game? No. But did he deserve a few sarcastic cheers when substituted? Absolutely not. This is a man who played a big role in promotion.
There was a moment in the second half where Conor Chaplin wheeled his arms in an attempt to get a bit more positivity in the crowd. It never felt like they were sucking the ball into the goal though.
Week-after-week, this team have thrilled bumper crowds and provided incredible value for money. On a night where they needed the crowd to lift them in return it didn't happen. That's a shame. There were even a smattering of boos at the full-time whistle. Respectfully, give your head a wobble if that was you.
McKenna said afterwards, rather diplomatically, that he 'didn't like the general atmosphere' and went on to suggest, in a roundabout way, that it was naive if anyone turned up simply expecting a victory.
Has a bit of entitlement crept in among sections of the fanbase following an exceptional 12 months? If I'm honest, I think it has. Too many have forgotten how much this group is punching above its weight right now.
THE POSITIVES
Steve Cook's glancing header at a corner came back off the inside of the post in the first half. Paul Smyth almost got on the end of a dangerous cross in the second half. Kayden Jackson may have got away with a handball in Town's box at the very death.
In general though, Town defended well. Woolfenden had the powerful Sinclair Armstrong in his pocket. A first home clean sheet since the 3-0 win against Hull back on October 3 is a positive to take.
Another is the performance of Humphreys at left-back. His natural fitness and technical ability means McKenna saw him a capable stepping into the sizeable shoes of Davis. He got better as the game went on and, combining with Harness, looked the most likely to unlock the door.
Clarke came on and, despite not being 100% fit, produced some marauding runs from right-back. That's three men playing their hearts out for their hometown club. Don't take for granted how special that is.
Then 18-year-old academy graduate Gerrard Buabo came on to make his league debut late on. He provided some hustle and bustle.
“I'm delighted for Gerrard," enthused McKenna. "He's had a real difficult 2023 with a repeated hamstring injury, but he's a player that we liked a lot when we first saw him.
“To be honest, to play five minutes plus extra time tonight was a stretch for him medically. I thought he had a good impact in that time. He's got a great presence, is great kid, wants to learn and the boys really take to him. Hopefully he'll have more luck and some good things next year.”
BIGGER PICTURE
Firstly, the medical emergency in the South Stand that delayed the start of the second half by 20 minutes puts football into perspective.
Secondly, what a year 2023 has been for Ipswich Town. Played 54. Won 33. Drawn 15. Lost six. Goals scored 116. Goals conceded 54.
Town, a club that has just spent four years in League One, find themselves second in the Championship table and 17 points clear of seventh at the 25-game mark.
Chose to focus on no wins in four games if you wish. I'd rather highlight just four league defeats in a calendar year.
Let me take you back to this time last year. Injuries were biting. Town lost at Wycombe just before Christmas, drew at Portsmouth and Lincoln soon after, then were unfortunate to drop points against Plymouth and Oxford. It was one league win in six heading into late January.
What happened after that? McKenna, backed by ambitious owners and the drive of chief executive Mark Ashton, got his early transfer window recruits up to speed and the rest is history.
Stoke away on Monday is going to be a real challenge, no doubt about it. The next few weeks will be tough. Stay right behind this group though. My word they've earnt it.
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