Pride of Anglia - Ipswich Town Football Club

Tractor trauma

IPSWICH manager Mick McCarthy expects a team to be relegated with a record points total in a Championship season he describes as “bonkers”.

The Tractor Boys battled to a point at The Den but are still in danger after wins for their closest rivals.

McCarthy said: “It’s made us a little worse off despite four points from six. This league is bonkers.

“We’re three points from the relegation zone and 10 from the play-off places. When I got the job they said it would take 50 points for us to be safe. Now, I have no idea.

“In 1996, 52 points went down and that is the highest total that I can remember. It might be more this time.”

Millwall full-back Shane Lowry hit the post and Jermaine Easter blazed over in a poor game.

Lions boss Kenny Jackett said: “The gap has closed at the bottom, but we’ve put on a really good run and it’s in our hands.”

The Express

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Lions' unbeaten run comes to an end with humbling defeat

1Millwall's 13-match unbeaten run came to an end as resurgent Ipswich recorded a third successive npower Championship victory thanks to a brace from DJ Campbell.

The Lions went into the encounter as the second tier's form side having won four of their last five, boasting four successive clean sheets in the process.

And they should have taken the lead as they enjoyed the better of the opening half-hour, Chris Wood heading a great chance over while Town goalkeeper Stephen Henderson denied Andy Keogh, Liam Trotter and James Henry.

Campbell punished the visitors as he then converted a flowing move from close range for his seventh goal in 12 games since joining on loan from QPR.

The striker turned provider five minutes after half-time as he chased down Danny Shittu, gained possession and fed Daryl Murphy to sweep home.

Campbell then bagged his second from the penalty spot after Shane Lowry's handball - Town's fourth successive game in which they have been awarded a spot-kick.

Campbell's form will certainly give QPR boss Harry Redknapp food for thought, with his loan stay due to expire in January.

It is the first time Ipswich have recorded three successive wins in 10 months while Mick McCarthy has now won five of his eight games since taking charge.

The game's first chance went to Town striker Murphy after seven minutes but he could only head wide from Lee Martin's cross.

Henderson made his first smart save from Keogh's header before Lions strike partner Wood wasted a golden opportunity, nodding Henry's free-kick over the bar from five yards.

Millwall's profligacy was their undoing on that occasion but they were denied twice by some superb goalkeeping by Henderson just after the half-hour mark.

Trotter was kept out as Henderson parried his effort and from the rebound Henry saw his shot tipped around a post.

Murphy fired over from 12 yards for Town before Ipswich opened the scoring in the 37th minute courtesy of a well-worked move.

Martin released Aaron Cresswell down the left and he delivered a great cross for Campbell to convert from close range.

It proved the final act of note in the first half but Town fans did not have to wait long after the break for a second as Campbell turned provider.

The striker chased down Millwall defender Shittu and, when he gave away possession, Campbell squared for Murphy to convert from six yards.

David Forde had to be alert to prevent a third as he tipped Martin's free-kick over the bar, before Campbell fired off target when presented with a great chance from close range.

But the points were wrapped up in the 64th minute when Lowry was penalised for handball, leaving Campbell to convert from the spot.

Shittu went some way to making up for his error late on when he denied Martin a fourth, clearing off the line.

Daily Mail

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Keogh at the double as Jackett's boys make it five in five

Andy Keogh's brace and a second-half strike from Liam Trotter gave Millwall their fifth successive victory as they continued their fine late season form with victory at Ipswich.

Neither side were involved in the npower Championship's promotion or relegation picture, but Kenny Jackett's side made it five wins out of five in April with their fifth straight away clean sheet.

The Lions made an impressive start, scoring inside three minutes when Keogh started and finished a move by turning in Trotter's cross at the back post.

Andy Drury should have equalised moments later, but blasted his chance off target and Michael Chopra saw his effort come back off a post in the second half.

But it was former Tractor Boy Trotter who doubled the lead in the 63rd minute. The midfielder, who was born in Ipswich and began his career at Portman Road before moving to the New Den, finished with aplomb from the edge of the area.

