Match Report: Ipswich Town 0-0 Wigan Athletic

After what had been a very busy week in the transfer window there was bound to be changes in the line up for the game as we headed out to East Angelia. The interesting thing is that neither Jason Pearce nor Billy McKay started the game, Malky Mackay clearly feeling they needed more time to bed in. Our new Northern Irish striker though would go on to show signs that maybe he could be cut out for the Championship.

Defensively we have been hit and miss all season, yet we are now starting to get some shape. That for me is in no small part due to the return of Ali Al Habsi in goal. Our Omani international goalkeeper, who will be a free agent in the summer, is by far the best keeper we have at the club. Having that keeper solidity makes everything easier for the back four.

That back four were tested at times by an Ipswich side, who under Mick McCarthy, are starting to challenge again at the right end of the table. They have that grit and team spirit which teams need in the Championship if they are to be successful. Something we have been very clearly without since the summer.

That spirit we hope maybe coming back, the idea from Mackay appears to be around building a side which will fight for the club. Is that not what we want. One player who has been doing it time and time again this season is James McClean and with him on one wing, and the retuning Martyn Waghorn on the other you have two wide men you can trust for effort, and they can score a goal or two.

That of course didn't happen at the weekend as a well organised Ipswich Town team held together and troubled us overall more than we did them. But yet you would expect that. It is the fact we were able to keep a clean sheet against a team full of confidence and looking to keep pace with the teams at the tops which impressed me.

After all the doom and gloom I am starting to see some light, possibly. We have to keep that focus, this weekend's game will not be an easy one and will test the team. If we can perform at the same level as we did at Ipswich and even up it a gear, maybe we will start to fulfil the potential this squad does have and get ourselves out of trouble.