Jewell and Mowbray agree over match abandonment
By Stuart Watson
Saturday, February 11, 2012
5:14 PM
IPSWICH Town manager Paul Jewell and Middlesbrough counterpart Tony Mowbray both agreed that abandoning today’s game after 37 minutes was the right decision.
Both managers were present at two pre-match pitch inspections – 11.15am and 2pm – and both agreed that the game could go ahead.
However, the shaded area of the Portman Road playing surface – just in front of the dugouts – got harder and harder once the heated tent cover was removed around 1.30pm.
And with Ibrahima Sonko suffering suspected cracked ribs after an awkward fall, referee Dean Whitestone called a halt to proceedings.
It means that a crowd of 19,735 – 730 having made the five-hour trip from Middlesbrough – went away highly disappointed.
With Daryl Murphy having hit the bar in the goalless start to the match, Jewell said: “Sonko has cracked a rib as he’s come down on the hard surface – and if the pitch hadn’t been in that condition it probably wouldn’t have happened.
“We were playing well and were the better side. The last thing you want is to lose any more players to injuries though.
“You have to play in bad conditions at times, but when they become dangerous – as it was – it becomes a bit of a farce.
“I can understand the supporters’ frustrations, but as a football match it was becoming more and more of a lottery as every minute went by really.
“It’s a right anti-climax and I feel sorry for the supporters – both Ipswich and Middlesbrough, many of whom have come an awful long way.
“As I said though, one of our players has been injured due to the conditions and we didn’t need any more of that.
“It was horrible for the supporters, but I think probably the right decision was made.”
Mowbray said: “I think, in the end, it was probably the right decision. The bigger question would be was it right to start it?
“We got here at 11 and it looked lovely under that big hot air bubble they’ve got. We had another quick look when that bubble came off around 1.30pm and I had my concerns, but we were happy to play because we were here and the supporters were in the stadium.
“I think it was probably the right decision to start it too. It’s easy to say things here in hindsight, but as the sun went behind the stand and the pitch started to crisp up it got worse.
“What really highlighted it was the linesman having to run inside the pitch here on the
near side. It was becoming more and more difficult for him and the players on that side of the pitch.
“Big Sonko has damaged his ribs landing on a very hard surface. Was it the right decision? I think it probably was.”
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28 comments
Is it true that ITFC cannot install undersoil heating due to an issue under the pitch and this is why they went for the 'tent' option?
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RH55
Monday, February 13, 2012
From where I was sitting the officials decision to abandon the match could not have come early enough. Despite the fact they looked very ordinary, it appeared Middlesborough were clearly in control and a goal was only minutes away. Lets just hope that when the match is replayed Town are not looking for a win to stay out of the relegation zone.
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Fink Nottle
Monday, February 13, 2012
My understanding is that installing under soil heating during a close season costs around £100k. A huge investment in the real world, but a couple of months wages for a couple of poor players in the football world. Seems ITFC can't rely on the traditionally milder climate in East Anglia any longer!
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Zico Rice
Monday, February 13, 2012
The club under the leadership of CEO Clegg may well be right in claiming they are operating within the law guidelines and conditions of sale of the entry tickets. However, whatever happened to customer service and the goodwill that could well have had beneficial effects on future matches but which will have undoubtedly been 'soured' by the mean attitude shown not only to the floating Town supporters but also to the Boro supporters who will surely remember the welcome given to them by our administrators and spread the 'gospel' in the NE of England. Perhaps the few who condone CEO Clegg's action will appreciate the space left by those who do not and are willing to vote with their feet.
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Brian Betts
Monday, February 13, 2012
I was, as most fans were, very disappointed and frustrated at the actions of the Ref on Saturday and the less said about Clegg the better. However, IT WAS THE REF who made the decision to firstly start the game and secondly call it off, As good as we were looking and frustrating as the cancellation was, I would like to ask some of my fellow supporters how they would have felt if we had won the game but picked up 2 or 3 injuries only for these to be covered by emergency loans. I am sure some posters (i refuse to call them supporters) on here would love for that to happen so that they could hammer PJ more, but please try and look at the bigger picture people. Our young first team is starting to click, lets take the cancellation (frustrating as it was) in a positive light for a change and look forward to our next game (winnable and high priority fixture) with a, nearly, fully fit squad.
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Blue Exile
Monday, February 13, 2012
The club are operating within the lawguidelines plus the terms and conditions of entry in the contract on the ticket, so stop moaning and get over it and stop this boring witch hunt.
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Tom
Sunday, February 12, 2012
was at the game and well gutted as we we looked good to score especially with second half attacking BR stand to come. Boro were poor. Crap way to treat fans though. Only fair thing has got to be free admission for replay or 100% refund for those who cant make that. Anything else is treating us with contempt. An i surprised?
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Ipswich'Til-I-Die
Sunday, February 12, 2012
From the early morning inspection I doubted this game would go ahead. You understand the anger felt by some Town Fans during the current economic climate. Was this match really playable at 3pm? Replay the video Mr Clegg & offer the supporters who turned up a free ticket for the replay.
