30 November 2024
Nott’m Forest 1 Ipswich Town 0
Nuno Espirito Santo has seen his side drop off somewhat of late. They had surprised everyone with the start they had made to the campaign but a tough run of results had cost them dearly. The visit of Ipswich Town to the City Ground seemed the perfect chance to get back to winning ways. Although, the Tractor Boys had hit some form recently themselves.
The home fans took some confidence in seeing Gibbs-White back on the teamsheet, he makes such a difference for Forest. He almost gave the hosts the lead as he rose at the front post to get a head on a corner. His effort narrowly missed the post with Muric rooted to the spot. So close to the perfect return for the England midfielder.
Yates then crossed into the box and it beat everyone as it found Hudson-Odoi unmarked at the back post. He tried to get his feet sorted and cut inside to get a shot away. Ipswich got numbers in between Forest’s players and the goal to block. It ricocheted out to Yates, who drilled a shot towards goal. Only a fantastic goal-line clearance from Szmodics could prevent them breaking the deadlock.
It was a positive start by the hosts. McKenna’s side were struggling to cope with wave after wave of attack. Something needed to change if they were to stand any chance of getting something from this game. It is not often that you see sides winning games with this approach. Teams in the Premier League are just too good to allow them to constantly attack your goal.
Finally the Tractor Boys managed to get down the other end of the pitch. O’Shea burst forward and fed the ball out wide, which led to the visitors forcing a corner. Burgess met it with a header, having beaten Sels, but Aina was there on the back post to clear off the line. Both sides had their defenders to thank for keeping the scores level at this stage.
Sometimes the hunger of Delap can be a negative for Ipswich. He fed the ball out to Hutchinson, who twisted and turned his man before getting a shot away. Sels got down well to get a strong hand to the effort but could only parry it back into the danger area. Delap then took the ball off Chaplin, who seemed certain to drill the ball home. Let off for the hosts.
There is nothing like the tackle of a striker to undo your good work. As Silva looked to skip his way into the box, Szmodics seemed to stand on his foot. Obviously the player went down like he had just stood on a Lego set with no shoes on, with the referee pointing to the spot. Wood stepped and drilled his shot straight down the middle of the goal.
The Kiwi striker is in some form right now, confidence is high. As long as Wood keeps scoring, you feel the sky is the limit for Forest this season. They cannot get above themselves however, the reality check of a trip to North London last week seemed a step too far for them right now. That said, those are not the sort of games Nuno Espirito Santo earmarks as winnable matches.
Forest never need an invite to get crosses into the box. They almost added another when Jota Silva’s header was tipped onto the bar by Muric. As the ball dropped like a stone from the contact, the Ipswich keeper did brilliantly to react and claw the ball away from goal. Wood felt he was fouled in the melee that followed but neither the referee nor VAR agreed with him.
Ipswich were being put under severe pressure and were staying in this game by the narrowest of fine margins. They struggled to deal with another cross and Yates diverted it back across goal but it was headed over by the visitors. As Forest recycled the ball, Wood ran towards goal before being upended. Fortunately the replay showed the defender got a good chunk of the ball also.
Delap then did well getting to the byline at the other end and it was worked to Clarke in a good position to score. As he hit a tame effort straight at Sels, you were left wondering if this was what happened when you ordered Grealish from Temu. Despite being under the cosh for most of the game, the visitors could have stung Forest with an equaliser there.
McKenna will be pleased with how his side limited the scoring of Nottingham Forest but they just did not create enough at the other end of the pitch. The hosts held on to win by the narrowest of margins. It takes them up to sixth in the table, beyond their wildest expectations at the start of the campaign. Consistency is key now for Nuno Espirito Santo’s side.
Ipswich Town seem to be taking to the Premier League. Coming away to form teams like this and limiting them to a single goal is what they need to do to try and find the points to secure safety this season. Scoring goals is the main concern right now. They wasted plenty to win the game against Man Utd last weekend and you cannot afford to that at this level.
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