I decided to have a mini break around this game, so headed for Ipswich on Monday. On Tuesday, I spent the day at the seaside, despite the weather. I had taken my cossie with me to Southwold, but one look at the stormy sea ensured that I stayed wrapped up in my coat as I walked the prom trying not to get blown over. Wednesday dawned brighter and I headed for Sutton Hoo, which I absolutely loved. When the group was gathering for the guided tour of the burial mounds, a woman approached me and said she thought I looked familiar. It turned out that she and her husband were fellow Watford fans enjoying the delights of Suffolk before heading for Portman Road in the evening. During the tour of the museum, I noted that the warrior depicted had more than a passing resemblance to Ryan Porteous. He would need all of his warrior instincts if we were to get anything from the game.
Our party for this game was very small indeed and we had arranged to meet in the bar of a local microbrewery as recommended by Jerry Ladell. When I arrived, Jerry was already there and I recognised almost all of the others in the bar, so clearly the message had got out among the Watford fans who like good beer. I can report that the beer was excellent, and they did rather decent food as well, so the pre-match was very enjoyable. We were soon joined by the Norfolk ‘Orns who had already visited another establishment, so were rather jolly. I was greeted by Glenn, who lifted me off my feet, much to the horror of his daughter, Amy, who thought that her Dad had accosted a random stranger.
At the appointed hour, we headed for the ground. The search at the turnstiles was just of my bag, so I was soon inside and at my seat to meet up with Jill, who is over from Australia and had so far seen 3 draws.
Team news was that Cleverley had made two changes from the Preston game with Pollock and Chakvetadze coming in for Sierralta and Dennis. So, the starting XI was Bachmann; Hoedt, Porteous, Pollock; Lewis, Dele-Bashiru, Kayembe, Andrews; Chakvetadze, Bayo, Asprilla.
The first chance of the game fell to the Hornets, Asprilla spotted Hladký off his line and tried a shot that flew high and wide and had two of my friends commenting “He’s no Ismaïla Sarr”. At the other end a Davis free kick was met by the head of Moore whose effort flew wide of the target. The home side threatened with a ball from Morsy to Hutchinson in the box, but Hoedt made a great tackle to avert the danger. Then Chakvetadze found Asprilla who tried to play Bayo in, but the pass was cut out. The first shot on target came on 18 minutes when Moore played the ball back to Moorhead who shot from the edge of the box. Bachmann was down to make the save. The Hornets immediately broke down the other end, but the cross from Lewis was straight at Hladký.
Chakvetadze then went on a run before playing a ball through to Bayo whose shot was blocked. The resultant corner was taken short before Asprilla crossed for Bayo who headed over. The home side had a great chance to take the lead after 28 minutes when Jackson broke forward down the right, he crossed for Moore whose first time shot flew wide of the target. The first booking of the game went to Clarke for a foul on Chakvetadze. The Hornets threatened again as Chakvetadze played the ball out to Lewis who tried a chip that was easily gathered by Hladký. At the other end, Broadhead tried a shot from the edge of the area, but it was straight at Bachmann. The hosts nearly took a fortunate lead as a shot from Broadhead took a deflection that took it out of the reach of Bachmann, thankfully it came back off the post. It was all Ipswich at this point and the next chance came as Jackson played a square ball to Taylor, but his shot was blocked by his colleague, Broadhead. The next chance for the home side was a shot from distance by Morsy that was easily dealt with by Bachmann. The hosts nearly took the lead just before the break after Clarke went on a run to the byline, he crossed back for Moore whose powerful header needed a good save from Bachmann to keep it out. So, we went into the break with the game goalless. It had been an even start to the game, but the hosts were on top late in the half and, but for an excellent save by Bachmann, would have been ahead. The Hornets were probably glad of the half time break to regather.
Watford started the second half brightly and the first attack of note came with Asprilla and Kayembe having shots blocked in quick succession. Then Asprilla exchanged passes with Bayo before his shot was charged down. The first chance for the home side was a chip by Davis that was easily gathered by Bachmann. Ipswich threatened again with a shot from distance by Morsy that was well wide of the target. There was another booking for the home side as Moore was penalised for pulling Dele-Bashiru down. The Hornets had a great chance to take the lead just before the hour mark with a shot from distance by Asprilla that Hladký could only parry, Lewis was lurking, but a defender managed to make the clearance. The resultant throw was headed on into the box, but the keeper gathered before Bayo could connect. Following a corner, Asprilla played the ball out to Chakvetadze whose shot was well over the bar. Ipswich made a triple substitution at this point with Luongo, Chaplin and Sarmiento coming on in place of Taylor, Jackson and Broadhead. Porteous was then booked for a late foul on Hutchinson. The Ipswich man had the next chance with a decent shot that was stopped by a great block from Pollock. Cleverley made his first change at this point bringing Koné on in place of Chakvetadze. At the same time, Moore made way for Al-Hamadi for the home side.
The Hornets maybe should have done better when a cross from Lewis was parried by Hladký, it came out to Koné, who took a couple of touches before taking a shot that was blocked. The home side made another substitution at this point bringing Woolfenden on in place of Edmundson. Ipswich won a free kick in a dangerous position but the initial shot from Luongo was blocked as was the follow-up from Sarmiento and the danger was averted. Cleverley made another change at this point bringing Dennis on in place of Bayo. The home side had a great chance to take the lead when Al-Hamadi received a ball into the box, but Pollock made a great challenge to block the shot. There was four minutes of time added on, during which Ince replaced Asprilla. There was nearly a dramatic finish to the game. Time was being played out when Koné made a tackle in the Watford half and the ball fell to Kayembe. He saw the keeper off his line so tried to lob the ball over him. It looked as though the shot was going to find the net, but Hladký backpedalled and managed to get a hand to the ball and keep it out. It was an audacious shot that left the travelling Hornets with huge smiles on their faces as the final whistle went.
So, the second goalless draw in a week, but this was a completely different game to the bore draw on Saturday. There was plenty to get the pulses racing and the Hornets were good value for their point. This was only the second time that Ipswich have failed to score at home this season and it was due to a sterling defensive effort from Hoedt, Porteous and Pollock, with great support from their colleagues further up the field. There was more attacking intent from the Hornets in the second half and we could have won it with Kayembe’s audacious strike, but a draw was a fair result and rather an impressive one against a decent team like Ipswich.
Nearly 1500 fans had travelled to Suffolk for a midweek game at the end of what has been a disappointing season. It was an impressive turn out and they were loud in support of the team. The mood among the travelling fans has improved considerably in recent weeks and, as the players applauded us at the end of the game, there were loud chants of “Cleverley”. We are unbeaten since Tom has taken the helm and are seeing some encouraging performances, so this appointment has been a very popular one. We have another tricky away game on Saturday, but I will travel feeling a lot more positive than I have for many this season. Let’s hope that I am not the kiss of death.
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