The 23-year-old loanee has been revolutionary for Mick McCarthy’s side, and rescued a point for Town at the weekend.
Tom Lawrence of Ipswich Town scores their first goal
As Tom Lawrence snatched a point in the 93rd minute against Barnsley for Ipswich Town in Saturday’s 1-1 draw, it became apparent how much trouble Town would be in without his services.
The 23-year-old, on loan from Leicester City, has had a remarkable season for Ipswich, and has scored nine goals and racked up six assists playing as an attacking midfielder.
Ipswich are seven points clear from safety with nine games to go, and with McCarthy’s stewardship and a fit Lawrence, the Tractor Boys should be alright – but lessons need to be learnt from this.
Town’s squad simply isn’t good enough, and the notion of selling your best players and not replacing them properly will only see Ipswich slip further down the table, irrespective of who’s in charge.
Ipswich’s Tom Lawrence takes a freekick
If this season is seen as a wake up call for the Ipswich board, and they choose to financially back McCarthy in the summer to ensure this doesn’t happen again, then Town could challenge for the play-offs again.
If it isn’t, and McCarthy gets no backing at all, should Lawrence not return to Portman Road next season on a temporary or permanent basis, then we could be looking at relegation battlers for the 2017/18 season.
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