WARD’S MAKING DREAMER OF MICK
Sub nets after 39 seconds on debut
EVERY manager dreams of his substitutes inspiring a victory. When that substitute is a new signing scoring a hat-trick, then that is a dream too far-fetched even for Mick McCarthy.
Grant Ward only signed for Ipswich on Monday and had been on the pitch for 39 seconds when he scored his first, but he scored two more after his halftime introduction as the Tractor Boys kicked-off their season in style.
McCarthy said: “I knew he had a goal in him, but I didn’t think he had three in 45 minutes in him.
“They were three great strikes. Fresh blood has worked today. Let’s hope it continues to work like that for the rest of the season.”
Last season Ipswich’s promotion push floundered because of a lack of creativity and, prior to the arrival of Ward and fellow new signing Conor Grant at the break, they displayed these familiar failings once more.
Only a wondrous reaction save from Bartosz Białkowski – described by McCarthy as “bonkers” after he palmed away Tom Bradshaw’s five-yard shot – kept Town level, as both sides laboured in the August heat.
McCarthy admitted Barnsley were “the better side and deserved to be in front” at halftime, but once Ward sprinkled his stardust on proceedings Ipswich just about remained on top.
Nevertheless, Ward’s opener, running onto Daryl Murphy’s header to power in his first touch, was cancelled out within four minutes when Conor Hourihane poked in Marley Watkins’ flick-on.
Just as with Bradshaw’s firsthalf chance, Ipswich’s defence was woefully static in allowing Hourihane to be free, with Adam Webster especially culpable – proving that McCarthy’s Midas touch does not extend to all his summer signings.
McCarthy added: “Webbo is learning the Championship. It’s a step-up and he’ll get better and better.
“I can’t say it was an outstanding display. Nobody’s really fully fit. It’ll take them a few games to get up to speed. As coaches and managers we can’t just say ‘we won and everything is rosy’.”
Three second-half minutes ultimately decided the game. First, Ward picked up a loose ball from a half-cleared corner, advanced unhindered and drilled inside Adam Davies’ near-post.
Then Andy Yiadom felled Murphy inside the area and David McGoldrick side-footed home the subsequent penalty.
Watkins’ glancing header from Hourihane’s free-kick restored Barnsley’s hopes, but Ward sealed a memorable hattrick with yet another medium-range shot that burst past the flailling foot of Marc Roberts and flapping hands of Davies.
Barnsley manager Paul Heckingbottom said: “This is the difference in going up a league. There’s lots of positives, but we have to learn from the clinical nature of Ipswich. They had six shots, all on target, and four goals.
“The most disappointing part was the goals we conceded. We might have got away with two of those last year, but we need to be in positions to stop the shots.
“We’ve got nine players who’ve never played in the Championship before. The players know they can cope at this level now, but we don’t want to be a pretty team that gets beat.”