Ipswich 1-1 Cardiff

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Ipswich claimed a place in the Division One play-offs with a hard-fought draw.

There was little to separate the two sides before striker Shefki Kuqi fired the hosts into a first-half lead with a drilled shot from 25 yards out.

But Ipswich's lead was shortlived when Tony Vidmar crossed from the left and Lee Bullock headed home courtesy of a deflection off Jermaine Wright.

Alan Lee struck the post for Cardiff after the break but Ipswich held firm to finish in fifth spot.

Given the stakes going into the game, Ipswich made a nervous start.

KEY MOMENTS 26 mins: Shefki Kuqi drills Ipswich ahead 39 mins: Lee Bullock's header is deflected into the Ipswich goal

Joe Royle's men invited Cardiff to attack, with Richard Langley and Gary Croft combining well for the visitors down the right flank.

Langley sent over several inviting crosses which Alan Lee and Robert Earnshaw failed to get hold of.

Fabian Wilnis and Matt Elliott both had to be alert at the back for Ipswich, with the dimunitive Earnshaw ready to pounce on any mistakes.

Despite the dearth of clear-cut chances, Cardiff enjoyed the better openings and Lee should have at least tested Kelvin Davis with a powerful header from Danny Gabbidon's cross.

The game then exploded into life when Kuqi, who had been a peripheral figure, showed great determination to win back possession and drill a low 25-yard strike past the outstretched arms of Martyn Margetson.

Bullock celebrates his equaliser

It was a great strike by the Finnish international, playing in place of Dean Bowditch, as the ball skidded across the Portman Road surface.

Moments later, Kuqi set up his team-mate Darren Bent, whose shot inside the area was saved by Margetson.

The hosts were lucky not to be pegged back immediately when Ipswich failed to deal with another Langley cross, but Bullock blasted straight at Davis with the goal at his mercy.

However, Bullock redeemed himself just before the break when he headed in Tony Vidmar's cross from the left, the ball taking a wicked deflection off Jermaine Wright past Davis.

After the break, Elliott chipped in a delightful ball for Kuqi, who was denied a goalscoring opportunity by a superb challenge from Vidmar.

I hate the play-offs but I'm glad to be there Ipswich boss Joe Royle

Ipswich boss Royle brought on Martijn Reuser and Richard Naylor for Jim Magilton and Kuqi.

And Naylor wasted a great chance to head Ipswich back in front, while at the other end Lee tried an audacious lobbed shot which shaved the post.

The Tractor Boys were forced to endure some nervy moments late on in the game but Cardiff could not prise their way through the Ipswich defence.

And with results elsewhere going their way, Ipswich climbed to fifth spot and now face West Ham in the play-off semi-finals.

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Ipswich: Davis, Wilnis, McGreal, Elliott, Richards, Wright, Miller, Magilton (Reuser 57), Westlake, Kuqi (Naylor 57), Bent.
Subs Not Used: Price, Santos, Bowditch.

Cardiff: Margetson, Croft, Gabbidon (Barker 90), Collins, Vidmar, Robinson (Parry 74), Boland, Bullock, Langley, Earnshaw, Lee.
Subs Not Used: Alexander, Gordon, Fleetwood.

Booked: Bullock.

Attendance: 28,703.

Referee: R Beeby (Northamptonshire).