SOCCER: Ipswich Town 1 West Brom 0: ROY KEANE had hinted beforehand that he might step down as Ipswich manager but Grant Leadbitter's penalty winner means the Corkman now has a League Cup semi-final against Arsenal to look forward to rather than a resignation letter in need of punctuation.
The former Manchester United midfielder has endured a difficult relationship with Town supporters following a dire run of form which saw them slip to 16th in the English Championship following Sunday’s 4-1 defeat to East Anglia rivals Norwich.
Keane’s men did not begin like a side struggling for form, although Albion’s nine changes had given them a much needed pre-match boost on that score. Youngster James Hurst (18) made his Albion debut at right-back, as defender Marek Cech and midfielder Graham Dorrans were the only survivors from the 4-1 Premier League win at Everton.
Keane had accepted in his programme notes “there is no hiding place for a manager”, and the side he put out certainly did not shy away from their challenge.
The better chances of the first half fell to the home side but the Town captain, David Norris, set the tone in the second minute by bundling over Tamas Priskin’s cross from close range when it seemed easier to score.
Jason Scotland could only fire at Boaz Myhill after Priskin had once again unlocked Albion’s makeshift defence and the goalkeeper was required soon after to keep out Leadbitter’s fierce drive.
Albion also had to survive two penalty appeals before the break. The first saw Steven Reid’s clearance hit his own hand and the second, in the 39th minute, appeared to be a straightforward error by the referee Mike Jones.
Priskin made contact with Jaime Peters’s ball into the box a split second before Myhill arrived and there was definitely contact before the Ipswich forward went down, yet play continued to the displeasure of the home fans.
Ipswich made a change at the start of the second half when Reggie Lambe was replaced by Carlos Edwards.
Simon Cox fired just wide for the visitors early in the second half before Priskin sent a free header looping on to the top of the Albion net.
With 21 minutes left Jones made another penalty decision – and this time it went Ipswich’s way.
Graham Dorrans challenged substitute Edwards on the edge of the box and the official ruled contact had been made goal-side of the line.
Up stepped Leadbitter to convert the spot-kick.
West Brom brought on Ishmael Miller for Fortune as Roberto di Matteo looked to breathe fresh life into his attack but that failed to have the desired effect.
Scotland should have wrapped the tie up from a corner but somehow his shot was blocked by Priskin, who fired a stoppage-time chance wide.
GuardianService
IPSWICH TOWN: Murphy, Peters, Brown, Smith, O'Dea, Lambe (Edwards 46), Leadbitter, Norris, Townsend (O'Connor 65), Priskin, Scotland (Healy 89). Subs not used: Lee-Barrett, Eastman, Civelli, Murray. Booked: Brown, Priskin.
WEST BROM: Myhill, Hurst, Meite, Pablo, Cech, Barnes, Reid, Dorrans, Tchoyi, Cox, Fortune (Miller 71). Subs not used: Carson, Morrison, Thomas, Tamas, Jara, Berahino.
Referee: Michael Jones (Cheshire).
