628: Kings of Anglia: Town draw at Saints to set up final-day promotion drama

24:15I thought Greaves got a nice little bit of the ball, but he does take the man with him and it's probably, I think she referred to it as probably an amber card, that one. Strong yellow for a very strong challenge and obviously an unfortunate touch off Nunez to wrong foot Walton and the goal that Southampton scored to go ahead is really good. It's a really good ball from Manning. The way that he sends, kind of splits Greaves and Davis and Laren's turn to then send them the other way in the finish, it shows the kind of team that they are. But yeah, the character then to come back, 80th minute they conceded that goal, could easily just say that it's not going to happen for us today.

24:57It's going to be a defeat. Let's roll on to Saturday. but the fight they showed, really impressive. And again, subs making a difference too. Jack Clark, of course, the man to score that goal. You know, Jelion Villagin got the shirt to start for this one but Jack Clark off the bench and scores a good goal and could have scored a winner as well. But yeah, subs are really injecting some energy into the team.

25:22Stuart Watson:Yeah, Clark and McAteer, the first two introduced. Then interestingly, Jens Kuyusta and George Hurst are the next men on. We didn't think necessarily that we were going to see Jens again. He's been not making squads recently. He's had Jack Taylor and Dan Neal ahead of him in the pecking order, but Taylor out with an injury. He's got a bit of a knock, some swelling on his knee, so he wasn't in the squad for this. So interesting that Jens was introduced in the 10 role for an off-par Marcelino Nunez. And, yeah, Clark's the man, isn't he, that just took this by the scruff of the neck. He was virtually unplayable the way he was getting the ball, running at people.

26:11Stuart Watson:He just glides, doesn't he? Glides across the turf, little micro-feints that leave people. You know what he's going to do, but stopping him is a completely different thing. Gets the goal. Brilliant finish. I think it was a long throw that led to it, wasn't it? and half cleared and he just arrived to provide the crispest of finishes. And then, you know, it's 2-2, 87 minutes, and only one team's going to win it. And Ipswich have four good chances to win it. Looking at it here, we've got, so the goal is on 87. 88, that furlong header at the back post, Leif Davis on the overlap, dinks it, stands it up to the far post, the away end right on that side i think they thought it was in we all thought it was in didn't it a raw it was a you know a raw of celebration as it just flew the wrong side of the post a minute later jack clark again running at the box stabs one back off the base of the post hits the back of the goalkeeper could go anywhere could easily be an own goal but it goes out for a corner instead into stoppage time george hurst gets it in the back of the net disallowed for offside yes I think it's the right decision but that was a lovely crisp move Clark involved again Dan Nill sweeping the ball across the box and then 90 plus four Jack Clark bends one towards the top corner and it's a hell of a save from Perrott's fingertips springing to his left full stretch to tip it around the post um Ipswich couldn't have done a lot more to win this game.

27:49Yeah, and AJ, a point then. Stavampton are out of the top two mixed. But Town, yeah, he's in their hands going to the final day. But any other business from the game, anything you most want to mention? I think the interesting one is Jens Gouste going into the 10 role because, yeah, you've got Anastasia Metty on the bench, doesn't come on. Jens, his first game since the Stoke game, wasn't it? So it's been a while, it's been over a month since his last game. So, yeah, he's playing in a different role. Yeah, he did. He came on in the 75th minute and played seven minutes in the 10 roll and then changed and dropped deeper because Achpom, Chubur Achpom came on for Matasiwa.

28:32So you had the Neil Kiyos to pivot instead and then with Achpom playing in the 10. So we didn't get to see a lot of it. But in fairness, for someone who hasn't played since the Stoke game, I thought Jens looked pretty sharp didn't look like he's not been playing any football so real credit to him because especially with his fitness issues he's had before I thought he could come back and look really rusty but there were some nice bits that he showed in that game mentioned again for the Clark finish what a hit, the move's really good there's so many again, a lot of different kind of moving parts to it the cross that Clark gets back in from the initial long throw it comes back out to Clark good cross in O'Shea winning that header was really good.

