By Aston
January 16 2005

Ipswich Town had to show bouncebackabilty against Coventry City yesterday to maintain their 2 point lead at the top of the championship.

Report: Town Vs Coventry

Ipswich Town had to show bouncebackabilty against Coventry City yesterday to maintain their 2 point lead at the top of the championship.

Two goals from Darren Bent and one from Shefki Kuqi finally saw off the midlands side who took the lead early on before going behind and then coming from behind to bring the game level.

Town started the better side but found them selves a goal behind after 12 minutes, Stern John getting the ball in the box and placing it past Kelvin Davis.

Coventry soon found them sleeves level pegging with Town in terms of possession but could forge a second goal despite good efforts from Isaac Osbourne and Gary McSheffrey.

While at the other end Richard Shaw and goalkeeper Luke Steele were being kept busy by most of the Town team including Fabian Wilnis who followed up well after Shaw had blocked an effort from Jim Magilton. Darren Currie tried to find the net with his free kick but it was well held by the on-loan Manchester united youngster in the Coventry goal.

With half time fast approaching Town got them sleeves back level after Darren Bent finding the back of the net for his first goal of the afternoon, converting Fabian Wilnis’ cross.

15 minutes after the re-start Town took the lead, Bent grabbing his second of the afternoon racing onto Jim Magilton’s pass and placing the ball into the bottom left hand corner of the goal.

The advantage however was sort lived as Coventry went up the other end and won a corner which Shefki Kuqi was judged to of handled as it came and referee Mike Russell had no hesitation in awarding the visitors a penalty which was converted by McSheffrey with the ball going into the left hand side of goal while Kelvin Davis went the other.

Both sides had chances to win the game in the final 30 minutes, Darren Bent came close to a hat-trick, Darren Currie again came close with a couple of good free kicks while Stern John had a good chance for the sky blues.

It was Town who came away with all three points when Kelvin Davis’ long kick bounced over a ducking Jason De Vos, nut megged a Coventry defender and onto Shefki Kuqi who slotted the ball past Steele with 13 minutes left on the clock.

With Wigan beating Rotherham 2-0 Town remain two points clear at the top of the table on 58 points with Wigan on 56 but with a superior goal difference to Town.

Ipswich Town squad: Darren Bent, Dean Bowditch, Pablo Couñago, Darren Currie, Kelvin Davis, Jason De Vos, Kevin Horlock, Daniel Karbassiyoon, Shefki Kuqi, Jim Magilton, Tommy Miller, Scott Mitchell, Richard Naylor, Lewis Price, Matt Richards, Fabian Wilnis.

Coventry City Squad: L Steele, D Leacock, A Williams, R Shaw, S Staunton, A Morrell, M Doyle, S Hughes, I Osbourne, G McSheffrey, S John.

Subs: S Shearer, A Whing, D Adebola, C Jorgensen, E Johnson

	Ipswich Town 3	Coventry City 2
Bookings	Naylor (80)	A Whing (79) R Shaw (85)
Red Cards	None	None
Goals	Bent (45, 59) Kuqi (77)	S John (12) G McSheffrey (61 pen)
Substitutions	Magilton replaced by Bowditch (70)	Leacock replaced by Whing (50) Morrell replaced by Jorgensen (70) Osbourne replaced by Adebola (80)
Possession	56%	44%
Shots	18	9
Corners	5	6
Fouls	15	12
Attendance: 23,670

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