A professional display and a Marcus Bent penalty took Town into the UEFA Cup second round as FK Sartid from Smederevo in Serbia were beaten 1-0, about 250 Blues fans making the trip.

Town lined-up 4-4-2 with Chris Makin returning to the defence after only one reserve game this season. Wayne Brown kept his place at the centre of defence with Hermann Hreidarsson injured while Finidi George came in for his first start of the season in midfield. Up front Marcus Bent came in alongside Pablo Counago.

It was the Serbs who came nearest to a goal in the opening exchanges, Vascovic seeing a fairly tame shot come off the post with Marshall looking beaten.

However, the game was only nine minutes old when Town scored the match's decisive goal. Finidi George sent in a cross from the right towards Marcus Bent. As the striker stretched to get his head on it he was clearly pushed by Slavoljub Kizic and Spanish referee Luis Cantalejo had no doubt and pointed to the spot. Bent stepped up and sent the ball low to the keeper's left and hit the net.

The onus was now on the Serb side to take the game to Town, but only six minutes after the goal Bent came close to his second. Counago broke down the left and sent in a cross which seemed too deep for his strike partner. However, the ex-Blackburn man managed to got to the ball and managed an overhead kick which cannoned off the keeper's left post.

There was more bad news for the home side when their talismanic captain Goran Bogdanovic had to be substituted, the 35-year-old midfielder had been carrying an injury since before the first leg.

The home side's best chance of the half came when Nebojsa Savic headed a corner goalwards. Jamie Clapham on the line cleared with the Serbs claiming a goal.

Town were having the better of it though, and on 34 Finidi almost played in Marcus Bent, but the striker had moved just too soon and was flagged offside.

Sartid claimed a penalty just before the break when a cross struck Jermaine Wright but the referee waved their protests away.

Half-time saw another sub from the Sartid boss, Kulic replacing penalty villain Kizic.

Town weren't going to commit too many men forward with the Serbs needing to chase the game and allowed them a fair amount of the ball. However, it was the Blues who should have scored within a couple of minutes of the restart.

Marcus Bent made a mazy run down the left before cutting the ball across the box to Magilton, free and eight yards out. The ball seemed to get caught under his feet and he sent it against Zilic and a very good chance was gone.

As is their reputation, Sartid were pretty but rarely threatening, however, Dokic did manage a shot which was easy for Marshall.

Town were breaking well, using Marcus Bent's pace effectively, despite him having the worst of some rather picky refereeing. On 53 Finidi won the ball not far from halfway and took it forward before slipping the ball into Bent. The striker tried to take the ball past a defender and another chance was wasted.

However, this was not to be too costly and the Blues could even afford to err once again on 76 when sub Miller, on for Finidi, took the ball down the right and crossed for Bent who air-shot with the goal gaping. Three good opportunities spurned, the last a real sitter.

McGreal and Counago both picked-up yellow cards for fouls before Darren Bent replaced the again impressive Pablo. Bent's first contribution was to get down the right and put in a low cross which a defender almost put past his own keeper with Jermaine Wright in attendance.

Town were confortably on top and only a second goal was missing, although there was a slight scare on 85 when Marshall was forced to tip over a corner.

Injury time saw Darren Bent run onto a Marcus Bent through ball but hit his shot at the keeper before Wright hit a shot on the turn which Zilic also saved, again from a Marcus Bent ball. Soon after the whistle went.

A much better display from Town with excellent performances throughout the team. Marcus Bent and Counago always provided an outlet while Magilton and Jermaine Wright in particular were excellent in midfield. At the back Marshall and the defence rarely looked in any trouble.

Let's hope this sort of form can be taken into Sunday's league game at Wimbledon.

Town: Marshall, Makin, Clapham, McGreal, Brown, Magilton, Holland, Counago (D Bent 84), Wright, George (Miller 65), M Bent. Not used: Pullen, Armstrong, Gaardsoe, Richards, Westlake.

Photo: Action Images

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