Just back from the game.
Thought we were poor for the first half hour. JWP, playing at right wing back, struggled with his positioning and lacks the pace to play there imho. Cost us the goal. To be fair, in the second half he had obviously been told to push much further forward and there was a huge improvement.
I thought Fonte and Gardos both had solid games and Bertrand did well too.
For me, the first half hour was the poorest I have seen Morgan play. He looked disinterested. After about half an hour he made a good run in behind their left back and that seemed to kick start his game. It needed it.
Tadic had a quiet night and it was noticeable that when he was replaced by Isgrove there was suddenly much more impetus to our play. I thought Isgrove was one of the bright points of a pretty dismal show really. He showed pace, tenacity and a hunger to receive the ball that most of our play otherwise lacked.
MOTM : Big Vic. Again. Best player on the park by some distance this evening.
Davis also had a much better game than he has of late. Some lovely turns and touches in the second half.
Pelle had a mare. Would have been better off resting him. And I'm not one to have a go normally.
Long did ok, put in a lot of work running the channels and threatened to get behind their defence on occasion, but there was a distinct lack of clear chances. Easy to big up the absentees but I think Mane would have had a field day.
Generally, we were not good enough in the final third and too ponderous getting there. Ipswich were there for the taking at the back and we didn't create enough to take advantage of it.
A quick word about the ref:
Sh*te. Again.
If we play anywhere near our best in the replay we should beat them comfortably.