Super-sub Tommy
Super-sub Tommy
Miller scored his third goal in as many games to send Ipswich on their way to
the second round of the Carling Cup with a hard-fought victory over Brentford.
Extra-time was
looming until Miller eased his side's nerves with a powerful 75th-minute finish
and Ian Westlake sealed the win at the death.
Ipswich looked
lively from the first whistle and Dean Bowditch curled an effort wide of the
post before seeing another shot cannon off Brentford defender Andy Myers.
From the resulting
corner, Westlake's delivery was met by Richard Naylor but he failed to direct
his header away from Stuart Nelson in the Brentford goal.
Alex Rhodes had
the visitors' first real opportunity but his shot from the left was easily dealt
with by Ipswich goalkeeper Lewis Price, who looked comfortable in his first
senior appearance at Portman Road.
The hosts looked
dangerous and Darren Bent made sure Nelson was on his toes with a fierce drive
that the keeper did well to block after 19 minutes.
Bowditch missed
the target from close range as time ran out at the end of the first half just
before Ryan Peters stung the palms of Price.
Ipswich continued
to press after the break but for all their possession, clear-cut chances were
few and far between with Scott Mitchell and substitute Shefki Kuqi, on for Pablo
Counago, shooting from long range.
Ipswich skipper
Jim Magilton, making his first appearance of the season after recovering from
a thigh injury, was replaced by Miller just after the hour mark and the move
paid off with quarter of an hour to go.
Miller took advantage
of good work by Bent on the right and hammered the ball into the roof of the
net from close range.
Ipswich went route
one to put the result beyond doubt deep into injury time as Westlake met Price's
long clearance and kept his head to finish.
SportingLife.com
