The threat to expel Manchester United from the League Cup for fielding a weakened team proved more lasting from Ipswich Town than it had from the Football League, though a competition fast diminishing in stature can ill-afford to lose its biggest box-office draw, full-strength or otherwise. Clearly United want to concentrate on other things, namely those trophies which still offer a European reward, and the Division One side, committed to the last and in the mood to take their chances, made sure Alex Ferguson got his wish.
The last time the two sides met it resulted in a 9-1 defeat for Ipswich, but Ferguson's selection was governed more by a desire to rest his international set than any calculation that this would be another stroll.
With David May, Ronnie Johnsen and Philip Neville at the back, Karel Poborsky wide and Andy Cole and Jordi Cruyff up front, it was still a line-up to earn covetous glances from first division clubs, not to mention a few in the Premiership as well.
Portman Road was full to bursting and, with Jason Dozzell back in Suffolk to pick up on a career which had been going downhill ever since he was recruited into Ossie Ardiles's intricate game plan for Tottenham, it felt like the kind of occasion this ground used to stage 20 years ago.
Manager George Burley was quick to point out to this new generation that he once played in an Ipswich side who beat United 6-0 despite missing three penalties.
The annual away day for the United reserves should have begun with an Ipswich penalty but having seen Alex Mathie, under pressure from May, fall just beyond the six-yard line the referee Paul Alcock decided to penalise the infringement with a free-kick 10 yards further out.
It was a baffling decision and Raimond van der Gouw made sure United rode their luck by holding on to Mauricio Taricco's stinging shot.
The United right-back John Curtis was making his first start at the outset of what is predicted to be a long and productive career, but this was a testing debut as Bobby Petta showed a succession of neat touches and the odd trick that would have thrown even the most experienced defender off guard.
He was crucially involved as Ipswich seized a 13th-minute lead. Dozzell took up the running, then stumbled but had enough momentum to squeeze the ball across goal to Mathie, who side-footed it home.
United took a long while to rouse themselves. The service too often left the front men with too much to do and what threat there was came from the left flank, where Ben Thornley's ability to strike a decent cross gave his side something to play for.
A couple of flashes of Cole kept Ipswich on their guard, but a second goal continued to look more likely at the other end. It should have belonged to Mathie when Kieron Dyer found him on his own by the six-yard line. But his wayward header was quickly forgotten when Taricco curled the ball past the lanky United goalkeeper from 25 yards.
Wolves' manager Mark McGhee was under further pressure last night after his side lost 42 to Reading, the club he left to take over at Leicester before moving to Molineux. Reading established a 2-0 lead before Steve Bull pulled a goal back before the interval.
Ipswich: Wright, Stockwell, Taricco, Williams (Stein 83), Mowbray, Cundy, Dyer, Holland, Mathie, Dozzell, Petta (Milton 73). Subs Not Used: Bracey. Booked: Dozzell. Goals: Mathie 13, Taricco 45.
Man Utd: Van Der Gouw, Curtis, Neville, May, McClair, Johnsen (Irwin 74), Poborsky, Mulryne (Nevland 74), Cole, Cruyff, Thornley (Scholes 66). Booked: Cruyff. Att: 22,173.
Referee: P E Alcock (Redhill).
