Ipswich Town (2) v West Bromwich Albion (3)

By Stuart Kidson
April 7 2004

WEST BROM CONTINUE TO PUT PRESSURE ON LEAGUE LEADERS NORWICH WITH A LATE LATE WINNER FROM GEOFF HORSFIELD AND ALSO ENDING A 21 YEAR BARREN SPELL AT PORTMAN ROAD.

Ipswich Town (2) v West Bromwich Albion (3)
Portman Road, Sunday 4th April 2004
Nationwide League Division One

The Baggies Late Late Roadshow rolled into Suffolk this weekend, as the Stars in Stripes made it 5 wins on the bounce now, keeping the pressure upon leaders Norwich City. Canaries’ fans must have thought they were beholding to their arch East Anglian rivals, as Ipswich looked likeliest to get anything from this fixture in the opening stages of the game.

The Baggies had made changes to the side that started against Crystal Palace a week before, with Rob Hulse making way for returning striker Geoff Horsfield who was now recovered from his calf strain. Artim Sakiri kept his starting place ahead of Jason Koumas and James Chambers retained his place ahead of Bernt Haas.

The Tractor Boys came flying at the visitors and teen sensation Dean Bowditch almost got the home side off to a storming start when he found a route round the back of the Baggies defence. Veteran Jim Magilton fed the youngster from a quickly taken free kick and the 17 year old crossed a wonderful ball over for Ian Westlake. Unfortunately for the Town Westlake’s header was weak and Russell Hoult dealt with the effort with ease.

Minutes later, Georges Santos, no stranger to Baggies fans for good and bad reasons, lost possession to Lee Hughes who found Horsfield at the far post. The former bricklayer came under pressure from Fabian Wilnis and could not get any power into his jump. The Ipswich defender was able to flick the ball away to safety.

Darren Bent was unlucky with a 15-yard half volley, which failed to dip in time, and nestled on the roof of the net as the home side pressured the Baggies. Albion were looking uncomfortable at times in the opening half hour as Ipswich really took the game to them, hoping that a win would secure them a place in the playoff berths.

The Albion had to wait until the 26th minute before finally testing Kelvin Davies in the Tractor Boys goal. Hughes flicked Hoult’s huge kick and Horsfield turned Santos inside out before unleashing a 30 yard shot which went just inches wide of the upright as Davies dived full stretch. Ipswich responded swiftly and Magilton bought a super save from Hoult from a 25-yard shot.

Hoult was then the centre of attention again following a challenge by Santos that left the former Portsmouth keeper lying flat out in his area, requiring three minutes of treatment. Santos was not to blame for the incident, the defender made a perfectly legitimate challenge for the ball, but it threw Hoult off balance and he fell awkwardly. Recent back injuries were bought to the fore again and had left the shot stopper looking shaken by the incident. Santos was again in the thick of the action moments later when he saw his diving header off a Magilton free kick go wide of the upright.

Paul Robinson made a run down the left and tried his luck from 25 yards across the face of goal as Horsfield rushed into the box. The big striker came within inches of poking the ball over the line but the speed of the ball was too great and the danger passed. Albion were finally starting to put some effort into the game to match that of the home side.

Throughout the game Albion’s travelling support had been by far the noisier of the two sets of supporters with the Town fans remaining very quiet. With half time fast approaching Jermaine Wright headed over the top for Bent to head past the struggling Hoult, but the referees assistant had seen the striker offside and the goal was ruled out. The home side need not have worried though because seconds later, Tommy Miller was put through by Richards, and Miller’s first touch split returning defender Thomas Gaardsoe and Darren Moore and he was able to finish the job effectively from 10 yards out.

Albion responded positively to this setback and Sakiri struck a powerful shot inside first half injury time but teammate Andy Johnson, got in the way and the ball was blocked. With his side being 1 – 0 down, Gary Megson used the halftime break to make changes to the side. Joe Murphy replaced Hoult and Koumas came in for Sakiri.
The changes made at half time almost bore fruit from the start, as Hughes got free of the close marking of Leicester City’s Matt Elliott, on loan from the East Midlands club. Johnson was able to pick up the loose ball and took his chances from 15 yards out. The shot did little to trouble Davies and he collected the ball with ease.

Horsfield thought he had drawn the two sides level as the game reached the hour mark, when he tapped in a Hughes cross, but he has strayed marginally offside and the eagle eyed linesman had his flag up for the offence. The Baggies were now starting to create more chances for themselves and a quick throw from Murphy to Koumas, allowed the midfielder to break before finding Horsfield with an inch perfect cross field pass. The striker controlled the ball well on his chest before hitting a first time shot which Davies did extremely well to keep out with his leg.

Koumas had scored midweek for the Welsh national team with a stunning free kick, so his confidence must have been sky high when the Baggies were awarded a free kick from a similar position. The Wrexham born midfielder hit a curling shot, which had beaten Davies and bounced in off the post to draw the sides level. The Barmy Army were soon mocking their hosts with a raucous rendition of ‘Tom Hark’.

Just over a minute later Johnson ran into a loose ball amid a flurry of challenges and managed to get the ball to Horsfield. The striker controlled and then passed to Lloyd Dyer, who had recently come on for Mark Kinsella. The 21 year old calmly swept the ball past Davies to put the Albion in the lead.

Ipswich were by no means finished though and substitute Shefki Kuqi, who had replaced Bowditch earlier in the game, had a large role to play in the Town’s response. The midfield player got between Moore and his keeper Murphy to get some contact with the ball and play it out to Bent who had run in from the left. Bent held off a challenge from Gaardsoe before sliding the ball across the line to again see the teams draw level.

The game was drawing to a close when another Koumas free kick was headed over by Sean Gregan, but the best of the chances fell to Dyer. Davies was well off his line when the left sided midfield player crossed towards the far post and the ball looked like it was going to sneak in just under the bar. Fortunately for the home side the ball did not drop in time and came to a stop on the roof of the net.

Hughes then made a very late challenge on Davies as the keeper collected the ball. The striker had no reason to challenge when he did and his studs caught the keeper on the knee, which required some treatment from the physio. The tackle was to be the reason for ugly scenes in the tunnel after the game.

Albion have made something of a habit of scoring very late in a game recently and this game was to be no exception when Koumas picked out Hughes who had made a typical run into space out on the right. The striker kept his head and ran towards the by-line before squaring the ball for Horsfield who tapped in to win the game for the Midland side and ending a 21 year run of defeats at Portman Road.

The baggiesworld.co.uk Man of the Match went to Jason Koumas

Teams

Ipswich Davis, Wilnis, Santos, Elliott, Richards, Wright, Magilton, Miller, Westlake, Bowditch, Bent
Subs Price, Mitchell, Diallo, Reuser, Kuqi

Baggies Hoult, Gaardsoe, Moore, Gregan, J. Chambers, Johnson, Kinsella, Sakiri, Robinson, Horsfield, Hughes
Subs Murphy, Facey, Clement, Koumas, Dyer