Ipswich 1 - Slovan Liberec 0

Substitute Bent took just five minutes to net the goal which ensured a winning start for new Ipswich manager Royle.

Bent fired home from a superb Alun Armstrong cross, but Town rode their luck at times as the Czech Republic champions, Slovan Liberec, twice hit the woodwork.

The first half started in quiet fashion before Andy Marshall collected a Miroslav Slepicka header, and then Darren Ambrose fired wide after Antonin Kinsky spilled a Hermann Hreidarsson cross under pressure from Armstrong.

Armstrong saw his header from a Jamie Clapham cross well saved by Kinsky who then dived to claim Pablo Counago's curling effort.

Armstrong volleyed wide from another Clapham cross before Kinsky leapt to turn aside a 20-yard Jamie Clapham shot.

Liberec came more into the game just before the break, and Marshall made good saves to deny a long-range Tomas Janu shot and a venomous Ivan Hodur volley.

The Czechs missed a great chance right on half time when Slepicka laid the ball off for Martin Zboncak, who hit the bar from just five yards when a goal looked certain.

The second half also began slowly before Kinsky saved a rising Hreidarsson drive and Armstrong almost guided a header in to the path of Ambrose a couple of yards out.

Bent replaced Counago on 64 minutes and he scored what proved to be the only goal five minutes later when he stole in unmarked to volley home Armstrong's cross from eight yards out.

Within a minute Liberec should have equalised when Marshall missed Zboncak's cross, but substitute Baffour Gyan headed against the bar with the goal gaping and Jan Nezmar put the rebound over.

Liberec threw more men forward as the game wore on, but Town defended stoutly and could have even scored a second goal, as, after beating two men, Jim Magilton curled his shot over from an angle.

Kickoff 31 October 2002 19:45 at Portman Road
Referee: Leuba, P	Attendance: 16,138

Final Result
Ipswich 1	Slovan Liberec 0
D.Bent (68)

Yellow Cards
T.Gaardsoe, 59, unsporting behaviour	Zapotocny, 70, unsporting behaviour

Red Cards

Match Squads
Ipswich 1	Slovan Liberec 0
1. A.Marshall 2. C.Makin 3. J.McGreal 4. W.Brown 5. H.Hreidarsson 6. D.Ambrose 7. J.Magilton 8. M.Holland 9. J.Clapham 10. P.Counago 11. A.Armstrong	1. Kinsky 2. Capek 3. Zapotocny 4. Zboncak 5. Nezmar 6. Slepicka 7. Hodur 8. Holenak 9. Polak 10. Lukas 11. Janu

Substitutes
12. J.Pullen 13. T.Miller 14. T.Gaardsoe(46) 15. D.Bent(64) 16. J.Wright 17. F.Wilnis 18. F.George(77)	12. Hauzr 13. Gyan(56) 14. Ancic(77) 15. Holosko 16. Blaha 17. Papousek 18. Slovak(73)