DAVE BASSETT has been promoted so often he must feel like a washing powder. Only Graham Taylor can match the Barnsley manager's record of seven successful elevations. By contrast, George Burley has endured some miserable finales to the season, his Ipswich side wilting in the play-offs for the past three years.

But on yesterday's evidence only the visually challenged, or perhaps Michael Parkinson, would bet on Barnsley making the leap into the Premiership ahead of Ipswich this time round.

In a match as one-sided as an Iraqi by-election, Richard Wright, Ipswich's much-admired young goalkeeper, did not make a save until the 85th minute, when he deflected the ball to Sean McClare, who provided his team with a consolation.

Before that, David Johnson had terrorised the Barnsley defence, giving "one of the best striking performances I've seen for a long time", according to Burley. If his shooting had been half as sharp as his running he would have ended with a bucketful. As it was, the Jamaican did rack up two; rising above Scott Jones and then carrying the ball from just his own half for the first and fifth goals.

Mark Venus put Ipswich two ahead after Barnsley failed to clear a corner. And just before half-time, Barnsley's offside trap pinged open again, as Richard Naylor ran from deep to score. With Barnsley disintegrating, James Scowcroft and Jim Magilton added their names to the list of scorers.

Burley described the performance which consolidated his team's position at the top as "better than excellent."

Daily Telegraph