In the tightest of encounters this afternoon at LNER Stadium one goal proved to be crucial and it went the way of Michael Appleton’s men who tasted victory for the second time in as many games at home to see off the challenge of Ipswich Town.
Jorge Grant was the man on the spot for The Imps as his second half penalty was the crucial strike to decide in an entertaining game between the sides which were occupying two of the top three spots in Skybet League One ahead of kick off.
City made two changes to the side which started the game against Plymouth Argyle in midweek, Harry Anderson and Tayo Edun returned in place of Tom Hopper and Sean Roughan who were named on the bench.
The Imps were inches away from almost the perfect start as an incisive move down the right between Anderson, TJ Eyoma and James Jones saw the latter whip in a dangerous low cross, Jorge Grant sprinted in at the back post but he couldn’t quite steer the ball home. Grant went even closer minutes later, he stole in to intercept a square ball across the Ipswich box, and smashed a drive which flicked off Aristote Nsiala before beating Tomas Holy, only to see the ball cannon off the corner of post and crossbar before being cleared.
Gwion Edwards fired in the first shot for the visitors which forced a low save from Alex Palmer as the game was certainly living up to the billing of a top of the table clash with just ten minutes gone. Brennan Johnson was showing his searing pace as he raced onto a through ball which almost saw him get beyond Nsiala down the right, then Grant was just edged off the ball by Luke Chambers as he jumped to try to meet a hanging Jones centre a couple of yards from goal.
The game continued to be played at breakneck speed, with the ball going from end to end quickly with both sides showing true attacking intent which was making for a real entertaining encounter. Anderson showed a clean pair of heels to James Wilson, bursting past the former City defender to get inside the Ipswich Town area, his low effort across the ‘keeper though was to go wide of the far post. The visitors were next on the attack and Oli Hawkins thought he had opened the scoring after meeting an Andre Dozzell corner, the looping header looked to be heading into the goal but Conor McGrandles was in the right place on the line to get the ball clear. Eyoma fed Johnson on the edge of the area, his touch and turn took him beyond the clutches of Nsiala to create space to fire low and hard past Holy only to see the ball flash agonisingly wide.
Half Time
The Imps 0 Ipswich Town 0
Joe Walsh strode out of The Imps’ defence to create City’s first opportunity of the second half, confidently stroking the ball into the feet of Grant who turned and fired low and hard on target forcing the save from Holy. Then Walsh was involved in a more familiar position, denying Teddy Bishop the opportunity to shoot as he looked to squeeze the ball beyond the City backline.
Ipswich were to have their best chance of the game when Jack Lankester fired in a set piece from the left which Edwards met powerfully but his header from close range went over the top with the game continued in a similar vein to the first half, as it grew ever likely that the opening goal would be crucial.
Chances at either end were starting to become rather rare with the game being largely played out in the middle third of the pitch, or when the ball did enter the final third defences were definitely on top.
Tayo Edun made a fantastic challenge inside the City half to win the ball winning the ball from Bishop which set City on their way, Bridcutt picked up possession and the Edun set Johnson on his way to goal and The Imps number 20 raced into the box but was brought down…. Penalty.
Up stepped GRANT to stroke home his 6th of the season to put The Imps into the lead with just over 10 minutes remaining. Ipswich looked to respond immediately but The Imps went close to doubling the lead as Jones pounced on a miskick from Holy and smashed on target but somehow the Ipswich stopper redeemed himself by throwing out a long leg to deflect clear the goalbound effort.
The visitors threw men forward in a late attempt to earn a point, including 'keeper Tomas Holy as they hurled a set piece into the box but The Imps defence refused to be breached. However, the game ended with a flashpoint which saw Jon Nolan shown a straight red card as he was dismissed for a foul on Anderson.
Full Time
The Imps 1 Ipswich Town 0
The Teams
The Imps
1 Alex PALMER
4 Lewis MONTSMA
7 Tayo EDUN
8 James JONES
10 Jorge GRANT
16 Joe WALSH
18 Conor McGRANDLES
20 Brennan JOHNSON
22 TJ EYOMA
23 Liam BRIDCUTT
26 Harry ANDERSON
Substitutes
29 Ethan ROSS
9 Tom HOPPER (84’ for Johnson)
11 Anthony SCULLY
14 Theo ARCHIBALD
21 Jamie SOULE
24 Robbie GOTTS
30 Sean ROUGHAN
Booked: McGrandles 90', Edun 90'
GOAL: Grant (pen) 76’
Ipswich Town
1 Tomas HOLY
3 Stephen WARD
4 Luke CHAMBERS
5 James WILSON
7 Gwion EDWARDS
11 Jon NOLAN
14 Jack LANKESTER
15 Teddy BISHOP
22 Aristote NSIALA
23 Andre DOZZELL
32 Oli HAWKINS
Substitutes
28 David CORNELL
2 Mark McGUINNESS
6 Luke WOOLFENDEN
17 Keanan BENNETTS (80’ for Lankester)
20 Freddie SEARS
30 Myles KENLOCK
44 Emyr HUWS
Booked: Bishop 90'
Red Card: Nolan 90'
Referee: Kevin Johnson
Assistants: Andrew Dallison & Oliver Bickle
4th Official: Ian Smedley
