Young guns blow away Burley's relegation blues

Ipswich Town went to San Siro and Old Trafford last season, but Saturday night's 2-0 win in the humble surroundings of Walsall's Bescot Stadium in front of a crowd of 5,253 provided a glimpse of the future for George Burley's side.

An early clearance by Thomas Gaardsoe, the Ipswich defender, personified life back in the First Division for the Suffolk club as it flew high over the slender stands and out of the ground. But on the field, two 18-year-olds were proving that relegation from the Premiership will not be dwelt upon.

The win was a triumph for youth football, with the midfielder Darren Ambrose scoring his first senior goal to open Ipswich's account and the highly-rated striker Darren Bent making both goals. The fact that the teenagers were preferred to Jermaine Wright and Marcus Stewart respectively signalled Burley's thinking.

"Darren Bent and Ambrose were outstanding today and they're going to play a big part this season," was the Ipswich manager's response at the end of a game which showed every inch of class that Matt Holland, the Republic of Ireland World Cup midfielder, possesses.

Holland, playing his first competitive game since the penalty shoot-out defeat to Spain in Suwon, was immaculate in the middle of the park. Undoubtedly he impressed the onlooking Graham Taylor, the Aston Villa manager, in attendance primarily to check-up on his main transfer target.

The Ipswich captain, however, was quick to quash rumours linking him with a move. "I've got four years left on my contract at Ipswich and as far as I'm concerned I was always concentrating on this game, the rest of the season and promotion for Ipswich," he said.

Instead he chose to praise the displays of Bent and Ambrose, who ended the game in hospital after cutting his lip, leaving Ipswich with 10 men for much of the second period. Holland added: "They both deserve their chance. It's been a big bonus for us and it showed they're capable of playing at this level."

Darren Bent had a superb swerving shot from 25-yards tipped over by James Walker, the Walsall goalkeeper, on the half-hour mark, and then made the opening goal in the 37th minute. Holland fed Bent and his shot was well saved by Walker but it fell into the path of Ambrose, who crept in at the far post to finish from eight-yards.

Moments before the interval, Marcus Bent, partnering his namesake in attack, should have finished the game when he wasted a golden opportunity. After controlling a raking ball into the Walsall area on his chest, his shot disappointingly hit the side-netting.

But Marcus Bent made amends after the break. The full-back Jamie Clapham sent a hanging cross into the penalty area which was nodded back across goal by Darren Bent, for the former Blackburn striker to acrobatically scissor-kick past the stranded Walker.

Walsall's brief fightback failed to seriously trouble Ipswich, with the goalkeeper Andy Marshall comfortable for most of the evening. He had to save twice from the substitute, Herivelto, and Herman Hreidarsson cleared off his own line from Jorge Leitão to defy the home side, who finished well beaten.

Goals: Ambrose 37 (0-1); M Bent 62 (0-2).

Walsall: (4-4-2) Walker; Bazeley, Carbon, Roper, Aranalde; Wrack, Birch, Sonner, Corica; Leitão (Rodrigues, 76), Matias (Herivelto, 62). Substitutes not used: Harris (gk), Hay, Wright.

Ipswich Town: (4-4-2) Marshall; Wilnis (Miller, h-t), Gaardsoe, Hreidarsson, Clapham; Couñago (Wright, h-t), Magilton, Holland, Ambrose; D Bent, M Bent (Armstrong, 62). Substitutes not used: Pullen (gk), Stewart.

Referee: H Webb (Rotherham).

Bookings: Walsall: Roper. Ipswich: D Bent, Holland.

Man of the match: D Bent.

Attendance: 5,253.