Billed as an early test of their character, Ipswich Town survived the first examination of their promotion credentials with almost embarrassing ease.

George Burley's side were as utterly rampant as the 6-1 outcome suggests. And the amazing reality is that they could have hit ten.

Two goals each for Matt Holland and Pablo Counago plus strikes for Darren Ambrose and Finidi George made it an afternoon to treasure at Portman Road.

And all against a side tipped to run them close in the battle for honours between now and May.

Town and Leicester are two of the favourites to be sparring for glory but, on the evidence of this extraordinary performance, Burley's boys look an unbeatable bet.

Holland, if any reminder were needed, underlined his importance to the promotion charge with two strikes either side of the break.

Two substitutions paid handsome dividends as Finidi George and Pablo Counago helped mastermind the landslide win.

First, the Nigerian crossed for Ambrose to nod home from close range.

Then he added his name to the scoresheet, receiving possession on the right of the area and arrowing a low shot across goal and into the far corner.

Counago has so much potential and he staked his claim for a regular starting role with two quick goals.

The only blot on the copybook was the Foxes' goal less than a minute after Holland's first which made it 1-1.

Jonathan Stevenson let fly with a 25-yard shot which squirmed under Andy Marshall's body, bouncing awkwardly on the rain-lashed surface.

Published Monday August 19, 2002

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