Grant Leadbitter had a penalty saved by Maik Taylor before Keogh rounded Arran Lee-Barrett to add a third as Millwall wrapped up their first double over Ipswich in 59 years.

Millwall's Darius Henderson was once again not fit enough to make the trip to Suffolk, but Keogh filled the void left by the absence of the Lions' top-scorer with the opening goal.

The former Wolves forward combined with strike-partner Harry Kane to release Trotter, whose cross was turned in by Keogh, his finish eluding Aaron Cresswell on the line.

The hosts could have been level within four minutes had Drury not fired wide when a good opportunity presented itself.

Tractor Boys boss Paul Jewell opted to bring on striker Jason Scotland, whose goal salvaged a point at Crystal Palace last Saturday, to give his side more attacking impetus.

And they were almost level just before the hour when Chopra struck a post.

The attacker drifted off to the left and fizzed a ball across the box which rebounded off the woodwork and fell to substitute Scotland, but his snap shot was blocked by Millwall captain Paul Robinson.

And Trotter got Jackett's side an all-important second goal when he kept his composure to sweep Jack Smith's cross into the top corner.

The home side were, however, handed a lifeline when Drury tumbled under the challenge of Smith in the penalty area seven minutes from time.

But Ipswich's miserable afternoon continued when Leadbitter's penalty was saved by Taylor who also kept out the rebound.

Keogh was on target again three minutes from time, touching the ball past the onrushing Lee-Barrett before slotting home to prompt a mass exodus from Portman Road in Ipswich's last home game of the season.

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Millwall 4 Ipswich 1

JAY SIMPSON hopes his loan spell at Millwall will become permanent after getting a standing ovation at the Den.

The Lions faithful rose to applaud the former Arsenal and England Under-21 striker after seeing him score twice and have a hand in the other two goals.

Simpson, 22, said: "When I signed for Millwall at the start of the season I hoped it would be for the full season and was disappointed when Hull said it was only until January.

"It's my second time on loan here and I am enjoying myself and want be be a part of their success.

"I'm convinced we can push for a place in the play-offs. We have a strong bond as a group and we all fight for each other.

"Three wins in this division can take you from the relegation zone to the play-off places."

Millwall host fellow strugglers Coventry tomorrow and the signs are good for the Londoners after two wins and two draws in their last four games.

The Tractor Boys bickered with each other while Simpson, Liam Feeney, Darius Henderson and Brian Howard ripped them apart.

The Lions were 2-0 up after nine minutes with Simpson striking first before Henderson got his fourth goal in two games after Simpson's shot was parried by keeper David Stockdale.

Ipswich pulled one back in the 66th minute through a breathtaking solo goal from the unpredictable Jimmy Bullard.

But the Lions scored two in two minutes as Simpson took advantage of a Bullard error to put in winger Feeney and then cut inside to score his second of the day on 75 minutes.

Town boss Paul Jewell said: "We want to play as if we are three goals up. There's too many people doing their own thing."

SUN STAR MAN JAY SIMPSON (Millwall). Ace deserved all his plaudits.

Bob Harris (The Sun)

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Millwall 2-1 Ipswich

Steve Morison turned the jeers into cheers with another late winner - but insisted his subdued goal celebration was not a dig at the Lions’ supporters.

The former non-league striker has been a revelation since arriving from Stevenage Borough and his second-half strike against Town was his 12th of another excellent season.

However, some of Millwall’s fans showed their frustration when he missed an absolute sitter on the stroke of half-time.

The 27-year-old admitted: “I did my best not to score. I knew I’d get another chance and luckily enough I managed to put it away.

“You just keep going, you can’t give up, but I was wondering if it was going to come and it did and I managed to get enough on it and stick it in the corner.

“People will always look into what you do, but I was knackered. The last thing I wanted to do was run round and celebrate. It doesn’t matter how you celebrate as long as you win and get the three points.

“At Milwall you have a bad touch and you get a groan, you smash someone and get sent off and you get cheered.

“I missed a really good chance in the first half which I was really disappointed about, but I scored the winning goal."

