WITH four minutes left Matt Holland could have been ruminating on how best to deal with the 10 members of his Bolton-supporting family waiting to console him in the bar.

He might even have glanced over at his manager who, at that precise stage of the previous week's victory over Swindon, had taken him out of Ipswich action for the first time in 145 consecutive games. Instead he belted home his side's equaliser.

Jamie Clapham crossed long, James Scowcroft jumped high and the inspirational midfielder leathered in his seventh goal of the season. "That's why he's my captain," said George Burley afterwards. "He's a 100 per center, has a big heart, gets up and down and is very enthusiastic. I never want to substitute him, it was a precaution last week."

Holland has only missed those four minutes, with a bruised foot, in his last 180 club matches, stretching back to his Bournemouth days. First on the pitch, he was last off it on Saturday after leading the applause for the visiting supporters - and for a few of the home ones.

"My dad's a big Bolton fan," said the Republic of Ireland international, "but he's probably changed allegiance now because he wants me to do well, but I'd better get along now and buy him a beer."

Mid-table Bolton go into their Worthington Cup semi-final at Tranmere on Wednesday hoping to prolong their bid to reach Wembley on three fronts. Ipswich don't want to go there at all.

Out of both cups, Burley's men have no desire to reach the play-off finals. With five more points bagged than at this stage last season, the Ipswich manager said: "If we keep going like this, we can finish in the top two."

Ipswich, with promotion rivals Manchester City and Blackburn losing, were satisfied with extending their 13-match unbeaten run. Their passing game was never going to flourish on a pitch apparently made down the road in Manchester. When a goal came it was no surprise it was from a header, Dean Holdsworth nodding in superbly from Claus Jensen's cross.

But Ipswich, bravely changing to 3-4-3, do not give up lightly. Those Carling Opta stats chaps reckon they have had more shots than any other First Division team and finally, to the ambivalent satisfaction of Holland senior, one blistered its way into the back of the Bolton net.

Daily Telegraph