29:14And then it's a weak-footed finish, isn't it, from Jack Clark. He hits it with his left, and he gets real power behind that strike and a lot of precision too. So credit for him. He was exceptional off the bench. O'Shea and Clark, I think, probably the two standouts, but credit to them. Credit to even Azon, I thought, was really, really good in this game. Big moments from Walton to ensure that Town stayed in it, which was important. Yeah, those were kind of the main standouts. And when you look at the result as a whole, it's weird because a point doesn't do anything really for Ipswich apart from taking Southampton out of the race and ensuring that there is a gap still to Millwall.

30:02So technically, if Ipswich were to, or let's say Pompey, if Millwall were to draw on final day, that they wouldn't be able to get the process. They have to win now as well, even if Ipswich fail to. So there are positives to take from it, but take out all of the circumstances and stipulations, getting a point from that game and a 2-2 draw against Southampton in their current vein of form, I think it's a really good result and should give them the confidence going into that QPR game. Yes, and I think you mentioned it, Stu, pretty much a free hit against Southampton. and yeah, as we said to the start, what a great advert for Championship football.

30:44There was a Champions League game being played which was also good. So, you know, if you were watching both games somehow, one on one screen, another on another screen, you would have had a very good night of football watching because yeah, what an advert for Championship football.

31:00Stuart Watson:Yeah, not a lot more to say about it really. I guess maybe give a shout out to Dan Neal. We talked about players always being ready when called upon. in this squad this season. Ben Johnson has been a shining example of that in recent weeks. Dan Neal, after a really encouraging start, after arriving from Sunderland, faded from the picture a little bit because of Jack Taylor's form. So for him to go straight into this game, he wasn't perfect. There was a couple of times he gave it away, but he did some really nice stuff in there as well. And for him to come in and play the way he did, for Wes Burns to come back, It's his first start in the Sheffield Wednesday game that he came off.

31:43Stuart Watson:I thought for him to come in and provide the shift that he did, Leif Davis having missed two games with a hamstring injury, to come in and do what he did. Yeah, as Kieran McKenna said afterwards, it's a real show of progress in terms of the mentality and the character and the togetherness of this squad, which has been called into question rightly so several times throughout this season. But over the course of this last month, this very busy April, parked the Portsmouth game, which was undoubtedly very disappointing. But I think you can give them a little bit of a pass on that one because it comes off the back of Norwich and everything that went into that.

32:25Stuart Watson:Park that one. You know, they've come from behind finally to beat Birmingham. They've recovered from conceding after a minute at Charlton and come back to win that game. I thought they showed good character at West Brom as well to stand in the face of a really motivated, informed side there and then to produce what they did last night amidst such a busy, busy schedule. The third away game in a week.

32:54Stuart Watson:Yeah, we've knocked the character plenty of times this season. It's only right that we really praise it now. Yes, indeed. I think the fans, to be fair, a lot of the away fans in that end were appreciating that as well. it wasn't massive celebrations it wasn't like the Coventry night because it wasn't a win but I think a lot of fans were like fair play boys, very proud of the team and I got a picture of Daro Shea just pointing with one more one last push boys AJ let's move that aside what a game of football hopefully we'll look back and go that was a great night but hopefully this weekend they're going to get over the line how you feeling about it all and we're going to talk about how it's going to sort of shape up with different things that could happen I know Stu you've done a piece we're going to go through it all just maybe to work let everyone know how things can happen if we lose and win, draw and all that but yeah how you feeling about it all my friend How's your nerves?

33:53This is going to be it this is the finale this is the tense game it's win or bust and there are ways of course that town can get promoted without that win. But I think realistically, we have to see this as they have to win and they will be seen as a must win. With QPR at Portman Road on final day, a couple of ways to look at this one. Is it an ideal fixture to have at this point of the season for a final day must win match? Absolutely. Is it a Huddersfield from two years ago? No. I think it is definitely a harder test than that. QPR, an interesting team to be facing at this point. They've lost their last three.

