Point Blank

September turned out to be good for ITFC, Mick McCarthy won Manager of the Month & Tyrone Mings won Player of the Month, following a 13 out of 15 points return.

Unbeaten in seven Ipswich, were at home to Blackburn Rovers, captained by Jordan Rhodes, the striker that Roy Keane (in the news again with part two of his autobiography being published) let go during his unsuccessful tenure in the ITFC hot seat.

It seems like an age ago since I last went to football, that due to the second international break of the season.

Blackburn, led out by captain Jordan Rhodes, who, in my opinion got some unnecessary stick during todays match, because of his goal celebration last season in front of the North Stand. 

Christophe Berra was Town's skipper following Luke Chambers withdrawal through sickness

'Johnny Johnny Johnny Johny Williams
He comes and goes
He scores some goals'
- Karma Chameleon

'Changed his boots
Changed his boots
Gerkin's changed his boots'

The first half of the match was fairly even, but Town never really looked like losing their recent unbeaten run. They came out after the break looking like they really wanted all three points.

Connor Sammon, in for the injured Daryl Murphy, made a nuisance of himself and won a couple of free kicks just outside the penalty area. Rovers Matt Kilgallon was booked on each occasion, so therefore saw a red card and the visitors went down to ten men.

Ipswich took their lead from the second free kick, David McGoldrick dispatching the ball into the top corner of the net, in the sixty-fifth minute.

With an extra man advantage Town really should have added to their lead and put the game to bed. Stephen Hunt, making his first start of the season, came close after his header was cleared off the line, McGoldrick then hit the post and had a one on one with Jason Steele, which the Rovers keeper  saved, nine minutes from the end.

However, the feel good factor around Portman Road came crashing to the ground deep into stoppage time when Blackburn were awarded a free-kick on the edge of the Town box. Ben Marshall  stepped up and put the ball past keeper Dean Gerken (who at long last had changed his boots from yellow to pale blue) and into the net, giving the visitors an undeserved equaliser.

The drama didn't end there however, shortly after the restart McGoldrick, having been shoved to the ground in the Blackburn box, had a blatant penalty waved away. The ref bottled it and not for the first time in the game.

So Sharon & I left the ground feeling rather dejected, but it didn't stop us from frequenting, what is becoming customary on football days, Degeros. After a few Amstels we made the long walk next door to Zizzis, for some dinner. We spotted Arun & Nat in there and sat down at the adjacent table to them. They didn't seem to mind our company, either that or they were just being very polite? Max, who was having a sober Saturday came and picked us all up when we were finished, although he took Sharons car and my slippers - roll reversal that one!

The Greyhound are at it again with their menu!

My input