the robson years

Struggling Wolves had a few chances early on, when Andy Gray struck the bar, but Ipswich gave them a lesson in finishing with two clinical strikes. With the forthcoming trip to Greece in mind Town were content to keep the game low key in the second half. They were four points clear at the top of the table with seven wins and a draw from eight league games. More

City hero Roger Hansbury prevented the rampant Town forwards from adding to Russell Osman' s fine header, and Justin Fashanu grabbed a late equaliser. After a thrilling local derby, Bobby Robson made up with the fans and praised them warmly for their unflagging support. More

Coventry's intelligent and committed defending kept the score level for almost an hour, but in the end Town ran out comfortable winners. John Wark's two goals took his total for the season to 11 in ten games, prompting one journalist to suggest he should be reported to the Monopolies Commission, and Town went three points clear at the top of the table. But one man who wasn't entirely happy was manager Bobby Robson. At the after-match press conference he branded half the Portman Road crowd as 'zombies' for their lack of vocal support for the team. This spur of the moment remark caused uproar in the local press with many loyal supporters making their feelings known. More

The Greek side, apparently intent on kicking their way into the next round, had clearly picked out Eric Gates as the Ipswich danger man and in the first 20 seconds Balis hacked him down. Their tactics rebounded on them as international defender Firos was sent off for his second bookable offence and John Wark scored from three penalties, all awarded for fouls on Gates. Town showed commendable restraint under great provocation and thankfully no long-term injuries were sustained. Wark became only the second Ipswich player to convert three penalties in a match, the first being George Perrett against Lowestoft Town in 1936. It was the fourth time an Ipswich player had scored four or more goals in a European match, Wark following Trevor Whymark against Lazio in 1973 and Landskrona in 1977 and Ray Crawford's five against Floriana in the European Cup in 1962. More

Town took the lead against the run of play, but went on to a comfortable win. They were robbed of a penalty when Paul Mariner was chopped down by Jim Cannon in the 62nd minute - the referee raised the whistle to his lips then waved play on - and Billy Gilbert fired an attempted clearance against his own crossbar. In total contrast to twelve months earlier, the result took Ipswich two points clear at the top of the table and left Palace on the bottom. More

After Bobby Robson received the Bell's Manager of the Month award, Town were a little fortunate to win a match of non-stop entertainment. Villa made more chances but came up against Paul Cooper in top form. Gary Shaw was guilty of some sloppy finishing and when he did beat Cooper, George Burley cleared the ball off the line. Frans Thijssen's winning goal was a scrambled affair, Allan Evans' attempt to clear merely helping the ball into his own net. More

Boro tried to sit back on their first leg lead but Eric Gates celebrated his call-up to the England squad by laying on two of the goals that saw Town progress on a 4-3 aggregate. Although Tony McAndrew almost forced extra time when he crashed a header against the bar just before the end. Town deserved their comprehensive victory. More