Click here for full match stats
Ipswich are snapping at the heels of the Division One play-off contenders
after overcoming 10-man Reading in an action-packed game at Portman Road.
Goals from Thomas Gaardsoe and Matt Holland - with Nicky Forster replying -
gave them a half-time lead, and they sealed victory through Jim Magilton after
Reading lost the red-carded Adie Viveash.
The result means Ipswich stay in seventh spot, but they are now only two
points behind Nottingham Forest and three behind Wolves. Beaten Reading lost
third place to Sheffield United.
Ipswich got away to an explosive start. There were only seconds on the clock
when Martijn Reuser clipped in a free-kick from the right and Gaardsoe beat
goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann to the ball to bury a header.
The visitors soon began to show their quality, and they came close to an
equaliser when Andy Hughes flicked the ball over goalkeeper Andy Marshall, but
it landed on top of the crossbar.
It was a clear warning to Ipswich of what was to come and the lively Forster
scored his 12th goal of the season to bring the sides level after 16 minutes,
side-footing the ball home after Marshall blocked his initial effort.
Marshall again had to be alert to tip Nathan Tyson's shot around the post, but
Ipswich hit back and after Reuser had strong appeals for a penalty turned down
when Graeme Murty felled him, they went in front again.
Magilton laid the ball off to Holland at a 31st-minute free-kick and the
Republic of Ireland international, who headed the winner at Sheffield Wednesday
on Saturday, struck a peach of a shot that gave Hahnemann no chance.
Reading's hopes all but disappeared when Viveash was sent off in the 58th
minute. The defender, who played much of the first half with blood seeping from
a bandaged head, took exception to Gaardsoe knocking the ball away at a
free-kick and his reaction brought a red card from referee Clive Wilkes.
Ipswich sealed it in the 70th minute when Magilton knocked the ball home after
it fell to him following an excellent run by Fabian Wilnis, and Marcus Bent then
headed over the top as the minutes ticked away.
Teams
Ipswich: Marshall, Naylor, Gaardsoe, Makin, Wilnis, Wright,
Holland, Magilton, Reuser, Counago (Darren Bent 71),
Marcus Bent.
Subs Not Used: Bowditch, Pullen, Richards, Westlake.
Booked: Gaardsoe.
Goals: Gaardsoe 1, Holland 31, Magilton 70.
Reading: Hahnemann, Murty, Viveash, Brown, Shorey,
Chadwick (Watson 78), Sidwell (Newman 62), Harper, Hughes,
Tyson (Salako 55), Forster.
Subs Not Used: Ashdown, Henderson.
Sent Off: Viveash (58).
Goals: Forster 16.
Att: 24,108
Ref: C Wilkes (Gloucestershire).
 E-mail Article  Print-Friendly
 Subscribe to RSS Feed
 Post to del.icio.us
 Facebook
|
