Tottenham will be relieved to have finally seen the back of John McGreal this
season.
Having played a significant role in starting his side's revival in a 2-1 win
at Tottenham last month, the defender's late winner in the return fixture - the
first time he has played since then - ensured they repeated the feat at home.
At White Hart Lane, Teddy Sheringham was controversially sent off for pushing
McGreal away to earn a three-match ban.
With Sheringham thereby unavailable for this fixture and Les Ferdinand taken
off injured, Tottenham lacked the power to answer Ipswich as they continued to
haul themselves away from the bottom of the table.
Marcus Bent gave the home side the lead with his fourth goal in five games and
although Gus Poyet levelled shortly after the break, McGreal struck with a
deflected header with nine minutes left.
It was slightly earlier than Alun Armstrong's late winner at White Hart Lane
on December 22, which has led to Ipswich embarking on a run of five wins in six
games, but no less crucial to their fortunes.
Before they won at Tottenham on December 22, they were rooted to the bottom of
the table, four points adrift and already 10 points behind 16th-placed West
Ham.
Now they are ahead of both Leicester and Derby with safety at least within
sight.
Boss George Burley, who dropped Titus Bramble even from the bench, had rushed
Marcus Stewart back last weekend but this time played it safe with Bent and Alun
Armstrong starting up front.
The decision quickly paid dividends as Bent, who has been in impressive form
recently, struck after only 12 minutes.
Quite how the Ipswich striker managed to lose his marker, Ledley King, quite
so comprehensively will be a matter for some debate in the Tottenham
dressing-room.
However, Bent timed his run to perfection to meet Mark Venus's corner and
powered a header past Neil Sullivan, who had been recalled to the Tottenham
goal.
Soon afterwards, Bent's flick looked to have put through Armstrong only for
Chris Perry to produce a superb covering tackle.
Tottenham, meanwhile, with Steffen Iversen joining Sergei Rebrov up front,
failed to seriously test out Andy Marshall, who had kept his place ahead of club
record signing Matteo Sereni to make his Premiership debut.
With Rebrov mis-hitting one effort and placing another volley wide, while
Poyet's audacious 40-yard lob flew only narrowly over the bar, they at least
came back into contention.
But Ipswich responded and when Martijn Reuser superbly cut inside and
unleashed a shot which Sullivan could only parry, Bent should have done far
better than to head weakly at the keeper.
Both sides made changes at half-time, with Ipswich switching to a back-three.
And the home side should have gone further ahead as Bent shot inches wide when
clean through, while Sullivan's superb reactions denied the striker's header
from point-blank range.
However, it was Tottenham, just a minute after one 'goal' was disallowed for
offside, who struck back as Poyet put the ball into the net a second time - and
this time, it counted.
Darren Anderton and Rebrov were both involved in the build-up to leave Poyet
bearing down on Marshall but the former Norwich keeper should still not have
been beaten at his near post.
With referee Matt Messias forced off with a calf injury, both sides continued
to threaten in a stop-start game but it was McGreal who had the final say.
Venus' corner was met by the defender, who has not played due to an ankle
injury since the game between these sides last month, and his header was
deflected in off King.
Ipswich may have been counted out of the running before Christmas but they
have hauled themselves back off the canvas with guts and determination. Survival
is now a distinct possibility.
Teams
Ipswich: Marshall, Makin, McGreal, Venus, Hreidarsson, Wright,
Magilton (Peralta 64), Holland, Reuser (Clapham 45),
Armstrong (Stewart 57), Marcus Bent.
Subs Not Used: Sereni, Naylor.
Goals: Marcus Bent 12, McGreal 81.
Tottenham: Sullivan, Perry, Richards, King, Ziege (Davies 45),
Taricco (Etherington 86), Anderton, Sherwood, Poyet, Rebrov,
Ferdinand (Iversen 29).
Subs Not Used: Keller, Gardner.
Booked: Poyet.
Goals: Poyet 58.
Att: 25,077
Ref: M Messias (York).
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