Match Report: Cardiff City Vs Ipswich Town

By Mike
November 29 2005

A brilliant team performance sees Town cruelly robbed of reward at Cardiff. With Sam Parkin sidelined due to injury Joe Royle started with the team line up that beat Crewe at the beginning of October putting Naylor up front with Forster and bringing in Wilnis at the back.

Town started well and had much the better of the play in the first 10 mins. They looked like the team they and their fans know they really are. But after 12 minutes Cardiff's Jerome passed Wilnis, latched on to a short back pass, and then performed a full 6 point dive in the box with the ball already in Lewis Price's grasp. Replays showed that Wilnis had just brushed his elbow but he fell like he'd been shot and fooled referee Marriner into a penalty decision and having been conned he had to red card Wilnis.

Fortunately in this little bit of circus Cardiff had the biggest clown in Ricketts who made a complete nonsense of his penalty and some justice was served as Price saved easily.

In amongst this action McEvely took a knock and couldn't continue.He was replaced by Horlock on 14 minutes and Naylor was brought back into defense.

Town and especially Price then turned on a magnificent display and the 10 men ran Cardiff ragged until against the run of play Ricketts managed to atone for his early miss and scored on 30 mins. Both teams continued to play bright football and the keepers were kept in action with Town finishing the half the better team.

The second half carried on where the first left off and Town continued to hold on with the 11 Bluebirds not looking overly dangerous in front of goal probably because Price was playing at his best and saving everything that came his way with apparent ease.

On 65 minutes Joe decided to go for the point and sent on Billy Clark for his first team debut.He took the chance well bringing some extra skill that Town have lacked all season. As a foil for Forster's speed he was very effective and after 10 mins on the pitch he drew a foul and was awarded a free kick just outside the box.. Jimmy Juan stepped up and struck the perfect shot over the wall and into the net. 1-1and 5 mins to go.

Sensibly Joe chose to settle for for the point and young Billy was sacrificed for Currie to shore up the midfield and the defence. Disappointed though he was Billy Clark had just put in one of the best 10 minute debuts we have seen.

Unfortunately, when luck is not on your side in the season it has a way of kicking you when your up as well as down and in the 90th Kumas got round the back on Town's right side, was forced out, stumbled but recovered and scored the an undeserved winner.

The Tractor Boys had played magnificently for no return but if they play like this for the rest of the season they will be well on the way to recovery. The management have sensibly given a contract to Price to keep him at Portman Road and with every cloud having a silver lining, McEvely's injury and replacement by Horlock may well have found the team the key to its week left back position in Kevin. He was a revelation in that role.

Further to that, Town do look a better attacking side without Parkin who has not proiduced any Championship form at all this season. It's a sad injury for him but when he's recovered and he's playing in the reserves to get fit, the need to fight for his place and the impetus of a fresh start may be the best thing for him and the team.

I do believe we have a team and they " WILL BE BACK".