Last Day Luck

One again, Ipswich Town fans will find themselves with radios pressed firmly to their ears on Sunday, as we reaquaint ourselves with a very familiar experience in our recent history. And one which we dont seem to have much luck with. We look back at our history of misfortune in Last Day battles.

The 0-0 draw at Blackburn in 1994 was probably our one highlight, ensuring Premiership survival whilst Sheffield United endured a last minute collapse at Chelsea. If it wasnt for the fact it turned out to be a false blessing, with the following season being far beyond the worst fears of any Ipswich fan at the time, then Mark Stein would surely be looking forward to being voted into the Ipswich Town Hall of Fame pretty soon.

1996 witnessed another 0-0 draw, this time against Millwall at Portman Road. On this occasion Ipswich failed to get the result they needed, and others werent particularly charitable either. We failed to make the play-offs, whilst Millwall failed to avoid relegation. Nobody was happy, the stadium and each others fans took a beating, before everyone went off to drown their sorrows.

In 1999, it was automatic promotion which was on the line and, once again, Ipswich were the unfortunate side to lose out. A 4-1 spanking of Sheffield United ensured the job was done at Portman Road far before the match had finished, turning attentions squarely to Molineux. False hope of a Wolves equaliser to deny Bradford promotion prompted delirium around Portman Road, many fans failing to note that the ball had struck the post instead of the net. Or perhaps we all just wanted to believe. There was also a very surreal quick succession of first half incidents, where Sheffield United were denied by a Richard Wright save and then the bar when faced with an open net, followed immediately by news of Wolves taking the lead against Bradford.

2000 saw yet more automatic promotion related misery. All ears were on Manchester Citys game at Blackburn, where a City defeat was required. With City losing 1-0, Ipswich took the lead and for a few brief minutes, the dream was alive. Sadly, four second half City goals left Ipswich with the play-offs again, as a 2-0 victory over Walsall achieved little but to relegate the visitors. Of course, it turned out to be a blessing as the play-offs brought so many memories in themselves.

The last day action in 2001 was something of a novel experience, as it produced a scenario far removed from the relegation and promotion stresses of previous years. With the team already assured of Uefa Cup football, a win at Derby County could, with results going our way, have resulted in our european qualification being upgraded to "Champions League" standard. Sadly, a 1-1 draw was all we could muster, whilst both Leeds and Liverpool managed wins anyway. Nobody cared, we had already achieved more than we could possibly have imagined at the start of the season.

Although it seems hard to think so, the season was also in the balance when we travelled to Liverpool on the last day of 2002. A win, coupled to a Sunderland defeat against already relegated Derby County, could have seen us escape relegation. Nobody expected it and so nobody was surprised when we were thumped 5-0 and Sunderland won.

In 2004, a win at home to Cardiff City would have guaranteed a play-off berth. As it transpired, a 1-1 draw was also enough and we went on to lose in the play-offs to West Ham. The Cardiff game was otherwise notable for the tantrums thrown by both Shefki Kuqi and Jim Magilton when substituted late in the game.

2005 saw another automatic promotion decider. Ipswich needed to win away at Brighton and hope that Reading could do us a favour at Wigan. Once again, for a brief period, we were in the driving seat as Shefki Kuqi gave us the lead. Alas, Reading soon collapsed allowing Wigan to run away with a 3-0 victory, with our own game petering out to a meaningless 1-1 draw. Although not so meaningless for Brighton as, once again, our last day opponents were fighting relegation that afternoon aswell. The draw was enough to guarantee their survival for a further season. Of course, Ipswich lost in the play-offs to West Ham. Again.

So, it brings us to 2008. Our history on the last day of the season is one of few successes in recent times. But, come Sunday afternoon, we will be welcoming the experience back again like an old friend.

Of all the above scenarios, Sunday looks to require more permutations to fall in our favour than in any other year. But, perhaps that is a sign that we will finally get all that Last Day Luck that we have been owed over the years.....