Play-off chasing Ipswich grabbed a useful point against a Crystal Palace side
who must be wondering how they failed to win this largely one-sided Division One
encounter at Selhurst Park.
Andy Johnson's header midway through the first half gave Palace a deserved
lead at the break, but Marcus Bent headed home Jim Magilton's 67th minute corner
to ensure the spoils were shared.
The Tractor Boys welcomed back Spaniard Pablo Counago to the squad after
suspension, and started brightly with highly-rated England Under-20 star Darren
Ambrose firing just wide from the edge of the area in the opening exchanges.
Skipper Matthew Holland, making his 250th league appearance for Town, missed a
glorious chance to open the scoring on 11 minutes when he somehow headed over
Magilton's corner from close range.
Palace grew in confidence as the half went on and moments after Julian Gray
tested Andy Marshall from long range, they took the lead.
Striker Tommy Black pulled wide before delivering an inch-perfect cross which
Johnson headed back over Marshall and into the net on 20 minutes.
Ipswich were handed an injury blow moments later when Matthew Richards
replaced Ambrose, who looks set to join Hermann Hreidersson, Alun Armstrong,
Tommy Miller, John McGreal and Finidi George on the sidelines.
The hosts almost doubled their lead when Gray forced a good save from Marshall
from close range on 31 minutes, and the keeper again came to the visitors'
rescue on 37 minutes when he brilliantly tipped Shaun Derry's shot around the
post.
Danish defender Thomas Gaardsoe tamely headed over late in the half as Ipswich
struggled to create clear-cut chances.
After a cagey opening to the second period, Ipswich grabbed an equaliser when
Northern Ireland international Magilton's outswinging corner was powerfully
headed home by Bent.
Palace heads dropped a little after that and Counago, who came on as a
substitute on 54 minutes for defender Chris Makin, should have put his side in
front when he smashed over from inside the box.
Johnson smashed a header against the woodwork from Danny Butterfield's cross.
Both sides continued to push forward in search of a winner, and Palace's
Steven Thomson wasted the best chance late on when he fired over from nine
yards.
Teams
Crystal Palace: Berthelin, Powell, Popovic, Granville,
Butterfield, Derry, Mullins, Gray (Borrowdale 87),
Black (Thomson 61), Johnson, Whelan (Freedman 61).
Subs Not Used: Kolinko, Akinbiyi.
Booked: Thomson.
Goals: Johnson 20.
Ipswich: Marshall, Wilnis, Holland, Gaardsoe,
Makin (Counago 54), Darren Bent (Reuser 82), Wright, Magilton,
Ambrose (Richards 23), Marcus Bent, Naylor.
Subs Not Used: Bowditch, Pullen.
Goals: Marcus Bent 67.
Att: 15,990
Ref: E Wolstenholme (Lancashire).
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