We run through a few of the talking points following the Blues’ disappointing draw with Huddersfield.
You need to take your chances in scrappy games
Yesterday’s game was far from a classic, but had David McGoldrick converted his late chance it would have been remembered completely differently.
While the Blues did look more solid as they secured just their third clean sheet of the season, they also struggled to create chances and certainly played their part in ensuring the contest was a largely unattractive, scrappy one.
However, even in the most scrappy of games, when you’re far from your best, a chance usually presents itself. With opportunities few and far between you simply have to take them.
McCarthy’s selection stubbornness
This was arguably the biggest talking point going into the game and, following the Ipswich boss’s post game comments, it was the biggest after the game, too.
Team selection is never going to be something everyone agrees with, especially given the increased options within the squad this season, but both McCarthy and the Portman Road crowd have been pretty vocal in their views on the subject.
It’ll be interesting to see which 11 players start at Hull on Tuesday night.
Ishmael Miller is a real handful
Not for the first time, big striker Ishmael Miller made things very difficult for an Ipswich Town defence. More experienced Town defenders than Tommy Smith (namely Jason De Vos) have tried and failed to shackle the former Manchester City youth, but the New Zealander’s battle with the Huddersfield striker was one of the more intriguing parts of an otherwise drab game.
Miller had the better of the early exchanges, taking advantage of a few positional errors, but the Ipswich defender came back well and ensured the striker was a lot less effective in the second period.
The Portman Road pitch almost played its part
It’s getting to that time in the season where the weather and conditions under foot can start to play a part in football matches; thankfully they didn’t quite on this occasion.
With a fair amount of rain in the lead-up to the game, a number of players found it difficult to stay upright on what appeared to be a greasy Portman Road surface, with it nearly proving costly on two occasions.
Both Jonas Knudsen and Cole Skuse slipped and allowed Sean Scannell to scamper through, but thankfully on both occasions the Blues were able to get back and stop chances which could easily have led to a goal.
A premature end to a promising home debut
As he has on his previous outings for Town, Tommy Oar showed glimpses of why the club were so excited to have sealed his signature in August.
After finally earning a league start, the Aussie was busy from the first whistle and, with what seems to be a wand of a left foot, provided a string of teasing crosses both from open play and from dead ball situations.
However, a clash with Huddersfield keeper Jed Steer left him with concussion and saw his afternoon come to a premature end as he was substituted at the break, after struggling after taking the knock.
You need to show some common sense
Having come on as a substitute following your return from injury, and with your team about to pick up what could prove to be a useful away point, why would you throw the ball into your opponent’s face from just a few inches away?
Regardless of how much malice there was, it was a pretty silly thing for James Vaughan to do and he’ll now pay the consequence.
What got you talking following yesterday’s game? See tomorrow’s newspaper for Stuart Watson’s view on yesterday’s game.
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