CHAMPIONSHIP: Town 0 - 0 Leicester
By Will on 15 August 2009
IPSWICH drew 0-0 in their first home game of the season, when newly promoted Leicester City visited Portman Road.
It was a poor first half from Town, with minimal scoring chances being created. Whilst decisions seemed to go against the Blues on a number of occasions, Leicester looked the dominant outfit throughout the opening 45 minutes.
The game started with a minutes applause for the late Sir Bobby Robson, who tragically lost his battle with Cancer on July 31st.
It was a similar team to the one that lined up against Coventry, and exactly how Simply-Blue predicted. Richard Wright continued in goal, while Gareth McAuley, Pim Balkestein and Damien Delaney were joined by David Wright in the back line.
Colin Healy, as expected, came into the team for his debut in the holding role, while Liam Trotter partnered Jaime Peters through the middle.
The three man attack saw Lee Martin, Jon Stead and Jon Walters all resume their starting positions.
Town's first chance came, when Jon Stead threw himself at a weak back header. His effort lacked conviction as he made more of a contact with the keeper than the ball.
Damien Delaney, in what was generally a poor game for him going forward, did well to pick out Lee Martin down the left. The former United man did not test the keeper.
Town were lucky not to go behind on a number of occasions - Gareth McAuley and Delaney both continuing with what appear to be shakey starts to the season.
The Blues brightened up in the second half, however for all the hard work and endeavor, there was still a lack of a cutting edge.
Connor Wickham and Tamas Priskin both entered the fold, as Town switched to a 4-4-2 formation. Jon Stead had been poor, and Colin Healy also had to be sacraficed. An unfamiliar central midfield partnership saw Liam Trotter and Jaime Peters attempt to fill in.
Midway through the second half, Town were inches away from taking the lead, when David Wright cut in superbly from the right to feed Connor Wickham. The youngster did superbly to divert the ball goalwards, but ultimately was only able to hit the side netting.
The referee was poor, failing to notice a number of incidents that should really have benefited Town. However, he was right to punish Chris Weale and Martyn Waghorn for blatent time wasting as Leicester looked to settle for a creditable draw.
This was not the result Town fans were looking for, and although it was another horrific performance from the officials, Town really did not deserve a win.
Richard Wright and Pim Balkestein were both superb throughout - unfortunately the same could not be said for a number of other players.
Ipswich Town:
R Wright, D Wright, Delaney, McAuley, Balkestein, Healy (Wickham 46), Peters, Trotter, Walters, Martin (Garvan 63) Stead (Priskin 46). Unused: Supple, Bruce, Smith, Colback.
Att: 22,454.