Brentford 4-3 Ipswich Town: Stuart Watson’s Take

Ipswich Town fell 4-3 to Brentford in yesterday’s Premier League clash. Stuart Watson shares his thoughts on the game.

A Strong Start

There were many positives to take away. Town scored three excellent goals: Kalvin Phillips set up Sammie Szmodics’ opener with a superb deep pass, Conor Chaplin’s pass enabled George Hirst’s cool second, and Leif Davis’ precise cross found Liam Delap for the equalizer. Delap even hit the post in stoppage time, showing his sharpness with five goals in nine games.

Despite conceding four, Town’s defense held strong for much of the game. Cameron Burgess dominated aerial battles, and Aro Muric made several key saves. Town’s resilience was also on display, as they managed to recover from setbacks, start the second half strong, and find an equalizer with ten men.

This performance was a significant improvement over their struggles against West Ham and Everton.

A Crucial Moment Missed

At 2-0, Town had a golden opportunity as Mark Flekken’s mistake set up Szmodics for a one-on-one with the keeper. Unfortunately, his shot was too close to Flekken. McKenna acknowledged it as a turning point, emphasizing how a three-goal lead would have been tougher for Brentford to overcome.

Harsh on Clarke

Harry Clarke’s debut took a tough turn with an own goal, a penalty giveaway, and a red card. While the own goal seemed unavoidable, the penalty decision was debatable. Clarke’s red card also seemed harsh as replays suggested he touched the ball.

Muric’s Mistake

Muric’s 90+6 error allowed Brentford to snatch the winner. Although he had a solid game, with notable saves earlier, this late lapse was costly.

An Injury Crisis

Key injuries plagued Town, sidelining several top players, including Sam Morsy, Jacob Greaves, and Axel Tuanzebe. Chiedozie Ogbene’s Achilles injury further complicates matters, leaving Town with just two fit midfielders. Additionally, Omari Hutchinson fell ill pre-game.

Stepping Up

Despite setbacks, players like Jens Cajuste, Conor Chaplin, and George Hirst showed readiness and delivered strong performances. Cajuste, fresh off a knee injury, impressed, while Chaplin’s link play was effective. Hirst’s work rate also impressed McKenna.