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Match Report: Ipswich 1-1 Crystal Palace (27th Sept' 2008) | Help spread the word: Share on Facebook 
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Two goals in quick succession made for a 1-1 draw between Ipswich and Palace at Portman Road. Paul Bloomfield reports.Town took the lead after 22 minutes through Jon Stead after neat work by Jon Walters. Walters cut into the box from the left-hand side before rolling a ball across to Jon Stead via a dummy by David Norris, who then took a touch to steady himself before placing the ball into the corner of the net. The goal was the 50th of Jon Stead’s career, and it came against his former manager at Sheffield United, Neil Warnock. However, the lead didn’t last long as Victor Moses levelled for Palace two minutes later thanks to a defensive mix-up. Alex Bruce appeared to get in Richard Wright’s way causing him to fail to grasp the incoming corner, with the ball falling kindly for 17-year-old Moses to head home from close range. Richard Wright had previously saved well from a header by Moses moments beforehand which had led to the corner kick. Richard Naylor came close to restoring Town’s lead with a header, but Julian Speroni was equal to it. Having almost re-taken the lead through Naylor, the Blues could count themselves lucky not to fall behind before half-time when Craig Beattie fired over after yet another mix-up at the back by Town. Jon Stead was replaced by Pablo Couñago just past the hour-mark, much to the bafflement of a lot of Town supporters. A few minutes later, it was Shefki Kuqi who entered the field of play, and received his usual rousing reception from Town fans. Recent events have left Kuqi’s reputation with the Selhurst Park faithful somewhat of a contrast to the cult hero status the Finnish international enjoys at Portman Road. Manager Neil Warnock had said that he would never play for Palace again after signalling an offensive gesture to Palace fans that had cheered when he was being substituted, but due to a lack of options; Warnock has reintroduced the striker into first-team affairs. Gareth McAuley wasted a good opportunity from a corner kick after 73 minutes when he found himself with a free header at the near post, but failed to direct his header on target. In stoppage time, Owen Garvan laid the ball across the six-yard box in front of Kevin Lisbie, but the former-Charlton man failed to reach the ball to convert. A lot of home fans were put out at Lisbie’s apparent lack of effort to make contact with the ball. A 1-1 draw was a disappointing result for Town, with the home fans making their disgruntlement heard at the final whistle. The result sees Palace pick up their first away point of the season, but the Eagles remain in the bottom three. Ipswich: R.Wright, Bruce, McAuley, Naylor, D.Wright, Norris (Garvan 56), Shumulikoski (Campo 70), Miller, Walters, Lisbie, Stead (Couñago 62). Unused: Supple, Balkestein. Palace: Speroni, Butterfield, McCarthy, Fonte, Hill, Ifill (Kuqi 67), Derry, Watson, Carle (Fletcher 80), Beattie (Scannell 73), Moses. Unused: Lawrence, Oster. Click to view author Paul Bloomfield's profile Fancy writing for LiveFootball? Click here to find out more. |