Ipswich were outplayed in the first half but bounced back to keep their
promotion hopes alive with a narrow victory against Tranmere Rovers.
It appeared Tranmere had dodged a bullet in the 77th minute when the hosts
missed a penalty.
Rovers' Liam O'Brien pushed substitute Mick Stockwell as he challenged for a
cross from the left by David Johnson, and Danny Coyne saved the spot-kick from
Mark Venus.
A minute later, however, Ipswich went ahead.
A corner from Jim Magilton was nodded on in the penalty area by James
Scowcroft, who returned as substitute for his first appearance since breaking
his collarbone 12 weeks ago.
Manuel Thetis then scored at the far post for his second goal since signing
from Seville in September.
It was only Tranmere's fourth away league defeat of the season and ended a run
of seven games unbeaten.
Tranmere battled well and almost saved a point in the 84th minute when Richard
Wright touched a thundering drive from substitute Jason Koumas over the bar.
Another Tranmere substitute, David Kelly, had a shot deflected as the visitors
virtually camped in the Ipswich penalty area throughout five minutes of injury
time.
Town hung on to equal a club record of 20 clean sheets in the league in a
season.
Tranmere showed superior movement of the ball for the first 45 minutes and
could have been well ahead.
Andy Parkinson and Alan Mahon went close with rasping shots in the 12th and
13th minutes, and Ipswich then had two lucky escapes.
In the 28th minute Mahon sent Lee Jones clear down the left. Kenny Irons,
Tranmere's top marksman, struck the ball first time from the cross but his
effort hit Mark Venus in the face.
Ten minutes later Andy Thompson crossed from the left but Mahon's shot was
deflected for a corner by Tony Mowbray, who this week signed a one-year
extension to his contract.
Just before the interval a slip by Thetis let in Scott Taylor but Wright
brought off a diving one-handed save.
Tranmere lost their way after the interval when Coyne was given far more
work.
In the 47th minute he held a close range shot from Richard Naylor and then
dealt with another close range effort, this time from Mowbray after a corner
from Bobby Petta.
Teams:
Ipswich: Wright, Wilnis, Thetis, Clapham, Mowbray, Venus,
Petta (Stockwell 75), Holland, Johnson, Naylor (Scowcroft 61), Magilton.
Subs Not Used: Tanner.
Booked: Petta.
Goals: Thetis 78.
Tranmere: Coyne, Allen, Thompson, McGreal, Hill (Challinor 76),
Irons, Mahon, Parkinson, O'Brien (Koumas 83), Taylor,Jones (Kelly 66).
Booked: Allen, Taylor, O'Brien.
Att: 15,929.
Ref: P Walton (Winwick).
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