▁story ▁the ▁following ▁year ; ▁after ▁three ▁consecutive ▁play - off ▁semi - final ▁defe ats ▁in ▁ 1 9 9 6 – 9 7 , ▁ 1 9 9 7 – 9 8 ▁and ▁ 1 9 9 8 – 9 9 , ▁I ps wich ▁finally ▁reached ▁the ▁final ▁in ▁ 1 9 9 9 – 2 0 0 0 ▁with ▁a ▁ 7 – 5 ▁aggregate ▁win ▁over ▁Bol ton , ▁before ▁be ating ▁Bar ns ley ▁ 4 – 2 ▁in ▁the ▁final ▁at ▁W emble y ▁Stadium . ▁After ▁scoring ▁ 2 2 ▁goals ▁in ▁ 4 4 ▁league ▁games ▁in ▁ 1 9 9 9 – 2 0 0 0 , ▁Johnson ▁was ▁awarded ▁with ▁a ▁new , ▁four - year ▁contract ▁with ▁I ps wich . ▁ ▁The ▁ 2 0 0 0 – 0 1 ▁season ▁saw ▁Johnson ▁struggle ▁in ▁the ▁league , ▁but ▁he ▁continued ▁to ▁score ▁in ▁the ▁League ▁Cup , ▁putting ▁two ▁past ▁Mill wall ▁in ▁a ▁ 5 – 0 ▁second - leg ▁win ▁in ▁the ▁second ▁round , ▁and ▁then ▁the ▁winning ▁goal ▁in ▁a ▁ 2 – 1 ▁win ▁over ▁Cov entry ▁City ▁in ▁the ▁fourth ▁round . ▁ ▁Not ting ham ▁Forest ▁At ▁the ▁turn ▁of ▁the ▁year , ▁Johnson ▁was ▁subject ▁to ▁interest ▁from ▁First ▁Division ▁club ▁Not ting ham ▁Forest . ▁An ▁initial ▁£ 2 . 5   mill ion ▁bid ▁was ▁turned ▁down ▁on ▁ 4 ▁January ▁ 2 0 0 1 , ▁but ▁Forest