the robson years

Despite their exhausting programme and a stamina-sapping soaked pitch. Town showed pace and enterprise to keep their faint championship hopes alive. Alan Brazil and John Wark struck the woodwork and only the stubborn resistance of Joe Corrigan, Tommy Booth and Paul Power confined Ipswich to the single goal. Wark provided the cross for Terry Butcher, for the second time in three days, to head the only goal. More

For their third match in six days, in Cologne's Mimgersdorf Stadium, Ipswich gambled on the fitness of Frans Thijssen and Paul Mariner. Although Mariner was struggling before the end, it paid off as Town fought their way to their first European final. Cologne had considerably more of the possession without ever dominating the match, in fact Town had the greater number of goal attempts at the end of a series of smart breaks. Cologne's Stephen Engels hit the post with a 59th minute header and five minutes later Town wrapped up the tie. Engels fouled Thijssen, and from the free kick Mick Mills crossed for Terry Butcher to head into the corner of the net. More

Despite missing five international players - Burley, Beattie, Thijssen, Mariner and Gates - Ipswich were marginally the more enterprising side in an undistinguished derby. In a game of few genuine chances Robin Turner should perhaps have made better use of a 36th minute opening, but he hesitated and allowed Chris Woods to advance and smother his shot. Justin Fashanu scored the winner with a speculative shot when the Town defence was expecting a cross. It was City's fourth consecutive win, giving them a lifeline in their relegation battle while all but snuffing out Town's championship hopes. More

After Pat Jennings presented the Ipswich Player of the Year trophy to Paul Cooper, Town surrendered their unbeaten home record which had stood since 13 October 1979. Frans Thijssen was added to the injured list, where he was soon joined by Eric Gates. While Town were down to ten men - Tommy Parkin waiting to replace Gates - Arsenal took the lead. Paul Mariner headed a good chance wide just minutes before Kenny Sansom' s second goal, but a tired- looking Town created few chances against a typically well- organised defence. The championship pendulum had swung back towards Villa. More

Returning to Villa Park for a game they had to win. Ipswich dominated the first half of a tension-charged match and took the lead when Paul Mariner dispossessed Ken MeNaught to set up Alan Brazil. Backed by deafening support from the terraces Villa fought back after the interval, but Town increased their lead on the break, with Mariner again involved. Although Villa pulled one back it was too late to influence the final result and the championship was wide open again. More

Inside the first 15 minutes at Villa Park, Paul Mariner headed narrowly wide, Eric Gates lifted a reasonable chance over the bar, Alan Brazil sliced a shot wide and Kevin Beattie had a header cleared off the line by Tommy Hutchison. It already looked as if it wasn't going to be Town' s day. Without finding their usual fluency they had more of the play and created more chances. Beattie always looked likely to snatch a goal and came close twice more before being forced out of the contest with a broken right arm after a mid-air collision with David Bennett. Then, in the first session of extra time, it was City who broke the deadlock. Terry Butcher was penalised for a foul on Bennett and Steve MacKenzie tapped the ball to Paul Power, who curled it into the net from 25 yards. So the first part of Town's treble bid slipped away rather disappointingly. More

Town produced some inspired build-up play at times but were restricted to a single goal by a disciplined Cologne defence and a top-class goalkeeping display by Harald Schumacher. Although Cologne showed little as an attacking force, the pace of England international Tony Woodcock was a threat and Paul Cooper made a fine save to turn the ball over the bar after Pierre Littbarski' s shot deflected off Terry Butcher's back. More

Ipswich suffered defeat for the third away match in succession, losing the league leadership to Aston Villa. Frans Thijssen and Paul Mariner, both injured, were sorely missed as Town showed signs of battle-weariness. They equalised quickly after Albion's first goal, but never looked like getting back into the game after Peter Barnes put West Brom 3-1 up with a shot that took a deflection off Terry Butcher. More