If it's true that luck evens itself out over a season then Ipswich are owed a penalty, a couple of goals and a trip to Wembley.

The Blues did not deserve to lose at the magnificent Reebok Stadium and if referee Mark Halsey had seen what virtually everyone else did, then Ipswich probably wouldn't have lost.

After David Johnson was taken out by the Bolton skipper Mark Fish, Mark Venus would most probably have stepped up and fired in a first half penalty to give Town the lead they warranted.

Johnson, whose appalling goal-scoring record is largely to blame for Town having to be in the lottery of a play off as it is, picked himself up and looked appealingly at the officials.

Halsey was a long way behind play and his assistant looked away blankly.

It may have been Johnson was being punished for his reputation as a diver, but whatever that decision could prove costly, perhaps even the £8m-£10m awaiting the third promoted side to the Premiership.

Johnson said: "It was definitely a penalty. The referee was a long way off and the linesman said he wasn't sure.

"I knew then it was not going to be our day."

The £1million signing from Bury last season was quite right.

He has not scored since April 5, managed only 14 league goals this campaign and never really looked like halting the run that has seen him impotent in front of goal for seven matches now.

Jim Magilton did his best to give him chances but when the striker did find space he blasted wildly wide.

The one time he did get free to net he was adjudged to be offside. And to cap his unproductive day he was booked for stupidly kicking the ball away.

He almost got a second booking for carrying on when the whistle went for offside but the ref preferred to admonish him.

Johnson's failure to do his job was compounded when Michael Johansen showed how to finish, five minutes from time, with a tremendous strike from the edge of the box, to totally deflate Town.

Bolton had shown flashes of danger but were nowhere near the potent threat of a month ago when they beat Town 2-0.

This time Fabian Wilnis was back and he put tricky Jamaican winger Ricardo Gardner in his pocket.

Tony Mowbray was outstanding at the back alongside Manuel Thetis, both refused to allow Eiduer Gudjohnsen and Bob Taylor to get at them .

In midfield Matt Holland snuffed out the dangerous Claus Jensen, battled feverishly to win the ball with Jim Magilton and Kieron Dyer helping to win the second ball and create moves.

The Blues may have been in bigger bother but for a world class save from Richard Wright.

The England under-21 keeper, who is knocking on the door for a full cap, dived athletically to his left to scoop the ball away from a post after Frandsen had found space to direct a powerful header low down.

Blues' coach John Gorman rated the save alongside that of Gordon Banks from Pele, in the 1970 World Cup.

A touch over the top perhaps but it was a wonderful save and the rest of his handling all afternoon was immaculate.

It spurred Ipswich on to even greater efforts. Richard Naylor came on for Johnson and could have become an instant hero. Scowcroft played ball through to him with only the keeper to beat.

But unlike last week when he cooly rounded the stopper this time Steve Banks was on him quickly and got down well to save as Naylor tried to poke the ball under him.

Now Ipswich know they must win by two clear goals, or at least hope for a 1-0 win that will bring extra time and penalties.

And that against a side they finished the regular season ten points and three places higher.

Surely now they are due a little something?

Town now know exactly what they have to do in tomorrow's second leg.

Bolton's Neil Cox tussles for the ball with Ipswich players Tony Mowbray, Mark Venus and Manual Thetis

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.