Oxford United 0-0 Ipswich Town – Halftime – Ipswich Town News

Oxford United 0-0 Ipswich Town – Half time
Saturday, 19 Mar 2022 15:59

The Blues’ game at Oxford remains 0-0 at the break, perhaps surprisingly with four of the last five games – including the last three – between teams going goalless.

Skipper Sam Morsy was among the Town Subs, one of two changes from last week’s 0-0 return trip with Portsmouth.

Morsy, who has been forced by a hamstring problem in the last two games, was replaced in midfield by Tom Carroll, while Joe Pigott was the central striker with Kayden Jackson picking up a more serious hamstring injury against Pompey.

Morsy joined the subs for the first time under manager McKenna was young center-half Elkan Baggott, who was in the 20-man squad last week but without making the final 18, while U23s midfielder Cameron Humphreys the trip Kassam Stadium did not make in the game day setting.

Janoi Donacien made the Blues captain Luke Woolfenden’s 100th appearance for the Blues.

Oxford made three changes to the team that won 2-1 at Shrewsbury last week with Sam Long, Ciaron Brown and Billy Bodin for John Mousinho, Steve Seddon and Nathan Holland, all on the bench.

After the two teams took a knee, Oxford, who had the wind in their favor, started stronger, winning an early corner before the Blues saw most of the ball.

In the fifth minute, a dangerous free-kick from the center of the center fell in the Oxford half-right to Woolfenden on the far post, but the central defender’s shot was blocked by Long.

Town keeper Christian Walton was forced into his first save of the afternoon two minutes later when Gavin Whyte broke into the area and fired a low shot that stopped the Blues’ No. 1 goal before the Donacien ball turned behind.

At 12, Town dropped the ball just in their own half – though Bakinson looked as fouled as he was looking for a return ball – and Whyte struck another shot, but too close to Walton and without power.

A minute later, Bersant Celina slammed Pigott’s flick and then crossed from the right just in front of Conor Chaplin.

Shortly thereafter, Burns, who was already at the end of one or two challenges at all, cut Ryan Williams and Ryan Williams and sent a right-hand cross that palm keeper Simon Eastwood behind.

Oxford had hard weather to clear the resulting corner, but the ball just wouldn’t have fallen on Town, who came to the top and looked the more threatening side, albeit with too many unusual passes in the final third.

With 27 minutes played, the home side managed to get a 1 – 0 lead as Mark Sykes flipped the ball in after a cross from the right. much better should have been done. .

The city continued to see most of the ball, but Oxford had another chance in the 34th minute when the ball fell to Whyte on the edge of the box, but Northern Ireland International made good wide volley when it still looked like a decent chance.

Two minutes later, Burns was sent off on the right and headed in the direction of Celina, but a defender was able to leave behind Kosovan-International.

The Welshman was the town’s biggest threat in the first half and at 39, the ex-Fleetwood man moved close to the Blues.

Burns brought the ball in from the right, exchanged passes with Pigott, then rolled an effort with the outside of his right boot, fleeing far from Sykes on the far post. Eastwood dropped the ball from the corner, but was able to claim it before a Town player came on.

Shortly after, Celina shot from the left into the side netting, but after offside, Town looked increasingly dangerous.

But a minute before the whistle, Oxford striker Matty Taylor struck a small effort straight at Walton from the edge of town box with no further threat at either end before referee Marc Edwards completed the half.

The Blues were largely in control, but with Burns’ shot deflected off, their only real clear chance came.

Too many final balls or passes as they came in the final third had gone wrong while Oxford had the better chances at half-time without testing Walton seriously.

Oxford: Eastwood, McNally, Long, Brown, Sykes, Kane, Brannagan (c), Williams, Bodin, Whyte, Taylor. Subs: Stevens, Mousinho, Forde, Seddon, McGuane, Holland, Winnall.

City: Walton, Donacien (c), Woolfenden, Burgess, Burns, Bakinson, Carroll, Thompson, Chaplin, Celina, Pigott. Subs: Hladky, Baggott, Penney, Morsy, Aluko, Bonne, Norwood. Referee: Marc Edwards (Tyne and Wear).

Photo: Pagepix

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