Coventry City’s FA Cup dream continued today for now as a last gasp Callum O’Hare equaliser earns the Sky Blues a replay at Portman Road.
A Will Keane goal early in the second half looked to be enough to put the Tractor Boys in the hat for the Third Round, despite Coventry controlling much of the game at St Andrews. However, substitutes Amadou Bakayoko and Callum O’Hare combined to level the match.
The first opportunity of the match fell to the Sky Blues returning number nine, Maxime Biamou. A brilliant reverse pass from Dabo broke the Ipswich line, and allowed Westbrooke in on goal. He selflessly laid the ball back across to Biamou, who’s effort produced a wonderful stop from Will Norris In the Ipswich goal.
City continued to press the Tractor Boy’s defence, and nearly were rewarded for their pressing when Jordan Shipley intercepted a loose ball and put himself through on goal. Unfortunately, his touch was too heavy and the ball was gathered by the keeper.
The first 15 minutes also saw left back Sam McCallum in the thick of the action. The youngster tested the Ipswich defence twice in quick succession; the first cross was headed behind for a corner, and the second found Biamou but he was unable to get a shot on goal. The ball then fell to Shipley, who laid the ball back to Westbrooke, but again the shot was blocked and the keeper was able to prevent a corner.
After a barrage of early pressure from the Sky Blues, the game became very end to end without either team challenging the opposition goalkeeper. Dom Hyam and Liam Kelly both appealed for penalties from set plays, but referee Anthony Backhouse was having none of it.
The next real chance came on the half hour mark. A brilliant challenge from Zain Westbrooke won possession back for City, and he combined brilliantly with Dabo. Dabo then released Jordan Shipley, who cut inside and tried to return it to Dabo, who had continued his run into the Ipswich penalty area. He was unable to get on the end of the pass, and the opposition keeper collected it.
Ipswich had their first real chance after 35 minutes. Will Keane managed to break into the box and to the byline, where he cut the ball back for an onrushing Flynn Downes. The Ipswich captain got his shot away first time, but it flew past the near post.
HALF-TIME: SKY BLUES 0-0 IPSWICH TOWN
City began the second half with a shot in 20 seconds. A fine Sam McCallum ball found Jordan Shipley, and his ball across was received by Zain Westbrooke. The midfielder drew solid save from Norris.
The deadlock was broken against the run of play on 50 minutes. A smart ball across the box from Alan Judge was met by Will Keane on the near post, and he rifled home from point blank range.
The Sky Blues first chance to restore parity came just 5 minutes after the goal. A long searching ball from Marosi was headed on by McCallum, and then down by Biamou and into the path of Zain Westbrooke. He got a shot away, but it was always rising.
Manager Mark Robins changed things with a double substitution early in the second half, bringing Amadou Bakayoko and Callum O’Hare on for Jordan Shipley and Zain Westbrooke. It was O’Hare who had the next chance, but he was penalised for a handball after forcing Will Norris into good save.
O’Hare was causing the Ipswich back line problems, and he was the creator of the next chance for City; running the ball to the byline and cutting it back to captain Liam Kelly. Kelly watched in agony as his effort was cleared off the line by James Wilson.
The second half was much the same as the first; the pressure was all Sky Blues, but there was little in the way of chances. Max Biamou had a good opportunity to come back to the starting XI with a goal when the Ipswich keeper fumbled the ball from a long throw, but he was thwarted before he could shoot.
A successions long throws from Sam McCallum finally culminated in an opportunity for Mark Robins’ side. A near post flick on from Kyle McFazdean found Dom Hyam, but the centre back had his header cleared off the line as Ipswich survived again.
Will Norris was the hero of the day for Ipswich; a last gasp Liam Kelly curler looked destined for the top corner before he acrobatically tipped it over. From the resulting corner, he was again able to match the header.
But it wasn’t over there; a fantastic knockdown from Amadou Bakayoko found Callum O’Hare. He looked to have overran it, but was able to find the far corner and left Will Norris helpless in the Ipswich goal.
FULL-TIME: SKY BLUES 1-1 IPSWICH TOWN
Goals: Will Keane, 48’; Callum O’Hare, 90+4’
Yellows: Andre Dozzell, 68’, Flynn Downes, 80’; Liam Walsh, 78’
Attendance: 2870 (630 away)
Sky Blues XI: Marko Marosi (GK), Fankaty Dabo, Dom Hyam, Kyle McFadzean, Michael Rose, Sam McCallum, Zain Westbrooke (Amadou Bakayoko, 56’), Liam Kelly (C), Liam Walsh, Jordan Shipley (Callum O’Hare, 56’), Maxime Biamou
Unused Subs: Ben Wilson (GK), Tennai Watson, Brandon Mason, Jordy Hiwula, Gervane Kastaneer
Ipswich Town XI: Will Norris (GK), Janoi Donacien, James Wilson, Luke Woolfenden, Luke Garbutt, Danny Rowe (Gwion Edwards, 76’), Andre Dozzell, Flynn Downes (C), Alan Judge, Jon Nolan, Will Keane (Kayden Jackson, 81’)
Unused Subs: Tomas Holy (GK), Myles Kenlock, James Norwood, Anthony Georgia, Emyr Huws