Ipswich Town
From The Sofa: Palace 1-2Town
By Sadie
August 22 2010
Sadie is back, giving us her view on Town's game against Crystal Palace yesterday. Eagles V Tractor Boys, from the sofa
Good afternoon folks
So there are 3 minutes until kick off and I am kinda dopey on Codeine, lets see how this goes!
Being stuck on the sofa today does not leave me as restless as last week as even if I had my season ticket I would not be at Selhurst Park today, as much as for those who have made the short trip will feel like home from home with all the familiar faces, 2 of these faces however will not be taking part in today's match as David Wright and Darren Ambrose are missing, probably injured, being replaced by Danns and Kennett.
Changes to the Town side are Priskin and O'Connor making way for Carlos Edwards and new blue Darren O'Dea
Owen Garven gets an early shot in, but don't get confused, it was a palace shot with the ex-tractor boy keen to show his former club what they are missing.
John Stead has been mentioned most of the Town team inside the first 5 minutes although Crystal Palace are very much on the attack at the beginning of this meeting, but are yet to get a shot on target.
Towns First attacking throw of the game leads to an attempt on goal which by the sounds of it gave Speroni little reason to worry.
In the 8th minute Town receive the first Corner of the game taken by Leadbitter but once again Speroni and his two hands put a full stop on any attempt.
In the state I am currently in it seems to me as if the commentators are talking a lot faster than normal and I almost can't make sense of it, this is not due to end to end play, rather the undesired effects of my painkillers.
Carlos Edwards has just excited the commentators and fans with the first promising goal attack for Town, but the excitement is short lived as he is off target and the ball finds itself over the top of the net.
Palace are coming forward until Zaha gives possession away with a poor pass leading to a storm up the pitch in the hands (or feet as the case may be) of the tractor boys but the attack ends with a goal kick to the unfazed Speroni.
The famous Blackpool kid wont be doing his famous cheer right now as Arsenal, expectedly take the lead, maybe they will make his tears famous, I mean why else give him tickets to Arsenal V Blackpool?
Jon Walters is straight in the Stoke squad to face Spurs, and quickly find his team a goal down.
Crystal Palace went on the attack with Zaha, but I got distracted by some guy on sky sports who had a grey face, it's still 0-0 anyway, and that's the important information
The first yellow card has just been handed out to McCarthy of Palace, giving Town a free kick, which has lead to our 2nd corner, Townsend delivers but is dealt with comfortably by Garvan.
At the end of the first quarter it remains 0-0 at Selhurst Park.
Palace are coming forward with Lee, oh I think he's offside.
Fullop delivers a long goal kick and some sort of scuffle comes after, I don't know why but no damage done apparently and play resumes with a Crystal Palace free kick.
Jordan Rhodes continues to do well as I see him yet again on the score sheet for his current club, Huddersfield whilst Ricardo Fuller brings Stoke back on level pegging with Spurs.
Palace are coming forward again but Peters interrupted to give the Town defence brief respite as quicker than I could type Palace were back on the attack.
Accrington Stanley are a goal up (WHO?) as Gareth Bale return the lead to Spurs at Stoke.
Blackpool are down to 10 men as Arsenal double their lead.
Meanwhile Ipswich come close to an opening goal but not close enough. David Norris is getting into the game now as I hear Tommy Smith mentioned for the first time today.
Town are really pushing for this first goal now but according to our commentator those on the ball just aren't getting support quick enough.
Free kick to Town after Darren O'Dea has his shirt pulled right in front of the lino, but the free kick fails to create anything at all.
The honeymoon is over for Blackpool as they fall 3 goals behind in the first half, really why did sky sports send that poor kid to such a match?
As I sip my diet coke to try and stay away I catch a glance at the latest scorer, Giles Coke, never heard of him! oh the Grey man is back, I wish I knew who he was as no one is going to know who I am talking about.
Johnny Walk is today's guest commentator by the way, I like listening to him, he reminds me of my dad, I have no idea why, they sound nothing alike!
