Sunderland's automatic promotion hopes suffered a blow after a 1-0 defeat by
play-off-chasing Ipswich at Portman Road.
Midfielder Tommy Miller fired home a penalty in first-half injury-time penalty
after Darren Bent was brought down by goalkeeper Thomas Myhre, which was enough
to hand Ipswich their fifth win in six games.
Second-half substitute Marcus Stewart and defender Gary Breen went close to
levelling for the Black Cats, who suffered their first defeat in 10 games.
Jim Magilton and Bent wasted late chances to kill the game off for Ipswich,
who held on for a priceless three points.
Ipswich threatened early on and Breen had to be in the right place at the
right time to turn Ian Westlake's dangerous-looking cross away for a corner.
Miller then tried his luck from 30 yards, his shot failing to work Myhre.
Ipswich went even closer in the 10th minute when they were awarded a free-kick
following Phil Babb's foul on recalled Finland international Shefki Kuqi.
Magilton swung over the delivery, but defender Matt Elliott, on loan from
Leicester, could not keep his header down.
While Sunderland's main threat came from their aerial power at corners,
Ipswich continued to create the better opportunities.
Kuqi was next to have a pop at goal, his shot also missing the target.
Sunderland finally began to gather some kind of momentum midway through the
first half when first Sean Thornton's centre was turned away by Dutch defender
Fabian Wilnis, making his 200th appearance for Ipswich.
After the corner was cleared, Thornton then unleashed a shot from long range
which sailed wide.
Sunderland wasted their best chance of the game eight minutes before the break
when Breen headed Thornton's corner over the crossbar while at the other end,
Bent flashed a shot just wide.
The game continued to go from end to end with Darren Byfield firing just wide
for Sunderland as half-time approached before Miller made the Black Cats pay the
penalty just before the break with his 11th goal of the season.
Bent nearly made it 2-0 inside a minute of the restart, but his shot drifted
wide.
Sunderland responded and they finally forced Kelvin Davis into a save, John
Oster's effort being comfortably caught by the keeper.
With 25 minutes left, Sunderland manager Mick McCarthy threw on Stewart as he
tried to get back into the match.
The striker nearly made an instant impact, but headed Jason McAteer's cross
wide while Myhre denied Bent at the other end.
Sunderland twice went close to hauling themselves in as many minutes when
first Thornton's free-kick was saved by Davis before Breen headed an excellent
chance over the bar from six yards.
Magilton nearly doubled Town's lead with 10 minutes remaining, but saw his
side saved by Myhre.
Teams
Ipswich Davis, Wilnis, Elliott, McGreal, Richards, Miller,
Wright, Magilton, Westlake, Kuqi (Santos 87), Bent.
Subs Not Used: Price, Naylor, Bowditch, Reuser.
Booked: McGreal.
Goals: Miller 45 pen.
Sunderland Myhre, Williams (Thirlwell 86), Breen, Babb, Arca,
Thornton, McAteer, Robinson (Piper 60), Oster (Stewart 65),
Kyle, Byfield.
Subs Not Used: Bjorklund, Alnwick.
Booked: McAteer, Byfield, Breen.
Att: 26,801
Ref: L Mason (Lancashire).
E-mail Article 
Print-Friendly
Subscribe to RSS Feed 
Post to del.icio.us
Facebook