Pride of Anglia - Ipswich Town Football Club

BEATTIE IS KEY AS IPSWICH SURVIVE

Ipswich reached the third round of the UEFA Cup in Prague last night but they had to survive almost nonstop attacking pressure from Bohemians before going through.

Ipswich in the past have found it difficult when defending 3-0 first leg leads and they came within an ace of throwing away another European tie.

With the temperatures below zero Ipswich were a goal down after two minutes and when Bohemians added another soon after half-time there were fears that they could go out of the competition.

In the end they survived, though far from comfortably. Kevin Beattie was Ipswich's hero on the night, playing only his third match of the season. Beattie was a giant at the heart of the Ipswich defence and his ability in the air was much needed to foil the constant flow of Czechoslovak attacks.

To concede a goal after only two minutes was a bitter blow and Sivell, making his first European appearance for five years, got his first touch of the ball by picking it out of the net, Micinec having darted through the hesitant Ipswich defence to shoot home.

Ipswich managed four good headers - three from Wark and another from Mills - but Bohemians possessed far more threat and Ipswich had an escape just before half-time when Micinec headed against the underside of the bar.

Burley was booked for encroaching too near to the ball at a free kick moments earlier.

Bohemian's spirits were raised in the 52nd minute. Sivell was penalised when he raced out of his area to kick the ball clear from Nemec and Panenka sent the free kick over the wall into the top of the net.

Ipswich had to defend really well for the next quarter of an hour but towards the end they pushed forward and Turner, who had substituted for Brazil, hit the post with seven minutes to go.

So Ipswich are through, but they will not want many more scares like this.

Bohemians - Postulka; Jakubec, Prokes, Koukal, Ondra, Bicovsky, Nemec, Panenka, Chaloupka, Cermak, Micinec.

Ipswich Town - Sivell; Burley, Butcher, Mills, Osman, Beattie, Wark, Muhren, Gates, Brazil (Turner, 70), McCall.

Daily Telegraph