Darren Ambrose did not need long to ponder his answer when quizzed about the highlight of his first spell as a Town player alongside Darren Bent, whose loan switch from Aston Villa means he will be in the opposition camp when promotion rivals Derby are the visitors on Saturday.

He thought for only a few seconds and recalled the events of February 8th, 2003, when ten-man Town — striker Pablo Couñago was dismissed in the 20th minute with the scoreline blank — defied the odds to stage one of the most remarkable comebacks ever witnessed at Portman Road.

Ambrose said: “It has to be the win over Sheffield United. That’s the one that stands out above all the other games we played together. It was definitely my favourite moment. We only had 10 men and we went 2-0 down within a few minutes of the second half getting under way.

“Benty scored two and I got the other one in between. That has to be my greatest memory of our time together at Ipswich. I think for the last goal I crossed it and he basically out-jumped everyone and nodded it in. My goal was the last one I scored for Ipswich in my first spell and when I scored at Southampton it was a wait of almost 12 years — unbelievable!”

The game was also Town’s last before it was announced the club had gone into administration, its darkest hour as Ambrose led an exodus of players in order to raise desperately needed funds and cut costs that had spiralled out of control.

Now Town are in a completely different situation, chasing an automatic promotion place as a result of a complete transformation during Mick McCarthy’s time in charge, just over two years in which he has steered the club from the bottom of the Championship to within just one point of the top.

Ambrose and Bent later went on to play together at Charlton and the game against Derby will be the first time the pair will have faced each other competitively.

Ambrose said: “We played against each other in the Dale Roberts Testimonial game when I was in the Newcastle team and I remember he smashed me. I got to the ball and he two-footed me before running off laughing. He’s due one back to be honest.

“Saturday’s game is obviously massive. We’ve played a lot of rivals over the past few weeks and we’ve come out on top in almost all of them. It’s going to be a huge game because they are on a fantastic run like we are. For the neutral it will be brilliant and we’re looking to come away with the right result.

“I can see Derby finishing in the top three. It’s no coincidence that they are up there with us. They have done it on merit and they are a fantastic side as well. Bournemouth are up there as well because they have been consistent throughout the season.

“But although it’s a big game there is still a long way to go — 22 games, 21 after Derby — and in a long season anything can happen. We just have to take each game as it comes and starting with Derby get the three points.”

Ambrose looked back to his time alongside Bent in the Town team and added: “People used to say we had a telepathic relationship on the field but it was just a good understanding of each other’s game.

“I knew from an early age the runs he was going to make and he knew that if he made the runs he would get the pass. It’s good when you both develop from a young age and break into the first team around the same time.

“Benty has scored goals all through his career but I don’t want him to score on Saturday. If he does, hopefully we’ll already be 4-0 up. I’m not even sure if he is going to be starting and to be honest I hope he doesn’t!”

Photo: Action Images

Steve_M added 09:01 - Jan 9 It's nice that as well as a close knit squad Ambrose adds a thread of continuity to the past (not the few years in between we would all like to forget about though). That game, well we all loved it too. Everyone walking into pubs afterwards with stupid great grins on their faces - the sort of game that makes all the others worthwhile.
4

brian_a_mul added 10:35 - Jan 9 Ambrose said: “We played against each other in the Dale Roberts Testimonial game when I was in the Newcastle team and I remember he smashed me. I got to the ball and he two-footed me before running off laughing. He's due one back to be honest. Red Card for Ambrose then!
-1

KiwiTractor added 05:50 - Jan 10 That Sheffield Utd game is also the best match I have ever attended, it still gives me goosebumps to think of it. Took my cousin, a Chelsea fan, for his first ever visit to Portman Road ..... told him it was like that every week!
0

Blogs 298 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls