Two-goal Julian Joachim was cheered to the rafters by the Aston Villa supporters following his match-winning display on Saturday.

The pacey striker was entitled to look self-satisfied after he had rattled Ipswich.

For at the beginning of the season Joachim was roundly jeered by a section of the support after a very public falling-out with manager John Gregory.

Joachim expressed a desire to leave and some of the fans made it clear he shouldn't have been allowed to wear the jersey.

But Gregory continued to select him and Joachim has come good in the final weeks of the season.

He made it five goals in six games after Ipswich had gone ahead through Alun Armstrong and then grabbed the winner 19 minutes from time.

Villa made a bright start and Ipswich keeper Wright did well to palm the ball away in the fourth minute after Joachim's shot had been deflected.

David Ginola, making his first start in two months, floated in the corner and Dion Dublin got on the end of it.

But Ipswich defender Hermann Hreidarsson was superbly positioned and cleared the ball off the line.

Gareth Southgate returned to the Villa side after a seven-match absence because of a knee injury.

Ipswich, lying in the dizzy heights of third spot, were without Titus Bramble and Marcus Stewart, who were both suspended.

Villa pressed forward again and Dublin saw his effort from the edge of the area go wide of the target with Ginola in a better position.

Joachim got away down the right for Villa and found Lee Hendrie lurking on the edge of the penalty box.

Hendrie continued his run into the area, only to drag his shot wide of the post.

Ipswich were taking time to settle but broke away in the 18th minute with Armstrong instrumental in the move.

He picked out James Scowcroft at the far post but his header didn't trouble keeper David James.

Scowcroft again got away from his marker in the 25th minute when Martijn Reuser delivered a corner from the right, only to find the roof of the net.

Ipswich made the breakthrough after half an hour when Hreidarsson played a long ball over the top to Scowcroft.

He flicked it into the path of Armstrong, who was challenged by Southgate. Unfortunately for Southgate, the ball came back off the Ipswich striker and went beyond James.

Ipswich, who have continued to defy their critics this season, were growing in confidence as half-time approached.

Reuser found space in the 32nd minute but his powerful drive was superbly blocked by James.

Then Jermaine Wright found the wrong side of the post after Fabian Wilnis had delivered a deep cross.

Villa, with only one win in their last nine Premiership games, were finding it hard to get out of their own half.

Their fans were becoming increasingly irritated and jeered the team off at the break.

Ipswich manager George Burley decided to make a change in the 51st minute, bringing on the experienced Jim Magilton for Jamie Clapham.

But Villa drew level a minute later against the run of play to stun Burley.

Joachim managed to weave his way through the Ipswich defence and shrugged off the challenge of John McGreal to see his effort go in off the post.

Villa stepped up a gear after grabbing the equaliser and Alpay sent a header narrowly over the top following a corner from Ginola.

The controversial French star was beginning to see plenty of the ball and floated in a delightful cross that was headed marginally wide by Ian Taylor.

Ipswich, however, continued to look dangerous on the break and Armstrong tested James with a powerful drive.

Joachim grabbed the winner in the 71st minute when he outpaced Hreidarsson and again found the net with his effort via the post.

Teams:

Aston Villa: James, Southgate, Staunton, Alpay, Hendrie, Taylor, Stone, Ginola (Barry 88), Merson, Dublin, Joachim.

Subs Not Used: Angel, Vassell, Samuel, Enckelman.

Booked: Ginola.

Goals: Joachim 53, 71.

Ipswich: Richard Wright, Clapham (Magilton 52), Wilnis, McGreal, Hreidarsson, Makin, Jermaine Wright (Burchill 85), Holland, Reuser, Armstrong, Scowcroft.

Subs Not Used: Brown, Logan, Branagan.

Booked: Hreidarsson.

Goals: Armstrong 30.

Att: 28,216

Ref: R Styles (Waterlooville).