Jim Magilton's Blue & White Army

What a great start to this new season. 4-1 flattered the Owls and I honestly think 10-0 would be fairer representation of the game.

It took us only a few seconds to get going with man-of-the-match Pablo Counaga being chopped down it the penalty area. Alan Lee converted the penalty and it was 1-0.

Just about 10 minutes gone and Pablo flicked on to Alan Lee in came the cross an Gary Roberts was there to volley home in style.

Jon Walters and Pablo had shots blocked. Jon Walters went close again, Then Pablo to Alan Lee and 3-0. Alan Lee’s angled strike too good for the Wednesday keeper.

Alex Bruce headed just over and Jon Walters had another shot blocked.

Then the moment of the game, Alan Lee won the ball - sent Jon Walters away and his cross was knocked home by Pablo Counaga.

Alan Lee came within inches of his hat trick.

Jim decided that we had done enough and replaced Alan and Pablo with Danny Haynes and Billy Clarke and Sylvain Legwinski came on for Tommy Miller. The game went quiet then and Wednesday scrambled a consolation goal before the end, which was a shame really as 4-0 would have put us clear at the top. Coventry and Palace also had impressive results.

If we can keep this going then we’ll be OK this year - it’s a much better start than last year.

ATB Rotf

Not too bothered about the Carlin cup, but can't believe that 120th minute penalty after coming back from 2-0 down to lead 3-2. I knew we'd lose a penalty shoot out. Good luck to M K Dons in the next round.

Well 1 out of 2 is not bad.

1) We usually start off pretty poor at the start of the season so the Sheffield result is a great confidence booster.

2) Eeeerrrrr..... we usually get knocked out of the carling cup early on, as per our result against the dons.

Up the tractor boys.

Chris

First things first - best wishes to Ian Holloway - hope you make full recovery.

As for the game - how did we not win that. Great start - Alan Lee: top man - 1-0.

Dodgy ref - but no complaints about Fabian Wilnis seeing red for a stupid challenge (c'mon mate your a legend at Ipswich and nice bloke, but you know better than to go two footed).

The penalty - well I'm sorry, but he fell over - simple as that - never a penalty - and it cost us top spot.

Oh well - a better start than last year at least.

However in all three games we've conceded last minute goals - two penalties, so please Jim, can we put that right for the next outing.

A camping holiday in Southwold enabled me to follow the fortunes of the first couple of outings on the one and only BBC Radio Suffolk!!

Yes, encouraging start. But conceding those last minute goals seems to be a fault from times past that still isn't fixed.

Tighten it up, please, Jim! Give us a shout at the top this season.

quote:

Originally posted by JWM:
Tighten it up, please, Jim! Give us a shout at the top this season.

He did and we are - we are top of the Championship - equal points with Coventry City.

It was an excellent match despite some typically eccentric refereeing from Andy D'Urso that threatened spoil it

D'Urso for future reference goalkeepers are only allowed to handle the ball in their own penalty area (that's the box indicated by lines drawn 18 yards from the goal in case you're not sure) and goalkeepers who handle the ball outside of their area to stop us scoring should be sent from the field of play, you do this by issuing a red, that's red not yellow card - and showing your bus pass doesn't work.

How good it is to see Pablo Counago back - another superb performance.

Palace always looked dangerous and Neil Alexander produced one great save from a Palace free-kick, but their failing was their forwards: Scowcroft and Kuqi: both of whom have seen better days at another club Shefki Kuqi didn't start, but came on late in the game - to a loud ovation from the Town fans. Still what makes the victory so engaging is to know you've beaten a good side and Palace are definitely that.

Then that magic moment - Pablo Counago combined with Alan Lee on to Gary Roberts who was flying down the left wing - a pinpoint cross met with a super header by Jon Walters. It was enough. We might have added had the Palace goalkeeper (did I mention the handball incident earlier) not made a fine save from Billy Clarke and then Danny Haynes follow-up.

This is a better start than last year .....

Jim said I'm absolutely delighted with our start. It's only early days but it's always nice to be at the right end of the table. We didn't get off to a great start last season, but then I didn't have anything to do with pre-season then so it's a bit different this time around. I thought Jason De Vos was magnificent today and our youngsters are really coming through so it's looking promising.

And credit to Peter Taylor, the Palace boss, who said: As for our goalkeeper, Speroni, of course he shouldn't be out there handling the ball ....

Well, let's hope it's not another false dawn.

im sure you will do it this season.
good luck
scotty

Thanks - hopefully see you in the premier league soon.

Between the quotes is a full detailed report of every single highlight of Saturday's game against the Hornets

quote:

The main reason I feel we lost was simple - we were rubbish - worst performance since Jim took charge.

Oh bloody hell...

How can you lose 4-0 and play well? We spent most of the game camped in the opposition half doing everything, but that most important thing in football - put the ball in the net.

