Alf’s Photo of the Week

Mick’s Mantra

“Look East did me a disservice, they made me look like I was dour .”

The McCarthy effect produces the first home win in eight months

Ipswich Town 2 Burnley 1

At last!

It’s been a long wait; since March to be precise; to see  Alf’s finest leave the field at Portman Road with three points under their belts.

Whilst Mick McCarthy may say it wasn’t pretty and it wasn’t sexy, to Town fans every moment of this match was a delight to watch, with the exception of the own goal of course.

It was a slightly shaky start with the new back three formation looking a little uncomfortable during Burnley’s early attacks but once they had weathered the storm and worked out who was doing what the back four pushed up on a high line and made every effort to be first to the ball. Tommy Smith had a terrific game and since being left out of the side under the old regime his role at the club had seemed in doubt. Mick has clearly looked at his strengths and has found a system in which he fits.

The midfield worked tirelessly none more so than Guirane N’Daw who not only used his physical strength to protect his defensive line but also had a creative influence as the Town pressed forward.

Town went ahead through Daryl Murphy’s back header after Lee Grant had run into his back and then claimed to have been fouled. Fortunately the match officials were not persuaded by the inevitable but rather over enthusiastic Burnley protests. Alf had a perfect view and there was clearly no foul.

The goal lifted the supporters spirits and at last the noise and atmosphere that was a familiar feature at Portman Road in days gone began to return to the terraces.

It was so noticeable that Mick and his coaching staff had stressed the need to press the opposition high up the pitch and Town succeeded in playing a large part of the game in Burnley’s half. It was only as Town began to tire and concentration lapsed towards the end of the second half that Burnley were able to achieve any sustained pressure and the inevitable result was an equalising goal.

At this point heads have dropped in blue shirts, but this time the boys in blue rallied. Three minutes from time Carlos Edwards, who had enjoyed his more attacking role in midfield, broke away down the right and picked out a perfect cross for DJ Campbell to bundle into the side netting. The 16,000 Town supporters sounded like 26,000 at the sheer relief in seeing their team win at home after such a long and agonising wait.

Every Town player had put in a 100% performance. Alf was particularly impressed with the midfield unit and would dearly like Reo-Coker and Wellens to be made permanent signings. This is early days and Ipswich are still very much in a relegation battle but at last there is some light at the end of the tunnel.