Spence strikes late as Ipswich keep the pace
THE last time Ipswich Town won their opening three league games — back in the 19992000 season — they made it to the Premier League.
Nobody fancied them to replicate that feat this season, but after continuing their perfect start to the campaign here at Millwall, a few minds may soon be changed.
What is certain is that Mick McCarthy’s team are looking more like the Championship play- off challengers we had come to know before last season’s slump to bottom-half also-rans.
When their attack is firing like this, Ipswich will be a handful for any opponent and it will be particularly gratifying for McCarthy that his two summer signings from Rangers — Joe Garner and Martyn Waghorn — found the net here.
But it was Jordan Spence, rising highest to meet Grant Ward’s free-kick, who settled this thriller in Ipswich’s favour late on.
As you would imagine, a former West Ham player condemning Millwall to defeat did not exactly go down well here but nobody could fault the entertainment.
Ipswich’s defence was missing some key figures through injury and this almost proved their downfall. They fell behind to Jed Wallace inside the first minute and found themselves pegged back to 2-2 through Aiden O’Brien and 3-3 courtesy of substitute Tom Elliott with just 10 minutes to play.
But Spence had the final say and McCarthy said: ‘The front five were excellent, we scored some good goals. The irony is that a defender has scored the winner from a freekick. When they got back to 3-3, they looked favourites to seconds was the opening act in win it, but we were belligerent.’ a breathless first half, Wallace
Millwall boss Neil Harris sending home a deflected shot fumed: ‘It’s unacceptable here from 10 yards. at the Den. There were a few But Ipswich trailed for only choice words. In my opinion, three minutes and £750,000 we’ve given them four goals. We arrival Garner let fly from 30 have to smarten up and yards, a deflection off Shaun make better decisions at key Hutchinson fooling keeper Jormoments. We should be dan Archer. The visitors led on winning that game tonight.’ 35 minutes, Grant Ward cross
Millwall’s opener after just 44 ing for Waghorn to score from close range. Millwall hit back right away, O’Brien hooking the ball over the line after George Saville had hit the bar.
In stoppage time, Ipswich restored their lead when David McGoldrick weaved past two defenders and cut back for Waghorn to score, his third since moving from Glasgow.
Millwall had the better chances after half-time and levelled with 10 minutes left. Elliott, a summer signing from AFC Wimbledon, came off the bench to convert well from a free-kick.
But Millwall’s defence switched off at the death, allowing Spence, whose football education came in West Ham’s academy, to score just the fifth goal of his near 200- game career.