34:35They're winless in five. Millwall beat them fairly comfortably. They showed good spirit against Derby in their last game. They're turning to the youth for the final few games. They're switching things up with Nile in the future. Manager's been linked with a move back to France. So a lot up in the air at QPR. Maybe that's a good thing, but I feel like that makes them quite unpredictable and there's good quality in that team as well. But I think more than anything, It's going to be about Ipswich, isn't it? We know that if Ipswich come in and deliver the kind of performance that they did last night, the kind of performance that they have done pretty well in the last few weeks, then I think that they will be able to win this game, and they will win this game if they do that.

35:15But this is now the test of character and the test of how they handle the pressure. They've done it really well on various occasions. The Norwich game last night, West Brom, all of those. they've passed those tests but I think this is going to be the biggest test of all of them. Yes indeed well Stu you've done the working out the way it could have the scenario if it's just win draw or lose talk us through it all my friend it's not maybe as hard as you think it is but it's good to just have it all you know you're working out please my friend

35:51Stuart Watson:It's simple Ross win and they're up It boils down to that, doesn't it? I know people have sort of said, actually, the point could help out. It's a bit of a backstop. I don't think it really matters. Honestly, I think we have to assume that Millwall are going to be an already relegated Oxford at home. I know people have been pulling up that Oxford have got a reasonable record against Millwall. Oxford are no slouches. We've seen that with Vip Switch against them this season. They're a spirited side. They've been in most of their games this season. Millwall will be feeling the pressure. No one expect them to drop points against Leicester.

36:31Stuart Watson:So anything could happen in that game. But I think we have to work on the assumption that they will win and therefore Ipswich also need to win. So go up. Middlesbrough are pretty much out. So as you say, Southampton are definitely out of it. They had to win. They cannot make second now. Now, Middlesbrough need both Ipswich and Millwall to slip up in order to get in there. If Ipswich get a point, Middlesbrough will cut it. Just a point will see Ipswich finish above Borough. Because even if Borough won, they would go level on points with Ipswich. But then you start looking at goal difference and goals scored.

37:09Stuart Watson:Middlesbrough then have to go to Wrexham and win like 7-0. And Ipswich would have to draw 0-0. I mean, it's in a very, you know, almost impossible circumstance there. So it's between Ipswich and Millwall by the looks of things. I can't see both of them slipping up to open the door for Middlesbrough, if I'm honest. So, yeah, I think Ipswich need to win.

37:34Stuart Watson:And, you know, play like they did. And they should win. With the crowd behind them, I'm sure there'll be, I don't know if there'll be plans for a bus welcome again. I'm sure there's conversation amongst supporters group and stuff like that. But Kieran McKenna and the players have loved that before. So I'd be all for it. If there's plans for that, whip up the atmosphere. It's slightly different to the last couple of promotion-defining games at Portman Road in League One. It was Exeter and they were put to the Sword 6-0. But that was an Exeter side that was in a bit of turmoil at the time. minutes which still had the fail safe of a game to come didn't they the Huddersfield game in the championship a point was enough and Huddersfield again were in a really awful place at the time this time around slightly different QPR unpredictable is probably the best way I can describe them this is a side that beat Portsmouth 6-1 recently earlier in the season they got beat 7-1 by Coventry.

38:38Stuart Watson:I look at their record against the teams at the top end of the table. They've lost twice to Millwall. They've lost twice to Middlesbrough. They've lost twice to Southampton. They were well beaten by both Middlesbrough and Southampton recently. All things considered, Ipswich should be winning this game. I know anything can happen but I do feel quite calm about it at the moment as we sit here. Maybe as the game gets nearer, those nerves will start to jangle. Yeah, the morning of the game, I'm sure we'll feel some nerves and I'm sure the adrenaline will get us through. AJ, there's been a few questions about, would there be a pitch invasion if the town do get over a line?

