Pride of Anglia - Ipswich Town Football Club

Putney’s Goal Beats Iraqis

A goal from Trevor Putney on the hour gave Ipswich Town victory against the Iraq National XI in Baghdad yesterday.

It was not easy going for Town who had a bad journey out to the Middle East on Saturday.

The flight took 15 hours after the Town party had first been delayed at Heathrow and then again in Paris where the plane stopped for refuelling and a further delay.

Bobby Ferguson had decided to take the opportunity to escape the winter weather once the Leicester City match was called off last Saturday to keep his first team squad in trim.

There was some doubt in Iraq as to whether Ipswich were going to make the trip and as a result the match was not advertised. Only a crowd in the region of 3,000 turned up.

Ferguson said: “Our first half performance was very poor because the players were tired after the long journey.

“In the second-half we improved and played some good football. Butcher and Cranson were very good at the back while Dozzell also showed up well.”

Town’s goal resulted from a very good move. Dozzell started it with a telling pass to McCall who crossed to the far post where D’Avray headed down leaving Putney to score from close range.

Town might have added a second goal 15 minutes from the end when Brennan was right through with just the goalkeeper to beat, but was brought crashing down by an Iraq defender.

Brennan was forced to go off with a badly bruised calf, but the injury is not serious and he is expected to play again tomorrow when Town play their second and final match against the Iraq National XI.

Ferguson said he was impressed with the Iraq team who later this month start their matches in the prestigious Gulf Cup which involves most teams in the Middle East.

Town return to this country on Wednesday in time to prepare for Saturday’s First Division match against Nottingham Forest at Portman Road.

It will be Town’s first League match since they beat Liverpool on February 1.

Newspaper article 3rd March 1986 by Neil Manning