enough to keep Manchester City in the English Premier League.

Goater gave City's travelling fans a glimmer of hope when he found the net after 74 minutes to put his side 1-0 ahead against high-riding Ipswich Town.

But within minutes City had thrown away that lead and with it their Premier League status as they went down 2-1 at Portman Road.

A second-half substitute, the Bermudian striker showed why he has become one of the most feared marksman in the top flight when he pounced on a rebound off Ipswich 'keeper Richard Wright to shoot into the corner of the net.

But as the ball went in, Goater clashed with Wright and appeared to reinjure the groin which had been troubling him before the game.

Within minutes he had to hobble off the pitch and in the final 10 minutes his misery was complete as Ipswich hit back to score two goals and keep alive their dream of playing in the European Champions League next season.

The result means City, with one game to play, cannot catch fourth-bottom Middlesbrough, who are five points clear of Joe Royle's side.

City will join already-relegated Bradford City and Coventry City in Division One next season.

"It was symptomatic of our season,'' Royle said afterwards. "We've had enough chances, we've been in the lead nine times and not won the game.

"Tonight I'm going to go away and be pretty miserable.'' Ipswich, who were promoted with City last season, moved up a place to fourth, level on 65 points with third-placed Liverpool, and three points clear of Leeds United in the battle to qualify for the Champions league.

Both Leeds and Liverpool have two games left, one more than Ipswich, with only the top three guaranteed a place in next season's top European competition.

After Goater had put City ahead, Matt Holland equalised four minutes later and Martijn Reuser headed Ipswich's winner with five minutes left.

There were few clearcut chances in the first half which was notable for two instances involving City striker Paulo Wanchope.

First the Costa Rican escaped unpunished when he appeared to shove Ipswich's Hermann Hreidarsson in the penalty area.

Goater goal not enough From Page 25 Then the gangly striker avoided sanction again for a horrible-looking two-footed challenge on Jim Magilton, from which the Ipswich midfielder was lucky to escape with his bones in tact.

Royle needed a goal and Goater gave the City faithful a lifeline after 74 minutes when he bravely converted a rebound after 'keeper Wright failed to hold a shot by Wanchope.

But the lead was shortlived. Richard Naylor flicked the ball on and Holland fired home the equaliser. City were stunned and Reuser put them out of their misery when he dived to convert Armstrong's clever cross.

Going down: Top goalscorer Shaun Goater did his best to keep Manchester City in the English Premiership last night, firing his side into a 74th minute lead. But Ipswich hit back to win 2-1 and send City back to the First Division from where they were promoted just a season ago.