As you can tell, Selhurst park has gone quiet, oh spoke too soon what's this Crystal Palace attacking, ah that's ok a miss-kick gives the ball to Fullop for a goal kick.
I am very much looking forward to half time as I would like some toast, if toast was made available from the town kiosks it would probably be £1 a slice, dry, 50p for one spread of butter.
The half time scores have started rolling in, and just as I mention it the whistle is blown at Selhurst park signalling that it's time for toast and tablets, well for me anyway.
I'm listening to half time reports on radio Suffolk wondering if Stuart Hall still does any of this after watching him for the past few weeks on Ninja Warriors.
Sky Sports score centre have deemed Jon Stead the key player at the end of the first half.
As both teams return for the second half unchanged, Town restart.
The second half begins in the same form as the first finished, oh, oh no it hasn't, what's happened, a penalty to Town and a sending off for the home team, Stead was pulled back inside the area by Davis in a last man situation, Davis is off. Grant Leadbitter to take the spot kick, he scores, Town have broken the deadlock and Crystal Palace are now facing an up hill climb both a man and a goal down.
Crystal Palace get straight on the case but Fullop will not be beaten.
Grant Leadbitter is causing himself problems getting in the face of the ref, disturbed by the doorbell, I'm not sure what happened but Norris has been booked. Palace have their first corner kick of the game looking to break even, but not this time.
The up hill climb has just become a bit more of a battle as a break leaves Edwards with a opportunity he just couldn't miss, it's 2-0.
Arsenal are certainly enjoying an opportunity to boost their goal difference as they have now reached 5.
Edwards is back on the ball, to Townsend, cleared by Garvan.
This is the 11th time George Burley has faced Town since leaving Portman Road and has only taken 3 points twice so far.
Half an hour to go and I don't think Town need to worry too much about a repeat of the double Crystal Palace pulled over Town last season beating us 3-1 both home and away.
Its gone quiet, surely its time for another goal, from both ourselves and Arsenal :-P
The pitch is angered yet again, Garvan getting his two pence in with every altercation, each time getting more out of hand, every time I have no idea what the handbags are for! But no cards given this time.
Townsend has been called to the referee and the home fans are very unhappy, Speroni is down and the Town players are panicking pleading with the ref, He's off, Townsend has got a red. its 10 against 10 and Speroni is fine. I find it amazing, the magic sponge is out of date, now all that seems to be needed to cure a crippling injury is the magic card.
Crystal Palace are pushing forward having been spurred on by the Townsend dismissal, but O'Dea and Peters are staying strong to see through the final minutes with a clean sheet.
Gareth Mcauley is down clinching his ankle but quickly waves off the awaiting physio and returns to the game. As Palace make thier third and final change, Town remain as they started (minus Townsend) Alan Lee is off to a grateful home crowd to make way for Marrow.
Garvan takes a free kick given away by O'Dea against Zaha, it causes no problems as news comes in of Swansea scoring in the wrong net to give Norwich the lead in the final moments of the game.
Tamas Priskin comes on for Jon Stead in the first Town substitution, shaking hands and receiving a standing ovation from the fans, is this goodbye?
Arsenal have managed to get a sixth as 5 minutes is added on to the game at Selhurst Park and a second Town substitution is being prepared.
Palace continue to search for a way back into the points, but once again Peters is the name heard blocking their way. Oh a howler from the Town keeper Martin Fullop gives Crystal Palace a life line from the feet of Danns who has scored in 3 out of 3 against Ipswich.
Peters has been replaced by Eastman as Town are falling apart, there is still a minute to go and Garvan is determined to see the points shared.
Argh this is scary, finally the whistle has blown!
How about this for a fact, for the first time in 36 years Town have won their first two away games of the season!
Having secured 7 out of 9 points at the start of this campaign there are smiles all around, but behind those smiling faces are some very rapid heartbeats.
2020 Tractor boys make their way home, by the sounds of it with very mixed views but all glad that at this early stage another 3 points keep Town firmly at the top end of the Table.
Now for Chelsea on T.V, I love football!
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22/08/2010 21:22
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