Cor, we don't half love a late goal against Southampton, don’t we?
Ok, Sam Morsy’s 95th minute strike on Saturday may not have meant as much as Jeremey Sarmiento’s winner against the Saints last season, but it was still special.
It had plenty of Southampton fans bemoaning their luck against us once more following this late leveller. Our tag of ‘lucky, lucky Ipswich’ grew further in some quarters.
But what constitutes luck in football? Over the past year, Town have scored a fair number of late goals. That is because we fight until the end. In my book, it is not luck. It is consistency.
And one thing about a Kieran McKenna team is that we consistently play to the final whistle.
We are also consistent in never knowing when we are beaten. Perhaps our deflected goals cause some angst. Well, over the past few years, we have had a few against us too.
Even then, if supporters of other teams want to throw the ‘luck’ card at us, you cannot tell me that in the history of each of their clubs, they have not had their own share over the years.
Whilst watching this game, I must admit, I did wonder where an equaliser would come from. What can I say about Morsy’s goal that has not already been said?
Celebrations for his goal reminded me of those following his winner at Watford last season. They were immense. As soon as he hit the ball, it looked destined for a goal.
He follows in the footsteps of Ted Phillips, Jimmy Leadbetter, and John Elsworthy to score in each of the top three leagues for Ipswich. He is the first captain to do so.
You must go back to February 2, 2002, when Town won 2-1 at Everton for our last Premier League goal to be scored by our captain. Then, it was Matt Holland.
Many, including Sam himself, would have wondered if Premier League football had passed him by. There were mutterings not too long ago as to whether his place was in jeopardy. He remains the first name on the team sheet in my book.
Like Matt, he too is also becoming a club legend – if he is not already. As for the result overall, as much as it was billed a ‘six-pointer’, it is another point on the board that I would have taken before the game.
It kept a mini-unbeaten run going and after five games, we remain outside the relegation zone. All small positives to take.
I do not watch too many football documentaries, but I have been watching ‘Mission to Burnley.’
I recall how easily they won the Championship the season before last and watch with interest their efforts of staying in the Premier League.
I then start to compare with how our season has started. I know it is early days, but I do get the feeling that we are streets ahead right now with our demeanour and impressions that we give as a club.
Portman Road has a far more positive atmosphere about the place right now than what came across in the series at the start of Burnley’s season a year ago.
Comparing their manager then to McKenna now, I would imagine that their individual characters are worlds apart too.
Of course, it does not guarantee anything, but we as a club appear to be in a much better position than what Burnley appeared back then.
Oh, to be a fly on our walls at Portman Road and Playford Road to see how things really compare! I would love to tap into the thoughts of Aro Muric and Dara O’Shea to see if they would agree that there is a marked difference.
It's Aston Villa up next on Sunday and my record of watching Town against them is not great.
A 1-0 League Cup win at Portman Road on December 15, 1992, was the last victory I witnessed for us. Since then, it has been four defeats and two draws in six games.
Sunday would be the perfect time to rectify that record and get our first win of the season on the board. It is another tough one, but we can do it.
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