Ipswich hold off late Millwall surge

TAMAS PRISKIN and Gareth McAuley fired Ipswich into round four of the League Cup last night at The Den. Roy Keane’s Ipswich condemned them to back-to-back losses on their own turf for the first time in 18 months. Hungarian striker Priskin struck in the 23rd minute and defender McAuley doubled the lead before the break.

Steve Morison pulled one back in the second half but Ipswich held off a late onslaught to reach the fourth round for the first time in eight years. Millwall should have scored after four minutes when James Henry’s cross found Morison alone on the six-yard line but the striker headed wide. Ipswich goalkeeper Brian Murphy kept out another Morison effort and denied former Ipswich player Scott Barron in the opening quarter of an hour.

Ipswich went ahead with their first attack of note, Tottenham loanee Andros Townsend crossing for Priskin to head over David Forde and into the net. Townsend almost made it 2-0 but his 25-yard drive flew wide. But the teenager had a hand in the second goal, on the stroke of half-time, when his free-kick was helped past Forde by the outstretched leg of McAuley.

In the 62nd minute Morison halved the deficit, controlling Tony Craig’s cross and turning in an instant to hit his sixth goal of the season. Late on Morison headed over before Liam Trotter’s shot flew too high, but Ipswich held on.

irishtimes.com