Ipswich will take a narrow 1-0 lead to Arsenal for the Carling Cup semi-final second leg after stunning the Gunners with a late winner at Portman Road. Ipswich had already exited the FA Cup on Saturday, going down 7-0 at Chelsea with caretaker boss Ian McParland in charge and McParland it was who masterminded this win as new manager Paul Jewell watched from the stands.
The Tractor Boys are currently sitting in a season-low 19th place in the Championship table, just three points above the relegation zone and for most of the first half it seemed just a matter of time before Arsenal scored, such was their dominance.
Yet for all their possession the elusive final ball seemed to elude the visitor's and as the game wore on Ipswich grew in confidence.
The winning goal arrived 12 minutes from time as a simple ball over the top of the Gunners defence was collected by Tamas Priskin, who had earlier missed a good chance when clean through, but this time he shot past keeper Wojciech Szczesny.
But Gunners boss Arsene Wenger will look back on the chances missed - Theo Walcott and Andrey Arshavin both went close, but Cesc Fabregas it was who fluffed a clearest opportunity in the second half.
Referee: Martin Atkinson
Venue: Portman Road Attendance: 29,146
Ipswich scorers: Priskin 78 Arsenal scorers:
IPSWICH 21 Fulop 02 Peters 04 McAuley 05 Delaney 48 O'Dea (yellow card) 07 Edwards 08 Norris 24 Healy 39 Kennedy 09 Wickham 16 Priskin (yellow card) (Murray 90)
Substitutes 12 Lee-Barrett, 20 Smith, 23 Eastman, 26 Civelli, 27 Lambe, 34 Hourihane, 28 Murray
ARSENAL 53 Szczesny 06 Koscielny 20 Djourou 27 Eboue 28 Gibbs 04 Fabregas 14 Walcott 15 Denilson 19 Wilshere (A Song 68) 23 Arshavin (Vela 80) 52 Bendtner (Chamakh 68)
Substitutes 55 Shea, 40 Eastmond, 48 Miquel, 16 Ramsey, 17 A Song, 11 Vela, 29 Chamakh
