By Aston
February 6 2005

Ipswich Town extended their lead at the top of the championship table to five points after beating Sheffield United 2-0 yesterday.

Report: Blades V Town - Blades Blunted Again By Town

Ipswich Town extended their lead at the top of the championship table to five points after beating Sheffield United 2-0 yesterday.

David Unsworth marked his debut for Town with a goal in the first half and Shefki Kuqi ensured the points came to Suffolk with a goal just past the hour mark.

Sheffield United started the better side and could of taken the lead inside ten minutes had Danny Cadamarteri found Andy Gray instead of going for goal him self. Moments later Gray unleashing the full force of his volley towards Kelvin Davis’ goalmouth but the Town ’keeper stretched and pushed the ball out for a corner, which Sheffield again could of opened the scoring from fortunately for Town Phil Jagielka headed over.

One of the few attacks Town made in the opening 20 minutes was created the opening goal, Shefki Kuqi who had earlier shot well over Paddy Kenny’s bar made amends by setting up David Unsworth who made no mistake with his left foot to put Town in front.

The Blades could have had an equalizer just before the half time break when a Michael Tonge free-kick was headed wide by former Norwich loanee Leigh Bromby.

Sheffield started the second half much like they had started the first creating the better chances but still unable to find a way past Kelvin Davis.

In an effort to curb the more physical members of Neil Warnock’s side Joe Royle replaced Darren Currie with Kevin Horlock after just 6 minutes of the second half.

Shefki Kuqi came close to doubling Town’s lead on the hour mark, only a well timed Michael Tonge tackle stopping the flying Finn. Less than a minute later Kuqi had doubled Town’s lead, Ian Westlake’s shot from a Town corner ended up at the feat of former Sheffield Wednesday striker Shefki Kuqi who wrapped up the points.

Neil Warnock tried to get his side back into the game making three substitutions in the space of 10 minutes. Town were forced into making a change in the dieing minutes Darren Bent limped off being replaced by Dean Bowditch.

Town held on for the win which moves them five points clear of Wigan who lost at Stoke and Sunderland who could only manage a draw with Wolves on Friday night.

P Kenny, D Geary, J Harley, L Bromby, D Cullip, C Morgan, P Jagielka, N Montgomery, M Tonge, A Gray, D Cadamarteri.
Subs: A Liddell, A Ward, A Quinn, P Thirlwell, P Shaw

Ipswich Town Squad: Darren Bent, Dean Bowditch, Darren Currie, Kelvin Davis, Jason De Vos, Kevin Horlock, Daniel Karbassiyoon, Shefki Kuqi, Jim Magilton, Tommy Miller, Richard Naylor, Lewis Price, Matt Richards, David Unsworth, Ian Westlake, Fabian Wilnis.

	Sheffield United 0	Ipswich Town 2
Bookings	Tonge (66)	None
Red Cards	None	None
Goals	None	Unsworth (20) Kuqi (61)
Substitutions	Montgomery Replaced By Quinn (66) Geary Replaced By Liddell (67) Cadamarteri Replaced By Ward (76)	Currie Replaced By Hurlock (51) Bent Replaced By Bowditch (88)
Possession	57%	43%
Shots	13	8
Corners	7	6
Fouls	7	12
Attendance: 20,680

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