2-2

THE first face Aston Villa's Dalian Atkinson saw at breakfast today was that of Chris Kiwomya.

The sight was an instant reminder to the £1.6 million man that he had been upstaged by the Ipswich striker in a Coca-Cola Cup fourth round thriller which will go to a second episode at Portman Road in 12 days time.

Yorkshire-lad Kiwomya scored his second goal of a remarkable game with just seven minutes left to earn a 2-2 draw and then waved his team-mates goodbye at Villa Park before going off to start his 23rd birthday celebrations with old pal Atkinson.

"Dalian is putting me up for the night." explained Kiwomya: "We'll be having a night out first although he's not too pleased with me at the moment. I guess I spoiled his night.

"We became good friends when he was at Ipswich four years ago and I went out to Spain to cheer him on a few times when he joined Real Sociedad.

“But you have to put your friendships aside when you are opponents on the field."

Atkinson looked like being the hero when he broke the deadlock with a 64th minute header from Dean Saunders' cross, and even though Kiwomya equalised nine minutes later, it was Atkinson who almost immediately set up Saunders to regain Villa's lead.

Seven minutes from time, though, the ball landed at Kiwomya's feet 20 yards from goal after Villa keeper Nigel Spink rushed out of his area. Kiwomya coolly chipped it into an empty net.

John Lyall and his Number two Mick McGiven were delighted with their spirited team's refusal to accept defeat. No wonder they have been beaten only twice this season.

However Ipswich's 12th draw of the campaign made Villa boss Ron Atkinson furious.

He said: "We made a pig's ear of it and now we have a very awkward task in the replay at Portman Road. In the first half it didn't look as if we had turned up and when we did get the goals we didn't capitalise on them. It was sheer carelessness."

Even McGiven admitted he couldn't see Ipswich saving the game after Saunders struck Villa's second goal.

He said: "It is a great result but the players are not happy with their performance. They didn't pass the ball well and can do much better.

"When you've got a finisher like Kiwomya, though, you've always got another option and, to be fair to the lads, they never know when they are beaten. I'm proud of them."