Ipswich Town 2-0 Scunthorpe United

Despite an improved performance from Tuesday night – in the first, and probably last, game of caretaker Daws’ spell, the Iron went down to their 8th successive defeat away from home – and were beaten 2-0 by Paul Jewell’s men.

With numerous names being heavily linked to the Iron job, most notably ex-boss Brian Laws, it appears that even if they are appointed tomorrow – relegation is all but a mathematical certainty, and the real effort will come through the summer’s and next season’s rebuilding effort.

It may have been courtesy of two great strikes – but there’s no doubt that the Suffolk hosts deserved all three points from the game against the Iron: who now slide to 2nd bottom in the table, and 5 points away from safety with just 8 games left.

So whilst there is always hope, and whilst accepting the inevitable is always incredible difficult, particularly for those 165 brave souls who made the trip all the way to Ipswich – it now appears relegation, and next season in League One are both certainties.

The Iron began the game with having made three changes from the midweek thrashing by Preston – going with a flat 4-4-2 for the first time in a long time.

Indeed: despite the defeat, they did play significantly better football than they have done for a long time – and even though the end of the season may see the current side decimated, you do have high hopes as to this side’s likely success in League One next season.

The Iron began the game with Josh Lillis in goal: who was behind a re-jigged back four of Eddie Nolan, Michael Nelson, David Mirfin and Andy Hughes.

Given the nature of how wide Ipswich were keeping their wingers – allowing them to spread the play it was perhaps not a shock to see the Iron starting with two more defensive-minded full-backs.

But this then meant that the Iron took a risk with their midfield with Ben Gordon on the left, the pairing of Josh Wright and Michael O’Connor in the middle and Mark Duffy completing the quartet on the right.

This left Garner and Miller completing the Iron’s line-up up front.

Despite the midfield four’s nature – the Iron did struggle for real width and attacking confidence in a vicious circle.

The wingers couldn’t cross for toffee or find an Iron man from free kicks – which then discouraged the forwards – and you always expected for the Iron to eventually give the ball away.

And whenever the ball did come into the box: the forward pair of Garner and Miller were expecting it to come short as the quality had often been lacking.

All things positive for the Iron were coming through Josh Wright originally – but the movement in front of him and around him wasn’t good enough.

And Ipswich realised this soon enough – with the pair of Bullard & Norris being able to dictate the game and force the Iron under real pressure on the ball, which despite decent passing – they ultimately weren’t able to overcome.

The game began on the first really nice day for nearly six months – and you hoped the Iron would respond thus, but it was the home side who early on went to dominate the game’s proceedings.

The Iron struggled to keep hold of the ball and Ipswich were much quicker out the blocks – and after just a couple of minutes – a lovely through ball was played into the path of the skipper Norris who really should have slipped the one on one past Lillis.

With over half of the side speculated to be departing in the summer – it does make you wonder as to what new faces may arrive during the break as well though.

The Tractor Boys just seemed to have much more quality all over the pitch than the Iron – and the movement of Bullard & Wickham in particular were just brilliant and causing the defence all sorts of problems.

Indeed – Bullard seemed set to score before a last-ditch block managed to deflect his goal-bound effort wide of Lillis’ goal and out for a corner. Thankfully – the Iron were able to clear the set piece.

The difference in offensive quality became all too apparent when the through ball was played and Gordon raced up the left flank: but when he floated the cross in it was so par and flew out for a goal kick.

The Iron were beginning to make the game a little bit more even as the half progressed though: but even for the visitors’ occasional counter-attacks – the Blues definitely did boss the game.

Delaney did have a real good chance with a free header – but as the chances were beginning to dry up a little bit: Michael O’Connor did force a decent save from the deputising Lee-Barratt in goal: from the Irishman’s curling free-kick.

But out of nothing – the home side were to find the lead they’d be searching for.

The usually ever-reliable Mirfin gave the ball away just inside the Iron’s heart, and EDWARDS latched onto it, set himself well – and from all of 30 yards sent in an absolutely stunning strike that flew into the top corner and past the desperate dive of
Lillis.

It was harsh on the Iron to concede in such circumstances – but you couldn’t deny that it hadn’t been on the cards to a certain extent.

It was still the side in blue advancing on and creating chances as the dangerous winger Martin cut inside but flew his speculative effort wide of the post.

The Iron weren’t shy in trying to receive possession – but Duffy’s scuffed effort was the only other half-chance they had of the remaining half: and you couldn’t say that the Iron really looked liked cutting Ipswich open.

In that final third and indeed the middle of the park for that matter, the quality just didn’t seem to be there. That clichéd killer instinct was most definitely lacking.

And that was it really – the travelling Iron fans: who had been in decent voice despite the Iron having been bossed, sent them off to a smattering of applause – but just hoping that the intensity could be upped, as the Iron were definitely not yet out of the game.

HALF-TIME IPSWICH TOWN 2-0 SCUNTHORPE UNITED

The Iron were most certainly managing to flood a few more men forward – and despite being repelled most times: they did create a half-chance, but with his hooked effort – the best Garner could do was send it over the bar.

Yet, in the 56th minute – when the host’s first opportunity came to them – that extra quality showed as they doubled their lead.

With the stoppage as they readied to take the free-kick dragged on – the air of inevitability seemed to seep in, and no surprise: the loanee BULLARD stepped up and curled home a stunning free-kick from 25 yards.

But this wasn’t to totally dis-hearten the Iron: who threw on Grant in place of the disappointing Gordon – but were still struggling to really come back from the two goal deficit.

They knocked the ball about well – but the final ball, the final moment of communication was all too often lacking. And indeed – that’s the common string of all sides set for relegation lack: goals and offensive quality.

They tried to alter it once more – by chucking on Collins for Duffy, but despite having a few more flesh legs – Ipswich were still all too comfortable for the Iron’s liking.

In the end, it was Bullard who was being egged on by the home fans – but this time sent another very speculative effort well wide of the goal to Lilli’s relief.

The Iron were however looking very threatening from set pieces – particularly corners: as the returning O’Connor’s delivery meant that the Iron came very close to finding a consolation on numerous occasions.

Clever routines meant that the on-rushing centre-halves were very close to reaching them.

So: despite a significantly improved performance, better technique and quality, the Iron were to leave Suffolk sadly empty-handed: drifting closer and closer to relegation.

And they’re next in action following the international break with another very difficult away game to Paul Lambert’s promotion-chasing Norwich City on Saturday 2nd April.

FULL-TIME IPSWICH TOWN 2-0 SCUNTHORPE UNITED