Can Arter keep his cool better?

Harry had another of those games on Saturday against Brentford when you watched and had your head in your hands, hoping that he wouldn't cross the line one time too many and end up getting a yellow or red card. His passion to win is sometimes a bit to evident for us all to see and Eddie Howe is wise enough to always be looking out for signs when Harry needs to be protected perhaps from himself. A 'Harry hot head' is not helpful for the team though and it was no surprise that Eddie Howe took him out of the situation against Brentford when cool heads were what were required in the closing minutes of the game.

Harry has to keep his discipline to help AFCB.

I still would prefer a player like Harry battling away for most of the game and having to watch him carefully than see a player that was not doing as much as him to win the ball in the heart of midfield. You can never accuse Harry of not giving his all and most fans know that. If you took away some of the aggression and annoyance he clearly feels when he does not get decisions you would probably lose 10 per cent of his game, and that would make him far less effective in the middle of the park. The good thing is that Harry whether by luck or merit, he did not pick up a card this time and it's another game in the Championship that will add to his experience.

I know Eddie Howe will have had plenty of talks with Harry over his need to sometimes walk away when a referee gives a decision against him or a team member that he feels is wrong or unjustified, but in the heat of the moment it is easy to get caught up and to lose your discipline. As AFCB have made a good start to the season the players will probably find they have even more to lose now as they seek to protect that position that they have worked hard to achieve. That extra pressure will be new to most of them at this level as they are trying to achieve things that could take the club and themselves to the very highest English league, but the rewards are so high that I can see why they will fight hard for every decision.

I want to see Harry on the pitch more this season and off it less.

We need a cool Harry though at times when he the team is winning and just needs to defend sensibly. I would like to see Tommy Elphick step up to Harry now and again just to warn him when he is getting a bit over heated and pull him away from the situation. Harry will only get better at controlling his temperament  though by experience and if he picks up a bit more knowledge by being taken off now and again, just to make him think about why he is suddenly on the bench I don't think that is a bad thing. It's more good man management from Eddie.

Late drama at Portman Road Ipswich 2 v AFCB 2

Match Report

21 April 2014

Ipswich 2 v 2 AFCB

Attendance 20,356 (890 AFCB supporters)

We have arrived at Portman Road.

Just a couple of huddles left for this season.

You could not have asked for any more effort from an AFCB side that has made this a truly wonderful season. Right up until the last minute against Ipswich they were still trying to get a winner, which would have been fully deserved. It was two points that the Cherries could not really afford to drop if they were to keep their play-off hopes alive, but they showed once again that they are a match for any team in the Championship and with a bit more luck they could have had even more success this season. What has stopped AFCB doing better though is the large amount of goals conceded and in this match they let in two poor goals that were certainly preventable and typically for this side came against the run of play.

Around the back of the stadium there is
an all weather surface training area.

Eddie Howe brought back Charlie Daniels and  Elliott Ward for the match against the Tractor Boys with Tommy Elphick and Ian Harte moved to the bench. There was not sign of Harry Arter though despite having served his three match ban.

Mick McCarthy also made some changes as his Ipswich side had only had 48 hours since their last outing against Watford and into the team came Richardson for his first start, Anderson and Hunt.

Time to shake hands.

With the sun blasting its rays down on a large crowd all was set for a match that would see two sides go toe-to-toe for a chance to claw themselves nearer to the play-offs. AFCB started much the better with Surman directing play most effectively while Williams and Anderson could only pick up offside flags in the first few minutes. Bournemouth were getting their passing and movement going well and Daniels looked keen to start getting more involved up the left wing. But every now and again Surman or Pugh would lose the ball.

Meanwhile, Ipswich response was to play long balls which were easily swallowed up by Camp. Kermorgant was moving well and linking up play, while Grabban was soon fouled, after 9 minutes, in the centre circle as Ipswich looked to keep an eye on Bournemouth's leading goal scorer.

Ian Harte's absence was immediately felt as the ball was kicked straight out from the free kick. Daniel's next involvement was to take down Chambers on 10 minutes. Francis, O'Kane and Ritchie dealt with the danger but the ball up to Grabban was too strong. O'Kane tried another through ball moments later which was again to heavy, but the next time Grabban did get away only to fire his shot at Gerken on 13 minutes.

Ipswich's response was a wild cross from Anderson. Things were looking good for the Cherries as they were well on top. Yann Kermorgant was chasing things down but went a bit far when he caught Skuse. AFCB soon had the ball back though and Grabban shot wide on 15 minutes.

