Hull City grabbed a share of the points at Portman Road yesterday with a battling 1-1 draw with Ipswich Town.
As expected City were forced into changes through injury with Andy Dawson coming in for Alan Rogers at left back and Kevin Ellison replacing Stuart Elliot on the left side of midfield. There was a debut for new loan signing Rui Marques who slotted into Central defence with Leon Cort, allowing Damien Delaney to move up into midfield alongside Keith Andrews. There was a surprise up front with Billy Paynter starting alongside John Parkin which meant that Craig Fagan had to settle for a place on the bench.
Ipswich started the brighter and 3 minutes in they nearly stole a lead, Marques failed to clear a cross properly and the ball fell to the feet of Alan Lee, his shot was parried by Myhill and fell to Matt Richards but once again Myhill was equal to his effort.
City won a cornwe in the seventh minute but Leon Cort could only head wide of the post.
Ipswich nearly took the lead after 12 minutes when Myhill fumbled a Richards cross and Alan Lee got the ball with the goal at his mercy but Andy Dawson headed his shot off the line. Two minures later Ian Westlake saw his header flash narrowly wide of the post.
Ipswich were in the ascendancy now and it was no surprise when, after 23 mins they took the lead, all be it fortuitously. Town won a free kick on the left of the City area and Darren Currie looked to float one in for his strikers but it went over everyones head and nestled in the back of the net.
City nearly hit back straight away but Stuart Green could only fire over the bar after being put through by Andrews.
Moments later Andrews nearly equalised when a Stuart Green corner fell to the midfielder but his volley went wide of the post.
Ipswich nearly doubled their lead when Richards played in Alan Lee but the Ipswich man could only fire over.
Half Time Ipswich 1-0 Hull City
Ipswich started the second half as they finished the first with Darren Currie once again beating Myhill form a free kick only to see the ball come back off the cross bar.
Parkin played Paynter in but his shot was easily held by Shane Supple in the Ipswich goal.
The dangerous Currie once again curled in a wicked cross which evaded Myhill grasp, fortunately Marques was back to head over the bar with Alan Lee in close attendance.
57 minutes in and City grabbed the equaliser, Green and Dawson combined for a corner and when Green floated the ball in Leon Cort rose above everyone else to head powerfully into the ipswich net.
This prompted a period of end to end chances with both clubs going close to grabbing a winner, Ipswich via McDonald, Lee and Fabian Wilnis. Hull City via Ellison and Parkin.
Ipswich pushed for the winner in stoppage time and Myhill had to pull off a terrific save to deny Lee from close range.
When the ref blew for full time there was relief all round as the Tigers extended their unbeaten run to 3 games.
So a well deserved point for the Tigers sees them occupying 19th place in the Table 9 points above the drop zone after wins for Crewe, Sheff Wed and Millwall.
Everything appears to be set up nicely for City’s big crunch game againt rivals Leeds Utd next Saturday at the K.C Stadium were a win will surely see City safe for the season.
Unfortunately I was not at the game yesterday so I would be struggling to do players ratings. If anyone was there and would like to rate the team please feel free. From what I can gather, Myhill produced some fine saves and Marques had a solid game at the back. Parkin was also a threat up front and Cort was also very good.
Match Reporter
Ipswich Manager Joe Royle
‘It is symptomatic of our season. We played well but hit the bar and had shots cleared off the line.
‘We are playing well enough to be capable of putting a winning run together,’ he added.
‘The clubs above us are wobbling. People say we cannot reach the play-offs but we will keep playing our passing game and see what happens.’
Peter Taylor
‘In this division you have to work hard every match and we want to be here again next season playing in front of big crowds.
‘I think 47 points is what we need to keep us in this division and now we have 45.
‘I would have settled from a point at Ipswich so I am very pleased with it.’
Match Reporter
So a point for the tigers takes us to within two of Peter Taylors 47 point target.
With big games coming up against Leeds and Sheffield Utd thss could prove a very valuable result. We have to be looking to take points off Burnley and Deby and if we can get 4 from those 2 games we should all be able to look forward to playing Sunderland next season.
