since 1878

Ipswich Town (1) 2 - 1 (0) Coventry City

Nationwide League Division One 2002-03

Saturday, November 23, 2002

Referee: Anthony Bates

Manager: Joe Royle

Portman Road 15:00

Attendance: 23,633

Manager: Gary McAllister

Match Number: 2976

Goals

Home
 Darren Bent (10)
 Pablo Counago (83)
Away
 Eustace (74)

Substitutions

Away
SafriEustace (59)
McMasterBothroyd (71)
PartridgePipe (88)

Cards

Home
 Matt Holland 
Away
 Davenport 

Teams

Away

Debec

Caldwell

Konjic

Davenport

Gordon

Chippo

McAllister

Safri

Partridge

McMaster

McSheffrey

Substitutes

Away

Hyldgaard

Shaw

Eustace

Pipe

McMaster

Match Report

Olé Pablo

Ipswich supersub Pablo Counago helped the Joe Royle revival move up a gear with a dramatic late winner against Coventry at Portman Road.

Counago pounced on a loose ball with just six minutes left to clinch this 2-1 victory and hoist Town towards the top half of Division One.

Just nine minutes earlier, Coventry substitute John Eustace had wiped out Darren Bent's 10th-minute opener with a thunderbolt 22-yarder.

Woeful City defending gifted Town the lead, with Bent rising unchallenged to head home his sixth goal of the season after 10 minutes.

City bagged their deserved leveller when Chris Makin's awful pass fell to Eustace, who blasted home from outside the box.

But Counago popped up to tap home from Debec's parried save to snatch the points.

Coventry were guilty of criminal defending after 10 minutes - allowing Ipswich to take the lead.

Unmarked home striker Bent charged into the six-yard box to meet Jim Magilton's corner with a firm header, giving Debec no chance.

Coventry scored their sensational leveller when a terrible pass by Town defender Makin fell to City substitute Eustace with 15 minutes left.

He dropped his left shoulder to work space for a shot and thundered the ball past Gerrard from 22 yards.

But Town went 2-1 up in the 84th minute. Counago was felled just outside the box - and when Debec could only parry Jim Magilton's resulting free-kick, Counago reacted first and poked home from five yards.

BBC

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