Jansen tribute to Friedel

Jansen might have hogged the headlines after his typically opportunist strike secured Rovers' first away point of the new season.

But it was Friedel who stole everyone's hearts on an emotion-charged afternoon in East Anglia with an inspirational display of character at the end of the worst week in his homeland's history.

Jansen later spoke for everyone in the visiting dressing room when he pointed to Friedel's performance as the telling factor behind this hard-earned draw.

Everyone, the length and breadth of the globe, has been saddened by the atrocities across the Atlantic over the last few days but for Friedel and his wife, who hails from New York, the moving scenes have been even more poignant.

The former Liverpool stopper's way of coping with the tragedy, however, has been to throw himself into his work.

And, fittingly, he almost single-handedly denied the Blues at times with some spectacular heroics.

"With everything that's been going on, especially with his wife being from New York, it's been particularly hard for Brad to focus on our last couple of games," said Jansen.

"But he showed through his performance here that he's a player with tremendous character.

"He made a crucial save in the last minute to underline just how great a keeper he is -- definitely the best I've ever played or trained with.

"And, generally speaking, he looked unbeatable at times today."

Bill Shankly's famous comment about football being more important than life and death has never looked more hideous than it has this week.

But, though the fight for Premiership survival pales into insignificance compared with the tragic events currently unfolding in America, Friedel's display of dignity is a triumph for the human spirit.

In a frantic finale, Ipswich's industry seemed certain to be rewarded when Hermann Hreidarsson rose to meet a left-wing cross with the goal at his mercy only for Friedel to somehow scoop the ball to safety.

But if that was a defining moment in Rovers' season so far, then so too was Jansen's first goal of the new campaign.

The former England Under 21 international is the first to admit that he hasn't been firing on all cylinders so far following his amazing exploits last term.

But a goal against Oldham on Wednesday night kicked him into life and now he's off the mark in the Premiership, the confidence is showing signs of flooding back.

"It's always in the back of your mind that you haven't scored for a while but I'm confident in my own ability and I was still getting chances," said Jansen.

"So I was always pretty positive that a goal was going to come eventually.

"I only got one chance today and managed to take it whereas I had seven or eight the other night and only managed one.

"But it's my first in the Premiership and, hopefully, there'll be a few more for me now."

In truth, Ipswich could have been home and dry inside the opening half hour but for a combination of inspired keeping and wasteful finishing.

Missing three of his regular back four through injury, Graeme Souness's patched up defence were at sixes and sevens as they struggled to cope with the clever movement of Marcus Stewart up front.

But the real problems stemmed from the middle of the park where Tugay and Garry Flitcroft looked stretched against the effervescent Matt Holland and Jim Magilton.

Ipswich -- looking neat and compact in midfield -- had a real zest about their attacking play with wide-men Finidi George and Martijn Reuser posing problems down the flanks.

And it was no surprise when Alun Armstrong fired the home side ahead on 15 minutes.

Friedel had already denied both Holland and Reuser before the Tractor Boys broke the deadlock with a classic counter.

Magilton was the architect, pouncing on a loose ball in the centre, before powering forward and releasing George whose clever chip struck the bar only for Armstrong to drill home the rebound.

And it could have been worse five minutes later when Holland picked out Hreidarsson at the far post but the Icelandic defender headed straight at Friedel.

Rovers then finally woke from their slumber as keeper Matteo Sereni denied both Ciccio Grabbi and Damien Duff in the space of seconds with two reflex stops before Henning Berg then missed the visitors' best chance of the half, heading tamely over from a Duff corner.

A half-time dressing down from Souness had the desired effect after the break as Keith Gillespie drew a sharp save from Sereni.

But the Italian shot-stopper was left grasping fresh air when the equaliser arrived in the 54th minute.

Grabbi appeared to foul Chris Makin as he attempted to clear but referee Graham Poll waved play on, allowing Tugay to loft a clever ball over the Ipswich defence which Jansen lobbed over the stranded Sereni.

Rovers then had chances to seal it as Flitcroft headed wide and a goal-bound effort from Grabbi was deflected for a corner.

But, as both sides admirably went for the jugular in a frantic finale, it was Ipswich who threatened a winner.

First, Marcus Stewart thought he had sealed the points when he fired past Friedel only for the ref to blow for a foul on Berg by Hreidarsson.

Then, Counago looked certain to score when he met a left-wing centre at the far post only for Friedel to save the day with a brilliant reaction stop.

But few could deny Rovers were worthy of a point at the end as they broadened their Premiership education.

RESULT:

IPSWICH TOWN...1 - Armstrong 15 ROVERS...1 - Jansen 54