Town go into the International break as they went into the last one- following an away defeat. But as much as Town were fortunate to win with such a healthy margin on Tuesday against Barnsley, so fortune evened itself out at The Valley as this time the opposition were the recipients.
Changes were kept to a minimum as Town returned to the 5-man midfield that seems to have become the more popular starting option away from home.
Tommy Miller was the man who filled the extra midfield space, with Pablo Counago inevitably the forward who lost out. Similarly, as in previous away games with a 5-man formation, David Norris energy and ability to get forward and join the attack, made him a preferred option to Owen Garvan. Norris ability to adapt comfortably to right midfield, allowing the team to switch to 4-4-2 at any given moment, is obviously equally important in this respect.
Elsewhere, Moritz Volz returned at right back, having recovered from injury.
As at Sheffield Wednesday, it was another game where the formation was very quickly switched to 4-4-2 early in the match, with the team already being a goal down and already struggling to get a foothold. Whilst its not particularly encouraging to see a manager give up on his preferred starting formation so early in the game, it can equally be viewed as brave that Jim was prepared to acknowledge it wasnt working and change it quickly.
As seems to be the case with most Ipswich games these days, the effectiveness of the midfield appears to dictate how succesful the team will be. This is perhaps unsurprising in view of the style of play being encouraged. On Saturday, the midfield worked well as a unit, certainly when it became a four man midfield. Particularly in the twenty minutes or so approaching half-time, Town were absolutely dominant in posession and Ivan Campo was at the heart of this. In that period, we saw exactly what Magilton envisages Campo bringing to the team. His experience and composure saw him dictating the play, encouraging his team mates to make runs around him as he sought to pick them out. He seemed to totally complement the rest of the side and, if this level of performance becomes a consistent part of Ipswichs play, he could be the key factor in Town moving up the table very quickly.
Around him, David Norris produced another excellent away performance, making tackles and breaking up play at one end, whilst getting forward and breaking into the area at the other. He continues to grow and grow in an Ipswich shirt and, playing in the centre alongside Campo, they looked to be as effective a partnership as Magilton has found so far.
A further positive of Norris appearance in the centre of the field, is that it allows Jon Walters to fill his strongest position at right-midfield. Walters had another strong game, working tirelessly running at the Charlton back four attempting to create chances for teammates.
To complete a good day in the Town midfield, Alan Quinn had yet another effective afternoon on the left. His energy and running off the ball marks him out as the only contender to fill that role. He continues to improve as the season goes on, as can be said of all four midfielders on Saturday.
There appears to be real energy and vibrancy about three of the quartet, with Campo sitting dictating the game, something which Magilton seemed to acknowledge when commenting how pleased he was with the players desire to keep going right to the end and try to get something from the game. Yet, despite all this, there remains the fact that the midfield and forward unit didnt get enough shots on goal. The approach play was very good and very composed, but they need to find more composure in attacking positions to produce a shot on goal. All of the midfield look capable of scoring goals, but that killer instinct was missing, perhaps that which Magilton had hoped Tommy Miller would provide, before injury saw him removed from the pitch.
Defensively, the back four did fairly little wrong. Richard Naylor had one of his shakier games, counter-balanced somewhat by one of the steadiest performances from Gareth McAuley. With Town chasing the game in the second half, he continued to collect the ball at the back, move forward with it and try to launch attacks. He needs to learn the movement of his fellow players a little more, but it could become a good weapon for Town.
David Wright continues to cope well at left back, yet suffers for being right-footed when attacking. It tends to result in a lot of attacking opportunities being turned back again as a result of an apparent lack of confidence in driving towards the byeline for a cross.
Moritz Volz struggled somewhat on his return to the team. It was a performance reminiscent of his first appearance for Town at Watford, where he struggled somewhat defensively, partly down to lack of familiarity and partly down to lack of fitness. The winning goal, whilst a very unfortunate own goal, owed much to him being in the wrong position to deal with a cross. That said, he has shown undoubted quality on the ball and will improve his fitness over the two week international break.
Richard Wright had a fairly quiet afternoon, which says perhaps more about Charltons lack of quality, than the quality of Towns defending. Wright will take some blame for the lack of a wall to protect him when Charlton scored their opening goal, but it is perhaps harsh given the quality of the strike. He made one strong save in the second half, but was busier in the win against Barnsley, something which perhaps indicates the difference in fortunes Town have had in these last two games.
Up front, Jon Stead again was busy and effective, showing all the good movement and touch on the ball that is starting to become a trademark of his game in an Ipswich shirt. He was unfortunate not to claim a goal, as the own goal simply prevented Stead himself from tapping home. Again, being in the right position when it counted. He showed good willingness to take the opposition players on aswell, which gives an indication of the level of confidence he is playing with.
Pablo Counago, unfortunate not to be starting in the first place, again found himself summoned from the bench at The Valley to make a difference. And that he did, in particular with the backheel which led to the goal, but generally in his unquestionable ability to hold the ball up. With Town having good posession, Pablo comes into his own by being such a good outlet. If a five man midfield is to be persevered with away from home, it seems that he will continue to find himself on the bench. Yet, Pablos introduction seems to help the side to hold the ball and link the midfield to the forward line in a way that no other player is capable of.
A first defeat in six games suggests that it is back to square one. Yet, despite the loss, this game perhaps provided more suggestions that progress is being made than either of the previous two games against Crystal Palace and Burnley. There is a need to get more shots on goal, but the approach play leading towards that was there. Jims persistence in using the large squad he has assembled, and his attempts to make the side more flexible by being able to adapt to different formations away from home, is unquestionable something which could give the side an edge over the opposition, especially when tiredness and injuries inevitably come along further into the season.
Yet currently, and perhaps inevitably, the side simply plays best when it has its strongest players playing in their best positions and a 4-4-2 formation which they are all happy with.
The last international break was extremely valuable to the squad, as the improvements made on the training field were there for all to see against Reading. Lets hope more of the same happens this time and this undoubtedly decent squad start to get some kind of consistency.
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