Stewart - 42

At Portman Road

9th January 2001

Att: 21,684

Former Town player Danny Sonner, shown the door in Suffolk after falling out with George Burley, was unlucky to be penalised for handball just before the break, allowing Stewart to slot home the resulting spot-kick and notch his 15th goal of the season.

The goal sets up an intriguing encounter at St Andrews for the second-leg and Town may still rue missing the chances they created to double their advantage, particularly in the second half.

Birmingham actually began the brighter of the two sides, pumping long balls up to Peter Ndlovu at the first opportunity and falling back into the holes when they lost possession.

Within 12 seconds they fashioned the first chance of the game as Dele Adebola’s goal-bound shot was deflected wide.

Ndlovu, back from a successful loan spell at Huddersfield, looked lively in the opening stages and might have done better with a 12th minute chance when he lobbed the ball over the bar after Ian Bennett's long free-kick had deflected into his path.

Slowly George Burley’s men rose to the occasion though. Birmingham won the league game here last year, but Ipswich have moved into a different class this year – as testified by their lofty Premiership position – and in Stewart they have a striker who has thrived in the higher league. He is currently joint-top scorer alongside Arsenal's Thierry Henry.

As the home side upped the tempo, so the chances began to materialise. Captain Matt Holland just failed to create an opening for himself when he lost his footing in the six-yard box, allowing opposite Marytn O'Connor to clear the danger, and only a brilliant one-handed save by Bennett eight minutes later then denied Scowcroft. Jermaine Wright then flashed a shot wide from nine yards.

Not until a minute before the break was Town’s pressure rewarded with the contentious spot-kick. Sonner, until then enjoying his 29th birthday, blocked Magilton's right-wing cross with what a linesman confirmed was his arm and Stewart completed the formalities.

Ipswich took the momentum from the goal into the second period to dominate after the break. Herman Hreidarsson was unlucky not to double the host’s advantage just after the restart – his powerful header striking the post with Bennett rooted to the spot.

Stewart then showed uncharacteristic profligacy after 56 minutes when he slashed wide from just seven yards, and although Birmingham rallied in the closing stages with a succession of corners, they failed to seriously trouble Town, their best effort a header just over by substitute Marcelo.

So Ipswich take the slender advantage to St Andrews – a result which neither manager will be entirely unhappy about.