Brilliance off bench aided long-awaited derby win
- Published
The bogey has been lifted.
Ipswich fans have waited 16 years for a moment like yesterday. And for all the joy of being in the Premier League, nothing feels better than a derby win.
Jaden Philogene's wonder goal and Marcelino Nunez's post-match celebrations using a Norwich blogger's statue request are what grabbed the headlines. But there is a very interesting tactical subtext which played out in that victory.
Ipswich's third goal came off the bench. Nunez came on after 75 minutes and, within minutes, supplied the through ball to fellow 75th-minute replacement Ivan Azon who hit the post, before another 75th-minute joiner, Jack Clarke, hoovered it up.
It was the second game in a row where Kieran McKenna delivered a tactical masterclass and made the right change at the right time.
Bringing on former Canary Nunez clearly boosted the atmosphere at a time momentum could have flagged. But by making a triple change from an impressive bench, it also added known scoring ability to passion.
Tactical substitutions with a full Ipswich bench could be the tool that pushes the Tractor Boys further up the table after the international break.