Match Twelve – Ipswich 1 – Blackburn 1
This was very much two points lost, rather than a point won.
I think it illustrates how important Daryl Murphy is to the team, as he was injured today.
But it has been a lot worse in recent seasons at this time of the year!
Match Eleven – Nottingham Forest 2 – Ipswich 2
After Hillsborough on Tuesday, it was good to be in a much better staium in Nottingham.
As is usual at Forest, there was a good turn-out of Ipswich supporters, in a total crowd of over 24,000.
Not A Spare Seat!
It was a pity in a way that Town couldn’t hold on to their lead in a hard fought match.
But I suspect most supporters are fairly pleased we got five points out of three tricky away matches at Wigan, Wednesday and Forest.
One plus side for me was that my two First Class tickets bought day before cost me just £34.35 in total. And I got a proper InterCity 125 rather than a dreaded Class 222, with free tea and coffee both ways.
Why Is It Not Planned To Take The Nottingham Tram To Trent Bridge?
From my limited knowledge of Nottingham, I find the Nottingham tram, a bit of a conundrum, in the way it doesn’t serve the football and cricket grounds.
England has four major cities; Manchester, Sheffield, Newcastle and Nottingham, that use tram or light rail to move passengers around the city. In addition, Birmingham, Liverpool and Bristol have heavy rail networks that do a similar job.
Most major sports ground and arenas in larger cities are located on these networks. In fact, some clubs have the tram stop or train station named to connect it to the stadium or club.
There is Arsenal, Upton Park and White Hart Lane in London, St. James in Newcastle, Hawthorns in Birmingham and Hillsborough in Sheffield.
Nottingham has three stadia in the Trent Bridge area of the city; Trent Bridge cricket ground, Forest’s City Ground and County’s Meadow Lane, but surprisingly the Nottingham tram doesn’t go or isn’t even planned to go to the area.
However this lack of connection to the City Ground, didn’t stop the tram advertising in the stadium.
I am totally surprised that Nottingham are spending all these millions on constructing a tram system, that doesn’t go near the area, where a lot of visitors to the city want to go.
Today for instance, after arriving from London, I took the tram up the hill to a restaurant I like in King Street. After my lunch, it would have been so easy to walk to the tram line and then get a tram to the ground! I’d have also probably taken a tram back to the station. So instead of probably a day ticket for £3.70, I bought just one single ticket at £2.20.
And did a lot of walking!
Match Ten – Sheffield Wednesday 1 – Ipswich 1
Hillsborough, is still a stadium living on its past.
The Tired Hillsborough
Most stadia these days don’t have pillars that obstruct your view. But Hillsborough does! And it also has the worst information display in the Championship.
The only good thing about the place, is that the Leppings Lane tram stop is near to the visitors stand.
But at least Ipswich got a point in a hard fought draw.
Welcome back Jonny Williams!
Match Nine – Ipswich 2 – Rotherham 0
My friend, Ian, must have felt disappointed with this match as he turned up a few minutes late and missed the two goals, which were scored in the first five minutes.
In the end, Ipswich held on to a scrappy win.
Match Eight – Wigan 1 – Ipswich 2
This match was expected to be played on Saturday the twentieth, as my ticket showed.
A Ticket With The Wrong Date
But Sky decided to show the match and a few weeks ago, it was moved to Monday the twenty-second. It was actually better for me as it meant I could go to Millwall to see them play league leader; Forest, with a friend.
So as it was Monday night and there were no trains back to London from Wigan after the match, I decided to go to see a friend in Liverpool University and stay the night in the Second City. Partly, this was because there was no acceptable hotel in the centre of Wigan. I would have thought, that given the Orwellian connection, that a decent hotel at Wigan Pier might be a goer. Even a Premier Inn at Wigan Pier would have a certain ring to it.
One point to note for all those living in London, is that I purchased my Liverpool Wigan return ticket on Sunday from the machine at Dalston Junction station.
