SNAP-SHOT: Cardiff were unable to spoil the party at Portman Road on the final day of the Championship season as Ipswich manager Jim Magilton celebrated his birthday with a 3-1 victory. It was defensive lapses which cost the Bluebirds dear and a lack of bite up front that saw them bow out on the final day with another defeat.
Ipswich came at Cardiff right from the kick-off and Francis Jeffers gave the Tractor Boys the lead after only three minutes - the goal coming after Garvan's pass had cut the City's defence right open. The Bluebirds did get back on level terms though, somewhat against the run of play, when Paul Parry headed in Feeney's cross at the far-post.
In the second half Ipswich began to dominate proceedings and it was the introduction of Jonathon Walters who sparked them into life. With his first touch the former Chester player converted with Garvan's cross to put Town back into the lead, as the Cardiff defence seemed to watch on. On 78 minutes Walters put the result beyond doubt when he finished off a neat move involving Garvan and Peters.
After a promising start to the campaign the Bluebirds season ended on a sour note and they never really looked like getting back into this game after Walters had put Ipswich back in front. Following a much needed rest over the summer City will look to regroup for a fresh assault on the Championship next season.
TEAM NEWS: City remained unchanged from last weekends defeat to Hull, with Kerrea Gilbert returning from injury on the bench in place of Aaron Ramsey. Steve Thompson and Warren Feeney were given another chance by Dave Jones to spearhead the Bluebirds attack. Riccy Scimeca's continued absence meant the industrious Darcy Blake got another opportunity to shine in the centre of midfield alongside Stephen McPhail. Dave Jones had Matt Green waiting on the bench if he needed to inject some pace into the forward line.
CARDIFF: David Forde, Kevin McNaughton, Darren Purse (Capt), Peter Whittingham, Steven Thompson, Stephen McPhail, Paul Parry, Roger Johnson, Joe Ledley, Warren Feeney, Darcy Blake SUBS: Neil Alexander, Kerrea Gilbert, Willo Flood, Matthew Green, Chris Gunter
Alex Bruce passed a late fitness test for Ipswich, pairing up in central defence with Fabian Wilnis - who continued as captain for the injured Jason De Vos. Francis Jeffers could have played his last game for the Tractor Boys, as his loan spell from Blackburn came to a close. Former Bluebird Alan Lee, who scored that late equaliser at Elland Road last weekend and confessed City fan Gavin Williams were included for Town.
IPSWICH: Shane Supple, Fabian Wilnis (Capt), Alex Bruce, Owen Garvan, Gavin Williams, Jamie Peters, Alan Lee, David Wright, Dan Harding, Francis Jeffers, Gary Roberts SUBS: Lewis Price, Danny Haynes, Jonathan Walters, George O'Callaghan, Ian Miller
CHRONOLOGICAL REPORT: On a slightly overcast day in Suffolk the Bluebirds were looking to remove the shadow that had hung over the end of their 2006/2007 campaign, with a win over Ipswich that would ensure they maintained a top-half finish on the final day of the Championship.
But it was a nightmare start for Dave Jones' men as the Tractor Boys took the lead after just three minutes.They had signalled their intent to take the game to Cardiff when left-back Harding hit a long range effort which was deflected wide for a corner in the opening minute.From the resultant flag-kick the ball went back out to Welsh international Williams, whose cross found Bruce, but his header went just wide.
Ipswich then converted their early pressure when on-loan Jeffers demonstrated the type of cool finishing that once made him the subject of a big transfer fee in the Premiership.Garvan found the former Everton player with a clever through-ball which split the Cardiff defence and left Johnson at full stretch, just unable to connect.Jeffers then ran onto the ball on the right of the penalty area and duly slotted it past Forde's into the far corner.
GOAL: IPSWICH 1 - 0 CARDIFF JEFFERS 3MINS
The Tractor Boys could have been two nil up inside six minutes when Gary Roberts hit a curling 30-yard free kick just wide. But Cardiff had their first chance a minute later as Parry cut in from the right-hand side and unleashed a shot from just inside the Blues penalty area, which went narrowly over.Johnson then went close with a header at the far post which went agonisingly across the face of goal.
The Bluebirds had responded well to the Ipswich goal but could not make anything from a succession of corners.Ledley then put in a left-wing cross that proved too close to keeper Supple, with Thompson lurking.
Alan Lee had the chance to score against his former club on 16 minutes but dragged his shot wide from the left-hand side of the penalty area following good work from the lively Jamie Peters.The travelling support started the banter with the former Bluebird after his missed opportunity and Lee responded with an Ayatollah.
Ipswich were beginning to take control once again and Forde had to punch away Jeffers' right-wing cross as Lee challenged.A minute later Williams was allowed time to chip a ball into the box that Lee headed just wide of the target.
Cardiff had another half-chance on 26 when a Whittingham free-kick fizzed across the face of goal, with Johnson the nearest to connecting at the far post.Parry then hit a drive from the edge of the area over the bar and despite pockets of pressure the Bluebirds were failing to cause Supple any real problems in the Ipswich goal, while their opponents were looking far more assured on the ball.