Richardson was doing a lot of work at right back having to keep Daniels and Pugh quiet, while Grabban was drifting over to the left now and again to make it even harder for him. All Gerken had on his mind was banging long balls up to Murphy but Ward was always there to cover.

Grabban played a cross ball that almost reached Pugh but Richardson just got their first. Pugh the fouled Chambers. Most of the game though was being played in Ipswich's half with AFCB keeping possession much the better. Murphy was again caught offside on 19 minutes as the pattern of play looked pretty set.

Pugh won a corner then on 21 minutes after a cross and AFCB took it short with Surman and Ritchie when the ball was sent over to the far post it was just deflected out for a second corner, this time from the left. Surman was first to have his shot blocked before the ball come out to Francis who hit a pile driver of a shot but well over!

Murphy then fouled Cook and AFCB had the ball back again.It became a bit of the Yann show for the next few minutes as he first headed over from a Francis cross and then went closer still with a header off of a Pugh cross. Ipswich were starting to look at all at sea at the back with a cross from the left that Yann Kermorgant first went for and was blocked before Ritchie passed to Pugh or O'Kane that went over on 28 minutes.

Kermorgant was also doing his bit in defence blocking Anderson from getting a shot in while Murphy just kept getting flagged offside. If it wasn't Gerken playing high balls up to Murphy it was Smith from centre back but Grabban fouled Smith on one occasion when he had tried to do that. 

It came a s a bit of a surprise when Ipswich broke well and Anderson and then Williams came forward, passing on to Cresswell on the left who shot wide on 33 minutes. If that was a warning it wasn't noted, because on the next throw Skuse burst through and crossed from the right wing. The ball went right across AFCB's box with Francis seeming to let it go not knowing that Anderson was coming in behind from the left and his shot was smashed passed Camp to make it 1-0 to the home side.

It was just typical. AFCB had played brilliantly, but had switched off for a second and were one-nil down. that could so easily have been two when Williams was brought down on the edge of the box and the resulting free kick from Cresswell was thwacked against the right upright with Camp just getting a vital touch. Pugh managed to get the ball away from goal after that.

AFCB than had a strong move with Ritchie playing the ball over to Pugh in a good shooting spot but Pugh missed his kick. Grabban might have done a bit better seconds later as his shot went wide, but at least it was out for a corner. The ball looked like it was cleared off the Ipswich goal line. The pressure was really mounting on the Ipswich goal and on 42 minutes Grabban was fouled. As the ball came into the box from the free kick, Cook got a head to it and the ball went straight up and yet he was quick enough to position himself for an overhead kick on the six yard line and, as he hit the ball, it fairly rocketed into the roof of the net to make it 1-1. I had thought at first that it was Yann Kermorgant and I was stunned when I realised it was Cookie. Any striker would have been proud of that finish. Cookie ran towards the away supporters with his arm aloft pointing to the sky.  AFCB were back in the game and had score right on half time.

Ipswich were fighting hard now though and Wordsworth hit a solid shot that Camp had to save well before the break. So it was 1-1 at half time.

Ryan Fraser at half time.

I thought the Grand National was the other week - Ipswich's mascot.

Second Half
The second half saw Green come on for Wordswirth. Anderson was getting on the ball early and Ward soon took him down from which Anderson never really recovered.  Pugh chased Richardson into the box and while the away supported yelled penalty for a handball Andy D'Urso wasn't moved.  A corner to AFCB led to a blocked shot from Pugh. The best early chance of the second half  went to Grabban though when he had the chance to collect a through ball from Surman but he lost control and the ball ran away to Gerken in goal.

Ipswich were doing better on the right wing with Richardson and Green, but Anderson had to be subbed after still feeling Ward's challenge and on came Nouble after 53 minutes. AFCB were having to do some defending and Francis fouled Williams that led to a free kick near the corner on the left for Ipswich. It was a set piece that took ages to take as the Ipswich men looked to confuse and get their players in the right place. It worked to perfection as a knock on led to Green stopping low to head Ipswich 2-1 up on 54 minutes.

The Cherries had it all to do now with the home crowd loving every minute. But AFCB still kept playing their steady passing game and looked to get back into the game. Murphy was still the main target for Ipswich but again he was caught offside, while Nouble tried to keep him company the sub went in late on Camp but the referee gave him no more than a gentle warning.

