This was a tale of two halves for Ipswich Town as they let precious points slip from their grasp at Portman Road.

For the first 45 minutes they were positively rampant, oozing confidence and creating chances aplenty.

Then, as happened in their last home game against Sheffield Wednesday, the fluidity suddenly dried up.

John McGreal got the night off to a perfect start, netting inside 80 seconds.

Mark Venus swung in a free-kick from deep on the right and his defensive partner rose to send a looping header over Marlon Beresford.

Burnley responded four minutes later - Arthur Gnohere heading home Glen Little's corner - but Ipswich put themselves back in the ascendancy before half-time through Darren Ambrose.

His strike was the pick of the night and another moment of personal triumph for the teenage protege.

Having scored in spectacular fashion at Reading on Saturday, the midfielder lashed home another contender for goal of the season, turning and sending a scorching volley past the hapless Beresford.

Burnley shaded a less eventful second half, with Steve Davis seeing a header cleared off the line by Holland.

That was a warning for Ipswich, who finally succumbed in the 90th minute.

Dean West crossed from the right and substitute Dimi Papadopoulos sneaked behind the Blues defence to head past Andy Marshall.

Published Wednesday October 23, 2002

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