since 1878

Ipswich Town (2) 3 - 1 (1) Bradford City

Nationwide League Division One 2003-04

Saturday, February 14, 2004

Referee: Joe Ross

Manager: Joe Royle

Portman Road 15:00

Attendance: 21,478

Manager: Bryan Robson

Match Number: 3042

Goals

Home
 Shefki Kuqi (28)
 Ian Westlake (45)
 Darren Bent (52)
Away
 Windass (45)

Substitutions

Home
 
Away
SummerbeeCadamarteri (61)
EvansEmanuel (61)
GrayBranch (75)

Cards

Home
 Shefki Kuqi (63)
Away
 Wetherall (45)
 Windass (45)
 Vaesen (45)
 Atherton (76)
 Farrelly (82)

Teams

Away

Vaesen

Atherton

Wetherall

Wallwork

Bower

Heckingbottom

Gray

Summerbee

Farrelly

Evans

Windass

Substitutes

Away

Cadamarteri

Emanuel

Branch

Jacobs

Davies

Match Report

Town back on track

Ipswich got their play-off push back on track as they ran out comfortable winners over a poor Bradford side.

Inspired by the recalled Darren Bent, Town shrugged off a shock first-half equaliser to score twice in seven minutes to settle the match and move back up to fourth place.

Shefki Kuqi headed over and Bent shot wide in a largely quiet start, while Paul Evans saw Bradford's best effort - his 25 yard shot - deflected over.

On loan Nico Vaesen made a good low save to deny Kuqi but he could only watch when the Finish International's 25-yard volley flashed into his top corner on 28 minutes.

Kuqi had a header cleared, Bent scuffed a shot straight at Vaesen and Tommy Miller shot narrowly over as Ipswich dominated.

In a rare Bradford break, Ronnie Wallwork almost fed Dean Windass, but in added time, Windass was on hand to nod home a Wallwork cross after Town's defence failed several times to clear.

The home side immediately regained the lead though, Bent crossing for Ian Westlake to fire home, although a furious Bradford had three players booked for dissent, all claiming Bent fouled Mark Bower in the build up.

Bent gave Town a two-goal cushion on 52 minutes with a stunning curling strike from the edge of the box, which Vaesen appeared to let go thinking it was going wide.

From then on, Bradford pushed men forward, leaving them extremely vulnerable to the frequent home counter attacks.

Bradford thought they were back in it on 70 minutes, substitute Danny Cadamarteri touching home after a quick free-kick move caught Ipswich napping, but he had strayed offside.

Town should have won by a wider margin, missing several good chances, the worst when Kuqi missed an open goal after robbing a dithering Vaesen.

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