Ipswich City 0-0 Watford: Hornets stop Tractor Boys going high of Championship

Ipswich missed the possibility to return to the highest of the Championship as they had been held to a goalless draw by Watford at Portman Highway.

Nathan Broadhead hit the within of the put up whereas Kieffer Moore was beautifully denied by Hornets keeper Daniel Bachmann and fired one other good likelihood broad.

Watford improved vastly after the break and nearly gained it on the finish however at the moment are 5 video games unbeaten below interim boss Tom Cleverley.

Having seen leaders Leicester and Leeds each fail to attain the earlier night time, Ipswich started positively, though it took 18 minutes earlier than Bachmann was known as into motion, diving to his proper to cease Broadhead’s low drive from the sting of the realm after a neat flick from Moore.

Cameron Burgess blocked a Vakoun Bayo effort on the different finish earlier than Moore’s near-post effort flashed the mistaken facet of the upright from Kayden Jackson’s inviting ball from the suitable.

Jamal Lewis’ looping cross was plucked from beneath his crossbar by Ipswich keeper Vaclav Hladky simply after the half-hour mark simply earlier than Broadhead fired a low shot from the left of the realm throughout Bachmann however noticed his effort come again off the within of the put up and roll throughout the goalline.

Broadhead couldn’t get out of the way in which of Jack Taylor’s effort after some extra enticing build-up play from the hosts whereas Bachmann dived to his left to clutch Sam Morsy’s bouncing drive from 25 yards and produced a flying save to claw out Moore’s towering header from Harry Clarke’s far-post cross on 43 minutes.

After the break Watford had been way more spectacular on the again, although Bachmann needed to maintain Broadhead’s cross from looping in at one finish whereas Hladky nearly blocked a stinging 20-yard strike from Yaser Asprilla simply earlier than the hour on the different.

Mattie Pollock denied Omari Hutchinson with a superb block whereas Lewis noticed an angled drive from the left parried by Hladky with 14 minutes remaining.

Massimo Luongo had a shot charged down and fellow-sub Ali Al-Hamadi’s shot deflected broad as Ipswich piled on late stress however Hladky wanted to be alert to forestall Edo Kayembe’s speculative strike from midway catching him out in stoppage time.

It was simply the second time Ipswich have failed to attain at dwelling this season – the opposite being a stalemate in opposition to QPR in December – although the purpose did guarantee they’ve nonetheless not misplaced back-to-back league video games below McKenna, the final time coming in November 2021 below Paul Prepare dinner.

Ipswich supervisor Kieran McKenna informed BBC Radio Suffolk:

“In fact it’s irritating that we weren’t capable of get the objective we wished that will have made it a extremely good night time.

“Numerous it was a extremely good efficiency, the primary half we performed nicely, we managed the sport, we had two or three massive moments that on one other night time, superb margins, they go in – the primary objective was all the time going to be key.

“It was a very good efficiency and rather more like us coming off the again of Saturday [defeat by Norwich]. We take the purpose they usually all add up on the finish of the season. One other clear sheet is a constructive. We’re defending nicely. It’s in contrast to us to not rating however credit score to the opponent.”

Watford interim supervisor Tom Cleverley informed BBC Three Counties Radio:

“I’m extremely pleased with the group. To return right into a job when the season seemed a bit lifeless within the water and also you’re staring down the barrel of a troublesome run of fixtures, and to answer that problem like we’ve – I’m actually proud.

“We’ve got had excessive calls for in coaching they’ve handed that problem, after which we’ve requested them to offer the whole lot for the membership on the pitch they usually have finished it but once more.

“Three clear sheets in 5 is a stable basis shifting ahead. We’re setting small markers down with attracts in opposition to Leeds, away at West Brom, now away at Ipswich. Now we wish to put an enormous one down with a win away at Southampton on Saturday.”