Ipswich 3 - Middlesbrough 1

Last updated : 06 November 2002 By TownMAD

The Blues beat Boro three times out of four in the Premiership in the last two years and took advantage of a much changed visiting side to run out easy winners.

Town were given a dream start on two minutes when Danish defender Thomas Gaardsoe races in to the box on to Jamie Clapham's pass and chipped Mark Crossley.

Ipswich dominated the early stages and could have scored again but for a well timed challenge by Tony Vidmar on Darren Bent as he chased a Fabian Wilnis throughball.

Middlesbrough came to life midway through the half as Alan Johnston shot wide from an angle and then Franck Queudrue shot over from Carlos Marinelli's pass.

Town weathered the storm and scored again on 40 minutes when Jamie Clapham collected Tommy Miller's pass and thrashed a rising drive beyond Crossley.

The visitors then gifted Town a third goal on 44 minutes. Colin Cooper's wayward ball was collected by Wilnis who crossed for Bent to head home.

Boro needed an early breakthrough to get back in the game, but instead it was Ipswich who continued to force the pace.

Robbie Stocdale made a last ditch tackle to foil Bent, then Chris Makin had a shot deflected over.

Bent came close to a superb second goal with seven minutes to go, only for his curling 25-yard shot to be kept out by the crossbar.

Queudrue fired a late consolation for the visitors but manager Steve McClaren may be ruing his decision to make nine changes from the side which had started Monday's 2-0 defeat at Newcastle.

Kickoff 6 November 2002 19:45 at Portman Road
Referee: Wolstenholme, E. K.Attendance: 14,417
Final Result
Ipswich 3
Middlesbrough 1
T.Gaardsoe (2)
J.Clapham (40)
D.Bent (44)
F.Queudrue (87)
Yellow Cards
T.Vidmar, 57, unsporting behaviour
B.Close, 77, unsporting behaviour
M.Wilson, 89, unsporting behaviour
Red Cards
Match Squads
Ipswich 3
Middlesbrough 1
1. J.Pullen
2. C.Makin
3. H.Hreidarsson
4. T.Gaardsoe
5. M.Venus
6. F.Wilnis
7. J.Wright
8. T.Miller
9. J.Clapham
10. F.George
11. D.Bent
1. M.Crossley
2. R.Stockdale
3. T.Vidmar
4. C.Cooper
5. F.Queudrue
6. M.Wilson
7. A.Davies
8. L.Wilkshire
9. A.Johnston
10. C.Marinelli
11. S.Nemeth
Substitutes
12. A.Marshall
13. M.Bloomfield
14. I.Westlake
15. M.Richards
16. R.Logan
12. B.Close
13. P.Gulliver
14. J.Cade
15. C.Dove
16. S.Russell