AT the turn of the year, Ipswich can look back on this campaign knowing they have once again put themselves firmly in the First Division promotion race, and be confident that they have a team capable of challenging for Premiership status.

Whether manager George Burley has the squad strength to achieve automatic promotion is debatable, but Ipswich's sixth win in eight League games kept the leaders within close proximity.

James Scowcroft, intelligently supporting midfield and attack, proved to be the match-winner with his flicked header from Jermaine Wright's centre after 52 minutes. The striker's 11th goal this season came as an immediate response to Tony Naylor's equaliser for Port Vale.

Two defenders went close for Vale in the first half, Liam Burns denied by a John McGreal goal-line clearance and, two minutes later, Anthony Gardner seeing his header come back off the bar.

With a little more fortune and finishing prowess the home side could have made more of an impact on the game, until they conceded the opening goal.

That blow knocked the wind out of Vale, who never seemed to recover. It was inflicted by midfielder Matt Holland, who scored his sixth goal of the campaign with a powerful volley after a 43rd-minute corner was not properly cleared.

Naylor's goal gave Vale brief hope but Ipswich dominated a second half in which Neil Midgley headed on to the roof of the net and Richard Naylor struck the crossbar following Jamie Clap- ham's cross from the left.

Vale's Tony Rougier was denied a shot on the Ipswich goal by a tackle from Fabian Wilnis late on and the Potteries club should not be dispirited by this result, but take heart from the first half of the season as they battle to avoid relegation.

Ipswich have now gone 11 games unbeaten and they will enjoy a brief break from the action abroad before resuming their promotion battle.

Burley, commented: "This was, overall, a hard-fought game and I am very pleased. We showed character and spirit, which we have done all season."

Daily Telegraph