IPSWICH TOWN 3 SHEFFIELD UNITED 0IPSWICH Town well and truly cut the high flying Blades of Sheffield United down to size at Portman Road today.Watched by a 25,004 crowd, Joe Royle's Blues closed the gap on the Yorkshiremen in the First Division promotion race.

IPSWICH TOWN 3 SHEFFIELD UNITED 0

IPSWICH Town well and truly cut the high flying Blades of Sheffield United down to size at Portman Road today.

Watched by a 25,004 crowd, Joe Royle's Blues closed the gap on the Yorkshiremen in the First Division promotion race.

Strains of the England Swing Low Sweet Chariot wafted around the ground during an afternoon when Town showed their cutting edge and at the same time kept another much needed clean sheet, their third in the League this season.

Shefki Kuqi, on loan from United's arch rivals Sheffield Wednesday, scored the first goal in the 42nd minute from the penalty spot after being brought down himself. Ian Westlake, the young Town midfield man who has just turned 20, made it two in the 67th minute with a stunning finish from a through ball by Kuqi.

Teenager Darren Bent completed the scoring with two minutes to go when he got on the end of a centre by former Youth team mate Westlake. After two draws and a defeat in November Town got back to winning ways again and Royle's Blues richly deserved their success as the rain came down for much of the afternoon at Portman Road.

There was plenty of hard work and endeavour throughout the home side and they took their opportunities to make further progress in the league table.

FULL REPORT IN TONIGHT'S GREEN 'UN