Town's three-match league winning streak came to an end as Sunderland came from behind to win 3-2. Gary Breen scored a goal at each end before John Oster and then Richard Naylor made it 2-2. With six minutes remaining Kevin Kyle headed the winner for the home side.

The Blues lined up with the same side which ended the 2-1 win at Watford on Saturday. New loanee Shefki Kuqi made his first start while Alan Mahon, back from a groin injury, began the game on the bench.

In the early stages chances were few and far between. Sunderland's Colin Healy's shot was blocked by Marcus Stewart, something which didn't stop the home fans appealing for a penalty.

The Blues had to wait until the 18th minute to test Mart Poom, Pablo Couñago playing the ball out to Jim Magilton, whose looping 20-yard shot beat the keeper but bounced off the top of the bar.

Ten minutes later a Magilton freekick was cleared out to Jermaine Wright on the right just inside the area but his shot was deflected wide.

Just after the half hour Sunderland striker Kevin Kyle got himself in the book after fouling Richard Naylor. The tackle itself was not worth a card, however the Scot decided to kick the ball away making a caution inevitable.

In the 35th minute Town went ahead. Shefki Kuqi tried to take down a high ball miscleared by a defender outside the box and succeeded in getting the ball to Pablo Couñago to his right. The Spaniard played a ball in to Darren Bent on the right of the area, Gary Breen turning the Blues' striker's ball across the box into the net.

Town fans were calling for a second yellow card to be shown to Kevin Kyle in the 36th minute when the Sunderland player went in late on Georges Santos. Despite it looking the kind of tackle which is now an obligatory card referee Scott Mathieson felt a talking to would suffice.

The Sunderland fans called for a penalty again in the 40th minute when Chris Bart-Williams and John Oster clashed shoulder to shoulder. On the pitch no one seemed interested and Town were given a goalkick.

With two minutes left before the break Sunderland equalised. Matt Richards fouled Colin Healy just by the touchline, 15 yards from the byline. Julio Arca sent in a cross which John Oster flicked on to Gary Breen at the back of the box. Breen, who had lost Richard Naylor, beat Kelvin Davis at the far post.

Town had probably had the better of a half where neither side had had too many chances. No changes made at the break and very quickly Sunderland went ahead.

In the 48th minute Jeff Whitley's cross-field pass from the right was played back across the box by Thomas Butler, John Oster stabbing home from close in.

It took only three minutes for the Blues to get back on terms. George McCartney had nipped in ahead of Kuqi and conceded a corner on the Town left and given away a corner.

Jim Magilton sent the ball in and Richard Naylor powerfully headed past Mart Poom and into the right corner of his net. The goal was Naylor's third of the season, making him Town's top scorer up to now.

Soon after Kelvin Davis did well to punch a dangerous looking ball out of his box with a number of Sunderland players well placed. The Black Cats were starting to put a bit of pressure on and Joe Royle decided to switch to 4-4-2 from 4-3-3, Alan Mahon replacing Pablo Couñago.

The Blues had Kelvin Davis to thank on 56 when he brilliantly tipped a Gary Breen 20 yarder wide, the Irish international defender still up from an earlier corner.

There were further calls for a Sunderland penalty from the stands in the 57th minute when Kelvin Davis and Kevin Kyle clashed after Fabian Wilnis played a difficult ball back to the keeper. Referee Mathieson saw no foul and awarded a goalkick.

Alan Mahon went just wide on 59 before George McCartney headed over from close in from a fine John Oster cross on the right. Oster was behind most of Sunderland's best attacking play and was giving Matt Richards a difficult time.

Alun Armstrong replaced Shefki Kuqi on 70, the loanee having once more shown his pace and strength and having played an important role in both the Blues' goals.

Armstrong was well-placed two minutes later with Darren Bent breaking on the right. However, prior to the youngster getting in a cross McCartney dispossessed him.

Richard Naylor came close to a second on the night in the 74th minute, the ball flicking off his head and wide from a corner on the Town left.

Julio Arca was near to a Sunderland third on 77, his cross-shot turned over the bar by Kelvin Davis. Soon after Jeff Whitley got himself in the book for a late tackle on Jermaine Wright.

With ten minutes left Alan Mahon picked up a yellow card for a foul on McCartney, although the Town players and support were convinced that the Blackburn player had been fouled earlier on as he ran at the Black Cats' defence.

Marcus Stewart came close to the goal all Town fans were expecting when he headed a corner straight at Kelvin Davis when either side of him and would have beaten him.

Kevin Kyle headed a long ball from McCartney over Davis' bar on 83 but a minute later the Scottish international scored the winner.

Oster again did well on the Sunderland right and sent in a deep cross which Kyle headed past Davis at the far post.

The Blues pushed for an equaliser in the closing stages, Darren Bent almost getting on to a couple of through balls. Fabian Wilnis came nearest to netting on 87, but he failed to get enough contact on a corner and the ball flashed wide.

In injury time Darren Williams picked up a yellow card for a foul on Darren Bent but the freekick, which proved to be Town's final chance, came to nothing.

Despite the defeat Town played reasonably well and probably had the best of the first half. The second period saw Sunderland more evident as an attacking force with the Blues not quite the same threat once Shefki Kuqi had been replaced and at 2-2 seemed content to sit back and settle for the draw.

The Stadium of Light has always proved a tricky place to go for Town and the defeat, while a blow, will hopefully not prove to have too much of a negative effect on morale as the Blues go into a run of games where they ought to pick up more than a few points.

Town: Davis, Wilnis, Richards, Naylor, Santos, Magilton, Wright, Bart-Williams, Couñago (Mahon 62), Kuqi (Armstrong 70), Bent.

Photo: Action Images

Ipswich Town Polls