IPSWICH'S fate is no longer in their own hands after they lost their nerve at St Andrew's yesterday. To gain automatic promotion George Burley's team must now beat Sheffield United at home next Sunday and hope that Bradford either lose or draw away to play-off hopefuls Wolves.

Paul Furlong's 13th goal of the season, following a 60-yard solo run from Bryan Hughes midway through the second half, meant that an afternoon of huffing and puffing and high tension for the visitors proved all in vain.

A minute's silence was respectfully observed before the kick-off in memory of Sir Alf Ramsey, who had managed both clubs, but the ensuing 90 minutes were hardly a fitting tribute to the man behind England's only World Cup triumph. It was more a case of headless chickens than wingless wonders.

Birmingham manager Trevor Francis put it more diplomatically: "Both sides had great respect for each other," he said. "It was a great tactical battle."

Francis admitted deploying an extra midfielder to frustrate Ipswich and Burley admitted: "They closed us down well and made it very tight. The result is a big disappointment but all we can do is go out there and do our best to get three points next Sunday."

Having taken only four points from their previous four games, the nerves were apparent from the start. Neither Jim Magilton nor Kieron Dyer, their midfield play-makers, could exert any calming influence amid a frenetic opening half-hour.

Although their play-off place was in the bag, the tension transmitted itself to Birmingham too and not surprisingly the first clear-cut chance arose from an error rather than an inventive move; City's Michael Johnson slicing a cross from Jamie Clapham just past his own post.

Martin Grainger was more decisive, and needed to be, when hoofing the ball off the line from Jamie Scowcroft's header after Tony Mowbray had flicked on a long throw from David Johnson.

The anxiety deepened for Ipswich after the interval and it was clear that if Birmingham could regain a modicum of composure, they might reap a reward. It was Hughes who suddenly found the presence of mind to put his foot on the ball in the 60th minute and embark on a remarkable run which saw him cruise past Magilton, Manuel Thetis, Mowbray and goalkeeper Richard Wright before his nerve failed him. Fortunately for City, Furlong was on hand to prod his tamely struck shot into the empty net.

Johnson drifted a cross-shot just wide but near-misses have been the story of Ipswich's play-off fate in the last two seasons.

Daily Telegraph