Town set up a last day of the season showdown with an emphatic 5-1 home victory over Crewe Alexandra. Shefki Kuqi and Jim Magilton scored in the first half before Tommy Miller (2) and Pablo Couñago added three more, David Vaughan pulling one back late on.

Manager Joe Royle recalled Ian Westlake and Darren Currie to the starting line-up in place of Couñago and Kevin Horlock, the Blues switching back to 4-4-2 from the 4-3-3 which was used at Leeds.

Kelvin Davis was back in goal, while there was no place on the bench for youngster Dean McDonald who had been included in the senior squad for the first time. Portman Road was well aware that automatic promotion rivals Wigan had drawn 1-1 at Preston in a lunchtime kick-off and that a victory was required to take the promotion battle into the final week of the season.

Town started brightly, a couple of balls flying across Clayton Ince's penalty area, but it was the visitors who had the first serious chance of the match through former Town trialist Mark Rivers. However, Kelvin Davis safely held on to his shot from the left of the area.

On six the Blues went in front. Ian Westlake won the ball on halfway, taking it on towards the penalty area before playing in Shefki Kuqi. The Finn slipped the ball past the on-rushing Ince and into the net for an important early goal.

Town continued to completely dominate and went further ahead in the 12th minute. Some extensive passing on the left eventually saw Ian Westlake find Jim Magilton in space outside the area to the left of centre. The skipper took the ball on a few paces and drove a low shot into the net for his third goal in six starts.

Another goal almost came within a minute, Darren Bent getting away down the right and crossing into the box. Fortunately for the Railwaymen, Lee Bell just got in ahead of Darren Currie to put the ball out for a corner.

Kelvin Davis gathered a potentially dangerous left-wing cross from David Vaughan in the 20th minute, before Darren Bent curled a shot not far wide.

Soon after, Bent seized on a mix-up between Ince and defender Richard Walker, his shot going through the keeper but wide of the post.

Kuqi headed a Magilton corner wide just ahead of the half hour, then Bell sent over a dangerous cross which avoided all Crewe boots and Richard Naylor put out of play at the far post.

Bent headed a corner from Darren Currie over the bar on 38, pre-match replacement referee Iain Williamson showing his yellow card for the first time a minute later for Bell's late and high tackle on Tommy Miller. With half-time approaching, Bent hit a shot on the turn which Ince saved.

The Blues had dominated the half, starting the match very strongly and scoring the two goals. The tempo unsurprisingly dropped after the lead had been established but Kelvin Davis's goal had rarely looked in peril.

At half-time the FA Youth Cup-winning side paraded the trophy, before the seniors got straight back into attacking action. After four minutes of the new half, Westlake played a low ball into the box to Currie who found Bent, the ball bouncing out of play off Ince and then the Town striker.

The third goal came in the 50th minute. Tommy Miller ran from halfway totally unchallenged before unleashing a shot from 25 yards which beat Ince to his right. Miller celebrated with what appeared to be a folk dance.

Westlake struck a 30-yard shot which Ince plucked out of the air on 55 shortly before Drissa Diallo replaced Richard Naylor in the Town defence. The Guinean international is likely to be required if Town find themselves in the play-offs as David Unsworth is not available after the Brighton match.

On the hour, Crewe had a chance to pull a goal back, Mark Rivers finding space on the right and turning inside Westlake before shooting over. David Unsworth was rather harshly booked in the 70th minute for a clash with Darren Moss.

Michael Higdon almost created an opening for the visitors a minute later, the Crewe sub forcing Diallo into an error but crossing straight into the arms of Kelvin Davis.

Pablo Couñago replaced Shefki Kuqi in the 74th minute, seconds before Jim Magilton almost scored the fourth, his deflected shot only just failing to loop over Ince and into the net. Magilton had another go four minutes later, his low strike going wide.

With nine minutes remaining the Blues netted their fourth goal. Magilton and Couñago exchanged passes on the right before the ball ran to Tommy Miller who lashed home from 25 yards.

Less than a minute later Town added the fifth, Darren Bent breaking away down the right and crossing for Pablo Couñago who volleyed in from seven yards for his first goal since the away draw with West Ham in September. James Scowcroft replaced Bent for the last seven minutes.

With seconds of normal time remaining Crewe pulled one back. David Vaughan hit a speculative shot from outside the box, Kelvin Davis mishandling the ball into the net off his post.

Town weren't far from a sixth in injury time, Scowcroft unlucky to see Ince save his effort and Currie lashing into the sidenetting from a tight angle.

A very easy afternoon for the Blues against a Crewe side looking destined for relegation. The scoreline could have been even more comfortable but for Town taking their feet off the pedals after going two goals up after 12 minutes.

The result sets up a nervy end to the season next week at Brighton with Wigan and the Blues level on points but the Latics ahead through a much better goal difference.

Put simply, Wigan need to match Town's result at the Withdean, while Blues will have to hope that play-off contenders Reading can take points from their trip to the JJB. If Wigan lose, a draw at Brighton will be enough for Town, if the Latics draw then the Blues will have to win to reclaim their place in the Premiership.

Town: Davis, Wilnis, Unsworth, De Vos, Naylor (Diallo 55), Magilton, Miller, Westlake, Currie, Kuqi (Couñago 74), Bent (Scowcroft 83). Unused: Price, Horlock. Att: 28.244.

Photo: Action Images

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