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Ipswich Town boss Paul Lambert says two decisions were 'monumental errors' that cost Blues in narrow defeat at Sunderland




Ipswich Town manager Paul Lambert said two decisions cost his side taking anything from the game against Sky Bet League One promotion rivals Sunderland last night, writes Jacob Henderson.

Andre Dozzell was sent off for a challenge on Grant Leadbitter in the second half, before Mark McGuinness was adjudged to have committed a handball in the 84th minute – former Town captain Leadbitter then converting from the spot as the Black Cats ran out 2-1 winners.

The result sees the previous joint leaders fall three points behind Peterborough United at the summit in second place.

Andre Dozzell was controversially sent off in the 73rd minute in Ipswich Town's eventual 2-1 defeat at Sunderland's Stadium of Light Picture: ITFC (42981728)
Andre Dozzell was controversially sent off in the 73rd minute in Ipswich Town's eventual 2-1 defeat at Sunderland's Stadium of Light Picture: ITFC (42981728)

The Town manager said the club are likely to appeal Dozzell's red card.

"In terms of the performance I thought we did really well," Lambert told iFollow Ipswich.

"We kept the ball well and if any team was going to win it looked like it would be us.

"The two decisions are monumental errors. We will look at Andre's and see if we can appeal - it was never a sending off.

"Mark wasn't even looking at the ball and was about a yard away.

"Two big decisions went against us this evening. We will look at the bigger picture, though. We've played good football and we're sat second in the table."

Brett McGavin was set to be in the matchday squad for tonight's game at the Stadium of Light but missed out after waking up with a running nose and a mild cough.

Jack Lankester celebrates his goal against Sunderland with Ipswich Town team-mate Teddy Bishop Picture: ITFC (42981733)
Jack Lankester celebrates his goal against Sunderland with Ipswich Town team-mate Teddy Bishop Picture: ITFC (42981733)

Luke Woolfenden will also be absent until Blues' meeting with Shrewsbury on 21 November, at the earliest, as he is self-isolating. The club are continuing to be cautious with illness and ensure government guidelines are followed given the current climate.

"That's the world we're living in at the moment and we can't grumble about that," Lambert added.

"Brett was stripped and ready as well but left the hotel earlier today so couldn't be involved."

Alan Judge said Town were 'hard done by' at the Stadium of Light.

"There's a lot of anger in that dressing room after the decisions we saw this evening," he told iFollow Ipswich.

"I thought we performed well and I think incidents like this can add fuel to the fire. The lads will want to get straight back out there because we feel so hard done by.

"If someone was going to score it was going to be us.

"Yes we had a shaky start but we got ourselves back into the game and looked confident. It was really good to see Jack [Lankester] get a goal and another positive was having Kayden [Jackson] back out there with us."

MATCH REPORT:

Ten-men Town fell to defeat at the Stadium of Light as Grant Leadbitter's late penalty snatched the point for Sunderland, writes Mikey Hale.

Charlie Wyke netted an early opener for Sunderland before Jack Lankester's fierce strike saw the sides go in level at the end of a first half that Blues finished the stronger.

Town looked the better side for much of the second half before Andre Dozzell was contentiously sent off before Leadbitter's spotkick, awarded after an alleged handball from Mark McGuinness, decided the game.

Sunderland defend a corner against Ipswich Town Picture: ITFC (42981723)
Sunderland defend a corner against Ipswich Town Picture: ITFC (42981723)

Paul Lambert made three changes to the side who beat Crewe on Saturday as Toto Nsiala, Lankester and Kayden Jackson returned to the starting XI.

Sunderland started strongly as, with just over seven minutes played, Wyke slotted into the bottom corner after being played in behind the defence by Lynden Gooch to open the scoring.

The hosts could've doubled their lead just over 10 minutes later but Josh Scowen headed over the top of the bar after a cross from the left wing.

Blues had an opportunity to get a shot off on goal a few moments later after Teddy Bishop was scythed down on the edge of the box.

Andre Dozzell stepped up to take the free-kick but his left-footed shot struck the face of Scowen in the wall as the home side cleared. Scowen was withdrawn at half-time after initially receiving treatment following his block.

Kayden Jackson on the ball for Ipswich Town at Sunderland Picture: ITFC (42981731)
Kayden Jackson on the ball for Ipswich Town at Sunderland Picture: ITFC (42981731)

Blues began to see more of the ball and got their reward with an equaliser after 38 minutes.

Gwion Edwards played the ball into the feet of Lankester from the left wing before the latter's left-footed strike across goal was too powerful for Lee Burge, who could only palm the ball onto the inside of the post and in.

Town looked for a second before the break as Alan Judge worked his way down the left-wing but his low cross was cleared as Jackson looked to shoot towards goal from the middle of the box.

Jackson nearly turned provider in first-half stoppage time after winning back possession deep in Sunderland territory but his pull-back from the by-line was cleared by the defence with Lankester ready to turn home from close range.

Blues started the second period on the front foot with Luke Chambers pinching possession midway inside the home side's half before playing a ball into the middle to Bishop. Bishop touched the ball onto Lankester, who had appeals waved away by the referee after appearing to go down under contact from Bailey Wright.

The Black Cats responded with a chance of their own just before the hour mark, Tom Flannagan heading Chris Maguire's near post corner over the top of Tomas Holy's goal.

Blues' high energy pressing nearly brought around their second goal of the evening a few minutes later. Judge robbed Flannagan of the ball on the halfway line before his cross into the box was cleverly left by Jackson for Lankester. The ball wouldn't drop for the Town midfielder however as he half-volleyed over the bar under pressure from two retreating defenders.

Town continued to look the more dangerous side but found themselves reduced to 10 men with just under half an hour to play in controversial circumstances. Dozzell slid in for a challenge with Leadbitter in the middle of the park with the referee awarding a straight red card, leaving the Town players and bench stunned.

Leadbitter picked up a yellow card shortly afterwards after cynically bringing down Bishop, with Denver Hume following him into the book for bringing down Lankester a couple of minutes later.

Sunderland were awarded a penalty with seven minutes remaining for a handball by McGuinness, with Leadbitter tucking his spotkick into the bottom right corner of Holy's net to snatch the win late on.

Sunderland: Burge, McLaughlin, Flanagan, Wright (C), Wyke, Maguire (Graham 68), Gooch (Sanderson 90), O'Nien, Scowen (Power 46), Leadbitter, Hume.

Subs: Matthews, O'Brien, Diamon, Grigg.

Town: Holy, Chambers (C), Nsiala, McGuinness, Ward, Dozzell, Judge, Bishop, Lankester (Bennetts 89), Jackson (Hawkins 76), Edwards.

Subs: Cornell, Wilson, Kenlock, Huws, Sears.

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