FULL-TIME: Stevenson’s rocket guides Town to final-day victory
By Dave Gooderham
Saturday, April 28, 2012
2:30 PM
RYAN Stevenson scored a late contender for goal of the season as Ipswich Town gained a last-day 3-2 victory over relegated Doncaster Rovers.
Stevenson’s screamer from 30 yards added to Tommy Smith’s ninth minute header before Town were guilty of getting over-confident, allowing Fabien Robert to pull a goal back for Rovers before the break.
But Ipswich, who brought on both 16-year-old Byron Lawrence and fit-again Jimmy Bullard after the interval, made the points safe when Jason Scotland rolled a penalty in after the striker had been brought down.
Habib Beye pulled a goal back for Rovers in injury time but Town hung on for the points.
Town started the match well with Doncaster guilty of giving their visitors too much time on the ball.
Gary Woods tipped round an early shot from the bright Lee Martin before Ryan Stevenson’s long range shot was deflected wide.
But the breakthrough came from the subsequent corner with Tommy Smith rising highest to head home Martin’s corner on 10 minutes.
It was almost two from very similar circumstances, Daryl Murphy this time meeting Martin’s set piece but hitting the underside of the bar with Michael Chopra unable to turn in the rebound.
Martin should have made it two shortly before the halfway mark but Woods saved his shot with his feet before the second duly arrived in the 29th minute.
And it was a beauty as Stevenson tried his luck from 30 yards, the ball cannoning off the underside of the bar and over the line – according to the flag of the assistant referee.
Perhaps guilty of being over-confident, Ipswich allowed their hosts back into the game and in the 34th minute, good work from Town target James Coppinger released Simon Gillett down the left whose low cross was turned in by Robert.
The Doncaster scorer thought he had equalised, only to have his header ruled out for offside, before Town suffered a massive scare when Martin clattered into left-back James Husband.
It appeared as if the Town attacker had slipped and collided heavily with the youngster and after a long delay, he was only shown a yellow card.
Ipswich ended the half as they started with Woods tipping Drury’s shot around the post to end an entertaining 45 minutes.
You couldn’t describe the second half in the same way as Ipswich were below-par and Doncaster often showing why they were already relegated.
But credit Rovers who came out of the blocks well and almost scored in the first minute when Beye headed Coppinger’s quickly-taken free-kick wide.
Hayter hit over from close range before at the other end, Martin’s shot went just wide before the game largely drifted with neither side impressing.
With Bullard and Scotland on, Town appeared to make the game safe when the striker was tripped by Beye in the area and the same player calmly side-footed the spot-kick down the centre of the goal.
This was the signal for some of the fantastic 1,266 Town fans to start a conga in the away end and Lawrence to become the second youngest ever Ipswich debutant,
The party was only soured slightly when Beye beat Sonko to the ball to fire under Arran Lee-Barrett deep in stoppage time.
TEAM NEWS
Ibrahima Sonko will play his last game for Ipswich Town while Lee Martin is back for Paul Jewell’s men at Doncaster Rovers this lunch-time.
The 12.30pm kick off will see Sonko start alongside Damien Delaney in the centre of defence with Tommy Smith moving to left-back in place of injured Aaron Cresswell.
Ryan Stevenson moves back into the centre of midfield with Grant Leadbitter leaving the club while Lee Martin will resume his position behind Michael Chopra upfront.
Youngsters Josh Carson, Jack Ainsley and Byron Lawrence, who is hoping to become Town’s second youngest ever debutant, are all on the bench alongside fit-again Jimmy Bullard.
TEAMS
Ipswich (4-2-3-1-): Lee-Barrett; Edwards, Sonko, Delaney, Smith; Drury, Stevenson; Emmanuel-Thomas, Martin, Murphy; Chopra. Subs – Scotland, Bullard, Carson, Whight, Lawrence
Doncaster (4-1-4-1): Woods; O’Connor, Friend, Beye, Husband; Hird; Coppinger, Oster, Gillett, Robert; Hayter. Subs – Bennett, Bamogo, Woods, Sullivan, Dumbuya
More Ipswich Town news
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- Ex-Ipswich Town midfielder Ed Upson believes Yeovil can be competitive in the Championship
- Ipswich Town priced out of a move for Lee Camp
- Bobby Ferguson recalls the challenges he faced when replacing an Ipswich Town legend
- Marcus Evans will once again sponsor Ipswich Town’s kits
- Still in love with Ipswich Town at the age of 96
- Cole Skuse can fill the void left by Grant Leadbitter at Ipswich Town
- Ipswich Town renew their interest in keeper Lee Camp
- Alan Judge set to sign for Blackburn
- Ipswich Town chief scout Dave Bowman talks budgets and blueprints ahead of what could be a busy transfer window
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16 comments
Keith, I have said numerous times that Jewell is a likeable man, and I would be happy to have him as my neighbour. I am not judging his life, I am stating honestly and clearly, with evidence, that I consider him to be the worst Ipswich Manager in the 40 years that I have been supporting the club. This is based on the job he has done, and is doing, not anything else.