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Neil Gedny
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Love it Brise58 "Lets get behind this great club club,dont kock it.! " I think the CEO has kocked it for all of us. Maybe, "once was, for a few years great club" but hardly anymore. Live in the present, not the past.
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RH55
Sunday, February 12, 2012
was at the game and well gutted as we we looked good to score especially with second half attacking BR stand to come. Boro were poor. Rubbish way to treat fans though. Only fair thing has got to be free admission for replay or 100% refund for those who cant make that. Anything else is treating us with contempt. An i surprised?
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Ipswich'Til-I-Die
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Our man who knows everything about everything spends most of his life telling how clever he is and then comes out with a completely stupid comment about an early kick off.700 away fans arriving after the game, brilliant.
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tel
Sunday, February 12, 2012
I have never heard so much hot air from town` so called supporters.Some of you dont even go to the games so how are you justified in ranting on about how they play and what should be done behind the scenes,and as for mr steroo,i have never in my life heard so much hot air from a so called ipswich supporter.we could have done with you on the pitch all last week,you could have thawed the pitch out with you big mouth.Lets get behind this great club club,dont kock it.!
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brisie58
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Come off it Kevin, surely we cannot expect Clegg after spending all that money on building the 'Britannia Corporate Boxes' together with all the materials necessary for painting the turnstiles to compensate the fans who turned up for yesterday's match only to see it abandoned. However, to me the biggest loss will be the remaining reputation of ITFC in the NE of UK where 'Boro supporters will justifiably feel sick at their contemptuous treatment by our excuse of a CEO.
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Brian Betts
Sunday, February 12, 2012
A total boycott of the re-arranged fixture would make Mr Clegg & co think,. Just reinforces the view I have held for many seasons now, that football is all about money and the supporters are not important to the clubs. What will be the season ticket spin this year? Young Guns? Operation Premiership? Operation Walmington on Sea? Operation bottom half? ITFC is a total farce and Mr Clegg is so far detached from everyday life, we may aswell have Captain Mainwaring, Sergeant Wilson and Lance-corporal Jones at the helm...... 190 miles for 37 mins of football, freezing fog, -11 degrees but hey.....50% reduction for the re-arrangement....FORGET IT!
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Paul Markham
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Steroo continues to pour out garbage. ITFC do not need a hot ait bubble just a spot where Steroo can blow his own hot air and do something constructive for town than bleat about all and sundrie!
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SirAlf
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Not suprising Mowbray wanted it abandoned half his team were missing through injury he was probably rubbing his hands all the way home do feel sorry for there fans though.
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max ward
Sunday, February 12, 2012
By the way Steroo, I repeat that John Terry is innocent until a court decides otherwise, and your abusive comments towards me of the other day have disappeared along with the thread that you made them on. I have no idea what JT did or did not say, and to allow him to be selected, yet not to be captain is muddled thinking, and had me wondering whether Clegg was now advising the FA. I am aware of what he is alleged to have said, and if convicted he should never play for England again. However, unless we respect the law, and the fundamental principle that you are innocent unless proven guilty, then we have no basis for a society to be built upon. Because of this I believe strongly that JT should be available for both selection and to be captain at present. You may feel that you are able to be Judge and Jury, yet do not see fit to pass comment on my view and make false and inaccurate comments about something I have said again, as it only demonstrates that you are unable to grasp basic concepts, and would be out of your depth in a puddle
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Kevin Bailey
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Perhaps a glance at the racing fixtures that were called of might have given the referee a bit of a clue, because despite cover the racing surface apart from all weather and Musselburgh they were all called off. This unless sorted is another PR disaster from the hierachy at PR. To put a "cheap" day on and then call it off before half time is stupidity. Why, because half time was only minutes away did the referee not continue till then and give the ground staff 15 or 20 minutes and then inspect. I did consider going to PR and am relieve I didn't fork out about £50 in total to go. Lots of people who are hard pressed to put food on the table and heat their homes probably turned up. I expect the players will get their full wages for half a match and yet supporters have to pay the full price and for those with season tickets they will have no choice. According to local radio Mowbrey and Venus were continually having a go at the 4th official during the run up to the stoppage. With their result during the week and their lack of fit players I suggest that they didn't want the match played regardless of condition of the pitch.
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whymarkmariner
Sunday, February 12, 2012
To those that have said that I am not a true fan because I will not attend a game once more, until Clegg is gone, may I point out that he is asking the people who attended the abandoned game to pay 50% of the cost of another ticket, to watch a match that they have already paid 100% to see. It is a disgraceful decision, and I would like to apologise to all of the Middlesborough fans who made the long trip down. IF the pitch passed two pitch inspections, and the game started, and the conditions did not worsen, then the game should finish. If ANY poster, particularly the bloke who had a pop at me the other day, would like to defend the 50% decision, then please go ahead. In a series of Clegg disasters, is this his ratner moment I wonder?
