By Longsider
October 18 2004

We bring some reports covering the game yesterday at Portman Road. Not only have we got some press reports we've decided to get an oppositions's view of the game. Ipswich 1 Burnley 1

Sporting Life

Matt Richards scored a last-gasp equaliser to preserve Ipswich's unbeaten home record this season.

He struck in the dying moments to cancel out Robbie Blake's opener, and Pablo Counago was denied a dramatic winner when he struck the woodwork seconds later.

Though Ipswich fans will claim Burnley deserved no less for their lack of urgency after taking the lead, it is difficult not to feel sympathy for Danny Coyne.

The Clarets goalkeeper pulled off a clutch of crucial saves, most notably in the final quarter of an hour to deny Counago and Ian Westlake before Richards' decisive intervention.

The final stages aside, Ipswich showed little of the attacking menace that had brought them 23 goals this season going into the game, more than any other side in the Championship.

Burnley, on the other hand, gave another demonstration of the solidity which has earned them the tag of the division's meanest defence, but they could not repel a fierce barrage of Ipswich pressure late on.

Both goalkeepers were called into action early on, Coyne saving Jim Magilton's header before a dangerous Blake free-kick was punched clear by Lewis Price.

Coyne was not unduly troubled by another Magilton header following Dean Bowditch's deep cross from the right, but Price was helpless to prevent Blake opening the scoring 10 minutes later.

Richard Naylor surrendered possession on the edge of his own penalty area, allowing Micah Hyde to release Blake, who shot low to Price's left.

Ipswich were rescued by a goalline clearance from Jason De Vos after Blake's chipped cross caused confusion in the six-yard box, although Shefki Kuqi met Magilton's corner with a glancing header across the face of the Burnley goal shortly after.

Ian Moore shot straight at Price in the final minute of the half as Burnley gave Ipswich boss Joe Royle further material for his half-time team talk.

His words must have had some impact, for Kevin Horlock struck the Burnley woodwork with a left-footed free-kick less less than a minute after the restart.

However, it needed a fine stop from Price to keep out Richard Chaplow's powerful drive, and another to deny Blake midway through the half.

Former Burnley defender Drissa Diallo sent a volley over the crossbar and Kuqi fired wide, while substitute Counago wasted a decent headed opportunity as Ipswich's chances of salvaging a point receded.

Kuqi could not convert Ian Westlake's cross-cum-shot following good work from Diallo, but Ipswich's pressure yielded a last-minute equaliser when Richards converted Kuqi's cross.

Teams

Ipswich Price, Diallo, Naylor, De Vos, Richards, Miller, Magilton, Horlock, Westlake, Kuqi, Bowditch (Counago 50).

Subs Not Used: Supple, Collins, Mitchell, Antonio Murray.

Goals: Richards 90.

Burnley Coyne, Duff (Duffy 75), Sinclair, McGreal, Camara, Moore (Roche 79), Hyde, Grant, Chaplow (Valois 87), Branch, Blake.

Subs Not Used: Jensen, Sanokho.

Booked: Hyde, Chaplow, Roche.

Goals: Blake 19.

Att: 23,183

Ref: B Curson (Leicestershire).

RICHARDS SPARKS A FIGHTBACK

Sunday People

YOUNG defender Matt Richards grabbed a last-gasp leveller for injury-hit Ipswich. And in an amazing finale Joe Royle's men almost snatched an incredible victory. Tommy Miller's stoppage-time rocket struck both bar and post before substitute Pablo Counago rattled an upright on the rebound. Richards, 19, pounced when Burnley's Scrooge-like defence seemed capable of holding firm after Robbie Blake's 19th-minute opener. Ipswich were in danger of surrendering their unbeaten home record before Shefki Kuqi crossed from the right. The ball eluded the lunge of Ian Westlake and rolled across the area for the unmarked Richards to drill home off the far post. Thing were going to plan for Steve Cotterill's revived Burnley when loan striker Blake fired them in front. Ipswich defender Richard Naylor gifted possession to Ian Moore, who quickly spotted Micah Hyde's burst into the box. Hyde unselfishly rolled the ball into the path of the unmarked Blake, who calmly side-footed past stand-in keeper Lewis Price from 10 yards. Ipswich could have been even further behind had Naylor not redeemed himself with a timely block to keep out Moore's net bound header. But Burnley did well to survive a 27th-minute penalty claim when Westlake's shot was blocked by the raised hand of Frank Sinclair, who looked relieved to have escaped punishment. The slow handclap and boos accompanied Ipswich to the dressing room at half-time. But within three minutes of the restart Kevin Horlock rattled the crossbar with a 30-yard free kick. Burnley carved out several chances, only to find Welsh Under-21 keeper Price in top form. He denied the visitors a second goal with a point-blank save from Richard Chaplow in the 54th minute. Price repeated the heroics to tip over a long-range effort from Graham Branch then his opposite number Danny Coyne dived to his right in the 87th minute to keep out Westlake's low drive. IPSWICH: *PRICE 8 - Diallo 6, De Vos 6, Naylor 6, Richards 7 - Miller 6, Horlock 7, Westlake 6, Magilton 7 - Kuqi 6, Bowditch 6 (Counago, 50mins, 5). BURNLEY: Coyne 7 - Duff 6 (Duffy, 75mins, 6), Sinclair 7, McGreal 7, Camara 7 - Moore 6 (Roche, 79mins), Hyde 7, Grant 6, Chaplow 7 - Branch 7, *BLAKE 8. Ref: B Curson 6.

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