Sheffield United manger Howard Kendall insisted that his side could still cement a place in the Play-Off Final at Wembley but the former Everton boss feels that there are vultures circulated within Bramall Lane that want him out if they fail to win a place in next seasons Premier League.
Kendall’s £7M structured Blades looked like they would head to Portman Road in a few days time with a goal advantage after the formidable Jan Fjortoft had given them the lead until, with 12 minutes remaining keeper Alan Kelly and defender Roger Nilsen were statues in the box and allowed Mick Stockwell to level when it mattered.
"We have everything to play for and can still reach the play-off final at Wembley." Insisted Kendall. He joyfully watched his side brilliantly take the lead on 41 minutes but the woeful defending which followed in Town’s goal left him angered; : "I'll be taking a good, hard look at their goal, because we defended awfully. We defended too deep. It was a scruffy goal to concede."
Naturally opposing manager George Burley was delighted at his side netting an important away goal and returning to Suffolk with a draw; "We got the job done here. Now, in front of our own supporters, we have to think we can make Wembley."
Fjortoft’s opener on the 41st minute was a true stunner; he flicked a David White knock-down over his right shoulder before his hammered right foot volley whistled past Richard Wright in the Ipswich goal. Four minutes later it looked as though the Norwegian national was hijacked of a penalty after Geraint Williams clipped him in the box with no foul rewarded from referee Roy Pearson.
Of the two teams Ipswich looked the better side in the second 45 minutes but United will be left ruling missed opportunities after being denied an almost certain penalty and a defensive blunder to boot.