Two second-half goals inside a minute from Tamas Priskin and Tommy Smith pushed Roy Keane's Ipswich to a superb 3-1 opening-day win away at Middlesbrough. The hosts were handed an early lead by Scott McDonald but never managed to assert their authority as Keane's men fought back with a quickfire double before Jon Stead added a third late on. Julio Arca - on as an 11th-minute substitute following an injury to Willo Flood - got the better of Mark Kennedy down the left before crossing for former Celtic striker McDonald, who was left in space just yards from goal and converted the simple tap-in. Smith lashed one of several clearances back at goal to eventually find the net, this time with the deflection going in Ipswich's favour. That was on 50 minutes, and less than 60 seconds later the visitors were in the lead as under-fire Priskin opened his account for the campaign with a header from a Carlos Edwards cross. Middlesbrough pushed for an equaliser but never really threatened and Stead - on as a 74th-minute substitute for Priskin - made the result safe with just over 10 minutes remaining, hitting a right-footed shot past Danny Coyne from just inside the area.
Source: PA
Source: PA