Ipswich thrash Sunderland

Armstrong and George celebrate another goal

Ipswich 5-0 Sunderland

Ipswich continued their run of excellent form by thrashing Sunderland to record their third consecutive win.

The game was over as a contest by the half-hour mark with an astonishing burst of four goals by the home side in 16 minutes.

Sunderland, who had previously gone 203 minutes without conceding a goal, were overwhelmed by the rampant Tractor Boys.

The visitors might have taken an early lead when Michael Gray put in a good low cross but Kevin Phillips scuffed his shot.

  Key incidents

15 mins: Alun Armstrong opens the scoring for Ipswich

26 mins: Thomas Gaardsoe heads home for Town

27 mins: Armstrong notches his second

31 mins: Finidi George chips a delightful goal

86 mins: Jamie Clapham hits Ipswich's fifth

Ipswich made Sunderland pay immediately when Finidi George galloped forward and caused consternation in Sunderland's defence.

His mis-hit cross struck Alun Armstrong's trailing leg and sneaked in.

Thomas Gaardsoe, in for the injured Titus Bramble, doubled Ipswich's lead when he rose to power home a corner.

The first 45 minutes were outstanding and to win 5-0 in the Premiership is a tremendous achievement

Ipswich manager George Burley

Armstrong took advantage of a mix-up between Darren Williams and goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen to poach his second a minute later.

George added a fourth with a delightful chip over the stranded Sorensen after good work by Marcus Bent and Matt Holland set up the Nigerian.

Ipswich could have had more, and Armstrong had two good chances to notch a first half hat-trick.

Gaardsoe scored Ipswich's second

The striker saw one effort cleared off the line after he had rounded Sorensen and then spurned another easy opportunity by putting his shot wide.

Phillips was unlucky not to pull one back when his 25-yard shot was punched into the ground by Ipswich keeper Matteo Sereni and the ball bounced up onto the bar before being cleared.

Black Cats boss Peter Reid made three changes after the break, introducing Kevin Kyle, Kevin Kilbane and George McCartney for Niall Quinn, Jason McAteer and Gray.

We got out-fought and it was like suicide football for the first 45 minutes

Sunderland manager Peter Reid

Kyle nearly made an instant impact, flashing a header just wide on 56 minutes, as Sunderland started the second half brightly.

Phillips set Kyle up for another chance, but Sereni saved his low shot with his legs.

But Ipswich substitute Jamie Clapham finished off a neat one-two with Richard Naylor to complete Sunderland's misery with four minutes remaining.

---

Ipswich: Sereni, Makin, Gaardsoe, Hreidarsson, Venus, George, Magilton, Holland, Reuser (Naylor 72), Armstrong (Clapham 72), Marcus Bent (Wright 80).

Subs Not Used: Branagan, Tommy Miller.

Booked: Makin, Marcus Bent.

Sunderland: Sorensen, Haas, Thome, Williams, Gray (McCartney 48), McAteer (Kilbane 49), Reyna, McCann, Arca, Quinn (Kyle 45), Phillips.

Subs Not Used: Thirlwell, Macho.

Booked: Thome.

Att: 24,517

Referee: G Poll (Tring).