Sven-Goran Eriksson's first 48 hours of studying English football first hand has probably offered him little fresh insight into the job of producing a winning England team, but at least he has a better idea of why Manchester United are in a league of their own at the top of the Premiership.
Having seen Sunderland move into second place on Saturday, England's new coach watched Ipswich go fourth here yesterday with a victory over Leicester that was a triumph of perseverance rather than inspiration.
Leicester, keen to avoid their third league defeat in a row, appeared to be doing just that having withstood long spells of Ipswich pressure for most of the second half. Then their manager Peter Taylor, England's erstwhile caretaker, sacrificed a striker for an extra defender, whereupon Ipswich won with two free headers in the last 10 minutes.
The goal that ended a frosty stalemate was Marcus Stewart's sixth in as many matches, bringing his total for the season to 16. Eriksson was here primarily to run an eye over Richard Wright, Ipswich's once capped goalkeeper, although since Wright had so little to do he must have gone away more impressed by Simon Royce, whose saves kept alive Leicester's hopes of a point.
As for Stewart, well, if he could bring with him the quality of passing and movement that surround him at Portman Road his case for England recognition might amount to something. Once Ipswich had created four clear chances early in the second half they never lost the initiative. They nearly went ahead in the 52nd minute when Alun Armstrong met a cross from Jamie Clapham with a header that Stewart volleyed against the bar.
After that Royce and poor finishing enabled Leicester to survive. Taylor replaced a striker, Trevor Benjamin, with a centre back, Phil Gilchrist, for the last quarter-hour, only to see his defence fall apart.
In the 60th minute Gary Rowett allowed Hermann Hreidarsson to slip past him near the byline. The Icelander laid the ball back to Armstrong, whose miscued shot was headed in by Stewart.
With a minute plus stoppage time remaining, Scowcroft met a centre from Fabian Wilnis in like manner. By this time Eriksson had already left with perhaps a better idea of what he is up against.
IPSWICH: Richard Wright, Wilnis, Clapham (Reuser 90), McGreal, Hreidarsson, Bramble, Magilton, Holland, Scowcroft, Stewart, Armstrong (Jermaine Wright 82). Subs Not Used: Salmon, Venus, Croft. Booked: Bramble. Goals: Stewart 80, Scowcroft 90.
LEICESTER: Royce, Rowett, Davidson, Impey, Elliott, Jones (Gunnlaugsson 85), Robbie Savage, Akinbiyi (Cresswell 62), Benjamin (Gilchrist 75), Izzet, Guppy. Subs Not Used: Price, Delaney. Booked: Cresswell.
Referee: M Riley (Leeds).
