A scandalous penalty in first half injury time condemned Town to a 1-0 home defeat at the hands of Manchester United. Dutch striker Ruud Van Nistelrooy collapsed to the ground as a cross flew in from the United right with Titus Bramble in attention.
Referee Rob Styles, 15 yards away from the incident, pointed to the spot. The striker scored the kick. Town had competed well and had more than their fair share of chances in the first half, although United were more dominant in the second.
George Burley surprised most by lining up with a 4-5-1 formation which saw Marcus Bent as the lone striker with Martijn Reuser and Finidi George as advanced wide midfielders. Mark Venus failed to make fitness but Tommy Miller and Sixto Peralta were both in the midfield along with skipper Matt Holland. Titus Bramble continued at right-back with Jamie Clapham moving to left-back and Hermann Hreidarsson joining John McGreal in the centre.
Town started brightly without really creating too much. Titus Bramble sent in a couple of well hit crosses aimed at Martijn Reuser. The Dutchman headed one to Roy Carroll in the United goal with the keeper nipping in ahead of the Dutchman on the second.
Van Nistelrooy had headed just wide early on, but on 20 ought to have done better when presented with the ball just yards away from goal. Diego Forlan had put over a freekick from the right, Keane had knocked it into the area, Butt had flicked it on to Van Nistelrooy who blazed over.
For Town Marcus Bent also had a decent chance but headed a 25th minute Tommy Miller cross just wide. Two minutes later Reuser hit an effort from distance which was easy for Carroll.
Andy Marshall was first in action just before the half hour when he tipped a Diego Forlan header over. The flag though had already gone up and it wouldn't have counted anyway. Van Nistelrooy curled an effort just by the post a minute later.
United were more and more taking the initiative in the later stages of the half and Forlan and had a couple of chances, one of which deflected off Hermann Hreidarsson for what referee Styles thought was a goalkick.
As time was running out Marcus Bent almost played in Finidi George but the flag went up just as George was in the clear.
As injury time was running out Town fans were looking forward to a half-time on level terms. However, a combination of Styles and Van Nistelrooy was to give United the lead. George Burley described it after the game as "a joke decision” and there will be few who disagree. Bramble may have been near Van Nistelrooy but it was clearly a dive and just the kind of decision Town didn't need with the game, and the season, so delicately balanced.
Bramble was booked for his trouble and Hreidarsson also got himself in the book for discussing the point. Eventually Van Nistelrooy stepped up and lashed his kick into the right corner of Andy Marshall's net.
Referee Styles blew up shortly afterwards and was booed all the way from the centre circle to the tunnel by fans who clearly felt they had been cheated.
Manchester United made a change at half-time. Off came Michael Stewart who had earlier been injured after a crude challenge on Sixto Peralta and on Paul Scholes.
Within three minutes of the restart John McGreal had got his name in the book after a foul on Luke Chadwick which didn't really look bad enough to warrant a card.
It didn't take referee Styles long to annoy Town supporters once more. This time it was a penalty decision at the other end. Marcus Bent got in front of O'Shea on the edge of the area and went to ground. Despite the similarities to the earlier incident he waved Town protests away and gave a goalkick instead.
With the half eight minutes old George Burley made a switch. Off came Finidi George, particularly impressive in the early part of the first half, and on Fabian Wilnis. Wilnis went to his regular right-back slot while Bramble moved to centre-back, Hreidarsson to left-back and Clapham into midfield.
United played a patient game of keep ball through the half with Town making the occasional break forward, but without gaining the momentum which they had during the first half an hour or so.
On one such foray Reuser screwed a shot wide when he had options all around him, a point which was forcefully made by a number of his team-mates.
Boos again rang around Portman Road on the hour as Van Nistelrooy was replaced by Solskjaer. ‘Cheat' was another popular view of the Dutch striker as he took his place on the bench.
On 62 Marcus Bent sent in a deep cross from the right which Dennis Irwin did well to cut out with Reuser ready to head home. From the corner Tommy Miller, Paul Scholes and a number of other players combined to squeeze the ball just by the post.
Matt Holland headed a Martijn Reuser cross over on 64 as the home crowd became impatient and called for George Burley to introduce another striker. And on 71 Burley did just that, bringing on Darren Bent for Reuser.
Within a minute Jamie Clapham had hit an effort which was too close to Carroll who collected with little trouble.
Andy Marshall came into his own in the later stages making a number of excellent saves, mainly from Forlan who must have felt he was unfortunate not to open his United account. Dennis Irwin also saw a freekick saved by Marshall who, kicking aside, was probably Town's best player in the second period.
As the game entered the last ten minutes Town made more of an impact on the United defence. Sixto Peralta made a run across the edge of the United area from the left and slipped a ball in for Miller with his back to goal. The ex-Hartlepool man turned and hit a low right-foot shot which just went by Carroll's left post.
On 83 it was Darren Bent's turn to go down in the area after he tried to control a chest-height ball coming into the area with a defender in close attendance. Again referee Styles waved away protests.
With five minutes remaining Burley brought off Marcus Bent and gave Alun Armstrong a run-out. Shortly afterwards there was a bout of handbags as Butt appeared to have a go at Hreidarsson who looked less than impressed. After being called over by referee Styles, the two shook hands and Town had a freekick which Clapham curled just over the bar.
As the game entered injury time Marshall again prevented Forlan from scoring and United successfully cleared a goalmouth scramble. Hreidarsson had headed a Clapham freekick from the right back across goal and Miller and Darren Bent both had efforts blocked.
As the four minutes of injury time was running out there was just time for one more penalty controversy. Sixto Peralta appeared to be held down by O'Shea as a cross came in from the right. Again protests were waved away and within seconds the final whistle was blown, again to boos. Peralta went to remonstrate with Styles but was dragged away by other players.
Town's task is now straightforward, but is by no means simple or in their own hands. Nothing but a win at Liverpool is any use, and only then if Derby win at Sunderland. If not the Nationwide awaits.