MORS THE MERRIER
Skipper strikes to seal win
IPSWICH TOWN: Walton 7; Donacien 7, Woolfenden 7, Burgess 7; Burns 8, Bakinson 7, Morsy 7, Thompson 7; Aluko 8 (Chaplin 64, 6), Celina 7; Norwood 7 (Bonne 64, 5).
Subs not used: Hladky, Baggott, Penney, Carroll, Pigott.
PLYMOU TH ARGYLE: Cooper 6; Edwards 6, Wilson 6, Bolton 5 (Crichlow 25, 6), Gillesphey 6, Sessegnon 7; Randell 5, Houghton 5 (Broom 67, 5), Mayor 6; Ennis 5, Hardie 5 (Garrick 75, 4).
Unused subs: Burton, Scarr, Lewis, Law.
MAN OF THE MATCH: Sone Aluko. Town playmaker caused constant grief in the pockets between the lines.
REFEREE: David Rock 6.
A RARE Sam Morsy goal settled Paul Mariner Day in Ipswich’s favour as Plymouth’s winning streak came to an end.
Ex-England target man Mariner, who died last July aged 68, started his career at Argyle and hit the big time at Town under Sir Bobby Robson in the 1970s.
Fans from both sides applauded before kick-off and saw Morsy net only his second goal of the season.
It ended fourth-place Argyle’s six-game winning run without conceding and renewed Town hopes of gatecrashing the play-offs.
Midfielder
Morsy’s (right) close-range finish was hardly
Marineresque but manager Kieran McKenna, whose side are now five points off the top six, was keen to embrace Ipswich’s glory days.
He said: “We wouldn’t have 25,000 here if it wasn’t for the work of our predecessors, and Paul’s team was the most successful of them all.
“It’s something that gives us pride and encouragement as we try to get the club back in the right direction.”
The win was deserved as Plymouth failed to land a single shot on target.
Argyle sensed it might not be their day when defender James
Bolton was forced off injured after just 25 minutes.
Sone Aluko had already gone close, with Wes Burns also sending a drive across goal and wide. A goal was coming and Plymouth’s defence was breached for the first time in a month.
Skipper Morsy tapped home in the 37th minute after James Norwood collected Bersant Celina’s chip and squared.
Niall Ennis’ attempt at a 40-yard lob summed up Plymouth’s second half – it went for a throw-in.
Plymouth manager Stephen Schumacher said: “I wouldn’t say it was a worry but I’m disappointed we didn’t have a shot on target.
“We haven’t tested their goalie and that is down to a lack of quality and energy.”
VITAL STATS
IPSWICH
4 ........ Shots on Target ........ 0 8 ........ Shots off Target ......... 2 4 ................ Corners ................. 4 13 ................. Fouls .................... 9 0 ............... Offsides .................. 1 75.7 Passing Success % .71.4 461 ....... Total Passes ........ 405 52.8 .... Possession % ..... 47.2 49.1...Territorial Adv % ..50.9