Match Report: Ipswich 1-2 Cardiff

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Ipswich produced another dire display, going down 2-1 at home to Cardiff. Paul Bloomfield reports.

Gareth McAuley’s failure to clear the ball to safety lead to Cardiff taking the lead after 9 minutes. Jay Bothroyd was on hand to capitalise on McAuley’s error from Wayne Routledge’s cross, and fired the ball past Richard Wright.

Town displayed yet further lax defending when Gabor Gypes netted from close range in the 26th minute. Paul Parry’s delivery into the box from a free-kick fell to the unmarked Gypes who made no mistake from 10 yards.

A dogged piece of play from Ben Thatcher sparked Town into life from which they pulled a goal back. Thatcher won possession for Town before Jon Stead sprayed the ball out to Jon Walters on the right-wing. Walters then whipped in a superb ball that Jon Stead flung himself onto and headed past Peter Enckleman in the Cardiff City goal. It was a fine goal by Town but was as good as it was going to get.

It was further defensive mishaps which lead to Ben Thatcher’s dismissal. Richard Naylor made a meal of clearing the ball on two occasions before Thatcher left a leg hanging for Wayne Routledge to go over. The referee promptly produced a second yellow card for the Ipswich left-back and was given his marching orders. The first booking Thatcher had received only moments earlier was a harsh one, but never the less had to walk as a result of his latest cynical foul.

Ipswich offered precious little goal threat all game and it was Ben Thatcher’s determined challenges which set Town in motion to produce their best piece of play of the game, which lead to Jon Stead pulling a goal back.

The result coupled with an extremely lacklustre performance further increases the pressure on Jim Magilton.

Ipswich: R.Wright, Volz, McAuley, Naylor, Thatcher, Walters, Norris, Shumulikoski (Garvan 60), Ambrose, Stead (Haynes 70), Counago (Balkestein 70). Subs not used: Supple, Lisbie. Sent-off: Thatcher. Booked: Thatcher, Garvan, Balkestein.

Cardiff: Enckelman, McNaughton, Johnson, Gyepes, Kennedy, Routledge, Ledley, Rae, Parry, Bothroyd, Chopra (Johnson 35, McPhail 82)). Subs not used: Heaton, Comminges, Scimeca.

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