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But this is not the tale to tell of Clarets' currently. With Stan absent from the bench once again, this time through illness, Clarets once again dug deep and deservedly collected a point from a game in which their recently found durability eventually ground Ipswich down, resulting in a late, late equalising goal, that put many a smile on the many travelling Clarets' faces as they left the ground, with some reward for the extortionate £23 charged to get into former Premiership surroundings.
So the unbeaten run is now up to a round dozen games and Clarets, the game in hand gone, are handily placed in the division with four points returned from two very tough away games - can't be bad.
Clarets began with the same line up as had started at Leicester four days previously, though sadly wearing the awful yellow/black strip. Quite why the strip was changed from Claret/Blue for Ipswich when it was perfectly fine in the win at Leicester in their identical kit is anyone's guess. Surely it's more about winning games and tradition than selling replica shirts?
The reward for a six hour journey was to see Marlon make a rare mistake after only ninety seconds and from Town's very first attack they scored. Marlon was nowhere near Ambrose's whipped in cross and was only making up the numbers in the scramble for the ball as McGreal had the relatively simple task of heading into the vacated gaping goal, cue the first noise from the locals aided by tannoy man and "make some noise for the Tractor boys" - I ask you?
Clarets reply was almost immediate and Ian Moore was unlucky, when after going clean through, he saw his well struck shot parried by Marshall at his near post for a corner. The equaliser duly arrived on six minutes and Arthur rose above all others to head down Little's corner to the far post and "up yours Tractor Boys" was the thought as the celebrations began in the visitors section.
The equaliser saw Clarets in the ascendancy, neat passing and playing deep into Town territory giving cause for further optimism in the early stages of the half. It was not all Clarets though and Beresford had to deal with Armstrong's well struck shot on the quarter hour. A limping Little was struggling and his central role hampered Clarets whilst also allowing Hreidarsson in particular to enjoy the freedom of Clarets right wing area and Ipswich were to exploit this area constantly during the half from which many raids began.
On sixteen minutes Ipswich fans sounded for the second time as they took the lead in a goal of real quality if right out of the blue. Branch's header resulted in a throw in some twenty five yards out. With seemingly little danger from the throw, Ambrose chested the ball up and as the ball came down over his shoulder he struck the ball on the volley from the point of the area, angling a shot beyond the reach of Beresford - a stunning goal indeed.
So four shots in the game and three goals, it made for an entertaining if frustrating first half, in which Clarets played their part, but would trail at the interval, once again the midfield lacking in the creativity department and second class when compared to the much more effective Ipswich quartet.
Clarets were fortunate not to concede a third on twenty minutes, Armstrong's far post header cannoning back of Branch's head with both he and Beresford struggling to deal with Ambrose's quality cross. Branch was knowingly involved in the next action five minutes later, feeding Davis who in turn took the ball on and fired in a low shot from twenty five yards that Marshall was glad to see going just wide.
From the half hour mark, Robbie Blake began to shine in the game and he was instrumental in much of Clarets play in and around the box and it was he who set up Ian Moore who then let the side down with poor control when well placed. It was a case of the nearly's from then to the break.
Clarets second corner was a repeat of their earlier equalising goal, but this time Arthur was thwarted in his effort to head a second goal, before Taylor was inches away from Moore's delightful low cross, then Blake setting up Ian Moore for two final attacks at Marshall's goal. These though were countered by Ipswich who in a quick counter attack, once again exposed the right sided Clarets hole, seeing Clapham race clear only to be denied by a great save from Beresford, saving the goal bound effort with his legs. So that was that as the teams left the field after a bright and entertaining half.
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Clarets began the brighter and Davis was caught in two minds when well placed, side footing wide West's ball into him. With Arthur and Ian Cox once again looking quick, composed and solid, Ipswich would attack down both wings whilst Clarets would choose a more central route as the game developed into one of cat and mouse, though one of few clear shooting opportunities.
Briscoe's dangerous cross on the hour was just over Taylor's head and Ian Cox's interception was perfectly timed when he was outnumbered in a counter attack. Midway into the half and a tiring Ipswich sought fresh legs as Miller replaced Grant and Armstrong by Bent, though the move seemed to backfire on the Tractor boys engine room, their neat passing game petering out from this point onwards.
It could and should have been 2-2 with fifteen minutes remaining when, after a neat run across the edge of the area by Blake saw him play in Briscoe, who with time and space side footed into the midriff of McGreal, delaying his effort far too long. The move began an inspired finale for the Clarets, whilst the home side adopted a Claretesque formation, content to sit deeply and protect their lead.
Davis could only head over from West's cross, before the goon in green with the yellow flag defied everyone's eyesight with a one sided display of offside interpretation and ball in play decisions, thwarting Clarets attempts to equalise on more than one occasion.
A breakaway seemed inevitable and Arthur having been caught up field and in possession allowed Ipswich a glorious chance to seal it, but thankfully Counago could only toe poke wide, for a mass hands on heads movement on three sides of the ground. Brown replaced Venus for the last ten, before Blake set up Davis who saw his shot blocked before Ian Moore was replaced by Papadopoulos with eight short minutes remaining.
Time had seemingly run out on Clarets attempts to gain a morale boosting point, but there was just time for one last attack on the home goal. Weller's great through ball inside the left back allowing West to stop the ball at the corner flag and after moving in a couple of yards, he hit in a straight ball which, as two central stood still, allowed Dimi to nip in and power a great header from six yards. Marshall's attempted parry only deflected the ball into the roof of the large net and bellow it did for a truly marvellous sight and mass delight in the visiting ranks.
There was just time for the kick off and one last move up field before the ref blew the whistle and seven hundred or so Clarets applauded the players who rightly took another deserved bow before leaving the field as many long journeys back from deepest Suffolk began.
Att:- 22,736
Star Gazer
Glen Little. Never really got going in his central midfield role and hampered due to injury half way through the first half. Clarets need to find defensive cover for bendy man when he pushes forwards as Ipswich constantly exploited the space he left behind.
Glass Half Empty
The central midfield play looked very makeshift and at times it looked like a full back and central defender were playing in amongst the creative players on the pitch leading to a lack of support for the Clarets front men.
Star Geezer
Once again it's Arthur Gnohere. Another towering performance of power, poise and composure, belying his twenty three years of age. His combination with Ian Cox again looked solid and denied the impressive Robbie Blake from start spot status.
Glass Half Full
That's almost fifty thousand spectators who have been impressed with Clarets over the last four days as four points have been deservedly taken from two tough away fixtures, as Clarets moved up to eighth spot. Hard to break down, fit and currently with a never say die attitude, this is developing into an intriguing season for the Clarets and their increasing band of believing supporters.