He is a player who will always score goalsBent made an immediate impression but Marcus Stewart and Marcus Bent Burley’s
He is a player who will always score goals”Bent made an immediate impression but Marcus Stewart and Marcus Bent, Burley’s first choice pairing in attack, were guilty of wasting glorious chances before being withdrawn midway through the second half.Darren Bent arrived to hand Burley and the Ipswich faithful a lifeline. He is unlikely to score a more valuable goal but with Sunderland having only to tackle Charlton and the already relegated Derby, it could count for very little in the end.Alun Armstrong, who was brought on along with goalscorer Bent in a double change in attack, almost doubled the advantage after 68 minutes but saw his header from Martijn Reuser’s centre rebound to safety from the woodwork.Andy Marshall, the Ipswich goalkeeper, produced his only save of the night 15 minutes from time to earn his side the points, and it was out of the top drawer. Gareth Southgate, who ended the game with a broken nose, met Carlos Marinelli’s corner with a majestic header that Marshall spectacularly pushed over the top.Ipswich’s attempt to put the game beyond doubt were almost completed three minutes from time but Jamie Clapham saw his left-foot effort from 20 yards, following a neat one-two with Armstrong, pushed wide by Mark Schwarzer.Ipswich: (4-4-2) Marshall 6; Bramble 7, Venus 7 (Wilnis 6, 82), McGreal 7, Hreidarsson 7; Peralta 8, Holland 7, Reuser 7, Clapham 6; M Bent 7 (D Bent 8, 56), Stewart 6 (Armstrong 6, 56). Substitutes not used: Salmon (gk), George.Middlesbrough (4-4-2): Schwarzer 6; Stockdale 6 (Hudson, 85), Southgate 7, Cooper 6, Queudrue 6; Johnston 5 (Marinelli 6, 67), Ince 6, Debeve 6, Downing 6; Nemeth 5, Carbone 6.
Substitutes not used: Crossley (gk), Gavin, Wilkshire.Referee: A D’Urso (Essex) 6.. While Liverpool sat twitching and Manchester United attempted to took out their frustrations on Bayer Leverkusen, Arsenal extended their lead at the top of the Premiership to four points with late goals by the prolific Freddie Ljungberg and then Nwankwo Kanu. A 10th successive Premiership victory means that they could even win the title at Bolton next Monday, if their two rivals both lost on Saturday; otherwise it could be tied up at Old Trafford, which would be particularly satisfying. While Liverpool sat twitching, and Manchester United attempted to take out their frustrations on Bayer Leverkusen, Arsenal moved to within two victories of the Premiership title last night with two late goals in the space of three minutes from the prolific Freddie Ljungberg and then Nwankwo Kanu. A 10th successive Premiership victory extended their lead at the top of the table to four points and means that they could even tie things up at Bolton next Monday if their two rivals both lose on Saturday.
Otherwise the championship could be secured at Old Trafford in two weeks’ time, which would be particularly satisfying.
Conversely, and crucially, Ars? Wenger’s team could afford to lose against United and still take the title from them after three successive seasons of trailing in their wake. Wenger, typically, is counting neither chickens nor points, but he was delighted with the way Arsenal stepped up the pace in the second half to claim a deserved success after West Ham had been denied a legitimate goal. The debate over greater use of video technology was fuelled shortly before half-time. The visitors broke speedily from a poor free-kick by Thierry Henry, and Fr?ric Kanout?ped past Lauren and a ponderous Tony Adams, drew David Seaman and shot; Ashley Cole raced back to clear, but replays showed the ball was clearly over the line before being hacked away.”That could have won them the championship.