There was an air of inevitability about Alun Armstrong's two-goal salvo against Middlesbrough.

The striker may have publicly denied he had a point to prove to his former employers.

But those who witnessed his unmistakable expression of triumph after 90 minutes were left in no doubt about the personal value of these strikes.

In many respects, the sense of irony was almost overwhelming.

Middlesbrough, haunted by relegation fears after a dismal season on Teesside, looked positively lightweight up front.

Dean Windass scored their goal but otherwise the ageing frontrunner and his cosmopolitan team-mates rarely threatened.

Ipswich, in contrast, were left toasting their ninth away win thanks to the explosive talents of Armstrong, inexcusably - from Boro's point of view - allowed to slip through the net after being frozen out at the Riverside Stadium.

And, while revenge might be too strong a word for someone with his affable manner, the striker clearly relished taking a swipe at his doubters.

His two goals, hot on the heels of his vital leveller against Liverpool last Tuesday, were perfect examples of ruthless, clinical finishing.

And his first, coming just 15 seconds into the second half, was as sweetly-struck a volley as you could possibly wish to see.

Jermaine Wright pushed the ball forward and Armstrong, just a couple of yards outside the penalty area, let fly with an effort which flashed between the left-hand post and Mark Schwarzer.

Then, almost before the jubilant Ipswich fans had settled back into their seats, Marcus Stewart crossed from the left and Armstrong side-footed past the bemused shotstopper.

Suddenly the score provided an accurate reflection of the play because quite how the Blues found themselves behind at the interval was baffling.

Chances had been few and far between but Town, playing with their now customary four-four-two formation, were in total control in terms of possession.

Boro, seemingly content to sit back and hit their high-flying opponents on the break, fluffed a couple of half-chances through Jason Gavin and Alen Boksic.

Otherwise Ipswich were in the driving seat, which is why Boro's goal against the run of play dealt such a sucker-punch.

Paul Ince was the architect, unzipping the defence with a slide-rule pass, and Windass homed in on goal before dragging his low effort wide of Richard Wright.

Ipswich have experienced something of a north-east jinx this season following two defeats at Sunderland and an undeserved reverse at Newcastle United.

And, after missed half-chances by Armstrong, Matt Holland, Jermaine Wright and Titus Bramble, pessimists could be forgiven for thinking that hoodoo was to continue, especially after a curling free-kick by Martijn Reuser was spooned away by Schwarzer.

But that was without reckoning on the talents of Armstrong.

From finding themselves on course for three vital points, shell-shocked Boro were suddenly deflated. Town switched to three-five-two and that allowed the likes of Wright, Holland and Magilton to push forward with renewed vigour.

Jamie Clapham replaced Reuser, not enjoying one of his better days, and he proved a useful addition to the attack.

Even so, genuine goalscoring chances remained something of a scarcity.

Bramble headed Magilton's free-kick narrowly over while Richard Naylor, making his first appearance since renewed knee problems, failed to respond to a chance at the far post.

Naylor had replaced Armstrong with ten minutes left and the striker was sportingly given a standing ovation from all sections of the ground.

That capped something of a fairytale afternoon for Ipswich's latest scoring sensation.

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