Defeat on the road for Town, slow start and down to 10 men in the first half made it a challenge at Portman Road
A difficult afternoon at Portman Road as 10-men Town struggled against a tough Ipswich side.
Two goals inside the first 10 minutes for the hosts Ipswich showed how the game was to pan out. After a poor ball from Aaron Pierre attempting to find captain Dave Edwards in the middle, Ipswich won back possession finding James Norwood on the right-hand-side who played a through ball into Kayden Jackson who fired into the back of Max O’Leary’s net.
Town came close just after with Shaun Whalley down the left-side, he floated a cross into the box to find Steve Morison’s head but he placed it over Tomas Holy’s bar.
Shaun Whalley found himself first in the book after stopping Ipswich to take a quick free-kick. With 10 minutes left of the first half, Whalley found himself receiving a second yellow card after losing the ball saw him put in a late challenge. Whalley saw red and Town played the remainder of the match with only 10 men.
Just shy of the 10-minute mark, Josh Laurent gave a penalty away after tripping up Kane Vincent-Young just inside the 18-yard-box. Up stepped Norwood who fired it under O’Leary. Ipswich found themselves 2-0 with only 10 minutes gone.
Town had a few chances on the break but were struggling to find an end product. Town’s first chance came from Whalley, before he saw red, after receiving a throw on the half-turn and firing it from 20-yard, however, Holy gathered it.
The Tractor Men came close again shortly after as Sean Goss had the ball in the midfield and looked back to play into the back four, however a loose pass was quickly picked up by Norwood and was put just wide of O’Leary’s net.
From O’Leary’s kick, Town went on the attack and won a corner. Up stepped Goss who found Ethan Ebanks-Landell sliding in at the back post but could only manage to hit the crossbar which was then deflected out and landed for Pierre who smashes it high over Holy’s bar.
As half-time was approaching Town continued to attack with Giles ran the ball down to the by-line, he pulled it back to Lauren who smashes a first-time hit that looked to by flying in but Holy got a hand to it and put it out for a corner. Goss steps up and finds Morison at the back post who could only use his knee which looks to be flying in again, Holy saves again.
Half-Time. Ipswich Town 2 – 0 Shrewsbury Town
Town got the second half underway and began looking like the stronger team. Pressing high, keeping possession and creating chances. Laurent pressed on Ipswich’s defence and forced them into a throw, by the corner flag. The ball found Morison who was surrounded by three defenders and the ball ends up with Holy.
Town created some good chances during the second half but struggled to find the back of the net. A good chance came from Laurent around 30-yards-out but Holy managed to keep hold.
Just shy of the 70-minute mark, Ipswich secured a third and final goal. After a low driven cross from Jackson found the head of Flynn Downes, who connected with a diving header around the penalty spot.
Town made their first sub shortly after. Daniel Udoh came on to replace Morison. Udoh forced a Town corner after putting pressure on Luke Chambers. Goss took the kick and found Edwards’ head but was deflected out for another corner after the ball flew through the box.
Laurent played some great football in the middle with good feet and found Goss on the left who hit a long ball cross-field to find Donald Love down the right, but Love’s first-time volley was fired out for a goal-kick.
Town played some good football throughout the second half with only having 10-men but struggled to find an end product.
They look to go again Tuesday evening against Port Vale in The Leasing.com trophy.