Its starting to feel like “Fortress Portman Road” rather than the “For Stress Portman Road” of recent times following a fifth straight home win. There is even talk of us reaching the playoffs - that is pushing it a too bit far. Our form at Mecca has been pretty bad and we couldn’t buy a home win a few weeks ago, how soon football fortunes change.
Ipswich playing at home on a Wednesday evening is a very rare thing, Tuesday nights are traditionally the preference, I don’t really know the reason for this. Before the kick off there was a minutes applause in support of Fabrice Muamba who collapsed during the Spurs v Bolton FA Cup match at White Hart Lane last Saturday following a cardiac arrest and was quote “In effect dead for 78 minutes.” At the time of writing he seems to be making a remarkable recovery.
Almost as rare as a Wednesday match is a 1-0 win and although the scoreline looks close on paper it was actually quite a comfortable victory, particularly in the second half. Lee Grant in the Burnley goal put in a good shift pulling off several good saves although he was powerless to keep out Michael Chopra’s 54th minute winner (nipping in to score after the keeper failed to save from Lee Bowyer).
The only sour point of the evening was Grant Leadbitter’s sending off following a second booking after he kicked the ball away in injury time (his first one minutes earlier was for what referee deemed a rash challenge, a decision which I and most of the crowd disagreed with).
Thursday morning the season ticket renewals landing on the doormat. Frozen at this seasons prices and with the promotion offer still intact it will be an easier decision to renew than it was twelve months ago. The football has been more entertaining. I think I can see the start of better times ahead for ITFC, Paul Jewell just needs to sign a decent keeper and some defenders to plug our leaking defence and then the playoffs will be within our grasp.
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| A minutes applause for Muamba |
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