My Liverpool Wigan Tickets
It cost me £5.20 with my Senior Railcard, which is the same price as that on-line from the Northern Rail website. But it is so much less hassle, as you get the tickets at the time you purchase. It’s fascinating to see how old-fashioned ticketing machines are fighting back against the Internet. Although of course, these new ticket machines on the London Overground, are effectively on-line terminals using the Internet to make a purchase.
I’d incidentally bought my First Class ticket to Liverpool from Euston on Virgin for £25.10 a couple of weeks ago. The guy opposite me paid £41 buying the night before. I know I have a Railcard, which cuts my price from £37.65. But my companion only paid a few pounds more booking the night before.
As we got tea, soft drinks and a snack, it just shows what good value some of these First Class tickets are.
I arrived at the match at Wigan about seven after taking a taxi from Wigan North Western. The welcome was its usual friendly one at the stadium and the bag check was an intelligent one. Inside, supporters of both sides weren’t that numerous.
A Sparse Crowd At The Match
But then the match was on Sky. This was Ipswich’s third time this season, so let’s hope it boosts the crowd at Portman Road.
I left the match a few minutes early, so I could be sure of getting a taxi back to the station. In the end a call to a taxi on 01942-242424 brought one immediately, so I had quite a few minutes to wait for my train to Liverpool. But as it was the last one at 22:03, I just had to catch it. Hopefully, when the electrification is complete, one of the benefits will be later trains connecting Liverpool, Manchester, Blackpool, Preston and the stations in between.
Perhaps too, Wigan Athletic could think of improving the transport to and from the ground. The taxis weren’t expensive, but finding one can be a problem, as the first driver told me. He incidentally gave me the number of a rival company to get back to the station.
I suspect that there is a walking route from a bus stop near the ground. It should be indicated at the station. And where is the Wigan version of London’s bus spider map at the station?
As it was the match was a fair result, as I agreed with a fellow Ipswich fan on the train back to Liverpool. He only has limited vision and was escorted to the match by his guide dog; Trigger., who I’d met in 2010 at Crewe. Apparently, Trigger gets a very good welcome at the DW Stadium.
A Big Dilemma
Tonight, I can either watch Manchester City or Chelski in the Champions League, as it’s uncertain as to which will give me the greatest pleasure by being given a good drubbing!
We really do need serious Fair Play rules on spending, so that talent rather than money rules.
Match Seven – Ipswich 2 – Brighton 0
A win, which was down to one scrambled goal and another that looked good, but was a bit of a lucky fluke.
However they all count and Ipswich are now up to ninth.
Bishop was again influential, but the man of the match was Tyrone Mings, who nearly scored a goal with an intended back-heel. His knack of popping up in the box at the right time, reminds me of Chris Lawler from the Liverpool side of the 1960s and 1970s.
Match Six – Ipswich 2 – Millwall 0
Town got their second win of the season and the match was again lit up, by a sparkling display from the eighteen-year-old Teddy Bishop. He combined well with McGoldrick and their joint persistence made the first goal.
Walking to the ground from the station is easy at Ipswich, especially as you can see the ground virtually all the way and there are several maps. But surely those near the ground, should show the layout of the stadium to ease the walks of supporters and visitors.
History But No Stand Information
But at least Ipswich has got maps, which is more that can be said for most large cities and towns.
Millwall have a bad reputation for fan behaviour, but on the way home, I was sat with three fans and they were just phlegmatic about their teams performance.
The police told me, that they’d just had a nice trip to the country.
What’s Gone Wrong With Danny Welbeck?
I’ve always thought that Danny Welbeck wasn’t as good as others say he is.
But his performance today in scoring two goals for England in Basle against Switzerland tonight, impressed me a lot more.
Can it be that the drifting ship that Manchester United has become over the last few years, was unsettling him? Moving to Arsenal seems to have released his shackled mind!
Perhaps, Wayne Rooney needs to move to freshen him up?
The Anonymous Widower 