Ipswich climbed out of the Premiership's bottom three with their sixth
victory in seven matches at Portman Road.
George Burley's side were seemingly down-and-out six weeks ago with just
one league win all season.
But 18 points from a possible 21, thanks in no small part to the goals
of Marcus Bent, have them better placed to become the first side in 10
years of the Premier League to be bottom at Christmas and survive.
It was Bent's 10th-minute goal that settled the contest in front of the
Suffolk club's best crowd of the season, 25,156.
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Fulham Goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar keeps
the score down to one
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Ipswich captain Matt Holland made his 200th consecutive league appearance,
having started every match since his £800,000 move from Bournemouth
in the summer of 1997.
Burley did make changes, however, following the 4-1 FA Cup drubbing at
the hands of Manchester City with Marcus Stewart, Martijn Reuser, Titus
Bramble and Fabian Wilnis axed. In came Alun Armstrong, Jamie Clapham,
Mark Venus and Chris Makin.
Mid-table Fulham, draw specialists in the Premiership, had lost just
five times in the top-flight upon arriving in Suffolk.
But inspired by Argentinian midfielder Sixto Peralta and the enthusiastic
Bent, the Blues made it a round half-dozen.
Bent, paired up front with Armstrong, was presented with the first chance
of the contest in the seventh minute, but his header from Venus' cross
had the pace taken off it by an Alain Goma block and Edwin van der Sar
smothered.
The hosts only had to wait another couple of minutes, though, to open
the scoring as Bent scored his seventh goal in eight matches.
Peralta sent Armstrong racing down the left and as he cut into the area
to shoot, Zat Knight's sliding tackle looped the ball over van der Sar
and Bent made sure by sidefooting in from on the line.
Fulham's response came from Louis Saha, who weaved his way into the area
but over-ran the ball and Makin shepherded back to Andy Marshall.
Home keeper Marshall then made two interventions as Fulham sought a leveller
as Venus' miskick left him scurrying to palm around an upright.
And when Steed Malbranque found room for a shot, he recovered to collect
after the initial effort squirmed through his grasp.
Yet Burley's side could have gone in at the break with their advantage
doubled.
John McGreal rose above everyone and beat van der Sar, who had strayed
out of position, but somehow headed a Venus corner wide.
Bent also found power but not direction when Hermann Hreidarsson's left-wing
cross picked him out and van der Sar collected above his head.
Fulham manager Jean Tigana responded at the break by introducing Barry
Hayles and John Collins in place of Knight and Bjarne Goldbaek.
| Match
Stats |
Ipswich |
Fulham |
| Goal
attempts |
13 |
7 |
| On
Target |
8 |
3 |
| Hit
woodwork |
0 |
0 |
| Fouls |
18 |
11 |
| Offsides |
4 |
1 |
| Corners |
8 |
5 |
| Yellows |
1 |
2 |
| Reds |
0 |
0 |
| source:
www.sports.com |
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Within a minute of the restart they may have been two goals behind as
lacklustre defending allowed the ball to reach Holland 20 yards from goal
- but his shot swerved inches wide.
Tigana's tinkering, which resulted in Saha switching to the left flank,
provided the visitors with a better balance.
It also meant they enjoyed a greater share of possession with Collins
hoovering up anything untidy in the middle of the field.
In fact, the veteran midfielder went closest for the Londoners in the
second period as his free-kick forced Marshall to touch behind for a corner,
scrambling to his left.
Bent's pace sent him clear of the Fulham rearguard moments later and
the visitors were thankful for Steve Finnan's awareness as the full-back
blocked Clapham at the far post from the striker's cross after van der
Sar and Goma got in a tangle.
Ipswich's in-form frontman should have made absolutely sure of the points
six minutes from time, however, as Peralta's toe-poke guided him goalwards.
But, for once, Bent failed to keep his composure and the on-rushing van
der Sar blocked with his legs.
Ipswich: Marshall, Makin, McGreal, Venus, Hreidarsson, Wright (Reuser
83), Holland, Peralta, Clapham, Marcus Bent, Armstrong (Stewart 69).
Subs Not Used: Sereni, Counago, Bramble.
Booked: McGreal.
Goals: Marcus Bent 10.
Fulham: Van der Sar, Finnan, Melville, Goma, Brevett, Goldbaek
(Collins 45), Knight (Hayles 45), Malbranque, Legwinski (Ouaddou 68),
Marlet, Saha.
Subs Not Used: Taylor, Stolcers.
Booked: Goma (31) foul,
Finnan (82) dissent.
Att: 25,156
Ref: A Wiley (Burntwood)