ENGLISH LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP Cardiff City 1 Ipswich Town 2: MANAGER Roy Keane claimed his side were worthy winners after Ipswich Town secured their first away league victory of the season yesterday afternoon at Cardiff City.
A Peter Whittingham volley before the interval had given Cardiff a deserved lead, but the visitors made all the running after the break.
Once Jon Walters had fired his side level there was only one team in it, and Jonathan Stead came off the bench to score the winner five minutes from time – much to Keane’s delight.
“I’ve had my share of luck here at Cardiff in the past but with the chances we had today I think we deserved to win,” he said.
“It was an open game but at half-time I told my players it would be a test of character and they have come through it well. The subs played a big part in the victory and although I have been disappointed with results to date I have never lost faith in the squad.”
It was Cardiff who adapted to the wet conditions better in the opening period and Whittingham struck the visitors’ bar twice before opening the scoring in the 35th minute.
Jay Bothroyd headed down to Michael Chopra, who flicked the ball sideways for Whittingham to volley home a superb goal.
But the second half was totally different as Cardiff seemed to run out of ideas. Their midfield was nowhere to be seen as Ipswich went looking for an equaliser.
It came on 73 minutes when Walters was allowed to run down the right before cutting in and firing in a cross-shot beyond substitute goalkeeper Peter Enckelman and into the top corner.
The hosts never recovered from that setback and the defence failed to pick up their players, allowing Stead to fire in off the near post for the winner five minutes from time.
CARDIFF CITY: Marshall (Enckelman 46), Kennedy, Hudson, Gyepes, Matthews, Rae (McCormack 87), Whittingham, Burke (Etuhu 76), Ledley, Bothroyd, Chopra. Subs not used: Quinn, Gerrard, Taiwo, Scimeca.
IPSWICH TOWN: Richard Wright (Lee-Barrett 25), David Wright, Delaney, McAuley, Rosenior, Leadbitter, Garvan, Walters, Edwards (Quinn 65), Priskin (Stead 52), John. Subs not used: Martin, Peters, Colback, Smith. Booked: John, Delaney, Garvan.
Referee: J Singh(Middlesex).
