Kevin Lisbie's first goal in a Town shirt gave the Blues a 2-1 victory over Premier League new boys West Brom at Portman Road. Lisbie struck in the last minute, Tommy Miller's penalty having equalised Ishmael Miller's opener in the first half.

As predicted by TWTD on Friday, the Blues gave Tommy Smith a start alongside Gareth McAuley, who was once again handed the captain's armband, at centre-half. Pim Balkestein was on the left, David Wright on the right, with Richard Wright back in goal for the Blues at Portman Road for the first time in seven years.

In midfield, Alan Quinn started on the left, Danny Haynes on the right with Veliche Shumulikoski and Tommy Miller in the centre. Pablo Couñago and Alan Lee were up front with Jon Walters missing with his wife in hospital giving birth to their second child.

In sweltering conditions, Pim Balkestein created the game's first chance for Alan Lee with a cross from the left which the Irishman headed straight at Dean Kiely. Tommy Miller saw a shot deflected wide as the Blues started strongly.

West Brom's first chance came in the ninth minute when Gareth McAuley was caught in possession on the Town right, allowing South Korean international Do-heon Kim to take the ball down the wing and send in a cross towards Ishmael Miller. The big striker looked set to score, but Richard Wright advanced from his line and spread himself superbly to block the shot.

With the game being played at a slow pace suited to the African Nations Cup-type temperatures, the visitors started to take control and enjoyed much of the possession, Jonathan Greening pulling the strings. Only an excellent Tommy Smith intervention ahead of Ishmael Miller as a cross came in from the left prevented the Baggies from going in front.

On 17 Alan Lee won the ball well inside the Albion half and found Pablo Couñago. The Spaniard took the ball on into the area before hitting a shot across the face of goal.

Two minutes later, Ishmael Miller got ahead of Tommy Smith and held off the young Town defender, but with only Wright to beat shot wide. Referee Mick Thorpe spoke to Smith about shirt pulling as he and Miller tussled for the ball.

Miller got away from Smith again in the 25th minute, the former Manchester City man taking the ball into the area, but again Richard Wright thwarted him. This time the sprawling Town keeper sent the ball into the air and Gareth McAuley cleared for a corner. The referee again had words with Smith.

A few minutes later, Smith and Alan Quinn combined well on the left, the youngster temporarily taking on a left-back role and sending in a cross which just failed to find Couñago.

Town had been very much second best for the majority of a half which was interrupted by a drinks break on the half hour.

Alan Lee felt he ought to have been given a penalty in the 33rd minute when Veliche Shumulikoski threaded in the Irish striker on the right of the area. Paul Robinson slid in sending Lee to the ground and the ball out of play. Lee felt he had been caught before the ball, while the West Brom players and the referee thought otherwise.

Town again failed to win the referee's sympathies a few moments later when Danny Haynes appeared to be tripped on the edge of the box.

Ishmael Miller continued to look the game's biggest goal threat and on 40 finally beat Richard Wright. James Morrison found the striker a few yards outside the Town area and with the Blues defence standing off him, curled a 25-yard strike beyond Richard Wright and into the corner of the net.

The visitors had deserved to be in front on the balance of play, but only two minutes later Town were back on terms. Leon Barnett headed a cross from the right out of the area and Jonathan Greening appeared to help it on its way with his arm. The midfielder, who was presumably trying to get out of the way of the ball, protested but to no avail.

Tommy Miller became the second Miller to score within two minutes, putting the ball to Kiely's left to claim his second successful spotkick of pre-season. Just prior to the break, Alan Lee shot wide.

Town made no changes at half-time, while West Brom withdrew the impressive Ishmael Miller.

Couñago curled a shot narrowly wide on the early second half exchanges, then Chris Brunt shot over with a freekick from 25 yards.

Town were still second best with the West Brom midfield continuing to dominate, although neither side was creating too much in the way of chances.

Richard Wright made another sharp save in the 58th minute, getting down to his left to push Marek Cech's close range shot wide.

A bit more midfield guile was very much required by Town and in the 64th minute Owen Garvan took over from Tommy Miller, while Kevin Lisbie replaced Alan Lee alongside Pablo Couñago, the former Colchester man making his first appearance for the Blues since his move.

Dan Harding replaced Pim Balkestein at left-back on 68, the Dutchman never having really got into the game.

The Blues started to look a more cohesive unit after the subs – or perhaps with the visitors tiring in the heat – and in the 71st minute a flowing move involving Quinn and Lisbie ended with Couñago shooting at second half West Brom keeper Scott Carson.

Dean Bowditch and Liam Trotter took over from Couñago and Quinn, then Jaime Peters and Alex Bruce replaced Danny Haynes and David Wright.

Bowditch looked sharp from the off, but his 30-yard strike in the 80th minute ought not to have tested Carson unduly. However, the England keeper, who has a history of failing to deal with shots from distance, spilled the effort but reclaimed it before Lisbie could pounce.

Bowditch had another go five minutes later but this time Carson held on, then Peters played a ball over the top for Lisbie, who would have been through on goal but for a questionable linesman's flag.

The game looked destined to be a draw when in the final minute Kevin Lisbie dispossessed Carl Hoefkens just outside the area, brought the ball forward and struck a low shot beyond Carson to give the Blues the victory.

West Brom will feel they did more than enough to win a game played in energy-sapping conditions, having dominated possession for the most part. Town only ever really looked like controlling the match in the latter stages once Garvan and the lively Lisbie and Bowditch – as well as Dan Harding marauding up the left flank - had been introduced and with West Brom having made a number of subs.

Town's backline in particular tended to look for the long ball all too often with McAuley and Balkestein most guilty.

The two biggest positives for Jim Magilton were Richard Wright's excellent display in goal and Kevin Lisbie's sharpness up front. If today's brief cameo was anything to go by, Magilton may finally have found his fox in the box a year on from the failed attempt to sign Franny Jeffers.

TownL R Wright, D Wright (Bruce 78), Balkestein (Harding 68), McAuley, Smith, Shumulikoski, Haynes (Peters 78), Miller (Garvan 64), Couñago (Bowditch 74), Lee (Lisbie 64), Quinn (Trotter 74). Unused: Supple. Att: 7,189.

Photo: Action Images

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