The irony could hardly have been crueler for shell-shocked Ipswich Town.

Bewildered, stunned, dejected and furious after this body-blow result, the official man-of-the-match was none other than Rotherham's Shaun Barker.

And why was that ironic? Because the defender should, without question, have been sent off for a professional foul early in the second half.

That way, he wouldn't have been around in the closing stages to orchestrate the goals which turned this game on its head.

Ipswich were in total control for an hour, then, inexplicably, released their stranglehold on the game.

But it was easy to understand the sense of injustice after two goals in as many minutes shattered their play-off dream.

To add insult to injury, it was the second blunder of the afternoon by Leicestershire referee Brian Curson.

Marcus Bent put Martijn Reuser through on goal but the Dutchman, having got goal side of his marker, was brought crashing down to earth by Barker.

He was centrally placed and there was no covering defender - yet the colour of the card was only yellow.

Now Ipswich need to win their last two games and hope Nottingham Forest lose twice against Millwall and Rotherham.

Town were on course for three points until Barker, such a potent threat with his long throws, hurled another of his specials into the dangerzone.

Andy Marshall punched it clear but John Mullin launched the ball back over his head and somehow it dropped under the bar.

That was heart-wrenching but worse followed within 120 seconds.

Marshall dived to save a header by former Town defender Chris Swailes, after another throw by Barker, but the loose ball was bundled home by Mark Robins.

Published Tuesday, April 22, 2003

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