Brunt strike keeps Baggies in hunt

26 January 2010 21:55
Roy Keane's Ipswich were largely outplayed in an entertaining match at Portman Road but referee Stuart Attwell gave them a huge lift midway through the second half when he mysteriously awarded a penalty following a routine aerial challenge from Baggies defender Jonas Olsson.[LNB]Grant Leadbitter made no mistake to leave Roberto Di Matteo's men staring at a thoroughly unjust defeat but Brunt popped up in the 94th minute to salvage a draw.[LNB]Albion are now five points shy of leaders Newcastle - who play on Wednesday - while Ipswich's run of improved form has seen them lose just once in 15 league games.[LNB]Ipswich were without captain Jon Walters after he injured his hamstring in the 2-1 FA Cup defeat at Southampton on Saturday and the Tractor Boys missed his energy up front in the opening stages as Albion dominated.[LNB]Jerome Thomas was causing Liam Rosenior all kinds of problems on the left, and after he won a corner with a jinking run Albion should have taken the lead.[LNB]Graham Dorrans' set-piece was flicked on at the near post by Olsson and Roman Bednar was presented with a simple chance inside the six-yard box but miscued horribly over.[LNB]Albion's patient passing game was leaving Keane's men chasing shadows and Bednar had another chance in the 14th minute.[LNB]Robert Koren and Youssouf Mulumbu were involved in a passing triangle in midfield before Brunt released Bednar with a sublime ball with the outside of his foot.[LNB]Bednar sent in a low shot from a narrow angle which Town goalkeeper Arran Lee-Barrett did well to parry to safety.[LNB]The keeper made another sharp save to deny Brunt but was then lucky to escape with a yellow card after he hacked down Bednar outside the penalty area.[LNB]Bednar was then denied by Lee-Barrett again before Koren saw a desperate block from Gareth McAuley stop him from opening the scoring from close range after a picture book passing move had carved Keane's side open.[LNB]McAuley was then made to head clear from under his own crossbar to clear a lob from the excellent Brunt but Jaime Peters could still have had the hosts ahead before the break but his strike lacked conviction and Scott Carson was able to save.[LNB]Albion started the second period on top again and the luckless Bednar was inches wide with a header from Marek Cech's floated cross as they turned the screw.[LNB]Damien Delaney had to clear from off the line to keep Brunt's cross-shot out as Albion enjoyed almost total possession before referee Attwell gave Ipswich a 66th-minute penalty.[LNB]Rosenior launched a long throw into the area and Olsson climbed clear of two attackers to head the ball away.[LNB]All appeared fine but Attwell - who came to prominence with his award of the 'ghost goal' at Watford last season - had seen an infringement of some kind and pointed to the spot to the bemusement of all inside Portman Road.[LNB]Leadbitter stepped up to send Carson the wrong way with a powerful low strike.[LNB]Di Matteo responded by sending on Ishmael Miller and Simon Cox and the pair were involved as Brunt salvaged a stoppage-time equaliser.[LNB]Gonzalo Jara played a deep cross into a packed penalty area toward Miller, Cox volleyed the loose ball goalward and after it struck a defender, Brunt was able to poke home from two yards.[LNB][LNB][LNB]

Source: Team_Talk