Monday 19 September 2011

Ipswich too strong for a poor Coventry side.

Ipswich Town got a vital three points as they easily overcame a poor Coventry side 3-0 at Portman Road this evening.

After a very inconstant start to the season which has seen Paul Jewell's Ipswich win one in their last six league and cup matches, a win was essential for his experienced side with tough away games at Middlesbrough and West Ham United up next.

Under Andy Thorn Coventry are one of the favourites for relegation this season and despite picking up their first win of the season last week against Derby, they were always second best to a much improved Ipswich.

Martin Craine headed into his own goal early on and Keith Andrews continued his impressive goal return with his fourth since his loan move, as Ipswich stunned Coventry with two early goals. A second half goal from the impressive Jason Scotland completed a 3-0 victory for Jewell's side and see's them move up to 13th in the Championship.

Ipswich fielded a side consisting of no less then ten former Premier League players, however it was the only one with no such top flight experience who shone the brightest in the 21-year old Aaron Cresswell who was just as brilliant in Coventry's half as he was his own in a man of the match performance.

Coventry stuck with the same XI that beat Derby last week, however it was Ipswich's lone change from their last encounter which played a huge part in the opening goal. Scotland, in for Darryl Murphy looked to have headed home from a beautiful Aaron Cresswell cross, however on closer viewing it was Coventry defender Craine who headed past Joe Murphy in the Coventry goal.

Michael Chopra should have doubled the Suffolk sides advantage however after good work from Grand Leadbitter, the forward blazed wide. However Chopra's miss wasn't too important as only a few minutes later the former Newcastle man lifted the ball superbly into Keith Andrews who finished brilliantly on the half volley past Joe Murphy.

Chopra was guilty of spurning a succession of presentable opportunities, in a first half in which Ipswich were truly dominant, however it was Andrews who missed the best chance for a 3-0 lead when he headed wide from a Jimmy Bullard corner.

The first real chance of note for Coventry came in the dying stages of the first half as Cody McDonald headed a Sammy Clingan corner towards goal, only to be denied superbly on the line by the impressive Cresswell.

After the break McDonald was to blame for not bringing Coventry back into the match after missing two great headed chances. His first chance was from a Clingan free kick and the former Norwich man headed his opportunity into the ground and over David Stockdale's bar. And the striker's second chance was just as good as Lukas Jutkiewicz did well to find McDonald, only for his finish to be poor.

Scotland ensured the three points were Ipswich's as he finished off a lovely team goal with a composed finish. Bullard found the Trindad striker in the Coventry half, and after a nice one-two with Chopra, he was too strong for Craine, and finished with great aplomb.

Some late Coventry pressure failed to see them reduce the deficit and Ipswich ran out comfortable victors.

Ipswich side: Stockdale 6, Edwards 7, Collins 7, Sonko 7 (Delaney), Cresswell 8, Leadbitter 7, Andrews 7, Bullard 7, Bowyer 6, Chopra 6 (Murphy), Scotland 8 (Emmanuel Thomas)

Coventry side: Murphy 7, Keogh 5, Hussey 6, Craine 5, Christie 5 (Cameron), Clingan 6, Bell 5, Baker 6, Bigirimana 5 (McSheffrey), Jutkiewicz 6, McDonald 6 (O'Donovan)


keith-andrews-jimmy-bullard-ipswich-cropped

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