Ipswich Town: Classic encounter against Brentford in 2014

This week, we throwback to the Championship clash between the two sides when Mick McCarthy's men secured an impressive 4-2 Boxing Day win in 2014. 

This was the first league meeting between the two clubs since a 1-1 draw at Griffin Park in the old Division Three in February 1957.

Daryl Murphy celebrates one of his goals at Brentford. (Image: Pagepix)

Town were riding high in the second tier at the time with automatic promotion ambitions and put in a ruthless display as they showed they were not suffering from any festive hangover in West London. 

They opened the scoring after just 19 seconds when Paul Anderson crossed the ball in from the right for Daryl Murphy, who fired into the bottom corner.  

The Irishman was the Championship's most lethal marksman during this campaign and doubled the lead in the 21st minute when he found himself through on goal with only the keeper to beat. He rounded him with ease to slot the ball into an empty net for his 16th of the season. 

Paul Anderson celebrates his goal with Daryl Murphy at Brentford. (Image: Pagepix)

Nine minutes later it was 3-0, Murphy played the ball out to Jay Tabb who crossed for Anderson, who was able to bundle the ball over the line from close range.

The Bees, who had not lost any of their previous seven home matches, pulled a goal back with 10 minutes left when Sam Saunders' shot took a deflection off of a sliding Noel Hunt before looping over Bartostz Bialkowski.

But Town immediately restored their three-goal advantage when Tommy Smith showed great skill in front of goal to cut inside a defender before curling a superb right-foot shot into the top corner.

Tommy Smith celebrates his goal at Brentford. (Image: Pagepix)

There was still time for Saunders to score again for Brentford, poking home following a goalmouth scramble, but the game had been won.

It was a memorable day as the Blues went top of the table - for a few hours at least - as the 1,680-strong travelling Blue Army behind the goal sang 'We are going up!'

Of course, the Blues were unable to keep their form going through till the end of the season as they ended up finishing in the final play-off spot - and we all know what happened next...

Town XI: Bialkowski; Chambers, Smith, Berra, Parr, Skuse, Anderson (N.Hunt), Tabb (S.Hunt), Bishop (Bru), Murphy, McGoldrick.