By Aston
March 11 2006

Ipswich Town’s chances of reaching the play-offs took a knock today after drawing 1-1 with relegation threatened Millwall.

The game started very brightly with both sides creating chances in the opening five minutes, Millwall went first, Paul Robinson heading at goal only to be denied by Shane Supple who kept the ball out with cat like reactions.

 

Town reacted to that by going on the offensive, Ian Westlake fired wide, Darren Currie had one shot blocked and another went past the left post before Town’s opener.

 

Owen Garvan sent the ball crashing into the back of Andy Marshall’s net after the Millwall back line had failed to clear Scott Barron’s throw.

 

Sadly after the goal the game went nearly as quite as the crowd at todays game, the chances became fewer and fewer, Millwall had one in the 11^th minute then another just past the half hour mark before Matt Richards had a crack from distance for Town as the first half ended.

 

Richards headed over the bar from six yards out at the start of the second half, Colin Cameron fired wide as Millwall mounted a rare attack despite their possession.

 

Danny Haynes came on for the mostly ineffective Richards after 54 minutes, Haynes almost made an impact soon after, Marshall somehow keeping his close range header out.

 

Town completely forgot how to defend after 64 minutes, the number of players all surrounding the ball inside the Town box stopped any one being able to shoot or to clear.

 

To try and help Town defend Joe Royle replaced Alan Lee with Jim Magilton leaving Danny Haynes up front by himself, 5 in midfield and 4 at the back, yes 4-5-1.

 

Sito came on for Scott Barron with 18 minutes to go and Fabian Wilnis was perhaps a tad lucky not to see red for his challenge from behind on Tony Craig with 8 minutes to go.

 

The visitors got an equalizer with 6 minutes to go, Town’s poor defending allowing them it, Jason De Vos was on the goal line to stop one effort but he was unable to prevent David Livermore scoring from his clearance.

 

Richard Naylor joined Danny Haynes up –front for the final minutes but was unable to create a goal even Shane Supple went up for a corner as Town went looking for a winner and Tony Craig was sent off for picking up a second yellow card in stoppage time.

 

Town: Shane Supple, Fabian Wilnis, Jason De Vos, Richard Naylor, Scott Barron (72 Luis Sito), Ian Westlake, Jimmy Juan, Owen Garvan, Matt Richards (54 Danny Haynes), Alan Lee (70 Jim Magilton), Darren Currie.

Unused Subs: Lewis Price, Dean McDonald.

 

Booked: Wilnis.

 

Millwall: A Marshall, M Lawrence, Z Whitbread, P Robinson (67 M Phillips), T Craig, A Dunne, M Elliott, C Cameron, D Livermore, C Asaba, B Powel (64 M Williams).

Subs: C Doyle (GK), B Cogan, K Braniff.

 

Booked: Dunne, Craig (x2), Phillips.  

Sent off: Craig (Two yellows).  

 

Town are now 7points behind 6^th placed Wolves but we have a game in hand which is 7^th placed Preston on Tuesday night.

 

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