By Aston
April 7 2005

April 3rd 2002 - Singing The Blue’s first article was published, walk with me down memory lane as I look back at the past three years, again.

I left the second part of my three year review with Town 7th in the table with a two point cushion over Norwich, 5 points out side the play-offs and with 10 games to go.

Towns next four games would see them play two teams with real relegation worries, one with real play-off hopes and one with a mathematical chance of play-offs.

First up was a trip to Sheffield Wednesday’s Hillsborough ground, Town won 1-0 thanks to a Matt Holland goal the win brought Town just 5 points outside the play-offs with two of the play-off chasing teams having to visit Portman Road before the season was over, the first of them came the following Tuesday, Reading making the journey up to Ipswich, earlier in the season Reading had beat Town 3-1 it was the same score line at Portman Road although thankfully to Town this time, goals from Thomas Gaardsøe, Matt Holland and Jim Magilton sealing the win that brought Town to within a game of the play-offs. Town’s win over Reading was followed up by a draw with Brighton a late goal from Martijn Reuser saving Town’s blushes with a goal in the 84th minute after the Gulls had taken the lead a minute earlier. Town had 7 games left in which to over turn a 5 point gap and make the play-offs.

Gillingham was Town’s next stop in the hunt for promotion they had to go the preistfield stadium with out Matt Holland who was away with the Republic Of Ireland, Tommy Miller, Pablo Couñago and Marcus Bent scoring after the Gills had taken the lead, Town stayed 7th in the table 2 points out side the play-offs and with 5th placed Nottingham Forest next to visit Portman Road, Normally 3 goals at home will ensure all 3 points, Town had a 2-0 lead after just 25 minutes Tommy Miller scoring both goals one from a retaken penalty but Forest went in 3-2 up at half time thanks to two goals from John Thompson and one from Marlon Harewood, Marcus Bent brought Town level on the hour mark but that was not enough to give Town a point as Marlon Harewood scored to make it 4-3 to Forest, result that left Town 3 points adrift of the play-offs having played a game more. Coventry City was Town’s next stop on the hunt for the play-offs at half time the hunt became more of an outside chance as Town trailed the sky blues 2-0 but two goals each from Marcus Bent and Pablo Couñago in the second half saw Town leave the midlands with all 3 points and very large smiles although those smiles weren’t expected to last very long as already promoted Portsmouth visited Portman Road 6 days later.

It was 3-0 at half time to Ipswich with goals Martijn Reuser, Tommy Miller and Pablo Couñago as Town did their play-off hopes a world of good, all of which would be undone on Easter Monday as Town lost 2-1 away at Rotherham despite out performing the home side for 80 of the 90 minutes.

That left the table looking like:

Team	Played	GD	PTS
Reading	43	+12	73
Nottingham	44	+32	72
Ipswich Town	44	+17	67
Norwich City	44	+9	65
Millwall	44	-12	62

As you can see Town needed to win both their last two games and hope that Reading and Nottingham forest didn’t pick up a single point.

Hopes of the play-offs were dashed when Wimbledon came to Portman Road and scored 5 while Town managed just one in reply, Town’s final match of the 2002/2003 season was away at George Burley’s Derby County the only thing at stake for Town was local pride as Norwich could jump Town into 7th place if Town failed to get a point.

Town beat Derby 4-1 with the goals coming from Pablo Couñago, Darren Bent, Jim Magilton and out going skipper Matt Holland, Derby took the lead only for Pablo Couñago to equalize on 32 minutes before Darren Bent put Town in front and Jim Magilton doubled Town’s lead just before the half time break. Matt Holland scored his final goal in Town colours in stoppage time, probably the best way for him to sign off as a Town player.

Well that’s part 3 over with, got a summer sale to come next time, hope your ready for it.

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