retired_bbcarr

Nice start to the season, Bob. You've picked up a few good players, hopefully you can get promotion this time around

retired_brianrt

Just caught up with this effort bob, excellent story. Unfortunate with the Play-offs but I'm sure you can do it this time around

retired_amyslack

Thanks chaps - nice to know that I haven't bored the arse off everyone yet!

The Evening Star
Tuesday 9th August 2005
Richards A Rock As Town Win Again

A towering performance by Dean Richards in the centre of the Ipswich defence was the foundation on which the team built their impressive 2-0 win at Stoke to maintain their fine start to the season. Having taken an early lead through Eyal Berkovic when the Israeli flighted the ball home from an acute angle, the visitors had to endure some determined play from the Potters. Richards was a tower of strength at the back and with Kelvin Davis solid in goal and Diallo and Unsworth also impressing in the full back positions, Town rarely looked like conceding. Sergiy Rebrov scored his first goal of the season on the half hour when he profited from a huge gap in the centre of the home defence to accept a pass from Berkovic and finish confidently. Ipswich were in control from there on and though the home side always worked hard they lacked the guile to penetrate a well organised rearguard and the points were never in doubt.

retired_amyslack

East Anglia Daily Times
Sunday 13th August 2005
Three In A Row For Town

Ipswich extended their winning run with a 2-1 defeat of Sheffield Wednesday at Portman Road this afternoon. Town got off to another good start with an early goal, taking the lead with just ten minutes on the clock. Visiting keeper Robert Poulter was credited with an own goal after he fumbled a header from Cedric van der Gun but the young Dutchman has every reason to try to claim the goal as his own, having made a great run from midfield to meet Ian Westlake’s cross. The visitors equalised shortly afterwards from the penalty spot after keeper Kelvin Davis bundled over Adam Proudlock in a clumsy challenge. Midway through the half the home side regained the lead when Richard Witschge scored from a free kick some 30 yards out but once again Poulter would have been disappointed with his contribution as the keeper seemed to get a hand to the ball. There was little to cheer the 28,000 that turned up at Portman Road thereafter as neither side created much in the way of scoring opportunities for the remainder of the game.

retired_amyslack

East Anglia Daily Times
Sunday 20th August 2005
Below Par Town Suffer First Defeat

A far from sparkling display at Millwall saw Ipswich have their first taste of defeat this season, the home side winning thanks to a goal from Kevin Muscat just after the hour mark. The Aussie defender found himself in the unusual position of being his team’s most advanced player as he sprung Town’s offside trap to score comfortably. Ipswich looked well below par all afternoon and barely managed a shot on target as their midfield engine, minus the injured Berkovic, struggled to get into gear.

Roorsby tossed his paper down in frustration – it had been a dire display, enlivened only by the contribution of van der Gun, and he was disappointed to have lost the game. The home side had been little better in terms of quality but they had at least shown some drive going forward and the manager hoped that the setback would not rob his team of their early season momentum.

retired_amyslack

The Evening Star
Wednesday 24th August 2005
Sibon Stakes Claim

Dutch striker Gerald Sibon made his case for a regular start up front by scoring all four goals in Town’s 4-1 win at home to Notts County in the 1st Round of the Carling Cup. He scored twice in each half as the home side proved to be far too strong for the League Two outfit. The pick of the bunch was his final goal 15 minutes from time. Receiving the ball from Jim Magilton some 30 yards from goal on the left side of the Notts County area he sent a magnificent swerving shot across the keeper and just inside the right hand post – a contender for goal of the month if ever there was one.

retired_amyslack

The expression on the face of senior physio Dave Williams when he came into Roorsby’s office told the manager all he needed to know – more bad news. Just days after centre back Darren Moore suffered a broken shoulder in a training ground collision full back Drissa Diallo had fallen awkwardly in a training drill. Williams had just returned from hospital with the diagnosis.

“Not good boss. His collarbone has gone and he’ll need a good 6 to 8 weeks to recover.”

“Damn. Well at least we have some decent cover for that position – Collen, Svard and Welsh can all play right back so it’s not the end of the world. How long will Drissa have to stay in hospital?”

“Just a day or two but we’ll need to keep his arm strapped for a good few weeks so he can’t even do any light training.”

“OK. Well tell him the lads send their best when you see him tomorrow and wish him a speedy recovery. Any more news on Darren?”

“Again it’s just a case of keeping the shoulder stable until it heals. It’s not a bad break so he should be able to train in a fortnight or so.”

