By Aston
August 6 2005

Ipswich Town started their championship campaign with a 1-0 win against Cardiff City at Portman Road earlier today.

A single Nicky Forster goal in the second half gave Town the win which has seen them stake a VERY early claim on a play-off place.

 

The first half was probably what many Town fans expected following the summer sales and they were probably not surprised when Cardiff nearly took the lead early on when Paul Parry fired wide and five minutes later Cameron Jerome was denied by Lewis Price.

 

Town’s first real attempt on goal came in the 18^th minute when Darren Currie had a long range effort blocked by Colin Cooper. Town should of taken the lead 3 minutes before half time when Nicky Forster played through Sam Parkin who scuffed his effort when one-on-one with Cardiff ‘keeper Neil Alexander.

 

Both sides started the second half in a less than exciting manner but it was Town who looked the most deadly in the final third of the park with Darren Currie and Jim Magilton both trying to set something up only for the Cardiff defence to clear.

 

Nicky Forster eventually made the pressure pay-off on 64 minutes when got on the end of Darren Currie’s free kick and fired the ball home to give Town a 1-0 lead.

 

Sam Parkin nearly opened his account for Town four minutes later but this afternoon was clearly not his time as he did every thing but score, sending this effort wide of the post.

 

Cardiff manager Dave Jones sent on Alan Lee with 22 minutes left as the bluebirds looked for a way back into the game but it was Town who continued to look deadly upfront with Sam Parkin again going close this time hitting the woodwork.

 

It ended 1-0 and although it means nothing at this early stage, Town are 6^th in the table behind 1^st placed Sheffield United on goal difference.

 

Ipswich: Price, Wilnis, De Vos, Naylor, Richards, Currie, Magilton, Garvan, Westlake, Forster, Parkin.

Subs: Supple, Horlock, Juan, McDonald, Peters.

 

Cardiff: Alexander, Darlington, Purse, Cox, Barker, Whitley, Ardley, Parry, Boland, Cooper, Jerome.

Subs Not Used: Warner, Weston, Lee, Loovens, Mulryne.

	Town 1	Cardiff 0
Yellow Cards	De Vos (50)	Cooper (76)
Red Cards	None	None
Goals	Forster (64)	None
Subs	Forster replaced by Peters (77) Magilton replaced by Juan (90)	Parry replaced by Lee (74) Boland replaced By Mulryne (86)
Possession	51%	49%
Shots	11	13
Corners	7	5
Fouls	13	21
Attendance: 24,292

 

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