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To paraphrase from the great U2 song, Tuesdays Bloody Tuesdays. That's about all you can say on midweek games and our results! Following on from a resounding win on Saturday, the Royals traveled to Portman Road in good spirits and after that confidence boosting win that may have heralded this season's most unlikely of happenings - a league double after our 5-1 win at the Mad Stad over the Tractor Boys earlier in the season.
You have to give credit to the 205 Reading Fans who made the trip, it’s not the easiest of places to get to. However the Royals continued their dismal away form, and in some respects were unlucky not to get a point from this fixture.
The last few games have probably asked more questions about the squad than supplied answers, and judging from the Reading Twittersphere last night lots of unhappy fans are a little frustrated with the squad which on paper is immensely talented, but on the pitch sometimes looks abject.
So how did the media and the Ipswich fans view the game? Well in all honestly very similar to the Reading fans. Lots of grumbles over transfer policy, squad choice and as usual a whinge about our away kit. The media were probably a little more generous than Twitter.
Anyway, let's see what was said.
Social
205 away fans, but hey it’s a Tuesday, it's East Anglia and it's cold
Lots of respect for the Reading fans who came tonight, but that will be one long boring taxi ride home for them #itfc
— Rory King (@Roryking92) February 2, 2016
But yet with 16,000 home fans………
Mick McCarthy: 'I made more noise than the crowd tonight'
— Stuart Watson (@Stuart_Watson) February 2, 2016
Full quotes here: https://t.co/0vdVnPBNpu #itfc
Lots of digs at #DCFC
Thank god we spent millions on those substitutes that changed and won the game for us. Oh wait they were free transfers #ITFC
— George Goodrich (@GeorgeGoodrich) February 2, 2016
Love footballers showing passion no matter who they play for
Get in!!!!! #ChambersFistPump #itfc pic.twitter.com/haQ86ABle1
— IPSWICH TOWN FANS (@IpswichTownFans) February 2, 2016
There's always one that gets carried away
We're gonna win the league, I've always said it. #ITFC
— Oi, Mario, pipe down (@JohnSlaterITFC) February 2, 2016
A wise man once said "when commenting on subs, wait till game ends"
Pitman on to mark Norwood. What a joke #itfc
— Tom Rees (@reesoid) February 2, 2016
If you're gonna make a Vine of your manager at least have him at your club
Spends no money in the transfer window, wins and gets back into the play-offs #ITFC #BigMick pic.twitter.com/z31CQdgESP
— Mark Beck (@MB_Ktubes) February 2, 2016
And kit again
@IpswichTownFans no team in the history of football has ever played sexy football in a mauve kit like Reading #itfc #readingfc
— phil hammond (@philhammond74) February 2, 2016
Media
Kudos to The Daily Mail this week in managing to make the game sound exciting, however they do reckon that it was largely forgettable apart from the late drama. In essence they say it was a game of half chances lit up by the goals in the second half.
Over at The Guardian and they concur with the Mail that it was a torrid game, and run with interviews from the managers over the impact of the subs from McCarthy and McDermott commenting that the result was a sickener and he couldn’t complain about the effort. There is a "never" moment when he mentions that the problem is our away form!
Amazingly Sky have managed to cobble together 2 minutes 29 seconds of highlights which in itself is impressive, and you can watch it here, however all that goes to prove is that we had some shocking full back play for the goals, and how did McCleary not find Vydra early in the second half?
The Sky Sports review follows the theme of everyone on this game and is also carried by ESPN FC, whereas Sporting Life carry the Guardian's for a change.
Our dear friends at the BBC have a 'factual and little else' report, however there is the full interview post-game with McDermott.
Looking at the local Ipswich Star and they have a detailed report calling the game and the tactics "cat and mouse" and cagey. I am sure that some of the fans that were there watching it could think of alternative words that may not be as polite to describe it. However they also think that Ipswich rode their luck a little and the Royals could have had chances to score. Slightly concerning though when they comment on Varney – "providing a surprising turn of pace." I'm sure he will be happy with that one from his local paper!
Over at Get Reading, and Charles' video report is positive and negative all rolled into one. He feels that we could and should have got something out the game, but also that our away form is relegation standard.
So we move on and Reading have a quick opportunity to get some points on the board with a home game against Wolves on Saturday. If ever a win is needed then it will be on Saturday to bring a little belief to the fans if not the players. With the playoffs looking out of reach, this season now is all about staying in mid-table, a good cup run and working out who will be here next season, to build a promotion hungry squad for next term.
C'mon Urzzzzz