By Longsider
November 8 2004

Press reports that covered our match against Ipswich on Saturday. We bring you reports from the Daily Telegraph, Guardian and the Sporting Life. Apologies for earlier layout problems with this article.

Burnley bow to Bent

Daily Telegraph

Joe Royle, manager of second-placed Ipswich, conceded his team were far from their best in overcoming Burnley, whose injury misfortunes meant they were forced to name three teenagers, an unknown trialist from Italy's Serie D and the club coach, Mark Yates, as substitute. They even went into this encounter at Turf Moor with John McGreal (ankle) and Graham Branch (calf) playing when they should not, only to suffer further concerns when central defender Frank Sinclair went off after seven minutes also troubled by a calf problem.

With Tottenham arriving for a Carling Cup tie tomorrow, the Burnley manager Steve Cotterill said: "It's all too much; I don't know where we go from here."

The task for Ipswich was made marginally easier by the home side adopting a formation with Robbie Blake, the captain, a lone front-runner although he was unfortunate to have a 19th-minute strike disallowed for offside and then clipped the crossbar with a stunning 35th-minute free-kick.

However, apart from additional long-range attempts by substitute Amadou Sanokho - the trialist - and Mo Camara, it proved the sum total of home threat.

Royle said: "I don't think we were ever in too much trouble. We know we can play better, but scored two great goals.''

Both came from Darren Bent, his first after 15 minutes following a long clearance from goalkeeper Kelvin Davis, the second on 55 minutes when Jim Magilton played the ball wide, leaving Bent cutting in from the right to finish with a ferocious left-foot effort.

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Burnley 0 Ipswich 2

Sporting Life

Ipswich striker Darren Bent scored a magnificent match-winning brace at Burnley to keep the pressure on Coca-Cola Championship leaders Wigan.

The 20-year-old scored one in each half at Turf Moor - the second a spectacular individual strike - as his side continue their fine run.

Joe Royle's side were six points behind the the leaders before the clash with Steve Cotterill's men - and he will be confident of reaching top spot soon if Bent maintains his form.

Burnley could not build on their magnificent win at Leeds in midweek, and suffered a blow early on when they lost experienced centre-back Frank Sinclair to a leg injury.

The makeshift defence struggled to cope in his absence, and midfielder Graham Branch played in the heart of the defence as Mike Duff was suspended.

Ipswich's aspirations of promotion this season are based on their promising youngster Bent, whose two strikes had the class of a top-flight marksman.

However, most of their attacks start from veteran Jim Magilton, who sits in central midfield and distributes with intelligence.

The 35-year-old hit the bar with a free-kick from distance early on after Bent had lured John McGreal into a foul. But the visitors were not made to wait long before they opened the scoring.

For all Ipswich's slick passing football, the opener came from a huge kick from keeper Kelvin Davis. Bent latched onto the punt and was in the clear before finishing with confidence past Brian Jensen.

It was the England Under-21 international's seventh strike of the season and his ability - and tireless running for team-mates - will surely trouble Premiership defences should his side get promoted.

He had showed his unselfish side in the opening moments of the game when he set up strike-partner Shefki Kuqi from 10 yards out - but the Finland forward blazed over without conviction.

The opener was a setback for the home side as they had their best chance to score themselves seconds before the goal.

Drissa Diallo gifted Richard Duffy a run on goal but the player on loan from Portsmouth dithered and Kevin Horlock got back to challenge.

The Clarets, whose next few results could determine what they play for this season, started to press forward after Bent's opener.

Skipper Robbie Blake thought he had scored an equaliser three minutes after his side went behind when he was put through by Tony Grant. The 28-year-old finished with superbly but was ruled just offside.

Davis struggled to hold drives from Amadou Sanokho and Mo Camara just before the break - but was lucky that both parries went to safety.

Aside from these long-distance efforts, Ipswich's defence looked unlikely to be troubled.

The home side were reduced to lame penalty shouts, the strongest on the stroke of half-time when Richard Naylor tussled with Duffy - but the Burnley midfielder was penalised for the foul.

Indeed, it was the visitors who looked like adding to their lead, such was their dominance.

Led by Magilton, the midfield never allowed Burnley a moment on the ball. This tactic did earn Magilton a booking for a foul on Tony Grant. Miller was also cautioned for a trip on Duffy.

And Bent's moment of class after 65 minutes sealed the points for his side. He found himself side on the right with team-mates in the penalty area but cut inside and unleashed an unstoppable drive that found the roof of the net.

Burnley tried to fight their way back, Micah Hyde going close with a header from Camara's cross - but Bent's double was enough for the win.

Bent could have bagged a hat-trick late on but fired straight at Jensen. He also set up Tommy Miller in injury time but Jensen saved well.

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Ipswich face Bent window pain

The Guardian

Two goals from Darren Bent edged Ipswich Town closer to the Championship leaders Wigan and closer to the January day that may decide whether they win promotion this season.

Ipswich's fate could hinge on their ability to hang on to Bent when Premiership clubs wave cheques in their direction when the transfer window opens.

Bent's team-mates, aware of his value to the side, are encouraging him to stay, but Steve Cotterill, the Burnley manager, suspects that Ipswich will find it difficult to keep the 20-year-old.

"Bent is a wonderful player," Cotterill said. "He's a class act who should be playing in the Premiership and will probably go there in the transfer window. It's just a shame for our sake he didn't go in the summer."

The experienced Ipswich defender Richard Naylor knows that Bent's departure would damage their prospects, but remains unconvinced it would be a sensible move for the striker.

"We know Premiership clubs are interested and that's always a worry, but he might not play every week if he moved to a big club. I think he should stay here and continue his education," said Naylor. "As far as I know, Darren is not looking to leave and, with the club on a better financial footing, there's no reason to accept offers for him."

So far, Ipswich and Bent have been able to resist interest from the Premiership's second-tier teams such as Tottenham, Charlton and Aston Villa, but bigger clubs are monitoring the England Under-21 international's development and will have noted the way he took his two goals here.

Bent finished clinically after pursuing a long clearance from Kelvin Davis in the 14th minute, then added his eighth goal of the season with a powerful angled shot that startled the Burnley goalkeeper Brian Jensen after 65 minutes. "I didn't get a sniff of that one," said Jensen.

Naylor was equally impressed. "He showed he's a special talent. Darren is one of the best strikers I've ever played alongside and I've played with some decent ones. He's got everything, including that knack of being in the right place at the right time. And he's getting better with every game."

Burnley rarely threatened to end Ipswich's unbeaten run that now extends to 10 games, but have a legitimate excuse in the absence of half their regular first team through injury.

The depth of their problem was emphasised by a substitutes' bench that featured three teenagers, a player on trial from an Italian Serie D club and the first-team coach Mark Yates.

Frank Sinclair became the latest casualty when he suffered a calf injury after only seven minutes and is likely to miss tomorrow night's Carling Cup tie against Tottenham.

"We are missing too many players and just can't cope," said Cotterill, who will attempt to bring more players on loan this week. "But we'll keep trying - we'll keep battling on."