01/04/2002 Ipswich 0 Chelsea 0 A virtuoso performance by Chelsea keeper Carlo Cudicini ensured that the spectre of impending relegation looms ever more menacingly over Portman Road. Cudicini not only produced his third penalty save of the season to deny Ipswich striker Marcus Bent's spot kick 12 minutes before the break. However, the Italian also conjured two other first-class blocks to condemn George Burley's side to an increasingly nervous final run-in. At any other stage of the season, a home point against Chelsea would not be a disaster and Burley can at least take comfort in the spirit shown by his side. However, this was still not the result which either side really wanted. Ipswich did manage to at least temporarily move out of the bottom three but they are now just one point ahead of 18th-placed Blackburn having played two games more and there is a gap opening up ahead of them. It is their remaining fixture list which is the real problem though. After all, facing Middlesbrough and Bolton may offer some hope but taking on Arsenal, Manchester United and Liverpool in their other three remaining games does not. Chelsea, meanwhile, had their own chances to break the deadlock but with Eidur Gudjohnsen and Frank Lampard rested until the final half hour, their attacking edge was blunted at Portman Road. A point similarly does them few favours in their battle to qualify for the Champions League as they attempt to keep pace with Newcastle. Both sides rung the changes in their line-ups, although for contrasting reasons following vastly different weekend fortunes. Ipswich were seeking a badly-needed spark of inspiration after their defeat at West Ham, with midfielder Tommy Miller making his Barclaycard Premiership debut as one of four changes. Chelsea boss Claudio Ranieri chose to freshen up his side by omitting Gudjohnsen and Lampard even though William Gallas, Emmanuel Petit and Jesper Gronkjaer were injured. In came Mikael Forssell, who deserved his chance after nine goals for the club this season despite making only two previous starts, and Gianfranco Zola but also Slavisa Jokanovic and Sam dalla Bona. Zola was forced to cope on the left flank and he was not alone in struggling to make an impact in a patchy first half. Then again, while it was Ipswich who held sway in terms of possession, they lacked the creativity to open up Chelsea's defence. Marcus Bent and Miller both curled efforts narrowly wide, while Zola also had three efforts which failed to trouble keeper Andy Marshall. The stroke of good fortune that Ipswich desperately needed looked to materialise 12 minutes before the break, when Alun Armstrong felt John Terry push him in the back and he immediately fell to the ground. However, the fates do not seem to be smiling on Ipswich these days. Bent, who had previously scored 10 times for the club since his arrival from Blackburn in November, struck his spot kick cleanly. But he was up against an Italian keeper who has previously proved his penalty prowess against Sunderland and Liverpool this season and he again tipped the ball over the bar at full stretch. Mario Stanic struck the side netting soon afterwards but otherwise it was Ipswich who continued to threaten either side of the break as George and Miller both came close. A free-kick on the edge of the penalty area also gave them hope, only for Cudicini to prove equal to the challenge again as he reacted instantly to block Matt Holland's fiercely-driven shot. Chelsea were now starting to turn the screw, with winger Boudewijn Zenden, who was making his first start since January 23 after injury, being joined as a substitute by Gudjohnsen and Lampard. With Zenden and Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink both forcing saves from keeper Marshall, Ipswich responded with a bold attacking move of their own. However, for all of their considerable effort, the breakthrough simply did not come as Cudicini came to Chelsea's rescue yet again, this time blocking out George with his legs. Hope is certainly not yet lost for Ipswich but it is definitely running out.