LIVE FROM PORTMAN ROAD
IPSWICH TOWN 1 (D. Murphy 5)
BARNSLEY 0
CONTROVERSY just seems to follow the Reds on the road at the moment as a very debateable opening goal separated the two teams at Portman Road.
With injury ruling out Adam Hammill for the next week or so, Reds boss Mark Robins reluctantly changed a winning side following Tuesday's fine home win against Nottingham Forest. Emil Hallfredsson came into the starting eleven. Reuben Noble-Lazarus, who made his historic Barnsley debut at this very stadium in 2008, was on the bench.
Ipswich came into the game with manager Roy Keane breathing fire following the midweek defeat at Watford. Keane kept his players locked in the dressing room for 90 minutes following the reverse against the Hornets and will be looking for a big reaction from his side. Former Oakwell loanee Jon Walters started the game for Town.
Ipswich looked nervy with Jack Colback and Carlos Edwards squandering early possession by hitting the ball needlessly out of play. Edwards had the chance to make amends on three minutes as he took on Walters' pass but blasted a speculative effort high over the bar from 25 yards out.
Walters again found the right pass seconds later as his through ball split the Barnsley defence to send Daryl Murphy in on goal. The striker was denied by Ryan Shotton's outstanding last-gasp challenge.
Ipswich did snatch a highly controversial goal on five minutes when Luke Steele's decision to come and clear the danger from the near touchline ultimately cost him as Pablo Counago nipped to rob the ball and shoot towards an open goal. The ball cannoned back off the upright to give Murphy the simplest of tap ins although there was a massive shout for offside with Steele being caught way out of his goal an up the pitch.
Edwards again had Steele scrambling on seven minutes as he let fly from the edge of the box again but his low drive skipped away wide of the post.
Barnsley struggled to get going in Ipswich territory. A swinging left-footed cross from Hallfredsson that bounced away from Jon Macken on ten minutes was the closest the away side came to threatening Brian Murphy's goal. It just wasn't happening for the Reds and a neat interchange of passing between Macken, Hallfredsson and Filipe Teixeira ended with a pass straight to a defender on 14 minutes.
Ipswich threatened again moments later as Walters and Daryl Murphy combined to give Pablo Counago a chance 14 yards out but the striker dragged his shot well wide of the target. The Reds had Steele to thank on 16 minutes as a scramble in the area ended with Walters powering a header towards the bottom corner but the Barnsley keeper was quickly down to make a very smart save.
A stunning cross-field pass by Colback gave Walters the chance to run in at Bobby Hassell on 23 minutes but the Reds full back did just enough to ensure his shot flew wide of the target.
Colback then should have seen red on 26 minutes for a ridiculously over the top challenge on Hassell that left the Barnsley defender in agony. The young midfielder was shown a yellow when he really should have been heading for an early shower.
The Reds were definitely growing in confidence getting a foothold in the game. Hassell's deep free kick on the half hour had Ipswich scrambling after Shotton had nodded the ball down but Gareth McAuley was able to make an important interception before Daniel Bogdanovic could pounce.
Steele again showed great strength on 37 minutes to claw McAuley's rocketed cross away from goal under pressure as Ipswich pressed again.
Shotton picked up a soft booking on the stroke of half time after an aerial challenge with Counago although the card was probably more to do with the amount of rolling around the Ipswich striker did rather than any contact.
Counago got his own back seconds later by barging down Shotton in the area to pick up his own caution.
IPSWICH TOWN: Murphy, Wright, Delaney, McAuley, Counago, Norris, Colback, Walters, D. Murphy, Edwards, O'Connor.
Subs: Lee-Barratt, Leadbitter, Garvan, Peters, Healy, Smith, Wickham.
BARNSLEY: Steele, Hassell, Foster, Shotton, Potter, Teixeira, Colace, Doyle, Hallfredsson, Bogdanovic, Macken.
Subs: Preece, Moore, Hume, Anderson, Butterfield, Noble-Lazarus, Gray.
REFEREE
Neil Swarbrick (Lancashire)
ASSISTANT REFEREES
Cary Berry (Surrey) and David Rock (Hertfordshire)
FOURTH OFFICIAL
Glenn Hambling (Norfolk)
Match Report by Rob Knowles.
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©WWW.BARNSLEYFC.CO.UK 2010 RNK
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