Ipswich Town

Manchester City v Ipswich Town, FA Cup, 12.01.25

Hatty Ruddick

Taylor's side faces the third tier side in the fourth round of the FA Cup. This is City's first FA Cup game this season, whereas Ipswich Town has impressively worked their way up to face the Champion's League Quarter-Finalists. The away team have had an impressive run to get to the Joie Stadium, beating Milton Kenes Dons 12-0 in November, drawing with Hashtag United and beating Bournemouth. They will be looking to make it to the next round, however this is their toughest opponent this season yet. The teams have only faced once before in 2020, where the home side beat the Southerners 10-0. City will be looking to repeat this as a way of rectifying the recent two losses. City are still plagued with injury with Shaw, Hemp, O'Hanlon, Maciver, Shimzu, Greenwood and Layzell still out of selection. With question marks over Kennedy's current whereabouts also- the starting line up is much anticipated for City. However, it is the first match where new signing Knaak could make an appearance. 

Starting lineup for City: Yamashita, Coombs, Fowler, Kelly, Roord, Ouahabi, Casparij, Blindkilde-Brown, Knaak, Prior, Murphy. However, Miedema is available and on the bench. Roord is making her first City captaincy. It is Knaak's debut game.

Starting lineup for Ipswich: Negri, Boswell, Hughes, Garrad, Mitchell, Thomas, Robertson, O'Brien, Peskett, Wearing, Barker. 

In one of the first minutes of the game, Ipswich are awarded a free kick taken by captain Boswell. Peskett does well to bring the ball to the box, but it is cleared by Roord. A second is awarded when on her debut Knaack fouls O'Brien in an attempt to stop a run from Ipswich. 

A chance comes for City with two corners at 8 minutes, but nothing comes from either corner. City continue to make attempts, but are just not getting on target. Ipswich's defence is strong. They are proving to be a competitor for the Champions League side. This is again proven with Thomas' defence against an attempt at 16 minutes. 

However, the homeside's luck changes with a captain's goal from Jill Roord. 

City 1 - 0 Ipswich Town

Medics come on at 25 minutes for Negri who has gone down after taking a free kick. After a minutes and a half, the game continues. 

Ipswich are making good progress at getting the ball, but are quick to lose it back to the homeside. City are going for the attempts, but are struggling to make the finish. It is clear that the side are missing Shaw and Hemp. City need to be careful however, as they are giving away free kicks today as if they were sweets. 

While City have clearly dominated this half, there is only one marking on the scoreline. Ipswich have done well to jeep it at only one goal, but have been helped by silly mistakes from City. Yamashita has had one of the quietest halves she has seen since joining the Champion's League quarter-finalists. 

Half-time: City 1 - 0 Ipswich. 

No changes at half-time for either side. Early chances for City come to no avail. However, there is also an early yellow card for Garrad after a bad foul on Prior. 

City make an attempt that hits the post and Coombs recovers it by making the goal. 

City 2 - 0 Ipswich Town. 

She goes again, but Negri makes a stunning save at 58 minutes.

Murphy has a great run towards goal, making a pass to Roord until Mitchell pushes Roord out the way. 

Substitutions for all teams. Miedema, Park and Aleixandri on for Coombs, Murphy and Prior. Rutherford on for O'Brien. 

There is a missed chance for a goal at 64 minutes for City with two corners taken in quick succession, however, they have their chance with a free kick two minutes later after a foul on Fowler. She takes the free kick. Kelly, Roord and Miedema try to get it into the box, but Ipswich prevent it. City are going for this goal. There is very little play time between the subs and Thomas coming off at 71 minutes that is not in City's box. 

Thomas comes off for Watson. 

The substitutions make their impact. On her first game back after injury Miedema scores. 

City 3 - 0 Ipswich

In the last ten minutes, Casparij and Yamashite, oddly create a chance for Ipswich. However, this is quickly cleared and Yamashita has finally seen the ball after 60 minutes of not. 

Medics are on at 81 minutes for Negri. The game begins again after 2 minutes and on-pitch entertainment from Yamashita. Ipswich take the restart as a chance to take a run. The attempt is cleared by Casparij. 

Subsitutions for Ipswich. Peskett off for Fisher. Hughes off for Addison. Garrad off for King. 

A clash between Knaak and Fisher brings medics on and pauses the game. Both players continue. 

The game finishes with City knocking out Ipswich from the FA cup. City continue to the next round. A strong showing from the homeside who needed this confidence boost.