2 November 2024
Ipswich Town 1 Leicester City 1
The Tractor Boys came into this game as one of the few sides still winless in the Premier League. Kieran McKenna knew the visit of Leicester City offered a big chance to change that. The two newly promoted sides had found life in the top-flight tough at times but were still trying to adapt to their new surroundings. Even this early in the season, this was a proverbial six-pointer.
Nine games without victory was the worst start Ipswich Town have ever made to a Premier League campaign. That said, you still do not feel their manager is under any pressure. He was highly-coveted at the end of last season and showed the club great commitment in signing a contract extension. Despite this, the Irishman will still be keen to get this winless monkey off his back.
Steve Cooper was serving a touchline ban for this game so was having to watch from the stands. His side could have taken an early lead when Vardy found some space in behind the defence. He crossed it to Mavididi at the back post but he scuffed his first-time shot and it was easily saved by Muric in the Ipswich Town goal.
The hosts then steamed forward themselves. Hutchinson did well to create some space out wide, before clipping a teasing cross into the box. Szmodics met it at the back post with a header but could not keep his effort below the crossbar. All of this came from The Foxes trying to play out from the back and Vestergaard losing the ball. A big let-off for the visitors.
It was opening up into an exciting game with both sides looking to get forward whenever possible. Buonanotte continued his impressive form as he weaved his way past the hosts’ defence. He finally got a shot away but Muric did well to beat the effort away from goal. Despite the game still being goalless, this was an entertaining start at Portman Road.
Ipswich then forced a corner. As the cross came in, O’Shea had a completely free header at the back post. It was a dreadful header from the defender as he could not even find the target. He held his head in his hands, knowing what an opportunity had been wasted. Given their current plight, the Tractor Boys cannot afford to be spurning such chances.
Phillips was then booked for a clumsy challenge on Buonanotte. The Man City loanee seemed to clatter a forearm into the back of the head of the Leicester City man. It seemed an unnecessary foul given that the ball had already been passed. He has looked a shadow of his former self since opting to join the champions from Leeds. Lack of game time will do that to a player.
Into the second-half and there was still nothing to separate the sides. Morsy then played a deep cross into the box and Davis connected with a stunning volley. It flew into the far corner, with Hermansen having no chance of doing anything about it. Portman Road erupted as they finally got the goal they had been craving all afternoon.
The hosts grew in confidence after the goal and won a free-kick in a dangerous position. It was lifted into the back post and headed across goal but nobody could get a touch before the Leicester keeper punched it away. In the melee that followed, Ipswich felt they should have had a penalty but the game took a very different turn.
Phillips was shown a second yellow card for a challenge on Ricardo. Looking at the replay, it was clear that the defender had kicked the bottom of the Ipswich midfielder’s boots on his follow through and made a meal of it. There was no way this was a foul let alone a booking. The world has gone mad if you can get fouls awarded from you kicking opponents.
As a result, Ipswich would have to see out the closing stages of the game a man down. Phillips has a right to feel hard done by, but the media will just focus on how his career has taken a nose-dive since becoming a Man City player. Either way, McKenna now had to change his tactics to ensure that his team held on for the win.
The Foxes almost found an instant reply as Buonanotte went on another mazy run. He laid the ball off into the path of Ayew, who did everything right as Muric came charging out. The former Palace man lifted the ball over the keeper, only to see Burgess clear his effort off the line to deny the visitors a late equaliser. Portman Road reacted like they had scored a second goal.
Deep into added time, Leicester continued to pile the pressure on. Ayew picked the ball up and played a neat one-two with Vardy. He slotted the ball past Muric to grab a point for Steve Cooper’s side. It was a good finish but all the plaudits have to go his strike partner. The vision and skill he showed in flicking into his path was sublime.
It was heartbreaking for the hosts as their search for a first win of the season continues. This result could give Cooper’s side a much-needed lift in their search to secure Premier League safety. There was no doubting that game hinged on the sending off of Phillips. McKenna felt they should have been awarded a penalty before that challenge even took place. The replay suggests he was right.
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