Ipswich Town v Manchester United

FA Carling Premiership

24th September 1994

Kick Off 3pm

Ipswich Town Manager John Lyall gushes over the success of a Manchester United side made up of the likes of Ryan Giggs, Peter Schmeichel and Eric Cantona

His Ipswich side took on Manchester United at home having only managed 1 win in their first 6 matches. United, meanwhile found themselves towards the top of the table with 4 wins under their belt.

From Manager John Lyall

This afternoon really is one of the big occasions of the football year at Portman Road as Manchester United are here.

Champions for two successive seasons, double winners, their achievements, both over the past two years and through their history, make them almost unique in English football.

The reason for their success can be summed up in one word - quality. Their squad is made up of top quality players, Alex Ferguson is a top quality manager and the club is well run from top to bottom. Individually their players possess flair, and Alex has developed a good team plan to emphasise this.

You also have to look at what has been achieved by Manchester United youth sides in recent seasons to realise that it is not simple cheque book power that has made them what they are.

Cover Star: John Wark

Midfielder John Wark appeared on the cover of this programme during his third and final stint at Ipswich Town. Starting in 1975, he made more than 500 appearances for the club. As well as playing for Liverpool and Middlesbrough, he was capped 29 times by Scotland. He scored twice for them at the 1982 World Cup.

Youths

Goalkeeper Richard Wright and Defender Richard Naylor are praised by coach Peter Trevivian. Wright went on to make over 350 career appearances, including 240 for Ipswich, as well as being capped twice for England.

Naylor played over 300 times for Ipswich before spells at Leeds, Doncaster Rovers and Rotherham.

Sign of the Times

Tickets for forthcoming away trip to Southampton are on sale for £13, with an adult coach fare for the match costing £9.60.

Jethro and Level 42 are forthcoming attractions at the Ipswich Regent, while Ispwich player Lee Durrant thinks Roberto Baggio is the best player in the world, recently watched The Mask and would like to get stuck on a desert island with Sharon Stone.

Sky Sports and Carling are taking advantage of an apparent surge in interest in football amongst women following the 94 World Cup in America. According to a report, attendances at Premiership games by woman have risen to 12.7%. Sheffield Wednesday attracted the biggest base of female fans, 20% in total.

The Match

Ipswich ran out 3-2 winners on the day. Paul Mason put Ipswich 2-0 ahead by half time. Scholes and Cantona leveled in the 2nd half before an 80th minute winner from Steve Sedgley.

The Season

This victory was one of the few high points for Ipswich in a season in which they finished bottom and were relegated.

In the return fixture at Old Trafford in March, they were drubbed 9-0 by United. This remains the highest margin of victory in a Premier League match.

United couldn't make it 3 titles in a row. They lost out on the title on the final day to Blackburn Rovers

Manager John Lyall resigned from his position in December with Ipswich bottom of the league. It was his final managerial position.