Ipswich 0-0 Burnley: Championship leaders are held to a goalless draw at Portman Road with Vincent Kompany’s side forced into a replay against their League One opposition
- Ipswich had several chances against their championship opponents in first-half
- Vaclav Hladky made a pair of solid saves in the second half to deny Nathan Tella
- But despite some late chances both sides were unable to break the deadlock
Vincent Kompany declared he was looking forward to a Turf Moor replay after his high-flying Burnley side surprisingly drew a blank at Ipswich.
Many managers would rather get knocked out of the FA Cup than have their all-important league schedule clogged up by yet another midweek fixture.
Clarets manager Kompany is a breath of fresh air therefore, although such largesse is certainly easier if you boast as he does a massive lead at the top of the Championship plus a host of new signings and fringe players in need of game time.
Ipswich had the better of the chances in the first half against their Championship opposition
‘I’m probably one of the few managers who is not disappointed we have a replay,’ he said. ‘We have a squad of players who are dying to play for us so it is not a bad thing.
‘There are a lot of guys who are wanting to prove themselves – and there is no better way than to do it to show what you can do in a game like this.’
Kompany gave a debut to Ameen Al-Dakhil, the Belgium Under-21 centre-back, and gave fellow new face Lyle Foster, the South Africa striker, a bow off the bench, with summer signing Scott Twine making his first start.
Ipswich, third in League One and, like Burnley, their division’s top scorers, came closest to breaking the deadlock thanks to a strong start that saw George Hirst go close and Marcus Harness hit the bar within the first five minutes.
The first-half was played at a frantic pace, with both teams coming close to taking the lead
Vincent Kompany’s side sit top of the Championship but found it tough to break Ipswich down
Morocco international Anass Zaroury came close to putting the visitors ahead in the second half
Town keeper Vaclav Hladky made second-half stops to deny Nathan Tella and Jay Rodriguez, with substitute Anass Zaroury seeing a late effort deflected just wide.
Ipswich are in a play-off slot so cannot afford to be as cup-centric as Kompany but manager Kieran McKenna was not too disappointed.
‘We’ll be stronger from the experience and stronger from going up to Turf Moor and playing them at their place,’ he said.
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