Ipswich refuse to give up

Ipswich Town progressed to the third round with a performance that owed more to the ruggedness of their spirits than any transformation in their stuttering recent form.

They won their second-leg tie with two goals from Marcus Stewart and a third from Hermann Hreidarsson. The first two goals were set up by expert free-kicks from Mark Venus before Stewart completed the scoring with a late chip over the goalkeeper.

Before the match, the Ipswich manager George Burley, knowing that one goal might be enough, had reminded everyone that his side had scored five in their previous two games. But he forgot to mention that his defence had conceded six in those matches and their frailty was exposed in only the eighth minute last night.

There seemed little danger when Alvaro Santos moved the ball forward to their most dangerous striker Hans Eklund, 25 yards out. His shot was covered by Matteo Sereni, but the goalkeeper's hands looked soft as he allowed the ball to bounce off them and into the net.

Burley's biggest decision had been to gamble on the fitness of his hugely promising central defender Titus Bramble, who had missed eight matches with an ankle injury. Richard Naylor had been the other injury concern, also with ankle problems, but he certainly proved his fitness with a number of attacking surges up front alongside Stewart.

It always seemed that Ipswich would score and after 69 minutes they did, Hreidarsson rising to head past the keeper.

Marcus Stewart added another two in the 81st and 88th minutes to seal the tie and send the 2,500 travelling supporters home happy.

HELSINGBORG: Sven Andersson, Nilsson, Gustavsson, Matovac, Bakkerud, Hansson, Prica, Christoffer Andersson, Jesper Jansson, Dos Santos, Eklund (Johansen 31). Subs Not Used: Silva, Lindstrom, Jardler, Pelu, Lindberg, Larsson. Booked: Prica. Goal: Eklund 8.

IPSWICH: Sereni, Wilnis (Makin 38), Clapham, Hreidarsson, Venus, Bramble, Magilton, Holland, Peralta (Tommy Miller 88), Naylor (Bent 73), Stewart. Subs Not Used: Counago, Reuser, Gaardsoe, Branagan. Booked: Bramble. Goals: Hreidarsson 69, Stewart 81, 88.

Referee: E Gonzalez (Spain).