7 January 2017 - FA CUP Round 3
This game was definitely 'one for the neutral', as the old saw tirelessly whines. It was a mere ten quid to get in, a potential giant killing cup shock was on the cards for the entire 90 minutes, we saw four varied and in some cases outstanding goals, there was incessant counter-attacking football from both sides and all played in a cracking atmosphere created (almost entirely) by around 5,000 travelling fans from Lincoln. Just a shame that with the exception of a pretty good referee, there weren’t actually any neutrals watching it. Though weirdly, very few of Portman Road’s 16,000 spectators who did witness this lively game will have gone home totally happy. Why?
If you went as a Lincoln fan you must have cursed your luck, as well as having a great day out. Starting with Theo Robinson’s smartly worked and astutely finished opening goal in the seventh minute, through to a decent half chance to make it 2-3 in the closing moments of the game, Lincoln deserved to win. From the man-mountain Rhead at the front, who unsettled both Ipswich centre halves on frequent occasions without mostly appearing to run anywhere, through to neat and mobile full backs such as Wood and Habergham, Lincoln were impressive. That mythical 'neutral observer' particularly one who knew nothing of football, might never have twigged this was a Cup and not a league game. Lincoln matched Ipswich in most areas, despite the gap of four leagues between the two clubs' official status. To have been 2-1 up with only five minutes to go and then to draw, must have been a gutting disappointment.
Ipswich fans, in contrast, were not simply gutted. They were hung, drawn and quartered by another fumbling and ineffectual display from a team which came 7th in last year's Championship. Yes, one place off the Play-Off roulette spin that can take teams, their fans and accountants to the promised land of the Premiership. Yet in this game Ipswich were generally outfought and often, out thought. The statistics will tell you that they had 11 shots compared to Lincoln's 9 and 7 corners compared to Lincoln’s 3. But the truth is that Lincoln had 7 shots on target compared to Ipswich’s 5; and the home side’s only goals emanated from moments of magic by Tom Lawrence; a young Welsh winger who is on a year-long loan to Ipswich from Leicester. His two equalising strikes (Ipswich were never ahead) came in the 12th and 86th minutes The first involved a weaving, mesmerising run across the whole of Lincoln's defensive half. It left four, perhaps even more Imps gasping for breath and grasping at thin air, before he slotted it in from close range under the last defender’s dangling foot and through the goalkeeper’s legs. Then after Lincoln had deservedly re-taken the lead in the 65th minute, with a quality lobbed finish by Robinson following a poor and panicky Berra back header, Lawrence was at it again. This time the threat materialised following a neat triangle with two team mates. Lawrence then strode a few paces and before anybody could say Jack Robinson, let alone Jack’s goal scoring Lincolnshire elder brother Theo, he executed a right foot shot from well outside of the penalty area. It caught everybody unawares through instantaneity, pace and power. For the second time in the game the unfortunate Lincoln goalkeeper blushed as pink as his salmon-hued shorts and shirt; and probably turned his inner air blue. But there was little he could have done for like everybody else in the ground, and all the defenders in front of him, he was half a second behind Lawrence’s speed of thought and action.
Ipswich fans should pray that the club's lawyers have done their job properly, because if any get-out clause gave Leicester even a second's sniff of grabbing Lawrence back to the Midlands, they should throw their legal bank at it. Lawrence still has much to learn about decision making and adding variety to his game, but is currently in outstanding goal scoring form. His individual flair saved Ipswich and takes them to a replay that they barely deserved; but which the Imps and their excellent fans will relish. Their management team, of Danny Cowley and his assistant and brother Nick, is an interesting and currently successful one. Both were PE teachers in Essex. Having taken Concord Rangers up several divisions they helped Braintree to the upper reaches of the National League; then arrived in Lincolnshire to see if their fraternal winning formula could work again. What is that formula? Rigorous statistical analysis for sure and absolute dedication to the cause. But Danny was also quoted a few weeks ago as saying “We love what we do … We wanted everybody else to feel like that. We wanted this to be an environment where everybody enjoyed coming to work.”
And that, precisely, is what Ipswich Town are currently lacking. Mick McCarthy and Terry Connor are having a torrid time. Their team and most of its players are not performing. Ipswich fans are bored and depressed by the style and quality of football their side is currently able to produce, despite McCarthy’s best (but only recent) attempts to pick attacking sides. The replay will be interesting. Lose it badly and who knows? Mick McCarthy could be looking for a new job, the Cowleys could move nearer to Essex by replacing him and Lincoln could be marching on to even greater FA cup glory.
Only joking! Kind of…
Article first published on www.sports-index.co.uk
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