Ipswich must try to gain promotion to the Premiership via the play-offs after
today's victory over Sheffield United proved academic in their bid to beat
Bradford to second spot in Division One.
Town easily disposed of their South Yorkshire opponents at Portman Road, but
Bradford's 3-2 defeat of Wolves at Molineux condemned George Burley's men to
third place.
Ipswich have lost out in the play-offs in each of the last two seasons, to
Sheffield United in 1997 and Charlton 12 months ago - and Saturday's results mean
they must hope to make it third time lucky, with a two-legged tie against Bolton
awaiting them next week.
They were in the driving seat a fortnight ago, but successive Ipswich defeats
to Crewe and Birmingham enabled Bradford to leapfrog the East Anglians.
Since being relegated from the top flight four years ago, Town have been in
the play-offs twice and finished one point outside of the top six once, in
1996.
They must now overcome the memories of their heartbreak in the last two
seasons together with the fact that the team finishing third has never been
promoted from the First Division via the play-offs.
Ipswich did all they could today, wrapping up victory by half-time at Portman
Road thanks to goals from Jim Magilton, James Scowcroft and Kieron Dyer.
The second 45 minutes were played out in a surreal atmosphere, with more
people concerned about what was going on in the west Midlands than East Anglia.
With both Wolves and Bradford having chances to score, the tension was growing
among the home fans at Portman Road - but they were almost resigned to their
fate after the Bantams grabbed their third.
That goal came shortly after George Donis, who had hit the bar at the start of
the second half, scored on 62 minutes before Dyer hit the post and Richard
Naylor grabbed Ipswich's fourth 11 minutes from time.
Seconds later Wolves pulled it back to 3-2, and the cheers in Suffolk seemed
loud enough to be heard in the Black Country.
Then some Ipswich supporters able to see television screens in the Main Stand
cheered prematurely, thinking Paul Simpson's late free-kick had gone in.
His effort had in fact rebounded back off the post, but that did not stop the
majority of the other home fans celebrating what they believed was a Wolves
equaliser.
Bradford hung on to deny Ipswich automatic promotion, but their optimistic
followers still sang "We're going to Wembley" as they looked ahead to the
play-offs.
But as Town ended the match on a downer because of the Molineux result, so
United had insult added to injury when Robbie Kozluck - who moved to Bramall
Lane only at the end of March - was sent off for the second time in his Blades
career after he was booked twice for fouls on Bobby Petta and Jamie Clapham.
On a day when the death of Sir Alf Ramsey, who led Ipswich to their only
championship in 1962, was mourned at Portman Road, the current crop of players
at the club did his memory proud with some superb attacking football.
Both Ipswich and United had early chances, with the visitors - under no
pressure and seemingly out to enjoy themselves in the Suffolk sun - spurning a
handful of opportunities to take the lead.
Lee Morris hit the outside of the post from a narrow angle with Richard Wright
beaten, while the England Under-21 goalkeeper was thankful to see Donis' shot
hit an upright.
The ball rebounded to Marcelo, whose effort was blocked by Clapham on the
line, and Paul Devlin's drive was deflected over.
But those early chances aside, Ipswich were on top throughout, and Alan Kelly
made fine saves from Dyer and Johnson to preserve the deadlock.
However, the floodgates opened once Magilton - a £750,000 signing from
Sheffield Wednesday in March - struck after 18 minutes to give his side the
lead.
Dyer laid the ball back to the Northern Ireland midfielder, and his low
15-yard drive arrowed beyond Kelly and inside the far post.
At that stage Ipswich were Premiership-bound, with Bradford trailing to Havard
Flo's goal at Molineux.
But Town, who had scored just twice in five matches before today, were not
content to sit on their slim advantage and continued to press.
Dyer sent a drive just wide before Scowcroft doubled Ipswich's lead on 32
minutes, rising highest at the far post to head home Petta's cross.
By the time Dyer made it 3-0 in first-half stoppage time, lifting the ball
over Kelly after getting on the end of Magilton's pass, Bradford were winning -
and the fate of Burley's men was once again out of their hands.
Ipswich were never in danger of surrendering their lead after the interval.
But the news from Molineux was not what they wanted to hear, and another bout of
play-off matches is in store for Town.
Teams:
Ipswich: Wright, Wilnis, Clapham, Magilton (Stockwell 80),
Mowbray, Venus, Dyer, Holland, Johnson (Naylor 67), Scowcroft,Petta (Thetis 70).
Goals: Magilton 18, Scowcroft 32, Dyer 45, Naylor 79.
Sheff Utd: Kelly, Derry (Hamilton 73), Kozluk, Dellas,
Jacobsen (Quinn 46), Tebily, Donis, Hunt, Marcello,
Devlin (Katchouro 62), Morris.
Sent Off: Kozluk (75).
Booked: Devlin, Tebily, Kozluk.
Goals: Donis 63.
Att: 21,689
Ref: P Taylor (Cheshunt).
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