Town's last home game of the season ended with a dismal second half collapse and a 5-1 Wimbledon win. The Blues were one-down at half-time and, with a number of players looking either jaded or disinterested, a five minute spell late in the second period saw Wimbledon, already 2-1 up, rack up three more goals.

Joe Royle lined his side up 3-5-2 with skipper Matt Holland, probably playing his last game for the Blues at Portman Road, on the right of the defence. Jermaine Wright replaced the injured Tommy Miller in midfield alongside Jim Magilton who may also have played his last Blues' home game. Aiden Collins, just 16, was on the bench.

Town started by far the stronger side and Marcus Bent hit an early shot wide before Martijn Reuser had a well-struck strike saved by Kelvin Davis in the Wimbledon goal, the keeper failing to hold on at the first attempt but gathering at the second attempt.

On 10 Pablo Couñago made a strong run in from the right forcing Davis to dive at his feet and concede a corner. From Magilton's kick Marcus Bent headed wide. Soon after Magilton shot wide after an impressive build up on the left.

The Blues had enjoyed virtually all the possession but in 16th minute Wimbledon were close to going ahead. Thomas Gaardsøe missed a cross sent in from the Dons' left and Neil Shipperley deflected the ball back across the face of goal to David Connolly at the other post, but the Irish international put his shot into the side-netting with Andy Marshall stranded.

Town continued to miss chances, Jim Magilton putting a Martijn Reuser cross over. A minute later Marcus Bent had a powerful shot saved after a one-two between Couñago and Magilton and a typically battling run from the former Celta Vigo man.

Bent was again close to a scoring opportunity in the 19th minute with Kelvin Davis stranded after coming out too soon. The Town striker, with his back to goal, tried to find an opening but his effort was blocked.

Wimbledon gradually started to become more involved, but their goal in the 27th minute was still against the run of play. Connolly took on his Ireland team-mate Holland before putting a teasing ball across the Town six-yard box towards Shipperley. Andy Marshall appeared to get a hand to the ball but could only paddle the ball on to Shipperley who arrived before Makin, the ball slowly rolling into the empty net.

Just before the half hour Marcus Bent went over from a tight angle with his back to goal and Jim Magilton missed another promising chance. Fabian Wilnis had laid the ball back to him inside the area 15 yards out but the Northern Irishman's shot sailed over the bar.

On 36 Martijn Reuser came close with a freekick which curled round the wall but couldn't beat Davis low at his left post. From the resultant corner the ball was cleared only for Pablo Couñago to bring the ball back into the area on the left. The Spaniard appeared to have beaten Shipperley, back defending for the corner, before being pulled to the ground. Referee Mark Warren did not feel there was a foul.

Magilton headed a Wilnis cross wide in the 38th minute, although it was a harder chance than his previous three. Just before the break Matt Richards went close when played in after a one-two with Pablo Couñago but his shot went across the face of goal when one-on-one with Davis.

With two minutes left before the break Wimbledon came close to a second, Shipperley heading onto the bar. With the ball dropping down onto the line, Andy Marshall tried to claim, however Chris Makin attempted to hammer clear, the ball dropping loose in the six-yard box with on the floor. Connolly tried to slot home but Gaardsøe blocked and Town eventually got the ball clear.

Town were booed off at half-time with the performance under par despite the number of chances created, but as so often not taken. Joe Royle decided to switch to 4-4-2 with Martijn Reuser moving to right midfield and Matt Richards on the left. Reuser had the first Town chance of the second period, his 35-yard freekick flying not far over the bar.

The Blues were rarely looking threatening, though and on 55 Darren Bent replaced Fabian Wilnis, the Dutchman receiving a fine reception from the crowd on what could be his last Portman Road display for the Blues. His contract is up at the end of June, although the former De Graafschap man is set to be offered a new deal in the close season.

Within a minute, a move which involved Bent junior could have seen Town win a penalty after Martijn Reuser's powerful volley struck Rob Gier on the hand, although the Dons' player would have known nothing about it and an award would have been harsh.

On the hour the Dons went further ahead as they broke quickly and found the Town defence all over the place. A neat interchange of passes between Connolly and Adam Nowland ended with the latter deftly slipping the ball past Marshall into the corner of the net.

More boos rang out around Portman Road after the goal with some supporters picking on Jermaine Wright, Andy Marshall and Marcus Bent whenever they touched the ball. ‘Sack the Board' chants began amongst some sections before the mood lightened briefly with Town songs from previous years paying tribute to Bontcho Guentchev, John Wark, Tony Mowbray, Marcus Stewart, Matteo Sereni, Hermann Hreidarsson, Micky Stockwell and the entire 1981 side.

Chris Makin picked up a booking on 67 for a foul on Alex Tapp and soon after Darren Bent missed from close range, slicing his strike on a Matt Holland header from a Reuser corner on the Town right. Referee Mark Warren limped off in the 76th minute, reserve official Mr Cann taking over.

With the game appearing all but dead it was time for Thomas Gaardsøe's 50 yard party piece to go sailing over the Dons' bar, although momentarily Davis looked concerned that he may have strayed too far off his line.

Darren Bent, returning after his hamstring injury, finally did beat the Wimbledon keeper in the 78th minute. Couñago played the ball down the left and Jim Magilton executed a fine cross, the youngster heading in from close range for his 17th goal of the season.

Within four minutes Wimbledon were two goals clear again. The Dons broke quickly through a non-existent Town midfield and found the Blues backline sorely wanting. Shipperley crossed from the right and Connolly's finish gave Marshall little chance.

In the 84th minute, just two minutes later and with much of the Town crowd paying little interest as stewards and fans appeared to be involved in a stand-off at the front of the North Stand, Connolly hit a shot on the turn from the edge of the box which flew into the corner of the net.

Town were by now all over the place and well into one of their reveries previously seen last week at Rotherham and just before half-time against Nottingham Forest.

The increasingly angry Town crowd hit out at players for being unfit to wear the shirt before Alex Tapp added the fifth three minutes from the end with a shot from the 18 yard line.

Five minutes of injury time, mainly caused by the switch of refs, was not greeted with much enthusiasm by the Town support, although the handful of Wimbledon fans who made the trip would happily have carried on and watched their side increase their lead in their first ever victory over the Blues.

The whistle went to more boos, a disappointing way to end a massively disappointing season at Portman Road. Matt Holland made his way round the ground applauding fans for what is likely to be the last time and even waved, suggesting that his summer departure, probably to Charlton, looks all but certain.

A few fans stayed for a walkabout and thank-you from the players after the game, many leaving early, unsurprisingly thinking that a less lethargic performance during the 90 minutes would have been more welcome than a few end of season gestures.

The Blues ought to have had the game sewn up at the break with a number of chances missed. Wimbledon probably had seven chances in the entire game but they defended well and took their opportunities with a frequency far higher than the Blues.

The result confirms Town's First Division status next season and that the only challenge left is to beat former boss George Burley's new side and to get three points which will help us finish above Norwich for the eighth consecutive season. But after a season which promised so much last August, even that is of little consolation.

Photo: Action Images

Ipswich Town Polls