As one dream lives on, another may finally be coming to an end.
Ipswich's Champions League claims may have been strengthened at Portman Road,
but the cost to Coventry could be fatal.
George Burley's enterprising side effectively secured a place in Europe next
season and are now, goal difference permitting, just three wins away from the
fairytale outcome of a Champions League spot.
For Coventry, however, the situation is far more perilous. Write them off at
your own risk, given their past ability to come back from the dead, while any
side managed by Gordon Strachan will never give up.
But their 34-year stay in the top-flight could finally be coming to an end and
the desolate looks on their faces at the final whistle said it all.
Something of a miracle is needed now as the Sky Blues are five points from
safety with just three games left following Middlesbrough's win at Leicester.
Victories are needed at home to Liverpool, away to Aston Villa and home to
Bradford, while other sides must also slip up if they are not - at last - to
suffer the immense pain of relegation.
Strachan, who has given his all to the club, insists that he has become
accustomed to the pressure and tension of battles against the drop even when
they have gone to the wire.
However, he must have felt sick to the pit of his stomach as his side, already
trailing to Martijn Reuser's first-half strike, squandered two gilt-edged
chances to equalise as stand-in keeper Keith Branagan performed superbly.
They were immediately punished for their profligacy by a deflected effort from
Jermaine Wright and that was it. It is a harsh game, indeed.
But while the Sky Blues did not lack effort or confidence, they were
comprehensively out-passed and outplayed by a side who fully deserve their lofty
place in the table.
Ipswich's plans were even disrupted just before kick-off as keeper Richard
Wright injured his back in the warm-up and had to be replaced by Branagan in
only his third start of the season.
The 34-year-old keeper was quickly called into action to grasp a dangerous low
cross by Marcus Hall, but that was just about the biggest threat that Coventry
posed during the entire first-half.
Ipswich have certainly not stumbled towards the top of the table by mistake,
but through application, teamwork and neat passing and movement.
So it was that they took the game to the visitors, with Alun Armstrong
clipping a volley narrowly wide of the far post.
The pressure finally told on 20 minutes when Armstrong's fine approach work
was capitalised on by Wright as he reached the byline and then cut inside.
His cross was missed by Holland, but Reuser was left unmarked to finish past
Kirkland at the far post.
The gap in class between the two sides was undeniable, with the Sky Blues
being penned back into their own half.
The only danger for Ipswich was that their chances were not being taken, as
Kirkland saved Wright's long-range drive as well as a snap-shot by Stewart,
while Armstrong headed over.
However, John McGreal, Ipswich's unsung hero of the campaign, and Titus
Bramble were ensuring that John Hartson's only threat of the first-half was a
long-range header that flew harmlessly wide.
With Lee Carsley's influence finally being felt, Coventry did start to contest
the midfield areas just before half-time as Ipswich's momentum dropped.
The Sky Blues also emerged with more purpose after the interval, only to find
Branagan in inspired form.
He produced an outstanding reflex save to deny Eustace's rasping drive from
close range, while Craig Bellamy burst clear only to fire wide under pressure
from McGreal.
How costly those misses would be. Within a minute of Bellamy's squandered
opening, Ipswich scored again.
Coventry captain Gary Breen not only gave the ball away needlessly within his
own half but then deflected a powerful 25-yard drive from Wright with his upper
arm, ensuring that keeper Kirkland stayed rooted to the spot.
A double substitution failed to revive Coventry and there was no late
comeback.
Ipswich go from strength to strength but the pain for the visitors could
hardly have been greater. They will need a dramatic transformation in fortunes
to stay up now.
That really would be the Great Escape.
Teams
Ipswich: Branagan, Makin, McGreal, Bramble, Hreidarsson,
Jermaine Wright, Holland, Magilton, Reuser (Clapham 61),
Stewart (Naylor 90), Armstrong.
Subs Not Used: Burchill, Venus, Salmon.
Booked: Clapham.
Goals: Reuser 20, Jermaine Wright 56.
Coventry: Kirkland, Quinn (Williams 77), Shaw, Breen, Hall,
Telfer, Carsley (Edworthy 62), Eustace, Bellamy,
Bothroyd (Zuniga 57), Hartson.
Subs Not Used: Hedman, Strachan.
Booked: Eustace, Zuniga, Hartson, Hall.
Att: 24,612
Ref: G Barber (Tring).
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