Three of the albion's goals were in the last three minutes - we hit the post, had a string of corners and free kicks, produced good saves from their keeper and flashed the ball across goal with nobody able to apply the final touch.

Against Watford we were dire and lost 2-0 - in this game we played well for 86 minutes and lost 4-0. So things are not as bad as they seem - yet.

Yes - we bounced back. Stunning performance. It could have been 10-1 and Coventry are not a bad side (good free kick).

Why can't we play like this every week. Pablo Counago was sensational. The whole team played well.

More of the same against Hull - please.

ATB Rotf

Fortunately, we're still at the stage where mid-table mediocrity is not as bad as it looks ... not so very far behind the leaders in terms of points.

Let's hope we've already had the bad run behind us (and you're reporting that on the whole we're not playing badly).

Thanks for keeping us posted,
James

quote:

Originally posted by ROTF:
Yes - we bounced back. Stunning performance. It could have been 10-1 and Coventry are not a bad side (good free kick).

Why can't we play like this every week. Pablo Counago was sensational. The whole team played well.

More of the same against Hull - please.

ATB Rotf

You looked good from what I saw on the tv marra ..the thing you have to remember is there are a humungous amount of matches in The Championship (compared to the Prem)...as long as you are esconsed even in the top 8 at Xmas you've got a real chance of promotion....

....Believe me NO-ONE knows more about getting out of that division (and falling back into it!) than my good self and fellow Sunderland fans

..Any sort of run from January onwards can get you there!

quote:

Originally posted by Jet Johnson:
..Any sort of run from January onwards can get you there!

Thanks Jet

Hopefully by January our players will have learnt the importance of picking up points away from home. I didn't see any of the match at Hull and I know we hit the post twice, but a pattern seems to be developing that suggests a total of around 70 points - not enough I think.

ATB Rotf

An away point - after being 2-0 up in the first 9 mimutes, but the equaliser was a freak goal our goalkeeper's clearance cannoning off their forward and back in to the net. We also had a perfectly good goal by Pablo Counago ruled offside 5 minutes from time - another mysterious off-side.

We got off to a reasonable start through Legwinski's trademark near post header from Garvan's corner and Lee made it two with a looping header after good work by Clarke.

So we are learning to play away from home -- I'd have settled for a point at Burnley, but from all accounts we deserved all three.

Next up PNE.

Four wins out of four at home. We deserved this one and should have won more convincingly. Billy Clarke nearly scored after 20 minutes, but his header went just wide. Soon after, Pablo Counago's header hit the bar. Then on the half hour, Alan Lee stooped to head in his sixth goal of the season from Jon Walters’ cross. In the second half, Billy Clarke’s terrific long range shot smashed against the post. And with 15 minutes left. Tommy Miller after a back heel by Pablo Counago et him up. True, Preston got a dubious penalty when their substitute fell over his own feet, but it made no difference to result.

We need to take this for away, but winning our home games is a good foundation.

I hear David Gold is trying to buy the club - my view: no thanks. We’ll take our chances as we are.

Have you heard that Oxo are bringing out a new stock cube in a distinctive yellow and green wrapper? Laughing stock.

How about us getting our first win of the season against the budgies on Monday then chaps??!!

'Twas noted ( here) - an excellent result.

I remember when when we were promoted with Rangers, back in the time of McGarry and Sammy Chung (1968) - a repeat performance in the not too distant future would be most welcome.

Don't expect to stay at the bottom too long, Mark, I'm sure Rangers will put a run together after the next game, of course, not worth trying to win every game after all - mind you with our away form you've got every chance.

quote:

Originally posted by JWM:
Have you heard that Oxo are bringing out a new stock cube in a distinctive yellow and green wrapper? Laughing stock.

I hear Delia is on her way after saying to Peter Grant Where are you. Let's be 'aving you - sad really. You'd have thought they'd been OK in Blue Square league.

quote:

Originally posted by ROTF:
'Twas noted ( here) - an excellent result.

Oops, missed that one ROTF, I was away for a few days.

quote:

Don't expect to stay at the bottom too long, Mark, I'm sure Rangers will put a run together.

Let's hope so - we can't be the strongest team in the league all season!

The shape of things to come, I feel

Tractor Boys 1 Arsenal 0

2,000 fans watched as Town U18s thrashed highly rated Arsenal at Portman Road in a game sponsored by Kieron Dyer. A superb penalty on 73 minutes from Jack Ainsley gave Blues victory, the striker scoring from the spot after he had been chopped down. Kieron Dyer watched from the stands as we kept out the Arsenal attacks and held on for an impressive victory against quality opposition.

Hopefully the Tractor Boys will be as generous to us today as the Budgies were the other week, ROTF.

Oh well, I'm happy enough to share the points with my friends from Suffolk I suppose, although it's not enough to take QPR off the bottom.

Mark