39:23Do you think that there will be for this one? As I said, it does feel a bit different, but you're still getting promoted back to the Premier League. Yeah, it should be said quickly that Kings of England do not condone any sort of pitch invasions or anything like that and that you should obey by the rules set out by the EFL. I'm not going to ban every single fan. I wasn't there obviously for the first promotion. I heard it was a bit of a mixed bag. It's different isn't it where last year, not last year, two years ago was this explosion of relief. They've got it, they're over the line especially with how tense that run-in was with the fact that they had to be in relentlessly good So, Fortham, any sort of slip-up felt fatal.

40:04And the way that Leeds were playing and the way that Southampton were playing and Leicester, to get that over the line after so many years away from the Premier League, 20 plus, 22, wasn't it? That was like a huge explosion of relief. Whereas promotion on Saturday, should Ipswich secure it? It's almost horrible to say. It feels a bit like a job done, doesn't it? Because of how this season has been. It has been tough at times. It's not been a trademark top two push campaign. But yeah, would there be some sort of pitch invasion? I don't know. I would imagine that there'll be some fans who'll be making that plunge.

40:47Fair enough. Be interested to see how they go about the whole event and what the celebrations would be like afterwards. But let's get it out of the way first. Yeah, so I'm getting too carried away. Maybe that's me being too positive and too confident that Towne would get the win. Because, yeah, Kupi, your boy Richard Kone will be playing, AJ. I'm sure you're looking forward to seeing him play. Well, looking forward to it. Yeah, he's a good player and someone I've obviously tipped for Towne interest before. It's a good squad. If you look at championship squads, I think it's more than solid for this level where you look at the attacking talent they've got.

41:26Kone certainly won a real kind of physical, pacey, clinical finisher. Been playing up front with Rahman Burrell, who scored against Town in the last game, the last meeting between the two. Consolation. Yeah, well, it was an equaliser at the time, wasn't it? But still, yes, it went down as meaning little, but he was a real threat in that game, I thought. Harvey Vale, who's now ended up permanently at QPR from Chelsea, has been excellent recently. He got golden assists in QPR's last game, to defeat Derby, playing well. And then it's just about how they try and mix things up a little bit because Steve Cook is an interesting one where he won't be playing in this one.

42:07They announced that he's going to be leaving the club, the veteran defender, at the end of the season. And within that statement, they said the reason that he's going to be playing his final game, it was the Tuesday night game at home to Swansea. They lost it 2-1. They announced that as his final game then because they want to use the last two games to look to the future. And that's where the unpredictability comes in, but also them mixing things up. They've got young players. Kaylee Adamson, 23, right back, came on in the second half of the defeat to Derby. There's others who've had opportunities to come in and get minutes.

42:3720-year-old Kieran Morgan, Northern Ireland internationals, getting more opportunities. Daniel Benny, 20-year-old Australian on the right. Yeah, we'll have to see how they mix things up, but don't ignore the quality that they've got. Don't ignore the fact that they'll probably like to be party poopers in a game like this. Koki Saito, Ilias Chair, really good player. My hope would be that if Town can strike, you want an early goal, how much of a fight are QPR willing to put up in a game like this, knowing that they haven't got anything to fight for? 14th in the division, 15th best away record. They are mid-table personified.

43:15Stuart Watson:You talk about the sort of like, there's always a context, there's always a feel going into a game and you can never kind of quantify it. But, you know, last night's game was what it was because of the freedom that both sides could play with. Saturday's game at West Brom was what it was because of the context of their injustice and what they needed and where Ipswich were at at that stage. This one, you've got Ipswich super fired up, motivated against the QPR side. that I'm not saying that you don't, you know, the whole on the beach thing. Sometimes I've written that in the past and players have bristled at it, but it's a subconscious level.

44:00You are just not going to be at that peak of focus

44:04Stuart Watson:and your game when you're, you know, you're 14th in the table, you've got nothing to play for. Yes, they've got some young players that will be wanting to catch the eye and do well. But I just, you just don't have that little something in you, I think sometimes. And yeah, if Ipswich can get that early goal or get, you know, even if it isn't an early goal, if they have to be patient and, you know, there's full faith in subs that can come on and do it as well, over the course of 95 minutes, whatever it may be, you have to have belief that Ipswich will get this job done on Saturday. Harder than the previous tasks when it's come down to it, but one that I think we still believe this team can do.

