Ipswich’s thrilling 3-2 victory over Southampton sparked a similar reaction among many football fans who had witnessed Manchester City’s cagey goalless draw with Arsenal the night before.
Kieran McKenna’s side went into the game hoping to return to the Championship summit, while the Saints were determined to keep their faltering automatic promotion hopes alive.
What supporters at Portman Road witnessed was a pulsating affair in which the lead changed hands three times before Brighton loanee Jeremy Sarmiento grabbed a 97th-minute winner.
It was a rip-roaring spectacle that many observers couldn’t help but compare to the subdued contest that had taken place at the Etihad.
‘Compare that Ipswich Saints game to what Man City v Arsenal served up yesterday and then tell me the championship isn’t the best league in the world.’ Wrote one fan on X, formerly Twitter.
Brighton loanee Jeremy Sarmiento grabbed a 97th-minute winner to maintain Ipswich’s unlikely automatic promotion push
Manchester City and Arsenal played out a stale goalless draw at the Etihad a day prior
Fans took to social media after the thrilling Portman Road clash and compared both spectacles
‘Championship is the best league in the world man, unreal scenes from Ipswich.’ Wrote another.
A third said: ‘That Ipswich and Southampton game was something else! That’s how football should be, not that nonsense yesterday with City and Arsenal. Brilliant.’
‘In a game that means equally as much to Ipswich and Southampton as yesterday did to City and Arsenal. The difference in desire and passion is markedly different by both teams. Fair play, mad league,’ commented a fourth.
Leif Davis had given Ipswich a 13th-minute lead on Monday evening before Che Adams immediately hit back with a goal for Russell Martin’s side.
The Saints then went in front before the break when Adam Armstrong finished off a well-worked move. However, the home team hit back with a a quickly-taken finish from Nathan Broadhead in the 68th minute.
The most contentious part of the match was the sending off of Southampton defender James Bree for a foul on Davis, who was in on goal.
The win took Ipswich back to the top of the Championship with six game of the season left to play
Manager Kieran McKenna has taken the plaudits for his outstanding work with the unfancied side
Many football fans were clear in which game they preferred over the Easter weekend
That set up a grandstand finish and Sarmiento obliged. The forward sharply got up from the turf after slipping when he received the ball and prodded his finish past Gavin Bazunu in the Saints’ net.
‘Premier league got nothing on The Championship hasn’t done for years,’ wrote another fan on X.
Another said: ‘The championship is so much better than the premier league. All the hype for Man City v Arsenal yesterday when there’s so much more entertainment in the league below.’
The result leaves the Saints nine points adrift of a top-two place, though they do have a game in hand on Leicester and two on Ipswich.
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