“Thanks Dave. Oh, what about young Alifie Kamara?”

“He’s got a nasty gash and we had to put in a stitch or two but he’ll be back on the training ground in a couple of days.”

“OK Dave, thanks for the update.”

retired_amyslack

East Anglia Daily Times
Saturday 27th August 2005
Foxes Held As Table Tightens

Promotion contenders Leicester were held to a 1-1 draw at Portman Road as Town came back from a goal down to take a deserved point. The visitors struck first when Jordan Stewart opened the scoring on 18 minutes after a neat one-two with David Connolly. Ten minutes before half time Alou Diarra ventured forward to score his second goal of the season with a well-struck volley from the edge of the area to tie the game. The home side created some decent chances thereafter and in the second half Rebrov hit the post with an audacious overhead kick and van der Gun had an effort cleared off the line by Patrick Kisnorbo. The Aussie defender was responsible for some key challenges to deny Town on several occasions and was voted Man of the Match for his performance. The league table already indicates that we can expect a competitive promotion contest as Town remain in the final playoff place.

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | Pos | Team | Pld | Won | Drn | Lst | For | Ag | G.D. | Pts | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 1st | Birmingham | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 12 | 2 | +10 | 12 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 2nd | West Ham | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 11 | 6 | +5 | 12 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 3rd | Leicester | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 10 | 4 | +6 | 11 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 4th | Portsmouth | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 5 | +5 | 10 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 5th | Hartlepool | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 6 | +4 | 10 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 6th | IPSWICH | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 4 | +4 | 10 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 7th | Norwich | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 6 | +3 | 10 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 8th | Preston | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 9 | 0 | 10 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 9th | Gillingham | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 6 | +3 | 9 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 10th | Coventry | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 6 | +1 | 9 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 11th | Millwall | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 3 | +2 | 8 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 12th | Reading | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 9 | 7 | +2 | 7 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 13th | Sheff Utd | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 6 | +2 | 7 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 14th | Leeds | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 9 | 10 | -1 | 7 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 15th | Bristol C | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 10 | -5 | 6 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 16th | Burnley | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 7 | +1 | 5 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 17th | Rotherham | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 10 | -4 | 5 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 18th | Watford | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 11 | -4 | 4 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 19th | Cardiff | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 12 | -5 | 4 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 20th | Nottm Forest | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 9 | -5 | 4 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 21st | Q.P.R. | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 10 | -5 | 3 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 22nd | Sheff Wed | 5 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 9 | -5 | 2 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 23rd | Wigan | 5 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 10 | -6 | 2 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 24th | Stoke | 5 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 9 | -8 | 1 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| </pre>

retired_amyslack

The Evening Star
Tuesday 30th August 2005
Berger Hat Trick Sinks Town

A second-half treble from Czech midfielder Patrick Berger gave Portsmouth a comfortable 3-0 win over a disappointing Town this evening. The 31-year-old was by far the most accomplished player on the pitch and the visitors were unable to contain his movement and vision……

Roorsby cast the newspaper aside, too angry to read any more about his team’s lacklustre display in their final game of the month. After such a bright start he was bitterly disappointed with their recent form and whilst he would not single out any individual for particular blame the overall team performance had been poor. Having now slipped down to 8th place they would certainly need to buck up their ideas to get their promotion push back on track.

retired_amyslack

“That was a bit more like it Willie.”

“It certainly was boss, and good to see Rebrov in amongst the goals.”

Roorsby and his assistant Willie Donachie were discussing their 2-0 defeat of promotion challengers West Ham during which Sergiy Rebrov scored both of their goals.

“Yes, they were both well taken and I liked the way that Sibon set them both up – the two seem to be developing a good understanding.”

“So no plans to bring Darren Bent back into the starting eleven?”

“Not at the moment Willie. He played well until his injury but you know my feelings on splitting up a strike partnership when they are working well together.”

“Don’t do it you mean? Yes, I know your feelings on that.”

The manager’s instincts proved to be correct as the next weekend it was Sibon scoring a brace in the 3-1 win at struggling Bristol City and Rebrov lauded as Man of the Match. In midweek they went out of the Carling Cup with a 2nd round defeat at home to Manchester City and lost centre back Jason De Vos for a fortnight into the bargain. Their next league match at home to Sheffield United finished in a 1-1 draw but they had another injury problem losing Witschge for a fortnight. Darren Bent made an appearance in their final league match of September at Watford, replacing the injured Sibon and scored his first goal of the season in the 1-1 draw.