Ipswich Town 2-1 Newcastle United |
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Date:
Wednesday 28th July 2004
Kick Off: 7.45pm (GMT)
Venue: Portman Road
Att: 24,644
Ref: N/A
Comp: Pre-Season Friendly (Memorial Game) |
| Pre-Season
Match Report In Association With Toon
Ale |
|
Toon Flattened By Tractor Boys
Our poor away form continued at Portman Road last night, ending with
a 2-1 defeat against 1st Division promotion hopefuls Ipswich Town
in our 3rd Pre-Season game of the Close Season. Bobby, missing Jermaine
Jenas, Steven Taylor, Jonathan Woodgate (all injured) and new signing
Patrick Kluivert welcomed back to the starting lineup fit again striker
Craig Bellamy who had missed the Asia Tour and Olivier Bernard who
sat out the two games in the Far East. Former Tractor Boys Kieron
Dyer, Darren Ambrose and Titus Bramble all started.
The game, in honour of Dale Roberts the former Ipswich Assistant Manager
who sadly passed away last year after losing his battle with Cancer,
remembered the Geordie with a minutes silence.
However on 6 minutes there was no silence, just jubilation from the
home crowd when Shefki Kuqi put Ipswich into the
lead with a well taken shot from 12-yards out after good work from
Dean Bowditch and Tommy Miller.
With a quarter of an hour gone Newcastle could have equalised when
Bellamy saw his header crash off the bottom of Kelvin Davis's right-hand
post from Laurent Robert's inch perfect cross and on the half hour
mark it was Alan Shearer's turn to go close, this time powering his
header straight at Davis with the keeper parrying Big Al's effort
away to safety - a golden opportunity to score.
United did score however with 6 minutes remaining when Robert
got on the end of Bellamy's chip into the box to plant a 6-yard header
into the net to level the scores and that's how the scores stayed
to the break.
At half time Bobby, back at his former club who he managed to FA &
UEFA Cup success during a 13 year spell at Portman Road brung on Steve
Harper for Shay Given in goal. Ipswich manager Joe Royle also made
a change bringing off veteran stalwart Jim Magilton for Antonio Murray.
10 minutes later the home team made a further two changes bringing
on Pablo Canougo for Bowditch and Fabien Wilnis for Drissa Diallo.
United pressing fro a second goal were nearly rewarded on 57 minutes
Robert cracked in a 35-yard free kick that Davis dived to tip away
for a corner.
4 minutes later and Bobby made two more changes bringing on James
Milner for Ambrose who come off to warm applause from his former fans
and Shola Ameobi for Bellamy.
Despite Newcastle's fresh legs and early dominance in the second half
it was Ipswich who scored a second goal on 71 minutes when Canougo's
deflected shot went through Harper's legs from Kuqi's cross as United's
defence looked on in vain.
4 minutes later Bobby made his final change, replacing Bernard at
left-back with Robbie Elliott who has played in all 3 of our Pre-Season
games.
With the minutes ticking away Royle also made his final substitution
bringing off Matt Richards for another academy product - Scott Barron
and before the final whistle brought an end to proceedings a chorus
of "One Bobby Robson" rang out at Portman Road as the Ipswich
fans paid homage to their former manager.
Next up: NUFC
Vs Glasgow Rangers, Sunday 31st July, St. James' Park, K.O 3.00pm
(GMT)
| Ipswich
Town |
Newcastle
United |
Match
Facts & Stats
Half-Time: 1-1
Full-Time: 2-1
Yellow Cards: 0
Red Cards: 0
Goalscorers: Kuqi (6), Counago
(71)
Yellow Cards: 0
Red Cards: 0
Substitutions: 4
Murray (on for Magilton 45min), Wilnis (on for Diallo on 55min),
Counago (on for Bowditch 55min), Barron (on for Richards 89min)
Injuries: N/A
Goalscorers: Robert (39)
Yellow Cards: 0
Red Cards: 0
Substitutions: 5
Harper (on for Given 45min), Milner (on for Ambrose 61min),
Ameobi (on for Bellamy 61min), Elliott (on for Bernard 76min)
Injuries: None to report of |
| Davis |
Given |
| Diallo |
Hughes |
| De Vos |
O'Brien |
| Naylor |
Bramble |
| Richards |
Bernard |
| Horlock |
Ambrose |
| Magilton |
Bowyer |
| Miller |
Dyer |
| Bowditch |
Robert |
|
Kuqi |
Shearer |
| Bent |
Bellamy |
| Substitutes
Bench |
| Price |
Harper |
|
Wilnis |
Elliott |
| Murray |
Brittain |
|
Mitchell |
Milner |
| Barron |
McClen |
| Counago |
Chopra |
| |
Ameobi |
| How The Goals Were Scored |
Ipswich Town Goal 1-0: Shefki Kuqi 6 Minutes
A move involving former Hartlepool man Miller and Bowditch saw Kuqi
finish it off with a sweat low right-footed strike from 12-yards,
beating Given at his right-hand post.