44:49Stuart Watson:We've talked about, do we trust this team? they've earned my faith over this last month going into this game. Yeah, me too. And I'm going to ask you both this, boys. What's your hot take? Who do you reckon could be that sort of hero on the day who maybe opened the scoring or scored the late winner or just do something that, you know, wins the game for us? We've said, like, Wes Burns would be a perfect one. Maybe he's already had that moment at Southampton. Could have another one. That'd be great to see. but anybody else that comes to mind? Start with you, Stu. I think I probably would have gone to Wes Burns, but maybe you can say he's had his moment last night.

45:33Stuart Watson:Leif Davis, I mean, if we're talking about sort of the old guards or the long servers, the ones that have been there throughout this journey, that would be quite nice. Or maybe it would be nice now we're talking about bonding with this team, this new team and moving forward. that it'd be nice for one of the ones that's been through a bit of a rollercoaster journey this season in terms of winning people over. For me, I'd love for it to be for Dara. Dara O'Shea, who, you know, I said it in the boot room with you, massive boots to feel stepping in for Sam Morsi. Had some rocky moments, people questioning him, different leadership style to Sam.

46:12Stuart Watson:But his consistency, he's played every minute of every game. and since that 5-3 defeat at Wrexham, I think he's been outstanding. Again, one of Ipswich's best players last night. I'd love for him to have his moment and write the headlines in the biggest game of all. I love that. We've been waiting for that goal, haven't we, from a set piece, him heading it. I didn't know he scored at Barra, but that would be amazing. AJ, have you got an ideal candidate to be that man? I'd like it to be one of the strikers because they've come under so much fire that having one of them to write their name in Ipswich Town history, and even if things don't work out, even if Tom Garpen and George Hurst maybe doesn't get the minutes he wants in the Prem, or it's Azon's last game in an Ipswich Town shirt, for them to always be remembered as the player that took us into the Premier League, I think would be nice.

47:04In what has been a tough season, we can look back on, let's say it would be Azon, you can look back on, well, yeah, he wasn't the best finisher, but he worked so hard. He battled for everything. I remember that night in Southampton where he set up Burns' goal and then he had that one moment where he scored the winner and sent us to the Premier League. That would be lovely. Hurst has also had his critics and that same kind of thing. Could you have a rogue Darnell furlong moment? Could that be the one? And I'll throw out another one. He's been really poor recently. Could Marcelino Nunez turn it around from a really difficult couple of weeks?

47:42And the main reason I say that is because could you imagine the meltdown in Norfolk if Marcelino Nunez scored the goal to send Ipswich to the Premier League? It would be glorious to see, to be honest.

47:57Stuart Watson:Who did he get his brace against earlier in the season? Exactly. Marcelino Nunez free kick against QPR's third free kick of the season against QPR to send Ipswich to the Premier League on the final day. I think that would be quite nice whoever it is they will be remembered in folklore for Richard's Town of course I'm sure they will Jack Taylor would be another one of mine of course part of a promotion winning team as well before we'll see if he's fit though for the game because he was a bit of a precaution wasn't it for the game after you spoke I don't know it might be a little bit more than that talk of it was a knock but swelling on the knee and they're going to have to assess him he's put in a hell of a shift during this busy run and I I think you're right because he's someone that's been part of the journey, certainly from the championship promotion onwards.

48:48Stuart Watson:And for him to have got himself in the team against the competition he has would do a trademark Jack Taylor swerve into the top corner from 30 yards out. But whether he's past fit for this one, I don't know. Quite frankly, Ross, I don't care who does it. As you were saying, all these players, I was thinking they've all kind of had their moments a long way. Mad to see who had his moment against Hull. Furlong finally got his first goal recently in the Charlton game. They've all kind of had their moments along the way. I think that's why Dara's kind of sticking in my mind, because I think he's due his kind of headline-making moment for everything he's put into this season.

