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Match Report: Burnley 0-3 Ipswich | Help spread the word: Share on Facebook 
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Ipswich Town marked their first away game of the 2008/2009 season with a win, in a match that will be remembered for reasons other than what happened on the pitch. Paul Bloomfield reports.New signing Ben Thatcher went straight into the Ipswich Town starting line-up, with Alex Bruce and Richard Naylor maintaining their places in defence from the midweek Carling Cup game against Leyton Orient. Liam Trotter also sustained a place in the starting eleven, taking up a left-sided midfield role. The kick-off was delayed for around 50 minutes in bizarre circumstances, after a parachutist, part of a group delivering the match ball, strayed off course and landed on top of one of Turf Moor’s stands. The match wasn’t allowed to commence until the safety of the parachutist had been assured, and indeed the man was still on top of the stand when the game began. A fire engine was called to assist but because of restricted access, a request for supporters inside the ground to move their cars was made over Burnley’s PA system. Car registration numbers were read out, after it had previously been wrongly announced that the man was no longer stranded on the roof. When the game finally did get underway, Burnley produced the game’s first meaningful action, when Wade Elliott crossed for Joey Gudjonsson, who headed the ball narrowly wide of Richard Wrights’ goal. The Ipswich goalkeeper was called into action moments later, keeping out Clarke Carlisle’s header from a corner. Liam Trotter gave Town the lead just past the half-hour mark, with his second goal for the club. The young midfielder volleyed home from 12 yards out, after Gareth McAuley had nodded the ball into his path from Tommy Miller’s corner. Town went 2-0 up just before half-time after Kevin Lisbie had his initial header on goal blocked, before prodding in the rebound. Whether Lisbie got the final touch is a matter of some debate, but having studied the video footage in slow motion my own personal conclusion is that it was indeed Lisbie’s goal. The second-half kicked off as the other games around the country were coming to an end. Burnley searched for a way back into the game in the second half, but failed to find a breakthrough; and as the clock ticked closer to 90 minutes, it looked as if the game was set to end 2-0 in favour of the away side. However, Town were gifted a third goal two minutes from the end of normal time when Stephen Jordan nodded the ball past his own goalkeeper and into the net. The own goal was to the end of the scoring, with Town running out 3-0 winners. The result is a pleasing one for Town, not just because of the opening day defeat, but because of the dismal away form that hampered Ipswich’s last campaign. The Blues didn’t record an away victory until February last season, but have ensured there will be no such wait for an away win this season. Richard Wright had a much busier afternoon than the one he had last Saturday against Preston, and made several good saves to keep Burnley at bay. Town now prepare for back-to-back home games, firstly against Wolverhampton Wanderers in the league, before playing host to Colchester United in the Carling Cup. Burnley: Jensen, Alexander, Carlisle, Caldwell, Jordan, Elliott, McCann, Gudjonnson (McDonald 55), Eagles (Mahon 83), Blake (Akinbiyi 55), Paterson. Unused: Penny, Kalvenes Ipswich: Wright, Bruce, Thatcher, McAuley, Naylor, Shumulikoski, Miller, Trotter (Garvan 70), Walters (Couñago 90), Lee, Lisbie (Haynes 77). Unused: Supple, Balkestein. Paul Bloomfield Click to view author Paul Bloomfield's profile Fancy writing for LiveFootball? Click here to find out more. |