Marcus Bent’s tenth goal of the season helped Ipswich Town climb out of the relegation zone with their sixth win in seven matches over Fulham at Portman Road tonight.
George Burley side’s superb recent run of form continued as they outthought and outfought the Whites this evening in front of their highest crowd of the campaign – 25,156. Fulham had lost just five times on their travels this season but they were very much second best in Suffolk as Jean Tigana’s team had no answer to the quality of Sixto Peralta in midfield. The Fulham defence also found it difficult to deal with the in-form Bent all evening.
The striker had the first chance of the evening but saw the sting of his close range header from Mark Venus’ ball in removed by Alain Goma’s block and a relieved Edwin van der Sar saved straightforwardly. But the bright Bent was not to be denied. He scored his seventh goal in eight games from barely a yard out after Alun Armstrong’s effort had been deflected over van der Sar by the power of Zat Knight’s challenge.
The recalled Louis Saha swiftly tested Ipswich’s centre backs by way of response before Steed Malbranque saw a shot saved by Andy Marshall after the home goalkeeper had prevented Venus from scoring an own goal. But Fulham’s threat was fleeting and the home side could easily have been further in front by half-time. John McGreal should have punished van der Sar for venturing over his line from a Venus corner but headed wide and the Dutch goalkeeper gathered a header from Bent after the forward had connected with Hermann Hreidarsson’s cross.
Tigana sent on John Collins and Barry Hayles at half time but Ipswich continued to hold the ascendancy. They could have doubled their lead right at the start of the second period but Matt Holland, making his 200th appearance for Ipswich, sent a 20 yard-strike narrowly wide. Fulham, by contrast, saw plenty of the ball but struggled to create clear chances with a fine free kick from substitute Collins the only time that Marshall was tested in the entire second half.
Ipswich should have avoided an uncomfortable last fifteen minutes as Steve Finnan hooked away from his own line after Jamie Clapham looked set to turn home a cross from Bent before van der Sar pulled off an instinctive save with his feet with five minutes to go after the goalscorer had burst onto a Peralta pass. Town held on through stoppage time as Fulham failed to create a chance worthy of the name to record a richly deserved victory.
IPSWICH TOWN (4-4-2): Marshall, Makin, McGreal, Venus, Hreidarsson, Wright (Reuser 83), Holland, Peralta, Clapham, M. Bent, Armstrong (Stewart 69). Subs (not used): Sereni, Counago, Bramble.
BOOKED: McGreal.
GOAL: M. Bent (10).
FULHAM (4-4-2): van der Sar; Finnan, Brevett, Melville, Goma; Knight (Hayles 45), Legwinski (Ouaddou 68), Goldbaek (Collins 45), Malbranque; Marlet, Saha. Subs (not used): Taylor, Stolcers.
BOOKED: Goma, Finnan.
REFEREE: Alan Wiley (Burntwood).
ATTENDANCE: 25,156.
