THE battle at Bramall Lane may have been lost but shell-shocked Matt Holland is determined Ipswich Town will win the war by taking the league points at Portman Road next month.

THE battle at Bramall Lane may have been lost but shell-shocked Matt Holland is determined Ipswich Town will win the war by taking the league points at Portman Road next month.

Town took a point in a goal-less draw at Sheffield United last November, but went out of the FA Cup there on Saturday.

But Ipswich will get three league points when the two sides clash at Portman Road in February, said Town skipper Holland. He stated: "We are destined to win that game now.

"The league is priority, but, having said that, we are disappointed to lose the FA Cup game as we fancied a run, but we really want to do the business against them in the league. We want to continue our good league form and climb the table so beating Bradford next week and then Sheffield United in a couple of weeks is top priority now."

Holland has vowed to repay Ipswich Town's magnificent supporters after they witnessed a rip-roaring FA Cup exit at Sheffield United. Nearly 3,000 Town fans got behind their side in Yorkshire, and were still singing and cheering them on when they went three down.

It was symptomatic of the away support Town have enjoyed all season and Holland is determined to make it up to them after the disappointment they have endured over the past 18 months.

He said: "The supporters were magnificent. Even at 3-0 down they were right behind us which was incredible for us.

"They have been like it all season and we can't ask any more of them. They really have stuck with us and we would love to repay them in the second half of the season by giving them something to be really pleased with."

The Blues skipper couldn't understand how Ipswich didn't go on and beat Sheffield United, after clawing their way level from three down. Even before the Blades went ahead through Michael Brown, it was Ipswich who looked the better footballing side.

They went further behind by half-time and Brown added a third six minutes after the break, against the run of play.

But the never-say-die attitude Town now have spurred them on to a remarkable comeback with goals from Thomas Gaardsoe, Tommy Miller and Darren Bent.

Town skipper Matt Holland said: "If you look at the balance of the game, we had more of the ball but we found ourselves two down at half-time and then unbelievably three down even though it was a cracking goal and that didn't reflect the game.

"The manager had a few words to say at half-time and then we changed things with Darren coming on and it was a terrific effort which shows the spirit among the lads. We got back in it and from then it looked like we were going to go on and win it.

"Darren tried one from the half-way line and the keeper made a save and it looked there was just one team in it.

"They have had four chances and scored – it wasn't like they were cutting through us. We might have done better clearing a couple, but it was frustrating."

Holland sang the praises of the two Darrens, Ambrose in particular who showed good character to put the disappointment of two misses behind him to set up Bent's goal. The skipper said: "They are both terrific talents and you have to drag them off the training ground.

"They are constantly working on the game and try things like that. On another day he would have buried both of those. But at least he is in the right places to have the opportunities and he just keeps going.

"He made Darren Bent's goal and he creates other chances.

"He is terrific, still learning and is an amazing talent."