Fuller Flavour: Clinical in front of goal, Ipswich Town continue to defy the odds

Joe Garner wheels away after scoring to give the home side a 2-0 lead. Picture: STEVE WALLER WWW.STEPHENWALLER.COM (Image: � Copyright Stephen Waller)

Saturday’s game against Reading had the hallmarks of the performance seen in the previous home game against Nottingham Forest in as much as we were dominated possession-wise but were again clinical in front of goal but this time, also resolute in front of our own goal.

I wondered at half-time how we were leading 2-0 and Jaap Stam could really have only told his players to keep going as they were as they didn’t do much wrong – in between the two areas that is!

So yet again, we won the game with our work rate and a couple of well-taken goals and despite all our injuries of the season so far, continue to defy the odds with our league position.

Talking of injuries, I was absolutely gutted to hear that Emyr Huws will now miss the rest of the season too.

I looked forward to seeing more quality in our midfield this season with the likes of Huws, Andre Dozzell, Teddy Bishop and Tom Adyemi playing leading roles.

These four between them have played in the region of 7.5 games in total.

Just as well we’ve been finding the net on a regular basis still in their absences. I’d take a point at Wolves on Saturday and that’s a great return from eight difficult games recently.

Tonight will see Ipswich Town fan and season ticket holder Kevin Painter in action at the Alexandra Palace, London, as he competes in his 24th World Darts Championship.

His first-round tie against Mensor Suljovic, currently ranked at number five in the world, is his 17th successive PDC World Championship.

Town fans can view Kevin’s game on Sky Sports this evening from approximately 8pm.

I’m sure that I speak on behalf of many Town fans wishing Kevin all the best for this tie.

However, one event that ‘The Artist’ will be missing from is the fifth ITFC Academy Darts night that takes place again at Greshams Sports Club, Tuddenham Road, Ipswich on Tuesday February 27, 2018.

Having appeared at the event in its first four years after being the brains behind the fundraising night, Kevin is disappointed to be absent this time around.

Five years ago, Painter approached Academy Sponsorship manager Simon Milton with an idea to raise money for the Academy by having a Darts night.

They also got fellow Town fan Keith Deller on board with MC Russ Bray and the evenings were a great success with plenty of money raised each time.

While Kevin won’t be there this year, Colin Lloyd from Colchester will join Keith this time.

Let’s all hope it is a big success.

I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and hope Santa brings you everything you want including three more points against QPR on Boxing Day.

Debut scorers #17….David Unsworth

February 5, 2005

Sheffield United 0 Town 2

Town boss Joe Royle was an angry man at half-time of this encounter.

He’d told the Town players in no uncertain terms that they’d hardly played well at all and only led at the break thanks to an excellent goal.

That goal had arrived in the 20th minute courtesy of David Unsworth who had joined the Blues on loan from Portsmouth.

The defender received a pass from Shefki Kuqi and shot over Paddy Kenny from an oblique angle.

Kuqi himself wrapped the game up in the 61st minute with a tap-in after Ian Westlake had burst into the area. Protests from United players that Kuqi was offside were waved away.

In total, Unsworth made 16 appearances for Town in that 2004/05 season scoring just that single goal.

In the summer of 2005, he left Portsmouth on a free transfer to join Sheffield United, the side he had scored against on debut.

It was with great sadness to read of the passing away of club stalwart Dick Parker.

While I did not know Dick personally, the outpouring of love by so many past and present players showed how much he was thought of by all those connected with the club.

I did meet Dick on a couple of occasions when I visited the training ground. I told him once that I was about to interview Marcus Stewart and was quite nervous. He told me not to be and even offered a couple of questions that he thought would be good for me to ask. My deepest sympathies go out to Dick’s family and friends.