BELOW-PAR Ipswich Town somehow ground out a narrow 1-0 victory over Portsmouth thanks to Keith Andrews’ second half goal.
The Blues were fortunate to go into the break goalless after Portsmouth seized on some sloppy play and created a number of good opportunities.
Paul Jewell’s side managed to stick with the game though and found a winner in the 69th minute when Keith Andrews just about got enough contact on the ball from close range to guide home substitute Nathan Ellington’s headed knock down.
Ipswich – who headed into the match on a five-game unbeaten run – started confidently before a number of unforced errors crept into their play.
With Jimmy Bullard’s passing game completely off key, Portsmouth have forced a number of corners and good goalscoring opportunities.
Luke Varney fired inches over the bar in the 18th minute, while a minute later home keeper David Stockdale saved with his legs one-on-one from the striker.
Dave Kitson diverted a corner into the near post just before the half hour mark, while Stockdale also tipped a Joel Ward header wide.
Lee Bowyer did see a shot from the edge of the box turned around the post early on, while Andrews also forced a save from the keeper, but Town were by far the happier side with a 0-0 scoreline come the half-time whistle.
Pompey sensed an opportunity and should have broken the deadlock within a minute of the restart when Liam Lawrence somehow failed to connect with the ball unmarked at the far post.
Town lost centre-back Ibrahima Sonko to a hamstring injury on the hour, while Jewell replaced tired looking strike duo Jason Scotland and Michael Chopra with Ellington and Jay Emmanuel-Thomas.
Ipswich, although still not quite clicking, kept toiling away and found their winner in the 69th minute. The energetic Carlos Edwards clipped the ball into the area, Ellington got a head/shoulder onto the ball and Andrews was there to scuff home from close range.
A below-par performance, with a scrappy winner. Ipswich Town won’t care one bit though.
– Reaction to follow.
IPSWICH TOWN (4-4-2): Stockdale; Edwards, Sonko (Delaney 60), Collins, Cresswell; Bullard, Leadbitter (cpt), Bowyer, Andrews; Scotland (Ellington 46), Chopra (Emmanuel-Thomas 65).
Subs: Lee-Barrett; Wabara.
Booked: Bowyer (82)
PORTSMOUTH (4-5-1): Henderson; Halford, Pearce, Rocha (Kanu 75), Ben Haim; Lawrence (cpt) (Mokoena 88), Mullins, Norris, Ward, Varney; Kitson (Huseklepp 74).
Subs: Ashdown, Riise.
AttendanceL 17,297 (away)
Referee: Mr Gavin Ward
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here