Ipswich Town - 1 (Johnson 26.)
Crystal Palace - 0

Admittedly this match brought the expected result of three points for the home side, and none for Palace who are still looking for the two points that will make them mathematically safe from relegation, but this performance from Ipswich was not really deserving of a team aiming for the Premiership. With next weekend's game away to champions Charlton Athletic it would appear that a play off position may well be the best that they can hope for, and they will be anxiously looking at those that join them there, as it will be their fourth successive season at play off level. Palace may have made the long journey for no reward, but the display from the visiting side was nothing to be ashamed of, and the side will be looking forward to the visit of Blackburn Rovers to Selhurst Park on Saturday. Just maybe our future at Division One level may be settled there.

The home side certainly made most of the running in this match, with Palace only looking dangerous on the break. The first five minutes saw Matt Gregg tipping over a header from James Scowcroft, followed by David Johnson firing wide after good work by Martijn Reuser. A good drive by Jim Magilton from well out went just over the bar, and then the pressure finally told with a punt upfield by Wayne Brown being chested down Johnson before he slipped past Jamie Smith and fired a great left foot shot into the back of the net. The goal, for some obscure reason, seemed to take all the wind out of the Ipswich sails, and gradually Palace fought their way back into the match.

Leon McKenzie slipped in a good pass from the left which found Ashley Cole who only managed to send his shot wide of the mark, but at least it reminded everyone that we were there, and looking to take something out of the match. Scowcroft then headed the ball down to Magilton who fired wide when left totally unmarked in the box. Back at the other end Clinton Morrison managed to finally find his way past Brown, but his shot was tipped just wide of the mark by Richard Wright, one of the most impressive players on the night.

Apart from a scare for the travelling Palace faithful when Smith brought Scowcroft down in the area, the result being a simple play on ruling by the referee, the remainder of the first half passed without incident, and Steve Coppell would have been well pleased with the team's showing to that point.

The second half produced very little in the way of chances, with Ipswich particularly appearing content to sit on their lead and Palace unable to make much headway. The best two chances of the second forty-five minutes both fell to Cole, the first being pushed away by Wright, and the second seeing him dispossessed at the last moment by Tony Mowbray.

To round off the match a final chance went to Magilton, but his header went straight into the arms of our young keeper. The match was all over, Ipswich had achieved their aim of maximum points, but they had won few fans with this showing against a team they should have beaten well. Palace though, tend to perform better in this type of match, and the game against Blackburn will be well worth watching.

Colin Pryce

Ipswich Town: Richard Wright, Fabian Wilnis, Manuel Thetis (Jermaine Wright 75), Tony Mowbray, Wayne Brown, Jamie Clapham, Martijn Reuser, Matt Holland, Jim Magilton, James Scowcroft (Richard Naylor 88), David Johnson.

Substitutes not used: Mick Stockwell, Keith Branagan, Gary Croft.

Crystal Palace: Matthew Gregg, Jamie Smith, Dean Austin, Andy Linighan, Ashley Cole, Hayden Mullins, Craig Foster, Wayne Carlisle, Steve Thomson, Clinton Morrison, Leon McKenzie.

Substitutes not used: Lee Kendall, Andrew Frampton, David Woozley, Nick Rizzo, Steve Hunt.

Attendance: 18,798

Referee: Mr J P Robinson (Hull).