The farming community may be in crisis, but the Tractor Boys go rumbling on. In coming from behind to defeat a seemingly doomed Bradford yesterday, George Burley's side climbed back into third spot and remain on course for a place in Europe. Today Bradford, tomorrow Barcelona.
This victory was reward, not just for Ipswich's dominance, but for their patience. Refusing to abandon their passing principles after they undeservedly fell behind to Benito Carbone's freekick, they were rewarded with two fine strikes from Martijn Reuser and a header from Mark Burchill in 15 second-half minutes.
Burley refuses to talk of the club making it into Europe for the first time since 1983, but the chances of that fantasy becoming reality look promising. Of 10 remaining matches only one is against a current top-seven side, Liverpool.
"They say the league never lies," Burley said. "We're in third position on merit, knowing we have some very tough games coming up. We have enjoyed being in the top six. It's virtually the same squad that got us promotion."
Bradford operate on a similar budget as Ipswich, yet their time in the Premiership has been one long struggle. Thirteen adrift of safety, they know their time is all but up.
For all Bradford's hard work, the gulf in quality was appreciable and Jim Jefferies knows he must cut the wage bill and rebuild an ageing squad. "What they need to play at Premiership level they have not got: the ability and legs."
Ipswich have both, yet Bradford had gone ahead with their first shot on target in the 27th minute. Eoin Jess tapped the ball aside and Carbone, making only his second start of the year, beat Richard Wright from 30 yards.
But Ipswich deserved their win. Having gone close several times, they equalised on the hour. Reuser intercepted Andy O'Brien's misplaced pass on the left flank and beat the same player inside the area before curling a perfect shot beyond Gary Walsh.
When a Hermann Hreidarsson run was stopped illegally by Ashley Ward near the edge of the box, Reuser sent his free-kick beyond Walsh. The Dutchman also sent over the corner from which Hreidarsson's header was glanced in by Burchill.
Bradford's hopes of staying up look dead. For Ipswich the European dream lives on.
IPSWICH: Richard Wright, Wilnis, McGreal, Bramble, Hreidarsson (Clapham 77), Reuser, Magilton (Armstrong 45), Holland, Jermaine Wright (Abidallah 85), Scowcroft, Burchill. Subs Not Used: Branagan, Brown. Goals: Reuser 59, 72, Burchill 75.
BRADFORD: Walsh, Wetherall, Molenaar, O'Brien, Myers, Hopkin, McCall, Locke (Halle 28), Jess, Carbone, Ward, Halle (Blake 80). Subs Not Used: Whalley, Davison, Jacobs. Booked: Locke, Wetherall, Walsh, O'Brien. Goals: Carbone 27.
Referee: A D'Urso (Billericay).
