During the 1980–81 English football season, Ipswich Town F.C. played in the Football League First Division. It was one of the club’s most successful years: they finished as league runners-up, reached the FA Cup semi-finals, and won the UEFA Cup. Overall, Ipswich played 66 competitive matches, winning 37, drawing 13, and losing 16. After a strong start, they were title contenders until a defeat at Manchester United led to a slump, though they still managed a win at Aston Villa later on. Their form dipped partly because of heavy fixture schedules from cup runs, including a League Cup exit and an FA Cup semi-final loss to Manchester City. John Wark was the top scorer with 36 goals and key UEFA Cup strikes, and Ipswich’s European success was sealed with a 5–4 aggregate win over AZ Alkmaar. Ipswich finished the previous First Division season in third place, with an unbeaten run of 23 matches from early December until they ended the run with a defeat at Manchester City on the final league Saturday. They were knocked out of the FA Cup in the quarter-finals by Everton and lost to Coventry City in the League Cup second round. In the UEFA Cup, they exited in the second round on away goals against Grasshoppers. Ipswich began the league season strongly, winning away at Leicester and staying unbeaten through August and September to top the table on goal difference, finishing September four points clear of Liverpool. In October they played fewer league games due to cup commitments, but still remained unbeaten, until November began with two draws and then a shock 1–0 defeat at bottom club Brighton ended their 14-game run. They won again in late November but slipped in December with a 5–3 loss to Tottenham and finished the year third in the league, just one point behind Liverpool and Villa and with games in hand. The year began with strong wins at home and Ipswich moved back to the top of the league, maintaining their position through February with a perfect run. However, fixture congestion then hit their form in March and the top spot advantage slipped, with Ipswich finishing April second after a poor run of results. In the final two games they needed victories to stay in the title race, but two goals by Boško Janković and a later loss to Southampton meant they finished second, four points behind Aston Villa. Ipswich started the League Cup in the second round against Middlesbrough, losing 3–1 away but winning the return 3–0 with goals including two from Paul Mariner and one from Russell Osman. They then drew 1–1 with Norwich, beat them rivals 3–1 in the fourth round, and secured progress thanks to goals from Mariner and Mühren. However, after playing without several regulars due to injury, Ipswich were eliminated by Birmingham City, losing 2–1 despite leading early from a Wark penalty.

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