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Kevin Bailey
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Suggest this season we are Stevenson's Rocket to Southampton's Mallard! ( Incidentally as a keen young train spotter, I once saw the Mallard on an LMS line, goodness knows what it was doing there.)
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JOHN BURLS
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Not fooled Kevin and I remember Jackie Milburn. Paul Jewell is a decent man - how would you liked your work and your life to be judged this way? How about the "I hate Jewell being our manager" by Spatacus! Goodness me, this coming after yesterday's win!
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Keith Adams
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Keith, that is just nonsense, as he was never thought of as that, ever. Not whilst the appalling mess Jackie Milburn made of things was still relatively fresh in the mind. There was a short time when a small faction wanted Sir Bobby out, and that is well documented, however your comments are pure fantasy about anyone claiming that he was the worst manager ever. If you are satisfied with what Jewell has 'achieved' then you are easily pleased, or I might suggest, easily fooled
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Kevin Bailey
Sunday, April 29, 2012
That's right, Keith. Jewell got everything right. He was awesome this year and inspired us all.... ahem, err.... or not. Glad you are happy with him Keith, but you appear to be occupying an increasingly minority position.
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I am Spartacus
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Kevin, I can remember a time when the great Sir Bobby was called our worst manager! The season is over. My congratulations to Reading and Southampton and to our East Anglian teams. Well done Norwich! Oh! On the wish for our young players to replace the experienced ones! Coventry got relelgated! You got it right Paul Jewell!
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Keith Adams
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Kevin you are right on both counts. It will take an awful lot to happen in the coming months for me even to begin to look forward to next season, despite having my season ticket booked. And why indeed play Sonko, except in the hopes he would help us win as PJ wouldn't want to finish with a loss.
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JOHN BURLS
Saturday, April 28, 2012
Gary Smith has only been manager of Stevenage since January 2012.......not sure what he has really done since then to warrant such a comment. He has kept them in play-off contention, just.
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Kevin Bailey
Saturday, April 28, 2012
Peter Sadler, I am in agreement that this is the lowest the club has ever been, in the 40 years I have been supporting Ipswich. Jewell is the worst manager in that time, GL was the worst captain, and the morale around the club and the relationship between club and supporters all the worst that I have ever known. Usually, I have been saddened after the last game of the season, and immediately start looking forward to August, and every year hope this could be a turning point. After the selection of the team today, the comments after the match from Jewell, and the state the club is in, I have to be honest and say that it is a relief that the season is over, as it feels like a break, until the same old same old starts up, when we can't sign who we want, and as various players are linked, yet go elsewhere. Either Jewell knows he is failing, and is in denial to himself about it, which is worrying, or he really thinks he is doing a good job, which is worrying. All I know, is it is worrying!
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Kevin Bailey
Saturday, April 28, 2012
Assuming Stevenage do not win the play offs - and would therefore be certain to finish above Town next year, Offshore Investment FC could do a lot worse than make their sane, rational and highly impressive manager their number one transfer target.
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Rob Steroo
Saturday, April 28, 2012
I have hardly missed a home game in over 40 years. I cannot remember a season as bad as this. It's not just the lowly position we have finished or the routine lacklustre displays but the abject management, lack of strategy and incredulous team selections. Results don't lie. Supporters are meant to be up-beat about our recent form of 3 wins in ten games, but I'm not. I've just heard PJ talk about the difficulties he has having trying to attract new players to our club. For the reason perhaps he should look in the mirror.
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peter sadler
Saturday, April 28, 2012
I listened to his interview (before the match) on BBC Radio Suffolk and could not make sense of anything he was saying (and it was NOT his accent that I could not understand- just his logic.).
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The original Victor Meldrew
Saturday, April 28, 2012
Sonko is leaving ITFC.Jewel plays him today instead of giving someone else a chance to prove his worth.Where is the logic in that??
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dk
Saturday, April 28, 2012
I see Doncaster are allegedly playing 4-1-4-1... presumably they expect to win 4-1 as these things tend to happen in threes
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Rob Steroo
Saturday, April 28, 2012
Amazing. Like Kevin I despair at Whight, Ainsley, Carson, Whight or even Bullard not getting match time over the departing Sonko and the loanee Murphy. Jewell has lied to us again about young players getting in the starting line up, and too many just accept it. I hate Jewell being our manager.
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I am Spartacus
Saturday, April 28, 2012
Why is Sonko playing? If he is not worth keeping, we should not be playing him. More evidence of Jewell's utter incompetency.
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Kevin Bailey
Saturday, April 28, 2012