Ipswich 2-1 Fulham: Inexperienced Cottagers start with defeat

adamhigginsuk
Aug 9, 2014
5 min read

Decisive: David McGoldrick, a late first-half entrance from the bench, scored what proved to be the winning Ipswich goal (Picture from AFP)

RELEGATED Fulham were condemned to a disappointing defeat at play-off hopefuls Ipswich in their Championship opener.

Daryl Murphy clipped a sublime finish past rookie goalkeeper Jesse Joronen and substitute David McGoldrick scored on his return from injury to put the hosts in command.

Tim Hoogland's deflected strike gave the new-look Cottagers late hope but the Tractor Boys ran out worthy winners.

Fulham - whose 13-year stay in the Premier League came to an end - named an inexperienced side boasting eight debutants, including £11 million striker Ross McCormack from Leeds.

Ipswich 2-1 Fulham - Ross McCormack substituted on debut.jpg

Early exit: McCormack, who was linked with a host of Premier League clubs during the summer, was substituted 57 minutes into his Fulham debut (Picture by Adam Higgins)

And despite some bright performances from the young players, Felix Magath's side suffered a similar fate which dogged their turbulent campaign last time out.

Ipswich, who finished four points adrift of the play-offs in ninth place last term, gave a good account of themselves against one of the pre-season promotion favourites as they hope to fulfill boss Mick McCarthy's target of a top-six finish.

McCarthy handed a debut to 6ft 5in Hungarian striker Balint Bajner - signed from Borussia Dortmund in the summer - with last season's top scorer McGoldrick back on the bench after recovering from a knee ligament injury sustained in February.

Centre-back Tommy Smith overcame a knock to start while full-back Elliott Hewitt moved into midfield but their injury list was significant with Stephen Hunt, Paul Anderson, Jonathan Parr and Cameron Stewart all sidelined.

The back five made their senior Fulham debuts with 21-year-old Joronen starting in goal as news broke before kick-off that Maarten Stekelenburg has joined Monaco on loan.

Magath boldly named three 18-year-olds in a line-up spearheaded by Scotland striker McCormack, the Championship's top scorer last season with 28 goals, and consisting just one player from their final Premier League game in May after a raft of first-team summer departures.

The West Londoners, lining up in an unexpected shape with a midfield diamond and Tim Hoogland operating at right-back, began with comfortable spells of possession.

But Ipswich were first to threaten after four minutes as Christophe Berra's header from a Jay Tabb cross was tipped over by a backpedalling Joronen before the Finnish stopper parried away Luke Hyam's low effort from 25 yards at full stretch.

The hosts continued to make in-roads although the Cottagers were promising on the break, committing the full-backs forward at every opportunity,

The all-action Chris David dragged a shot wide of the target when receiving a Cameron Burgess pass after a swift move from back to front.

Ipswich asked more questions in an attacking sense as Cole Skuse went close with a dipping volley from the edge of the box, which landed on the roof of the net.

However, Fulham gathered themselves steadily with a patient approach and began to test the resolve of the Tractor Boys defence.

And the hosts escaped on 25 minutes when Dean Gerken spilled David's fizzing shot back into the danger zone but young forward Mousa Dembele could not force home the rebound as the keeper spread himself well to make amends.

With captain Scott Parker - who was promoted to the Premier League with Charlton in 2000 - the conductor in midfield, the Cottagers dictated the tempo with the lions' share of possession.

Skuse sent another ambitious volley inches wide of the target from range in a rare glimpse of goal for Ipswich.

But, just when Fulham appeared to have seized control, the Tractor Boys stormed into the lead after 33 minutes.

Hyam broke up play in midfield and fed Murphy, who advanced away from ex-Motherwell defender Shaun Hutchinson before firing past Joronen at the near post to open his account for the season.

The former Celtic striker, who netted 13 times in the league last term, immediately tried his luck with a 22-yard curler over the top as the hosts - backed by the boisterous Suffolk support - had wind in their sails.

Fulham struggled to muster a reaction and continued in the same vein, with a distinct lack of urgency and penetration despite some slick build-up play.

Ipswich were forced into a change a minute before the break with McGoldrick making his long-awaited return in place of Bajner in what was a tactical change.

Fulham also made an alteration at the break as former Arsenal youngster Thomas Eisfeld made his debut, replacing David who had a slight groin problem.

The Tractor Boys began on the front foot in the second period with Hutchinson forced to make a smart intervention when McGoldrick threatened to race clear in behind.

The visitors sought a response as Dembele almost turned in McCormack's low cross before left-back Kostas Stafylidis cracked a powerful 25-yard effort over the top.

Magath opted to withdraw the ineffective McCormack with the highly-rated Cauley Woodrow on 57 minutes but it was an Ipswich forward who made an impact as the hosts doubled their lead just after the hour mark.

Murphy muscled off Hutchinson by the corner flag and although his low centre was cleared, McGoldrick was on hand on the edge of the box to slam the ball home.

On 75 minutes, the Cottagers sacrificed Hutchinson and gambled with the introduction of forward Patrick Roberts.

The decision paid off as the 17-year-old caused problems to the Ipswich defence, winning a free-kick in a dangerous area which Stafylidis whipped in but was unable to pick out the front-post run of Woodrow.

Dembele then squandered an opening by firing an ambitious left-footed effort over the bar before Ipswich substitute Anthony Wordsworth missed the target with a header from Luke Chambers's cross at the other end.

Fulham halved the deficit four minutes from time when Roberts released the overlapping Hoogland and the former Schalke defender crashed in a shot which deflected off Smith, wrongfooting Gerken in the process.

Roberts went close to an equaliser when his low effort passed the wrong side of the post, before a deflected strike by the teenager lacked the pace to reach the goal.

However, their first second-tier game since May 2001 culminated in frustration as Ipswich continued their recent strong home form by making the ideal start to their 13th consecutive season at this level.

Saturday 9th August 2014 SkyBet Championship

Portman Road (Ipswich, Suffolk)

Ipswich Town 1-0 Fulham KO 5:15pm Live on Sky Sports 1/HD1 (HT 1-0)

Murphy 33

Ipswich Town (4-4-2): 1 Gerken - 0/10, 4 Chambers - 0/10, 5 Smith - 0/10, 6 Berra - 0/10, 3 Mings - 0/10, 21 Hewitt - 0/10, 8 Skuse - 0/10, 19 Hyam - 0/10, 18 Tabb - 0/10, 14 Bajner - 6.5/10 (McGoldrick 44 - 0/10), 9 Murphy.

Subs not used:

Booked:

Fulham (

Subs not used:

Booked: