Two goals from David Norris ensured Ipswich manager Roy Keane enjoyed his 39th birthday, but the Tractor Boys needed extra-time to see off brave Exeter 3-2 in the Carling Cup.
Boss Roy Keane, who was celebrating his 39th birthday, fielded a much-changed side from Saturday with Brian Murphy in goal, Shane O’Connor at left-back, Jack Ainsley on the right and Tom Eastman and Troy Brown in the centre. Luke Hyam continued in the midfield holding role with Grant Leadbitter and David Norris ahead of him. Jon Stead started in the central attacking role with Colin Healy on the left and Reggie Lambe on the right.
In the 17th minute Lambe shot wide on the turn from just inside the area from a Stead lay-off as Town started to make some headway after a quiet start in which the League One team had had most of the ball.
Exeter had their best chance of the first half in the 25th minute when Stead lost Grecians skipper Matt Taylor at a corner but the centre-half headed over the bar from eight yards.
Early in the second half, a Brian Murphy long kick sent Lambe away but Exeter keeper Paul Jones was out quickly to dispossess the Bermudian international.
Moments later, O’Connor played a free kick to Leadbitter just outside the area and the former Sunderland man hit a shot which Matt Taylor blocked. In the 52nd minute Roy Keane swapped Lambe and Ainsley for Ronan Murray, making his first team debut, and Jaime Peters.
In the 53rd minute the home side went in front in controversial circumstances. Daniel Nardiello clearly handled the ball as he took it past Troy Brown on the left and sent in a cross, which Ryan Harley struck low and hard to Murphy’s right and into the net. The Town players complained to referee Rob Shoebridge, but to no avail.
A minute later, Town worked a clever corner on the left, O’Connor bringing the ball in from the right and Murray hitting a shot which was blocked for a corner. Leadbitter sent the ball back in and Norris struck an effort from the edge of the area, which was also deflected out for a corner.
Ipswich equalized in the 63rd minute when O’Connor crossed from the right and Murray flicked a looping header over the keeper and under the bar for a debut goal.
Town made their increasing superiority show in the 73rd minute when Stead played the ball inside to Murray, who waited until Norris had made ground on his right before passing into the midfielder’s path. The former Plymouth man made no mistake with his shot, striking a low effort to Jones’s left and into the net.
The home side hit back with 10 minutes remaining, a poor clearance falling to Ryan Harley just outside the area and the midfielder unleashing a superb strike which beat Murphy, clipped the underside of the bar and crossed the line.
Norris got his name in referee Shoebridge’s book in the 97th minute for a foul on sub James Dunne. From the freekick, the ball was eventually played back in from the left and Scott Golbourne headed over when unmarked.
A minute later, Ipswich went back in front. The impressive Murray fed Stead on the left, his first shot was saved by Jones, his second was cleared off the line by a defender, but David Norris was on hand to slam home the rebound from eight yards, as Ipswich advanced.
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