ENGLISH LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP Ipswich Town 1 Middlesbrough 1:EXPECTATIONS HAVE not been met by Ipswich this season, but having recruited more than half a team's worth of know-how from Sunderland, Roy Keane is looking upwards, if not as high as the top-six place targeted by some of his squad.
“I’m not too sure you should take too much notice of what players have to say,” he said. “Nobody did when I spoke (as a player), but they have to get on with the job. It’s ifs and ands, and it might be better next season.”
Keane was reflecting on the 15 draws his team have accrued this season, nine of them at home, to leave them only a place above the relegation zone. “It’s another draw and draws don’t get you anywhere fast. We were fourth bottom before this game and we’ve got four away games coming up so it’s not going to get any easier. We might have been better off winning half and losing the other half,” he said. “I’m pleased (with the point) but we need to do better. Still, someone’s making money out of us. Someone must be predicting draws every week.”
No one would have backed one less than a minute into this game, when the on-loan Sunderland pair David Healy and Daryl Murphy combined and the latter poked home his team-mate’s low cross. Their best moments thereafter were a goal-bound header from Gareth McAuley which Healy inadvertently blocked, Grant Leadbitter’s shot which hit David Wheater and had the fans howling for a penalty, and an injury-time flurry.
Middlesbrough were the better side after the break, Wheater equalising with a header from a corner and Chris Killen having an effort cleared off the line.
Guardian Service
IPSWICH TOWN: Lee-Barrett, Rosenior, McAuley, Delaney, David Wright (Garvan 79), Walters, Leadbitter, Norris, Colback, Healy (Counago 62), Daryl Murphy (Stead 85). Subs not used: Brian Murphy, Peters, Balkestein, Edwards. Booked: Norris. Goal: Daryl Murphy 1.
MIDDLESBROUGH: Coyne, Naughton, Wheater, Grounds, Hoyte, Flood, O'Neil, McManus, Taylor (Franks 51), Miller, Killen (Lita 81). Subs not used: Steele, Walker, Bennett, McMahon, Luke Williams. Booked: O'Neil. Goal: Wheater 62. Attendance: 21,243.
Referee: Keith Hill(Hertfordshire).
