Town players salute the fans after their win over Coventry
Paul Jewell praises fans as Michael Chopra salutes Town’s battling spirit
By Dave Gooderham
Monday, February 6, 2012
8:18 AM
PAUL Jewell is fully aware the Super Blues have been forced to watch a lot of “dross” this season.
Which makes Saturday’s victory over bottom-table Coventry, in front of 1,146 travelling fans who braved the freezing temperatures getting to and from the Ricoh Arena, even more sweeter.
And the Town boss was quick to praise the support his side has received in recent weeks.
He said: “More than anything I’m just pleased for the fans. It’s easy to say fans are great – I think a lot people say just to try and curry favour.
“Our fans have been served up a lot of dross since I’ve been in charge, but one thing that has always been there is the support.
“Yes they get disappointed, like we all do, but over a thousand here today, the same again at Birmingham on a Tuesday night, over 20,000 for the West Ham game – brilliant, absolutely brilliant.”
Jay Emmanuel-Thomas gave the Blues the lead with his third goal in two matches but Town found themselves behind at half-time after Sammy Clingan’s penalty and a volley from Gary Deegan on the cusp of half-time.
But an improved performance from the visitors after the break saw them carve a number of good chances out and it was left to Michael Chopra to win the points with a headed brace – the first after Lee Martin’s missed penalty and then a 93rd minute winner.
Two-goal hero Chopra felt it was the kind of game Ipswich should be winning – despite making hard work of lower-placed teams this season.
He said: “I felt when we went 1-0 up, we were in control of the game and then we conceded two sloppy goals.
“We knew it was going to be tough as Coventry are fighting for their lives and they gave us a good game. They battled hard but we have to come out on top when we play teams like Coventry.
“With the players we have got, we should be beating teams like that and be further up the league.
“There is no point playing that well against West Ham and then coming to Coventry and getting beat as we would have thrown away the three points we got in midweek.”
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7 comments
Zico...because Forest were struggling, and are struggling in any case, and Nigel was well thought off throughout the club, and it is a bitter blow for them to swallow, at a time when they are really down in any case. He was a genuine fan, and it is just more pain for them, when they have a very low tolerance level of pain.
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Kevin Bailey
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
@Kevin Bailey: What has Nigel Doughty's untimely death got to do with Ipswich surviving? He stood down as Chairman in October and short of honouring current contracts had made it clear the £75million he invested (in loans) plus the £23 million he has pledged to fuffil current committments, was his lot-so no signings unless funded by sales (£2.5 million came in during window). You are right about the inabilty to score though - except against a certain Suffolk club of course! The song "can we play you every week" never rang more true.
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Zico Rice
Monday, February 6, 2012
Even more sweeter? Come on guys, this is school stuff, are the subs asleep?. It's 'even sweeter' or 'even more sweet'. Or does no-one at the Star care any more?
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Stow Chronicler
Monday, February 6, 2012
Frank, as much as your point is true I feel Chopra deserves credit for burying that beautiful header in the last seconds! Come on you Blues!
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Paul The Alien
Monday, February 6, 2012
I am pleased we won, and the goals will do a lot for Chopra, who will be fighting his demons for the remainder of his life. The defending was still awful, and there is much still to be done, as even with these two wins, we have averaged 1.5 goals a game conceded, as opposed to the 2.00 prior to then over the season. The way that Coventry have lost from a winning position twice this week, s late in the game, and Forest's inability to score, and the untimely death of Nigel Doughty, means in my view, with a ten point gap, that we are now safe from relegation. Jewell now needs to plan for next season, if he is going to be here, in order to ensure that we hit the ground running in pre-season, something we have ben unable to do for some years. He needs to ensure that we do not start yet another season with no hope, and no signings, and I still think that the extremely welcome wins, do not in any way negate the fact that we are in a mess. It is more important than ever to plan ahead, as on my reckoning, we have only 7 or 8 senior players in contract for next August. That has not changed, and until it does, I will remain extremely concerned about the direction the club is going in. I am still amazed that Luke Hyam has only been given a one year deal. Why? I would have him on a 5 year deal.
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Kevin Bailey
Monday, February 6, 2012
Too true but if Chops had have scored that sitter earlier Town would have been home and dry before that Coventry storm errupted!
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FRANK WESTON
Monday, February 6, 2012
Well done lads,played very well and kept going to the final whistle.We are getting there but still need a CB AND WB,with liuk the gaffer will get them in the loan window with a view to buying later.Well done .
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brisie58
Monday, February 6, 2012