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Bent and John McGreal tried long-range strikes before United almost broke the deadlock. Centre-back Shaun Murphy picked out substitute Laurens Ten Heuvel., the Dutch striker fed Paul Peschisolido, whose looping header was palmed away by Andy Marshall as he scrambled back.
Bent pulled another shot wide of the target before he was foiled by the woodwork.
Centre back Chris Makin threaded the ball to the Ipswich frontman who beat Paddy Kenny with a low strike from 16 yards, the ball cannoning off the foot of the post.
Icelandic international Hermann Hreidarsson drilled in a low shot finger-tipped past the woodwork by Kenny and Bent, running on to an inch-perfect crossfield pass from Holland was blocked by full-back Jon Harley on the edge of the area.
Ten Heuvel squandered a chance in the 54th minute beating his marker to a Harley cross only to power his header over the target from six yards.
Murphy saved United with a last-ditch tackle on Holland as he squared up to hammer home substitute Finidi George's cross and minutes later the Australian international wasted a chance pulling his close range header wide.
Phil Jagielka drilled a shot from 20 yards wide of the goal late on as the game ended goalless