Bournemouth's possession was very strong and they just needed to find a finish in the last third and it looked like it would come on 63 minutes when a Francis run down the right was sent right across the box and Pugh coming in late from the left managed to blast the ball over from six yards! It was just like Ipswich's first goal only Anderson had tucked that chance away.

It might be that Pugh was going to be replaced any way but after that Eddie Howe made the change as Rantie replaced Pugh on 66 minutes. Ritchie switched to the left wing as well as Adam Smith came on the right wing to replace Daniels and AFCB went three at the back to chase the game.

Hunt won a corner for Ipswich , but Surman cleared with a header. Grabban made a great run on 69 minutes with the Ipswich defence stretched but when he got to the byline and pulled it back Rantie was in the wrong place and it was easy to clear.

Adam Smith was doing well on the right wing and beat Skuse to the challenge. Rantie though was having less luck as he was caught well offside.

Williams was taken off on 76 minutes for Mings to come on as Ipswich looked to shut up shop. Ipswich won a free kick for a foul on Murphy and then a corner. I still felt AFCB could get something from this game but time was running out.

With Rantie's pace it seemed that AFCB might have a chance on the break but Mings was covering well and blocked a Rantie effort. Tommy Smith for Ipswich was a little more clumsy and took Rantie out on the right side of the field in front of the box. That was just the chance that AFCB needed. Yann Kermorgant Ritchie and Surman stood over the ball and with a quick flick Surman laid the ball off to Ritchie to strike and after a deflection, off the foot of the wall, the ball landed in the back of the net. It was 2-2 and no more than Bournemouth deserved having bossed the game for large periods.

The last 10 minutes would be full out action. Surman won a free kick on 82 minutes but it came to nothing and Ipswich won a free kick for a foul on Nouble and came close with a header from Mings. While AFCB flung crosses in Grabban was not able to reach them, while Cook's long throw was also missing its target. Camp came well out of his goal on 87 minutes looking to get the ball deep into the Ipswich half and Kermrogant

Ipswich won a corner and we all hoped that it would be cleared safely and it was. There was still time to see Grabban shot wide again and a Bournemouth throw that saw Yann Kermorgant head wide. It ended 2-2.

A great effort by AFCB's players.

I know the players enjoyed the support at Ipswich it was immense all game.

It was good to see Charlie back.

I don't think 42 was kissing his team mate.

Eddie Howe says a goodbye to the fans.

Summary
A great performance by the Cherries was just not quite enough to beat an Ipswich team that still look in a much better position to reach the play-offs than Bournemouth.  It is not quite mathematically over but you could see in the player's faces that they knew they had to win this game realistically. The thing that scuppered Bournemouth were the two Ipswich goals that perhaps better teams would have kept out. It is something that Eddie Howe will surely now look to strengthen ahead of next season because it is the soft goals that are all that have really prevented AFCB from finishing even higher in the Championship. If they can tighten up at the back next season I can only see even more joy on the faces of AFCB fans and players to come.


Ipswich
Gerken, Richardson, Cresswell, Wordsworth (Green 45), Chambers, Smith, Anderson (Nouble 53) , Murphy, Skuse, Williams (Mings 77), Hunt

Ipswich Subs
Loach, Mings, Greeb, Tabb, Taylor, Marriott, Nouble

AFCB
Camp, Francis, Ward, Cook, Daniels (Smith 66) , Ritchie, O'Kane, Surman, Pugh (Rantie 66), Kermorgant, Grabban

AFCB subs
Allsop, Elphick, Harte, Smith, MacDonald, Fraser, Rantie

AFCB Ratings
Camp 6, Francis 6, Ward 7, Cook 8, Daniels 7, Ritchie 7, O'Kane 8, Surman 8, Pugh 6, Kermorgant 8, Grabban 7

Cook got my vote for man of the match but it was tight between Kermorgant and Surman as well. 

Ipswich v AFCB showdown with TWTD and Cherry Chimes

Match Preview

Ipswich Town v AFCB

Blogger Interview - TWTD

Cherry Chimes gets ready for the huge Easter Monday showdown with Ipswich Town FC by talking to Blair Ferguson from independent Ipswich Town website TWTD.co.uk. Cherry Chimes welcomes back Blair to the rival Lines hot seat as the Tractor Boys and the Cherries go head to head in what is probably the game of the Easter period in the Championship - winner takes all! HAPPY EASTER!

CC: Ipswich have been in the Championship for many years so do you think getting promoted would do a lot for the town?

