Better than Phillips: 61-touch Ipswich ace has now made himself undroppable
Ipswich Town easily defeated Bristol Rovers 3-0 in the FA Cup on Sunday, thanks to a dominant first half performance.
The Tractor Boys scored three goals in the first 45 minutes, while Kieran McKenna’s team had a very easy second half, allowing only three shots on their largely unchallenged goal throughout 90 minutes.
Kalvin Phillips would have been pleased to score his team’s first goal following a tumultuous loan spell, with the number eight sticking out throughout the game against his side’s poor opponents.
Making only his second game for Suffolk since late November, the former Leeds United midfielder will have been relieved that his confidence was boosted against the League One squad.
Indeed, even if it is against a team two leagues below Ipswich, the 29-year-old can take a lot of positives from his performance, aside from his blast past a hapless Joshua Griffiths in the Gas goal.
Ipswich’s captain led the team with 88 touches and 64 accurate passes, as well as three interceptions during the game.
Furthermore, the Tractor Boys loanee created one great chance in an attempt to build on his first-half score, with the 5 foot 10 star lasting the whole 90 minutes, leaving McKenna with a dilemma regarding who he starts centrally moving forward in the Premier League.
Phillips isn’t the only on-the-fringes presence that will be hoping he gets increased first-team minutes now, with Jack Clarke also standing out throughout as a thorn in the side of Inigo Calderon’s men.
The ex-Sunderland midfielder has had a rocky start at Portman Road, with only four starts in top-flight play.
He will hope that his impressive performance today, although being against a third-tier opponent, will lead to further starts in the league, as he scored Ipswich’s second goal of the day, among other standout moments.
Clarke’s numbers vs Bristol Rovers
Stat
Clarke
Minutes played
90
Goals scored
1
Assists
1
Touches
61
Accurate passes
39/45 (87%)
Key passes
1
Successful dribbles
2/2
Total duels won
5/11
Aside from being in the right position at the right time to score his team’s second goal, Clarke also set up Jack Taylor’s third to put the tie beyond doubt, with the away side’s appeals for offside going unanswered.
Despite the controversy, the winger confidently completed 100% of his dribbles and won five duels down the left. East Anglian Daily Times journalist Alex Jones gave Clarke a high 7/10 rating post-match, and the 24-year-old attacker is now hoping to build a compelling case for more Premier League opportunities.
After all, Clarke did clatter the post away at Fulham from the bench with his only effort on goal, as well as assist Taylor’s dramatic winner away at Wolverhampton Wanderers in December after only 15 minutes of action, demonstrating his ability to deliver on the big stage outside of the FA Cup.
McKenna will be hoping for a tougher test in the next round of the long-running competition, as the focus now shifts back to the league, with Ipswich facing Brighton and Hove Albion on Thursday.
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