This win put Kenny Jackett’s side to within three points of the play-offs, but Morison insists the Londoners’ target remains Championship survival having been promoted last season.

“We’re in and around the play-offs. We managed to get further away from the bottom. We need to get 13 points to get to 52 which they say is safety in this division.

“Is that the target? Why not? You get to 52 and push on from there and see where you going from there.

“If we missed out on the top six of course it wouldn’t be disappointing. If we don’t get relegated then we would have had a successful season.”

Morison’s comments may give any disgruntled Millwall fans reason to have another moan as they clearly feel the Lions should be back among the country’s elite.

But Ipswich supporters would be delighted just secure survival in the Championship. They remain just three points above the drop zone.

New boss Paul Jewell, who watched his side stun Arsenal in the Carling Cup last Wednesday, has a massive job on his hands after taking charge of his first game.

Town got off to a great start when cup hero Tamas Priskin coolly fired home the opener after 25 minutes, but from then on it was all Millwall.

Danny Schofield levelled things seconds before the break with a cracking low drive and Morison delivered the winner 14 minutes from time when he slid home substitute Chris Hackett’s probing cross.

Priskin admitted their heroics against the Gunners may have taken a lot out of them, but the Hungary international insists the Tractor Boys have aneough to beat the drop.

He said: “We did really well against a really big team in the cup. Today was a different. Maybe some of the players were a little bit tired. But you have to move on and concentrate on another week.

“I don’t fear relegation because we’ve got a great squad and great players and now, with the new staff , we are going to pick ourselves and climb back up the table.”

Mirror Football

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Tractor Boys sewing seeds for playoff spot

A goal apiece from Jason Scotland and Grant Leadbitter earned Ipswich a comfortable home win over Millwall in the npower Championship.

Scotland broke the deadlock with five minutes gone at Portman Road to end a barren three-game spell for the former Wigan and Swansea striker.

Leadbitter made sure of a deserved victory for Roy Keane's side with a second-half penalty that leaves the Tractor Boys just outside the play-off places.

Theo Robinson dragged a 25-yard shot wide with just seven seconds gone as Millwall threatened straight from the kick-off, but it proved a false dawn as the home side surged ahead after five minutes.

Tamas Priskin and Carlos Edwards exchanged passes down the right wing before the latter crossed for Scotland to fire home his fifth goal of the season.

The Lions initially reacted positively to going a goal down, James Henry and Steve Morison both trying their luck from outside the penalty area.

Damien Delaney steered a header wide from Leadbitter's outswinging corner six minutes before the half-time interval, while a Tommy Smith headed effort was blocked by Henry.

The visitors came close to equalising late on in the first half, but Paul Robinson's header from Nadjim Abdou's cross looped just over.

Danny Schofield blazed over two minutes after the restart before Ipswich launched a swift counter-attack following Henry's wayward corner and Jack Colback eventually shot wide from just inside the penalty area.

Priskin continued to pose Millwall plenty of problems and won his side a penalty when he was fouled by Danny Shittu after getting on the end of an Edwards throw-in. Leadbitter made no mistake with his 56th-minute spot-kick, blasting the ball beyond David Forde for his first goal in over two months.

Kenny Jackett immediately sent on Darren Carter and John Marquis in the hope of getting a foothold in the game and Scott Barron sent a 30-yard shot crashing over as the Lions looked to hit back straight away.

Scotland was unfortunate not to double his tally for the afternoon on the hour mark as his low shot from 20 yards was saved well by the feet of Forde, who moments later denied Leadbitter from a similar distance.

Shittu saw his weak 12-yard header comfortably dealt with by Marton Fulop before Keane introduced highly-rated youngster Connor Wickham with 25 minutes remaining.

Robinson also failed to hit the target with a header as Millwall continued to surge forward and the visitors were kept at bay by some brave defending after 85 minutes as Henry and Morison were both denied in the space of 60 seconds.

Leadbitter curled a 35-yard free-kick wide and Wickham had a well-struck right-footed shot blocked by Shittu late on.

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