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Well,that was the traditional game of two halves.
0-0 at half time and dire game to be honest, neither keeper was really tested, Ipswich hit a post when they might have scored, Kebe flashed a few across the six yard box which we maybe should have done better with, but very poor.
It all came to life in a crazy half hour really after a softish Ipswich goal from a header from a slung in free kick. A goal hadn't looked likely from either team up to that point.
Then we equalised with a good Gorkks head from a corner. A few minutes later Ipswich were 2-1 up with a fortuitous goal when a deflected shot looped up over Federici into the back of the net.
That was the cue for Ipswich players to start dropping like flies in an attempt to waste time.
I must have been to this fixture for at least the last ten occasions and have been used to Ipswich gamesmanship from Magilton's swan dive to win a penalty, to numerous sending offs over the years, some deserved, some not. How they were to regret their gamesmanship this time.
Cue the introduction of Robson-Kanu and Le Fondre for Church and, I think, Karacan, and we finally started playing some football.
Crashing header by Pearce from a corner brought it back to 2-2.
Would have settled for that to be honest but then Hunt slots one in from a cross which dropped nicely for him and the 500 Royals gans go absolutely mental, including my seven year old daughter. Ipswich barely had time to mount a serious attack after the restart.
Stand out performers? Federici , Gorkks, with Gorkks shading it on MOM.
Pearce had a good game and looks a useful centre back pairing now. McAnuff played well today generally and I thought at times provided our only creative outlet.
Leigertwood put in some good work, Kebe was Kebe, some sublime, some frustrating. Credit to Harte for coming back in and playing well.
There was an extraordinary incident when an unfit looking Bullard came on for Ipswich. Kebe set off on a run and tipped it around Bullard. Bullard blatantly tried to pull him back but the ref let it go because Kebe was on his way, then Kebe stops, rounds Bullard again, and again Bullard tries unsuccessfyully to rugby tackle him.
kebe eventually loses the ball to another player and the ref doesn't pull the game back when both challenges by Bullard would have been worthy of a yellow card.
The ref generally had a good game I thought although upset the Ipswich fans with a couple of decisions, one a penalty shout for a foul which I think he got exactly right, but once when he gave us a corner when clearly the final contact had been by a Reading player.
Somewhat odd game this as it exploded into life from nothing really. We were worthy winners though, I would suggest.
Norfolk Royal
The good thing about the ref was he was the same for both times, but Bullard was lucky not to be sent off let alone booked for two pretty cynical fouls on Keble within a matter of seconds of each other.
Thought Brian got it right with his changes today. Midfield two again created nothing and are so rigid it's untrue. Church ran the channels ok but just doesn't carry a threat.
So disappointed that we conceded from a set piece from the left again, and the deflection on the second goal was cruel.
Good set piece delivery today. Looked like a real threat every time we put the ball in their area.
Mcanuff,gorks and hunt were the three stand out performers for me. Hunt ran himself into the ground
gazzer loyal royal
Couldn't agree more about a game of two halves, I wouldn't have been suprised if the bookies paid out on a full time of nil nil at half time.
First half totally forgettable.
Ipswich have now lost their last three games 3-2 and in fairness it was easy to see why. After a first half of Sunday morning football in which we just edged an encounter of division 5 South Vs division 7 East, the game became completely wide open for the second 45 minutes.
It was quite a relief when Ipswich scored, at least something was happening at last. Our equaliser was greeted with a mixture of disbelief and euphoria which lasted all of a couple of minutes, 2-1.
The last couple of minutes speak for themselves, total disbelief, complete euphoria, hugging strangers, Pearce nearly bursting a blood vessel whilst celebrating and I'm not sure who it was that swung Hunt around like a kid playing aeroplanes before Hunt finally emerged from a 10 body pile up to a heroes welcome.
It's a funny old game!
leicsRoyal
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