Referee criticised for his decision making but Town had chances to win the game
The entrance to the Sir Alf Ramsey Stand at Portman Road. Photo: Russell Cook,
Regrettably the big talking point at the end of the 1-1 draw between Ipswich and Leicester at Portman Road yesterday (Saturday, March 7) was the man in the middle.
Frankly, John Busby will be sadly ashamed of his error strewn performance with his highlight, or “lowlight” of the game, being his controversial decision not to award a last minute penalty for the Town.
Everyone in the stadium except the officials, who were escorted off the pitch by a phalanx of stewards, saw Hamza Choudhury foul Cedric Kipre. It was a “nailed on” penalty which led to the Town’s central defender being booked for dissent along with manager Kieran McKenna.
But, Town should have taken their half chances to win the game and failed to make their pressure count. You can’t lay all the blame at the feet of the officials for not picking up the three points.
It meant that Ipswich missed the opportunity to move into the Championship’s automatic promotion places while Leicester failed to lift themselves out of the relegation zone.
The Tractor Boys might have been ahead in the first half through Dara O’Shea only for the captain to send a free header against the outside of the post from a Marcelino Nunez corner.
Leicester took the lead six minutes before the break as Darnell Furlong conceded a needless free-kick from which Luke Thomas crossed to find Patson Daka who expertly volleyed past Walton.
With Ipswich piling on the pressure from the start of the second-half and boss Kieran McKenna sending on George Hirst, Sindre Walle Egeli and top-scorer Jack Clarke they eventually managed to breach the visitors’ back line.
Clarke’s ball into the box fell to Anis Mehmeti and when his shot was blocked, Egeli swept home the rebound.
A fourth successive league win would have moved Ipswich above Middlesbrough on goal difference and who take on QPR in West London later today.
So it’s on to Stoke on Tuesday and Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday with the hope of picking up the vital points on the road.
McKenna told town TV after the game: “Of course we’re really frustrated at the moment. I think we should have won the game.
“There’s three bits to it. It was a really, really good second half performance. I loved how we chased the game.
“We chased it really in the right way and deserved the come back victory.
“First half we’re disappointed to give away a set piece goal, we didn’t execute as well as we could and we know that they have got quality and can punish you.
“We weren’t at our best, so frustrated in that spell to concede a goal.
“And ultimately we should have had two clear pens in the second half and the one at the end is incredible.
“There should be 30,000 Ipswich supporters today in the stadium going home absolutely buzzing after the quality and the character that they showed from their team and a late winner.”