IPSWICH Town did the double over promotion-chasing Cardiff City with a deserved 2-0 win in Wales on Saturday.

Cardiff City 0-2 Ipswich Town

They repeated their 2-0 win at Portman Road in September to move within touching distance of npower Championship safety – with still 12 games to play.

Jimmy Bullard gave Town the lead in the 65th minute with a superb shot from distance – the second time he has beaten Stephen Bywater from a long way out for the Blues this year.

And the Hull loanee added a second in the 87th minute when his free-kick was deflected off the wall into the net.

It was an outstanding display by Ipswich with Marton Fulop superb in goal and Jason Scotland busy and effective up front. Gareth McAuley and Damien Delaney were excellent in an effective all-round performance.

Carlos Edwards gave an immaculate right back showing.

Ipswich were unchanged after pulverising Portsmouth for 55 minutes last weekend before ending up losing 2-0. Manager Jewell was happy to give his strikers a chance to re-find their shooting boots.

Kennedy was given a warm reception by fans at his former club, but ex-Swansea player Scotland was booed.

The same six players were on the bench. Cardiff included Bywater in goal having taken him on loan from Derby this week with their three keepers all injured.

Bywater was not at his best when Town scored two goals to beat the Rams last month at Pride Park. With Ramsey having gone back to Arsenal and Olofinjana injured the home midfield was depleted with fellow recent loanee Brown the replacement keeper.

The game started at 5.20pm and was shown live on Sky Sports TV with Cardiff needing a win to go in second place in the table.

Ipswich started the match having dropped down three places during the afternoon to 17th in the table.

In the sixth minute a lively Cardiff threatened when Bellamy pulled the ball back from the by-line after a neat move and Delaney did well to block Bothroyd’s attempt at a close range shot.

A minute later Scotland put Kennedy into space down the left and from his driven low cross, Scotland caused confusion at the near post with Martin unable to capitalise when the ball broke free in the six-yard box.

It was all-action stuff and in the ninth minute after a patient build-up Whittingham saw his 20 yard shot saved by a diving Fulop. The Town keeper was able to get back on his feet and block when Chopra followed up with a close range effort.

In the 20th minute Hudson headed Whittingham’s free-kick in to the net but was flagged offside.

Bywater mishandled Bullard’s 28th minute free-kick with Martin following up but unable to force the ball over the goal line as the game swung from end to end.

Two minutes later Emmanuel-Thomas was put clear with Fulop doing well to get his body in the way of the shot to loop the ball a yard beyond the far post.

Fulop could only watch in the 32nd minute when Whittingham’s curling 20 yard free-kick thumped off the underside of the bar and back into play.

By this time Kennedy had gone off with what looked like a hamstring problem with O’Dea coming on.

In the 59th minute Martin was clearly tripped in the penalty area but a bizarre decision by the referee saw the game re-start with a drop ball after a home player received attention. It looked like an easy option for the official to escape the wrath of home fans.

The 53rd minute saw the dangerous Emmanual-Thomas fire in a low shot that Fulop dived to push on to the ground and up on to the roof of the net. It was a remarkable save, and from the resultant corner Fulop distinguished himself again by keeping out a blockbuster from Chopra.

The game had become much more stretched with a danger that Ipswich would be caught out by lack of numbers at the back.

Town scored their first goal for three games when they took the lead with a magnificent effort from Bullard in the 65th minute. Wickham’s long ball upfield saw Scotland compete well to disrupt the home defence and when the ball ran loose to Bullard he crashed a 22 yard shot across Bywater to make the net bulge at the far post.

Four minutes later Fulop pulled off a tremendous save after Bellamy’s pace took him clear at an angle. The keeper somehow got his left hand to the ball and then stopped the ex-Norwich player getting in a follow-up effort.

Bullard added a second goal in the 87th when his 25 yard free-kick too a deflection off the wall to beat Bywater comfortably.

Teams

Cardiff: City: Bywater; Quinn (Blake 84), Keinan, Hudson, McNaughton; Emmanuel-Thomas (Burke 79), Whittingham, McPhail, Bellamy; Chopra (Parkin 86), Bothroyd. Substitutes: Brown, Naylor, Rae, Gyepes.

Ipswich Town: Fulop; Edwards, McAuley, Delaney, Kennedy (O’Dea 29); Martin, Norris Civelli 90), Bullard, Leadbitter, Wickham; Scotland (Priskin 83). Substitutes: Lee-Barrett, Peters, Smith, Drury.

Referee: Mr A Bates (Staffordshire)

Attendance: 21,347.

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FULL MATCH FACTS CARDIFF CITY V IPSWICH TOWN

Marks

Cardiff: City: Bywater 6; Quinn 6, Keinan 6, Hudson 6, McNaughton 6; Emmanuel-Thomas 8, Whittingham 7, McPhail 7, Bellamy 7; Chopra 6, Bothroyd 7.

Ipswich Town: Fulop 9; Edwards 8, McAuley 8, Delaney 8, Kennedy 6; Martin 7, Norris 6, Bullard 7, Leadbitter 7, Wickham 7; Scotland 8.

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STATS

Cardiff City 0

Goals: -

Bookings: -.

Sent off: -

Shots on target: 8

Shots off target: 4

Woodwork: 1

Corners: 12

Free-kicks conceded (including off sides): 10

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Ipswich Town 2

Goal: Bullard 65

Bookings: Martin 76.

Sent off: -

Shots on target: 5

Shots off target: 2

Woodwork: -

Corners: 4

Free-kicks conceded (including off sides): 12