NUFC Goal 1-1: Laurent Robert 39 Minutes
Dyer broke down the right before moving into the box but his attempted
cross come back out to Bellamy who had overlapped Dyer. Bellamy chipped
the ball back into the box for Robert to head it past Davis in the
Ipswich goal from six-yards.
Ipswich Town Goal 2-1: Pablo Counago 71 Minutes
Kuqi's cross into the box found it's way to Counago with the Spanish
striker's shot finding it's way through Harpers legs via a deflection
as the United defence looked on.
| Match Reaction From Sir Bobby & Darren Ambrose |
Bobby Robson said: To appear here soon...
Darren Ambrose said: "I was very excited about coming
back, and I really enjoyed it - apart from the result of course.
"It was a great turn-out that was fitting for the occasion, and I
was pleased with the reception I got from the fans. Titus and Kieron
were welcomed back as well, though unfortunately for Craig Bellamy
he got plenty of stick because of his Norwich connections. That's
football though!
"Despite the result I think we can take plenty of positives from the
game, though credit to Ipswich for playing well and getting the result.
"We can now look forward to Saturday and Sunday in the tournament,
and we know that with the season just a fortnight away now we have
to start pushing ourselves in the manger's thoughts as far as getting
into the starting line-up goes.
"There's a lot of competition for places all over the pitch, so this
weekend's tournament is crucial really."
Dean S wrote in: "The same old problems from
last season still haven't appeared to be ironed out by SBR. In defence
we were slow to react and cumbersome. O'Brien & Bernard had a
steady game but Hughes a Bramble couldn't cope with Bowditch and Kuqi
- then Counago later on. We can't start the new Season with these
two. In midfield we were OK, Bowyer played deeper and didn't really
have an impact, Dyer made some good runs but his crossing and passing
was pretty wayward, Ambrose went missing but Robert looked lively
after a slow opening 20 minutes. Had a few pot shots at goal and took
his HEADED equaliser well (one for the scrapbooks).
"Shearer looked tired - should have buried a sitter in the first-half.
Bellamy for me was our man of the match. He is so important to our
plans and even half-fit he was still causing them problems with his
pace and movement. He set up Robert's goal too. Shay looked shaky
and Harper looks rusty. Milner come on and looks to have a great first
touch. Ameobi didn't do anything of note. All in all a pretty depressing
trip. I know it's only Pre-Season but this reminded me of those away
games last season. Sloppy passing, slow, fragile in defence and SBR
out on the touchline devoid of ideas. From Ipswich that Bowditch kid
looks a real prospect, quick and direct, he had a better game than
Ambrose. Richards also looks a good young player but Bent is a first
division striker at best, he has a poor first touch and gets into
some poor positions for a striker. Hopefully with Paddy & Butt
in the team we will see a good performance on Saturday."
Paul M wrote in: "Although we disappointed on
the road again and didn't play well at all, these are Pre-Season games
meant to get the lads fully fit for the big kick-off so results don't
really matter. I'd far rather lose against Ipswich in a nothing game
than against Boro on the 14th of August. Anyway there was some pleasing
things about the match: Bellamy, Robert and O'Brien all had good games,
Bellamy especially. Plus the game was all about that fella who died
so I'm glad a decent crowd turned out and hopefully a few quid was
raised. Looking forward to the weekend and seeing the Huns turned
over and a few new faces showing off their skills. And Gazza back
in Black & White."
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