When things aren't going your way a bit of luck helps.

And Ipswich had a huge dose as they attempt to kickstart their Premiership season .

The Blues were searching for their second away league win but looked like they were heading for their fourth defeat instead.

Until one man intervened. That was Luis Boa Morte of Fulham.

The Cottagers had taken an early lead in the 21st minute when a hesitant Town defence and Fabian Wilnis in particular failed to clear a John Collins free-kick and Barry Hayles pounced.

Boa Morte should have left Ipswich dead and buried in the 28th minute after referee Mike Riley adjudged John McGreal to have handballed.

The ball was drifted into the far post for £11 million signing Steve Marlet to knock down. But the ball skidded up and hit centre-half McGreal on the arm.

Boa Morte then stepped up but could only slot wide of keeper Matteo Sereni's left-hand post.

It was a big let-off for Town, whose body language in the first half suggested a side whose form and confidence has totally deserted them.

They looked confused and bewildered as all the neat lay-offs and one-twos that served them so well last season were suddenly not happening. And Fulham were more than happy to exploit this.

They closed down well when not in possession and were quick to get the ball to Hayles, whose pace proved a real handful for the visiting defence.

Ipswich boss George Burley must have been relieved before the game to discover French danger man Louis Saha had been dropped to the bench after a string of poor performances.

But the lively Hayles proved an adequate replacement and sprang the offside trap just before Fulham weree given their penalty, but was denied a clear run on goal by a saving Hermann Hreidarsson tackle.

Burley had also rung the changes after a lifeless performance in the UEFA Cup against Helsingborgs last Thursday.

Out-of-sorts Marcus Stewart made way for fit-again Alun Armstrong as the lone ranger up front.

But Stewart was called into action in the 14th minute after Finidi George clashed heads with Alain Goma and sustained what turned out to be a fractured cheekbone.

There was a recall for Jamie Clapham, who looked uncomfortable in his starting role in midfield, while Burley reverted to a back four.

Hreidarsson partnered McGreal flanked by Wilnis and Chris Makin while Sixto Peralta made his full debut at the expense of Jim Magilton.

The new-look Ipswich struggled to get going and didn't have a worthwhile effort on goal in the first half.

But Boa Morte, who had earlier been booked for a foul and head-butt on Wilnis, dramatically found himself sent-off on the stroke of half-time.

He found himself blocked by Hreidarsson on the edge of the box before diving to try and con the referee into giving another penalty.

Riley was left with no choice and opted to give the Portuguese striker a second yellow card.

Burley brought on Martijn Reuser for the second half and he instantly looked more purposeful.

Matt Holland's long-range shot went wide before Jermaine Wright found himself in space inside the box but his pull-back couldn't find Stewart.

But the former Crewe midfielder was on hand to drill home in the 57th minute after Peralta had laid off a Reuser cross into his path.

Wright wrapped his foot round the ball and gave keeper Edwin Van Der Sar no chance with a low effort into the corner.

Reuser then provided another great delivery from the left which an unmarked Armstrong narrowly failed to get his head to.

But Ipswich weren't having things all their own way against the ten men.

McGreal appeared to handle but survived a second penalty against him despite a strong Fulham appeal.

And Sereni was called upon to make a fine reflex save from a superb strike by substitute Saha in the 80th minute.

Despite this, Town still looked the more likely to score and came closest in the 87th minute when Clapham's cross was met by a late run by Holland, but his header whistled just past the upright.

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