Thompson then got his first shot away on 32 minutes, when he forced Supple to parry out for a corner which Whittingham was adjudged to have curled out before it came in.Two minutes later the Tractor Boys had a penalty claim waived away by Mr Stroud when Purse and Roberts tangled over near the City fans.
The Bluebirds then produced a rare good move when McPhail swung a long ball over to Thompson, who cushioned the ball down for Feeney, but his effort sailed just the wrong side of Supple's post.
On 36 minutes Parry headed the Bluebirds back on level terms.Feeney had turned on the left of the Tractor Boys area before crossing to the far post where Parry rose to plant his header beyond Supple - who seemed to get his angles wrong.
GOAL: IPSWICH 1-1 CARDIFF PARRY 36
McNaughton then prevented Ipswich regaining the lead as he hooked the ball off the line following a scramble from a Williams corner.While up the other end Thompson headed over from Parry's cross.
As the half-time whistle sounded the Bluebirds were in truth lucky to go in level as Ipswich's patient short passing approach had caused them numerous problems.Peters had been a thorn in Cardiff's side down the right-hand side, were Ipswich had looked most effective.
HALF-TIME: IPSWICH 1-1 CARDIFF
It was Ipswich who again started more brightly with Bruce getting putting a header over at the far post from a Garvan free kick conceded by Blake. Lee nearly regained their lead on 46 minutes were it not for Forde tipping his shot away for a corner.Wilnis then attempted an ambitious overhead from the edge of the area, but it flew wide.
It was the goalscorer Parry who had Cardiff's best opening chance of the second half.He marauded down the Ipswich right before cutting in and hitting a low shot that supple got one hand to before the defence scrambled out.
Ipswich made an early change on 56 minutes, when Danny Haynes replaced the limping Gary Roberts.Haynes then immediately demonstrated his pace down the right but Ledley stopped the move getting any further.
Dave Jones then made use of his first substitution with Chris Gunter replacing Stephen McPhail on 61 minutes.Gunter, who was called up to Toshack's Wales squad earlier in the week, slotted into right-back with McNaughton moving over to the left and Ledley changing to central midfield.
Forde then made a vital save on 62 to keep Cardiff level.A Garvan free-kick from left side of the pen area was whipped over to the far post where Forde threw his body in front of Wilnis' shot to turn it away for a corner when it had looked like the Tractor Boys would regain the lead. Up the other end Thompson headed over at far post from Whittingham's cross but Ipswich were beginning to turn the screw as they looked for a winner.
Former Bluebird Alan Lee was withdrawn on 66 minutes, to be replaced by Jonathan Walters, who made an immediate impact with his first touch.
Harding played the ball into Garvan just inside the left-hand side of the Cardiff area and he was given miles of room in to look up and pick out Jon Walters, running through the centre, who made no mistake in slotting the ball past Forde.
GOAL: IPSWICH 2 - 1 CARDIFF WALTERS 67MINS
Whittingham then had a chance to get Cardiff back in the game when he hit a shot from the left-hand side on 73 minutes but his shot was parried back out to him by Supple and his second effort was deflected into the side-netting for a corner.Matt Green then replaced Feeney and Cardiff failed to capitalise on another two corners, with Johnson's initial header being deflected out. But Ipswich again looked the more dangerous in front of goal as Harding nearly raised the roof on Portman Road when he cut in from the left and hit a 30 yard effort which fizzled just wide.
Ipswich fans hoped Francis Jeffers hadn't made his final bow for the club when he was replaced by O'Callaghan in the 76th minute.Danny Haynes moved up front alongside Walters but Jeffers' departure did not blunt the Town attack as they had the ball in the net again on 78 minutes.Garvan hit a great cross field ball from the right to Peters on the left of the penalty area, who laid it neatly inside for Walters to bury his second of the game.
GOAL: IPSWICH 3 - 1 WALTERS 78 MINS
The Tractor Boys did not look like they were done as they continued to attack, giving Cardiff few opportunities to break forward.It was nearly four when Willaims' free-kick from the left was met by Haynes' header but it was too close to Forde.
Mexican waves began going round Portman Road as Williams and Garvan continued to run the show in the Ipswich midfield - if there are any Bluebird's fans still reading this email us at parklife@cardiffcityfc.co.uk and we will look for your reward for your endeavour.Cardiff's attacks were increasingly lacking a cutting edge and Jones made one final change with five minutes to go with Kerrea Gilbert returning from an injury layoff to replace goalscorer Parry.Gunter moving forward into Parry's right-wing position.
The final chance of note fell to Ipswich, with Walters nearly connected with David Wright's cross.Three minutes of time were added but Cardiff never looked close to reducing the defeat.
FULL-TIME: IPSWICH 3-1 CARDIFF
Att: 26,488
REFEREE: Mr K P Stroud
