I suppose before the game I'd have taken a point, but having taken the lead it's a bit disapponting to have let it slip, not to mention surprising. We've managed to keep clean sheets against the mancs and Barcelona recently, and I must confess to thinking when Emile scored that it was 'game over.' Ipswich are a good side. Not brilliant, but well organised and capable of playing neat football. They've become something of a 'neutrals favourite' this season, and most people seem to be pleased to see them up there challenging the 'big boys' for a top three spot. Personally, I had a lot of respect for Ipswich, although I'm sick of hearing about all that 'tractor boys' garbage. I applauded them off the field when they won at Anfield, and although we missed a bagful of chances on the day, I didn't begrudge them the win.
But following their ungracious, unsporting attitude to our fixture congestion problems, my view has changed just a bit. Now I say 'fuck them', and I hope they don't qualify for Europe. Slipping this fixture into our already overcrowded schedule was the act of a small time, sad little club looking to gain an unfair advantage, and what's even worse is that Premier League went along with it.
It would have been sweet had we managed to hold on for all three points, but this was a game that THEY needed to win, not us. A draw is okay for us, as we have enough games in hand to comfortably take third spot, but we have to win them. If we are to win those games we'll have to improve greatly on this display.
With the injuries to Litmanen, Smicer and Barmby, Gerard was somewhat limited in his attacking options. Heskey played in a lone strikers role, presumably to keep Owen and Fowler fresh for the game with Leeds, but we struggled at times to get men up in support of Emile. Berger was the man given the main responsibility to support the striker, but he still looks way short of match fitness to me. Understable of course.
Heskey looked to have the beating of the Ipswich defence, and if it were my decision I'd have brought Fowler on to play alongside him for the second half. The man I'd have replaced would have been Ziege, who was again a complete non-entity. Biscan was also poor, and had we brought on Fowler and Gary Mac then I reckon we'd have won easily.
Still, we had looked comfortable enough at the back, with Vignal having another solid game and Carra switching from left to right with the minimum of fuss. Henchoz has been sensational for us this season, but Babbel is no mug and slotted in next to Sami very well. Heskey's goal right at the start of the second half should have been the platform for us to win handsomely, but we allowed Ipswich back into it and to be honest it was hardly a shock when the goal did come.
After that their tails were up and they went looking for a winner, but it was never going to arrive. A draw was a fair result on the balance of play, but I suspect that it will be Leeds that will be the happiest team tonight, as also they surrendered third spot to Ipswich, they'll be pleased to still be above us. Until Friday anyway.
TEAM: Sander Westerveld; Jamie Carragher, Markus Babbel, Sami Hyypia, Gregory Vignal; Danny Murphy, Steven Gerrard, Igor Biscan (Gary McAllister), Patrik Berger, Christian Ziege (Dietmar Hamann), Emile Heskey:
