Town went joint top of the table with Coventry City after defeating Crystal Palace 1-0 at Portman Road. The Blues were the more dominant side throughout, but had to wait until the 70th minute for Jon Walters to open the scoring.

Jim Magilton made one change from the team which drew at Plymouth last week, George O'Callaghan dropping out due to a rib injury and Gary Roberts returning in the left midfield role.

In sweltering conditions, Town almost went ahead in the third minute when David Wright sent in a freekick to Jon Walters, the right midfielder looping the ball into the six-yard box where Jason De Vos could only manage to deflect it wide.

Tommy Miller saw a shot blocked, then Pablo Couñago was close to getting on the end of an Owen Garvan cross.

On 11 Garvan and Miller combined to win the ball on halfway, the former Sunderland man sending Walters away on the right. The ex-Chester man crossed to the far post where Alan Lee went wide while falling.

James Scowcroft shot wide for the visitors, but the first 15 minutes had been virtually all Town, although with few clear-cut chances to show for their domination of the possession.

Clinton Morrison shot well over in the 19th minute after finding space on the edge of the area from a long throw.

Neil Alexander made a fine save in the 33rd minute, pushing Stuart Green's 25-yard freekick around the post.

Garvan hammered Couñago's lay-back well over, before the half's major point of controversy. Palace keeper Julian Speroni over-exuberantly rushed off his line to close down a ball chased by Alan Lee. The Town striker beat him to it outside the area, wide on the right and then found space and attempted to cross, but the keeper, still well outside his ground, dived to push the ball out of play with his hands.

The linesman at that end of the field was the only person not to spot the handball, but referee Andy D'Urso, rarely a friend to Town, had seen it. After discussion with his assistant, the Blues were awarded a freekick for the handball, while Speroni was given a yellow card, Mr D'Urso deeming, probably rightly, that the offence did not prevent an obvious goalscoring opportunity.

The freekick was laid back to Tommy Miller on the edge of the area, the midfielder's shot deflecting over, only for Andy D'Urso to give a goalkick.

On 44 Roberts hit a shot which failed to trouble Speroni, then in injury time Green similarly struck weakly to Alexander, prior to Couñago shooting across the face of goal.

Town had been on top for much of the half with the exception of a short spell in the middle, but without testing Speroni too much. Neil Alexander was similarly under-employed aside from his excellent save from Green's freekick.

Palace felt they ought to have been given a penalty on 47 when the ball struck Dan Harding on the arm. It looked to be ball to hand, but referees have awarded spotkicks for much less in the past.

A minute later, Pablo Couñago thought he was through, but the linesman's flag had already been raised. Soon after, Jon Walters sent a low ball across the six-yard box but no Town player was on hand to add the final touch.

Tommy Miller had the ball in the net on 54 but again the flag was raised. Pablo Couñago thought he was through on goal again in the 58th minute but play was called back for a handball. Tom Soares, red-carded in the Selhurst Park fixture between the two teams last season, picked up a yellow card for a foul on Miller.

Lee turned and shot straight at Speroni on 62, before Scowcroft went well over at the other end. By now Shefki Kuqi was on to applause from his old fans and in the 63rd minute the Finnish international laid the ball back to Morrison but the Irish international's effort was blocked by the excellent Jason De Vos.

Miller shot wide as the Blues continued to press for the opening goal, then Couñago failed to add the finishing touch to a fine passing move which had gone from right to left and then into the area and had involved Walters, Garvan and Roberts. Couñago saw another effort blocked soon after.

But the staunch Palace backline was finally broken in the 70th minute. Couñago played the ball to the left of the area for Lee, who couldn't get in a shot but twisted and turned before finding Gary Roberts overlapping. The ex-Accrington man crossed to the far post where Walters got ahead of his defender and powerfully headed past Speroni for his first goal of the season.

Immediately Danny Haynes was brought on for Roberts, who aside from creating the goal had again not reached the heights of early last season. Haynes went to wide on the right and Walters to the left.

On 79 Sylvain Legwinski took over from Alan Lee as the Blues moved to the 4-3-3/4-5-1 formation utilised at Plymouth. Town were by now sitting back on their lead with Palace taking the game to the home side.

De Vos was winning practically everything in the air, although a Dougie Freedman cross in the 81st minute allowed Kuqi a header at goal, but the former Blue failed to get power in his effort and Alexander saved.

Skipper De Vos blocked from Jeff Hughes on 86, prior to Billy Clarke taking over from Couñago.

In injury time Haynes sent Clarke away but Speroni pulled off a fine save from the Irish youngster and was then in place to make a similarly impressive block from Haynes's rebound.

Town felt they ought to have been awarded a freekick as time continued to tick down when Clarke was felled by Matthew Lawrence on the edge of the area, but Andy D'Urso was unimpressed.

The Essex-based official blew his whistle soon afterwards to confirm the Blues' three points and joint-table-topping status.

Town had played the better football throughout against a Palace side which defended well but rarely tested Neil Alexander. The Blues themselves might have made better use of the possession at times, although but for excellent late saves from Speroni, the victory could have been more comfortable.

Scorer Jon Walters was probably Town's most impressive performer, although Jason De Vos and David Wright both had solid games at the back, while Owen Garvan ran things in midfield.

A great start to the season, but the next two games away at Watford and West Brom will be stiffer tests of the Blues' top of the table aspirations.

Town: Alexander, Wright, Harding, De Vos, Bruce, Garvan, Miller, Roberts (Haynes 70), Walters, Lee (Legwinski 79), Couñago (Clarke 87). Unused: Supple, Casement. Att: 19,382.

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