Weekend Rewind - Tractorboys

Winter kicked into full drive in the Pacific Northwest as snow and frigid temps hit our area. So, after an afternoon building snowmen and freezing the football(s), it’s time to sit in front of the fire with the laptop and look back over the past few days.

Little optimism remained in Ipswich, after the disastrous performance at Carrow Road, for the Wednesday night visit of Bristol City. Even the most patient of Town fans, including this author, have reached their levels of tolerance for the ongoing inept performances, and surely by now Magilton is feeling the heat.

Bristol City took the lead after just 5 minutes from a Stern John header and it looked business as usual as the Town laboured through the first half. But, whatever Jim said at half-time he needs to say more often because the lads came out fired up, producing a 3 goal outburst in 11 minutes courtesy of Walters, Counago, and a speculative own goal by City defender, Fontaine. With a 3-1 advantage the Tractorboys were finally playing the kind of football the fans have been craving all season. The blistering second half performance though was over-shadowed when Alex Bruce saw red after a two-footed tackle. Town sat back and despite some inevitable pressure held on comfortably for the home win over the Robins.

Onto Saturday and another home date, this time with in-form Cardiff who had not tasted victory at Portman Road in 62 years. With the Town sitting just 3 points behind the Bluebirds who occupied 6th place entering the weekend festivities, hopes were high that Ipswich could make a surge towards the play-off spots. As usual, those hopes were unfounded as Cardiff took an early 2 goal lead behind strikes from Jay Bothroyd and Gabor Gyepes. Although, Jon Stead pulled one back before the break, Town by all accounts were completely outplayed, and when Ben Thatcher received his marching orders after 68 minutes, another disappointing defeat was all but confirmed. The only surprise was that it has taken this long into the season for Thatcher to get sent off. Back to the middle of the pack and going nowhere fast once again for the men from Suffolk.

So in the space of the week, 2 defeats and 1 win. 2 red cards and a loss to our hated enemy – not just a loss but a pathetic effort. Mid-table mediocrity beckons but there appear to be no changes in sight. At least right now there are no transfer rumors circulating around Portman Road and this is a good thing because on no account should Jim be let loose with the cheque book right now. He has enough talent – by his own claims he has never made a bad signing.

Right you are then Jim, so if none of these blokes is bad then why the bloody hell can you not get them to play and put a few results together? The next three games see the Town host second placed Birmingham on Boxing Day, sandwiched between tricky road trips to Coventry and Derby. I hope I am wrong but there’s 2 points max from that calendar.

We’ll pick up the NFL action and hand out the weekly keys to the Blue Tractor in the next installment. No need for any wild guesses that this week’s winner doesn’t wear a Town shirt.

‘Till then….stay warm and Cheers All