Dave Gooderham

Boy wonder Connor Wickham’s first start in an Ipswich shirt this season proved the catalyst for a clinical 2-0 victory for Ipswich to send the majority of the Portman Road crowd off home with a massive smile on their face. A comical own goal from Adam Matthews and home striker Jason Scotland might have got the goals. But it was the young striker’s man of the match performance that inspired his colleagues in blue. “He has a presence – there is something about him,” Keane admitted after the game.

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A dreadful night for Ipswich Town ended in a 3-0 defeat by league leaders QPR in what proved to be a massive gulf in class over the 90 minutes. Town players, young and old, were found wanting by a fluid, strong and deadly Rangers side. It is early days, but QPR already seem the team to beat in the Championship with the west Londoners boasting an incredible strong squad that Town fans can only look at with envy.

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Young Luke Hyam has been one of Ipswich’s stand-out performers so far this season with his maturity, composure and positional sense belying his tender years. But in QPR playmaker, Adel Taarabt, he faces his toughest challenge with the midfielder picking up the Championship player of the month for August. Nullifying QPR’s most dangerous player could be key to Town ending QPR’s own unbeaten run.

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A point at Portsmouth not only consolidates Town’s fine start to the season, but could be more than many of their rivals get from Fratton Park as the season progresses. Manager Roy Keane admitted: “I think they (Portsmouth) are in the situation that we were last year. They play decent stuff, brought in some new players and sometimes you need just a little bit of luck. The point will be great for them and they will beat a lot of teams here.”

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Roy Keane is right to preach caution with his side facing something of an injury crisis at left-back at the same time as Portsmouth have added to their fragile numbers with some impressive quality. Ipswich could be facing up to new signings Dave Kitson and Kanu upfront while Ricardo Rocha will add some stability to a fragile backline. But Ipswich will be buoyed by their tremendous start to the season and 2,000 fans travelling to the south coast.

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Two goals from David Norris and a first senior goal for 18-year-old Ronan Murray secured Ipswich Town’s place in the second round of the Carling Cup. But they were made to fight every step of the way by plucky Exeter City who gave as good as they got for large parts of the game – even leading 1-0 with less than half an hour to go. Town boss Roy Keane will be pleased with his young side’s endeavour, even if extra time would have been one of the last things he would want.

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“It’s a bit like a crèche with all the young players we have in the squad but I keep saying, they won’t let anyone down and they are in there on merit.” Roy Keane has little choice but to put his faith in youth with Master O’Connor, Hyam and Lambe all impressing in recent months. But will they be able to withstand a potential giantkilling?

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“We showed great character. Last year we never looked like scoring and that was our problem but today we took our goals well. Boro had some good chances but we kept our heads and kept playing and got our rewards.” A clearly delighted Roy Keane after Ipswich Town produced a marvellous 3-1 victory at Middlesbrough to give fans early and unexpected hope for the season.

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Guessing Keane’s side last year was usually a lottery, but it seems very different this time as Ipswich prepare to start their Championship season at Middlesbrough. The depth of the squad has weakened and the substitutes’ bench should have a very youthful feel, occupied by the likes of Jack Ainsley, Shane O’Connor and Troy Brown. While there should be full debuts handed to young Luke Hyam and new boys Marton Fulop and Mark Kennedy.

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It is strange that 12 months after Ipswich spent millions and just three months after Keane’s famous call for “characters”, the club is left relying on kids such as Hyam. But there is quality in the team – the likes of McAuley, Leadbitter and Wickham are proof of that. Dave Gooderham gives his thoughts on the season ahead and believes the doom and gloom merchants circling IP1 might be in for a surprise in the coming months.

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