TWTD: I think it would lift the Town massively if they were to be back in the Premier League. There are the obvious things of getting more people into the Town but it would also raise the attendances at Portman Road, which is a great place to start.

CC: How have you done against the teams in the play-off positions this season and would you be confident of getting past them?

TWTD: It’s been a bit of a mixed bag. We’ve drawn against and beaten Derby and recently beaten Brighton at the AMEX, which was a result that really kick-started our promotion push. Because we are relatively late to the party we didn’t do well against some of them earlier in the season but we are a lot stronger now.

If we were to get 6th I think we are more than capable of beating whoever we get. At the time of writing it looks like we would get QPR and although we’ve lost to them twice this season I think we are stronger team to the one we were when we last played them in January.

CC: Do you think Mick McCarthy has what it takes to do well in the Premiership after his experience with Wolves?

TWTD: Mick McCarthy has a lot of experience in the Premier League and I think that would serve us well. With a few additions I think he would make us very hard to beat in any division.

CC: If you don't go up do you think you will hold on to the nucleus of the squad for next season - Johnny Williams seems to be one player that has done well for you on loan?

TWTD: I think it would be very important to keep the squad together. The hardest one to keep hold of will probably be Aaron Cresswell as he’s had clubs sniffing around him for a while now.

‘Joniesta’ has been a real catalyst for our season because he’s brought some much needed creativity behind the strikers. He is a very positive, forward thinking player and I think his positive style of play has rubbed off on some of the other lads and given us confidence to be more adventurous going forward.

CC: The TWTD talks about defender Aaron Creswell a lot so what qualities does he bring to the team?

TWTD: Aaron Cresswell is a great modern day full-back who has the engine to get up and down the pitch but he’s also got plenty of pace. He’s also got the ability to swing in a great cross, is strong from free-kicks and when he wants to can hit a powerful shot.

CC: Do you think the team could have won more games in March or were they just difficult fixtures?

TWTD: I think the game against Middlesbrough is one where we could of picked up some points but we came up against Wigan as they were making their surge up the league, so that was always going to be a difficult game.

The draw with Nottingham Forest is a game I thought we could have taken all three points but on the day they had chances as well.

CC: The Ipswich team we saw at Dean Court had been unbeaten away since September but what has the home form been like to watch of late - are Ipswich supporters nervous or excited?

TWTD: Nervous! Luke Chambers' goal in the dying minutes against Doncaster will have had everyone on the edge of their seat. With every game that pass’ with us getting three-points people start to think that maybe we go get sixth place and get into the play-offs for the first time since ???

CC: Has Daryl Murphy gone under the radar a bit in the media with David McGoldrick doing so well? I remember he scored against us!

TWTD: He’s one of those players that works hard and gets some goals along the way. The reason he has been in McGoldrick’s shadow a bit will be because they are different type of players. McGoldrick has a bit more class to him where as Murphy will usually score from inside the six-yard-box, not that that’s a bad thing!

If both of them were on form together they could form a formidable partnership but Murphy stepped up when Town needed someone to fill the void when McGoldrick got injured.

CC: How well did you feel Ipswich played in your last home game against Doncaster Rovers?

TWTD: Not bad at all! It was a bit of a nervous ending given that they scored a penalty in the 83rd minute but maybe you know it might be your year when you score the winner six minutes later!

CC: With the positions as they are and a top six position at stake would you rather be playing Bournemouth now than a team lower in the league at this stage?

TWTD: I don’t think you want to be playing a team who are in a relegation battle at this stage of the season. We all know that anyone can beat anyone in this division but I’d rather be playing Bournemouth.

CC: What can away supporters look forward to when they come and see the Portman Road stadium?

TWTD: First and foremost it’s a nice stadium with a bit of character to it, unlike some of the modern stadiums that feel as if they are all the same!

CC: What do you think the score will be when Ipswich play Bournemouth?

TWTD: I fancy us to take it 2-0, although we do play better when we go behind so maybe 2-1 is the better option! It will be a tough game given we are both after the same thing but I’d fancy us to edge it.

CC: Thank you for your answers Blair. It has been a long hard season at it will be a pleasure to come and visit Portman Road on Monday. While both teams can't get in the play-offs let's hope that at least one of them does and I also hope that it is a cracker of a game, because it is all set up for a must win for both sides.

For more views on Ipswich Town's season have a visit to TWTD.co.uk it's packed full of information and has a report on Town's last outing away at Watford.

Make sure you send in your score predictions for the game tomorrow and I'll post them up on the site as soon as I can.