The West Stand Senior on Town vs Leicester

Pre-match

Leicester City at home…hmmm.

Feels like déjà vu. Hopes high, but no counting chickens seemed the best way to approach this game. Especially as we were playing the ‘Foxes’. Their supporters appeared to be pessimistic about the result as they have not been playing well so far this season, though have managed to pick up points with a couple of wins.

Before the match, members of the 7th Parachute Regiment Royal Horse Artillery and the 28 Engineer Regiment, formed a part of the Club’s Remembrance Day Tribute on the pitch, with the Last Post being played, as well as a period of silence, ahead of kick-off. Volunteers from the Royal British Legion were also in evidence around the stadium collecting donations for veterans.

The silence was observed impeccably by the crowd.

The Last Post always makes me think of my father, so I really appreciated the observance of this ceremony in tribute to all armed service members by the club and everyone attending the match today.

The crowd also held a minute of applause in tribute to the loss of Trevor Whymark this week - a true club legend.

First half

First ten – fifteen minutes Leicester looked threatening, with a few more flurries throughout the first half – but Muric parried their shots effectively. Ipswich had most of the possession and made them look fairly toothless. Their time-wasting tactics suggested they would be happy to take away a ‘no score draw’, which was very frustrating for the home side, as was the fact that the referee’s arm only seemed to point one way for fouls.

Half time

There was a good vibe throughout the crowd, and it felt like a goal was just lurking around the corner for Town. The crowd support had been spectacular, both in full voice and clapping mode.

Second half

Sweet strike by Leif Davis – a wonderful goal on 55 mins.

Ipswich 1 – 0 Leicester.

Ipswich were controlling the game well and creating chances until the 77th minute, when Conor Chaplin was pulled down in the box and a clear penalty was not given. To add insult to injury Kalvin Phillips was shown a second yellow card and was out of the game. This decision was up for dispute too.

Town battled on with ten men as Leicester pushed and Cam Burgess made a vital save off the goal line late on. But Ipswich hearts were broken when, in the fourth minute of added time, Ayew equalised for the visitors.

Our men of the match

Really difficult one today as I thought they all played so well, but particularly notable were Chaplin, Morsy, Davis, Delap, Hutchinson and Johnson.

If I was forced to choose just one of those, it would be Conor Chaplin, who was like a little wizard; his chasing, positioning and shooting were excellent. He pounced on a shot whenever it seemed viable - but passed astutely when it wasn’t. His curler towards the top corner of the net missed by mere inches and brought a gasp from the crowd.

Summing up

Today I believe we played Leicester off the park, but luck was against us yet again. The team were ‘a team’ today, with a good mix of new signings and old favourites – and it really worked. They played with confidence, belief, co-ordination and great tactics, I enjoyed the game so much apart from the bizarre official decisions – a certain penalty not given and a dubious sending off…and not getting the three points I believe we deserved of course.

The ref was roundly (and justifiably) booed from the pitch – an unusual occurrence at Portman Road.

View from the train

There was much muttering along the lines of “We was robbed.”

My travelling companions, Felix and Collette, were angry and gutted for the players at the result, but wanted me to say how very proud they were of the team. For a goodly portion of the game we were eleven men against twelve. Alas, then we became ten.

A supporter listening to KMcK’s feedback on his phone told us the players were fuming.

So are we.