The Blues place in Europe was confirmed as they beat a lacklustre Coventry side as Southampton drew with Aston Villa. Goals from Martijn Reuser and Jermaine Wright, his first at Portman Road, saw Town home as Coventry's twin threat of John Hartson and former Canary Craig Bellamy was kept at bay.
There was a surprise for fans arriving as Richard Wright was missing from his regular position between the sticks. Keith Branagan replaced Wright who woke up with a sore back and realised during the warm-up that he wasn't fit enough to play. The severity of the knock is not yet known.
Elsewhere John McGreal returned at centre-half and Mark Venus dropped to the bench. The rest of the side was the same as at Middlesbrough.
Town's first chance came in the 5th minute when Matt Holland headed the ball goalwards after a cross from Jermaine Wright after a neat backheel from Marcus Stewart. Coventry keeper Chris Kirkland saved.
On 12 Alun Armstrong hit a shot wide and at the other end Jay Bothroyd hit an effort well wide of Branagan's post.
Martijn Reuser came close to creating an opening when he cut into the area on the left. He tried to put a low cross in, but it was hammered away by a defender.
After 20 minutes it was the Dutchman who put Town ahead. Jermaine Wright did well on the right and put over a low cross. This was missed by Matt Holland, but Reuser was there on the far post, ten yards out to sharply hit the ball home. It was the Dutchman's fourth goal of the season and followed large amounts of Town pressure.
Hermann Hreidarsson had a good cross cut out by Kirkland after Matt Holland had won the ball back with a fearsome challenge and Stewart had laid the ball off well.
The fearsome tackles were going in elsewhere too with Titus Bramble up against John Hartson. The young Town defender was having by far the best of it and Hartson began to get frustrated as the game wore on.
Alun Armstrong, Town's hero on Monday went close with a diving header from a Hermann Hreidarsson cross. Martijn Reuser had fed the Icelander after a neat lay-back from Marcus Stewart in the centre circle.
In the 40th minute Hermann Hreidarsson headed away well when a freekick was played into the Town box. An offside flag was also raised on this a rare Coventry attack.
The half ended with Town fans happy with the score and listening intently for news of scores elswhere. Southampton, the lowest side who could have finished above Town, were drawing and if the scores remained the same Town were at least guaranteed UEFA Cup football next season.
In the 53rd minute Jim Magilton did his quick feet bit on the left of the area and got in a chipped cross to the far post. Unfortunately all the Town players were at the near post and the ball was cleared.
Shortly afterwards Keith Branagan showed he was an able deputy for Richard Wright when he brilliantly saved from John Eustace. The Coventry player had hit a shot from a Hartson knockdown, a rare occasion on which Hartson had got the better of Town defenders.
Town had a lucky escape a couple of minutes later when Craig Bellamy, booed every time he touched the ball (not actually that much), got free beyond the Town defence and ran in on Branagan. The former Canary weakly hit his shot wide much to the delight of the home fans.
On 56 Town went two goals up. Chris Kirkland weakly cleare the ball and the ball landed at Armstrong's feet, but the former Boro player failed to control the ball and it bounced to Breen. The summer Town target could only play the ball to Jermaine Wright. Wright, who had never scored a goal at Portman Road, settled himself and hit a shot past Kirkland from 30 yards. The ball looked like it had taken a deflection on the way through, but whatever happened the points which would guarantee a place in Europe were almost in the bag.
On 65 John Eustace was lucky not to see a red card when he flew in late Roy Keane-style on Alun Armstrong. Referee Graham Barber, who annoyed both sets of fans at times during the afternoon, only saw it as a yellow card.
Branagan made another good save from Zuniga after a defensive lapse. A couple of minutes later Hartson went in hard and late on Branagan when he had claimed the ball. He was spoken to by Barber but no card was shown. On 70 minutes Zuniga recieved a yellow for what appeared from the referee's indications to be repeated fouls.
Matt Holland almost added a third when he hit a cleared corner. Sadly his shot flew over the bar, but by now Town were comfortable and waves were requested by the North Stand from George Burley, Tony Mowbray, David Sheepshanks, the South Stand, the Cobbold Stand and the Britannia Stand. Craig Bellamy also had a few songs sung about him and his impending return to Carrow Road for League games next season.
John Hartson did finally receive a yellow card for holding John McGreal, who had another superb game at the back. A couple of minutes later Hartson headed over from a cross from the right.
Sunbstitute Jamie Clapham nearly scored a third when Kirkland again again cleared weakly. Holland ran in on the keeper, he headed out and Clapham tried to loop the ball goalwards. He was unlucky to see his effort just inch wide. Clapham was also unfortunate to receive a yellow card when he seemed to have won the ball froim Zuniga. Marcus Hall also saw yellow for Coventry.
Alun Armstrong nearly got on the end of a Marcus Stewart pass towards the end and Stewart was replaced by Richard Naylor for the last couple of minutes.
Three minutes of injury time were played out before fans waited to hear the results from elsewhere which would guarantee Europe. This we duly were and there was another good result with Chelsea losing. Leeds and Arsenal won, but Town are in Europe come what may and are inching ever closer to a Champions' League place. What a season!
Team: Branagan, Makin, Hreidarsson, McGreal, Bramble, Hreidarsson, J Wright, Holland, Magilton, Reuser (Clapham 61), Stewart (Naylor 90), Armstrong. Unused: Burchill, Venus, Salmon.