49:29Stuart Watson:But it doesn't matter. Hopefully it's not one singular player, and it's not that kind of nerve-wracking day where transistor radios, not that anyone's going to have transistor radios anymore, but news is coming through on phones. Millwall have got an early goal and everyone gets a little bit nervy and God forbid something happens and QPR get a goal out of nowhere and it could become one of those really horrible sort of nervy days. So yeah, hopefully it's not that. But even if there is a setback, I still trust this team now to be able to undo damage and get themselves back into it and fight all the way to the death.

50:12Stuart Watson:So right now, as I say, feeling quite calm about it. I've got trust in them that they'll get the job done. Come Saturday morning, I'm sure the butterflies will be there as they will be for everybody. Yes, indeed. Wow, what a strange season it's been. But hopefully it will end in promotion back to the top flight. AJ any other business from you my friend as we wrap up this podcast we're going to do a lot of build up stuff later in the week because we're just still recovering from Southampton because that game was thrilling but anything else you want to mention my friend yeah just to anyone who's going to that game who's following that game enjoy it and back the team and it was a message that we got a bit from Wes Burns going out tomorrow morning where he talks about you know we know what the task at hand is over the weekend.

51:04We just need your support. Back us and we'll do everything we can to get that job done over the weekend. This will be the last time that we do a proper pod before the big day. Hopefully the next time we talk over a pod, it'll be up to its town back in the Premier League. But enjoy Saturday as much as you can. I'm sure that people will be waking up not feeling too well, let's say, not feeling at their best. Definitely some nerves. but hopefully we can put all of those to one side and have a great day on Saturday. Don't worry AJ, for those people who are not feeling well I've got a doctor next to me, Stuart Watson.

51:42Message to the listeners as I get ready for another momentous day at Portland Road.

51:50Stuart Watson:I enjoyed a tweet, I don't know who did this I saw a tweet flash up earlier if it was finished second again, Arsenal might come sniffing for McKenna soon. I quite enjoyed that. Yeah. Three automatic promotions in the space of four years. I do have to stop sometimes and kind of think about what these last few years have been after, you know, I started doing it in Paul Jewell's first season. What was that? 2011, 12. And just like a decade of nothingness and mid tables. and this time of year we'd be pumping out content around, oh, might you play a couple of kids in the last few games and here we are almost kind of blasé about where Ipswich find themselves at and we shouldn't be.

52:40Stuart Watson:Potentially three promotions all via second, a relegation in there as well. So, yeah, we waited a long time for this sort of excitement around this football club. I know sometimes it's not good on the old heart rate, but we prefer this to the apathy and everything that came before. So, yeah, just enjoy it, everybody, if you can. Try and enjoy it. Yes, indeed. It's just funny that when we'll, you know, sort of first launch Kings of Anglia and we were just discussing just, you know, dull Championship Football and Mick McCarthy at the end of his tenure. Then we had the relegation to League One and four years in League One and there were some bleak times with Paul Lambert and co and COVID and everything.

53:30And yeah, we've got to give a big shout out to listeners because you've been on this journey as well. I know you're all town fans, but you've been on this journey listening to us discussing the bad times. Thankfully, the last few years has been a lot of good times minus the Premier League stuff. but hopefully it'll be better if we are back at a top flight next time. But Stu, AJ, thank you as always for joining me, my comrades going into battle this Saturday. We'll be doing all the normal bits and bobs, so follow our coverage. If you can't make it to the game, but if you are going to the game, enjoy it and hopefully we can have another party at Portman Road once again.

54:08Thanks for listening. Shout out to our sponsors, Molecular UK. Use the code KOWAY10 to get you a clean and business for your car. And hopefully next time we speak to you in podcast form, we'll be celebrating promotion back to the promised land, as they say. Bye for now.

54:54Thank you.

55:19Thank you.

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