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Kevin Bailey
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Seeing the embarrassing coverage on the football league show last night made the managers' posturing look even more callous and selfish than it appeared at the time - and Sonko's mystery injury looked even less to do with te pitch than it did at the time. Granted the conditions on a small part of the pitch were unusual - buth hardly dangerous. The players at least looked as though they understood they had a responsibility to play. Those of us who used to support the football club remember games going ahead in far worse conditions through the years... particularly a Norwich game in the early 60's where their goalie was skating on ice for 45 mins. Nobody complained then... apart from the rather unsportsmanlike decision to salt that goalmouth when it was Town's turn to defend that end. This fiasco was epicly pathetic and is even further blighted by the contemptible self interest shown by the managers and (all too predictably) Clegg - you sould report it as such.
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Rob Steroo
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Fans should show there rightful disgust at todays debacle by boycotting the re-arranged match, but, of course, they won't, so stop quibbling. Either show your anger, or shut up.
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David Pomroy
Saturday, February 11, 2012
I am sure Mowbray was quietly pleased to have the game called off as it looked as though his team was going to lose. As for Sonko, whilst I sympathise with him, he could have fallen in any game and cracked a rib. Two pitch inspections, a large amount of hot air wasted, (under the "balloon" that is, not our esteemed Cleggie's hedging about discounts and small print) and 20000 people incommoded. Why did PJ agree to this mid-game fiasco and miss out on what looked like 3 assured points against a weakened team? I am not a happy supporter, and neither were those sitting around me none of whom had any inkling the hold up was because the ref and his linesmen had had enough. In view of the ref's long discussions with Mowbray, we all thought he was being sent to the stands! Final thought, players are often hurt when it's not icy, assuming it was. 3 points thrown away.
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JOHN BURLS
Saturday, February 11, 2012
Well what a massive dissapointment that was today for all who made the effort to attend this match. We can argue all day as to whether the game should have started at all but finally a decision was made. Now as Cheif Exec of a football club what would you do in this situation? Firstly prepare your answers for the media anticipating the obvious questions? No... Mr Clegg, knowing that all of the fans are already mightly upset does not follow Pete Winkleman's excellent example at MK Dons by looking after the away fans and promising free admission to the rearranged fixture to all those that made the original fixture..No, he points us in the direction of the small print on the back of our tickets that no one will ever have read unless they were really bored at a game...quiet in the cheap seats!...now is this the best that he can do because if it is he is solely responsible for this PR disaster and unless something is done to retrieve the situation I will yet again this season be embarassed by the in-action of our Cheif Executive. Mr Evans please have a word or get someone in who can do the job.
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Iamabluetoo
Saturday, February 11, 2012
A caring, community club or a joke? The match should never have kicked-off. Apologies on behalf of ITFC to the travelling Boro fans. The CEO has to take the blame.
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RH55
Saturday, February 11, 2012
Well what a massive dissapointment that was today for all who made the effort to attend this match. We can argue all day as to whether the game should have started at all but finally a decision was made. Now as Cheif Exec of a football club what would you do in this situation? Firstly prepare your answers for the media anticipating the obvious questions? No... Mr Clegg, knowing that all of the fans are already mightly upset does not follow Pete Winkleman's excellent example at MK Dons by looking after the away fans and promising free admission to the rearranged fixture to all those that made the original fixture..No, he points us in the direction of the small print on the back of our tickets that no one will ever have read unless they were really bored at a game...quiet in the cheap seats!...now is this the best that he can do because if it is he is solely responsible for this PR disaster and unless something is done to retrieve the situation I will yet again this season be embarassed by the in-action of our Cheif Executive. Mr Evans please have a word or get someone in who can do the job.
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Iamabluetoo
Saturday, February 11, 2012
Well, that wouldn't be the first stupid decision and comment Jewell has made in the last year. Even the players were making a point that the pitch took a good stud. For the £'000's the players earn a week I hardly think a bit of hard ground under the surface warrents an abandonment- after all, who of us haven't played on much worse pitches? (and before anyone suggests there is a difference between pro and amateur football pain I'd like to confirm the pain is the same if you fall on your backside). After seeing the Leicester game last season (and even the Italy England game on TV when I got home) the decision to abandon made a mockery of the effort supporters took (especially 'boro fans) to get to the game. Cracked ribs? Pah, more like cracked embarassment for not being able to control a ball or pass with either foot. At least Forest didn't win, one small thing to be pleased about.
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I am Spartacus
Saturday, February 11, 2012
Lets hope that August 2012 isn't too hot as with hard ground we might have to call off another game then ?
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Nick Ward
Saturday, February 11, 2012
Perhaps the game should have been played under the hot air bubble. I am sure all at Portman Road worked extra hard around their archaic pitch protection (high tech bubble in EADT speak) but the fact remains that anybody with a grain of common sense would have known that the temperature was never very high and likely to get much colder, with very predictable consequences, The suspicion is that the club were quite keen to keep the money - and this suspeciion hardened faster than the pitch listening to Clegg's inadequate utterances on the radio on the way home. Did nobody give any thought to starting the game earlier rather than wait for frosty conditions before kicking off? The extreme weather conditions were accurately predicted over a week ago.
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Rob Steroo
Saturday, February 11, 2012