Town's miserable start to the season continued with a 2-1 home defeat to West Ham. However, there were signs of improvement in a second half where Jermaine Wright's deflected shot pulled a goal back, West Ham having gone two-up through Jermain Defoe and David Connolly.

Town lined-up without Marcus Bent who was left out in order to prevent him picking up an injury, a couple of clubs having enquired regarding his availability. Alun Armstrong started for the first time this season, up front with Pablo Couñago. Ian Westlake made his first senior start in a four-man midfield while Kelvin Davis recovered from his dislocated finger.

West Ham had the first chance of the game on three, loanee Neil Mellor heading on target but with little power, Kelvin Davis claiming without trouble.

Almost immediately Town came close to scoring. Pablo Couñago weaved his way into space had had a shot blocked. He managed to carve out another opening but David James pushed the ball wide to Alun Armstrong whose effort from a tight angle also went close.

Early on Town weren't looking quite the dishevelled mess which had lost 1-0 at Wigan on Tuesday, and in the sixth minute a mis-hit volleyed Fabian Wilnis cross ran into the path of Armstrong. He stuck out a toe but sent the ball wide of James' post.

On the quarter hour Jim Magilton forced a fine low save from the England keeper with a well hit low shot just inside James' right hand post.

The Blues had probably had the best of it in the early stages but West Ham would be the better side for the rest of the half. In the 18th minute the Hammers had the ball in the net. Matthew Kilgallon crossed low from the left and Connolly stabbed home from close in. The former Wimbledon man's celebrations were cut short when he saw the linesman's raised flag.

But it took only two more minutes for Trevor Brooking's men net for real. Defoe picked up the ball on the right, brought it inside past Makin and, with Diallo standing off him, unleashed a 20-yard shot which beat Davis to his left. The keeper hardly moved, perhaps unsighted, the striker obscured by Diallo.

Kevin Horlock became the first player to get his name in the book on 23 for a tackle from behind on Georges Santos. Pablo Couñago went close two minutes later, his edge of the area strike going over David James' crossbar.

There was danger for the Blues on 27 when Kelvin Davis mis-punched a corner. The ball landed at Defoe's feet but he looped the ball over the bar.

Tommy Miller sent in a fine left-wing cross in for Couñago on 36, the Spaniard's header awkward for James, who succeeded in pushing the ball over the bar.

Couñago and Armstrong came close to carving out an opening with seven minutes remaining of the half, Armstrong shooting wide.

As the period drew to a close Chris Makin entered the referee's book for a foul on David Connolly as the Irishman broke quickly through a tackle-shy Town defence. Defoe took the 25-yard freekick but curled his effort over the bar.

Town had had a couple of chances in the half and had been by no means as bad as at Wigan in the week. Georges Santos, in an unusual right midfield position, had looked lost in the role and was replaced with Jermaine Wright at the break.

Almost as soon as the half started the Blues were another goal behind. Connolly played in Mellor beyond the Town defence with Richard Naylor breaking the line and playing him onside. The loanee from Liverpool's shot was saved by Davis, but the ball flew out to Connolly who powered it into the net from the 18-yard line giving Davis no chance.

Town came close to pulling one back on 49, Magilton playing a ball for Armstrong to chase, the striker arriving ahead of James, the keeper flattening the former Boro man and Ian Pearce clearing the ball.

The Blues were having much the better of it and on 52 Tommy Miller was not far from pulling a goal back with a shot from the edge of the area after Pablo Couñago had laid the ball back to him from the byline. On 59 Darren Bent replaced Ian Westlake, the young midfielder having had by no means a bad game.

Just before the hour Drissa Diallo was near to his first goal for Town, seizing on a Couñago-flicked Magilton freekick sent in from the left. Diallo's shot from a tight angle was well saved by James and the Guinean's rebound was deflected into the air and into the keeper's hands.

Soon after Miller completely missed a low Wright cross when he was well-placed inside the Hammers' area. Two minutes later Darren Bent shot over the bar from the edge of the area from a deflected Jermaine Wright strike.

On 65 the Blues pulled a goal back. Darren Bent made a run inside from the left not far inside the West Ham half and found Tommy Miller. He and Pablo Couñago interchanged passes before the ball ran to Jermaine Wright 20 yards out, his strike catching a defender before beating James to his left.

From here it was almost all Town, a few dangerous-looking Defoe and Connolly breaks aside. On 67 Darren Bent and Tommy Miller set Couñago through one-on-one with James, the keeper saving with his left foot.

It was a golden opportunity for the ex-Celta Vigo man and one perhaps he would have taken last season. Soon after Chris Makin was replaced by Matt Richards, the ex-Sunderland man appearing to have an injury.

Richard Naylor caused a moment of panic at the back when he scuffed the ball to the ever alert Defoe well inside the Town half. The England U21 brought the ball forward but thankfully for Naylor hit his shot wide of Davis' post.

On 74 Connolly picked up a yellow card for pointlessly trying to prevent Kelvin Davis from taking a freekick.

There was consternation in the North Stand two minutes later when a Jim Magilton freekick from the left appeared to be deflected away by a West Ham hand. The referee and few players appeared to see the incident which looked to be a clear penalty from the terraces.

The Blues continued to push for an equaliser, not always at their most fluid but in a more determined mood than has often been on display so far this season. Darren Bent went wide with a shot in the 78th minute after good work from Armstrong and Couñago, a pairing who found an understanding as the game wore on.

Fabian Wilnis found his way into the referee's book with nine minutes remaining, harshly adjudged to have blocked Matthew Etherington on halfway. The Dutchman had Town's final chance of the game, his shot deflected away from the impressive Jermaine Wright's pass.

Town continued to have most of the final few minutes of the game but couldn't find the opening which would bring them an equaliser, Couñago failing to get in a late cross once he had got himself into a dangerous position on the right.

A better display from the Blues, although the game once again ended with boos and even a small demonstration in the lower tier of the North Stand. Around 30 or so fans remaining behind for some while venting their frustrations at the board and David Sheepshanks in particular.

The Blues' performance got better as the game went along, the second half introduction of Jermaine Wright certainly improving the midfield, Georges Santos seemingly less suited to a right midfield role.

Particularly after the break there were signs that the Blues' passing fluidity was returning but all too often chances were created but spurned, Pablo Couñago again one of the main culprits.

With the Crystal Palace game postponed next week Town have time to regroup and perhaps bring in a new face or two - probably a wide midfielder - should Marcus Bent complete a move away from Portman Road.

Town: Davis, Wilnis, Makin (Richards 69), Diallo, Naylor, Magilton, Miller, Westlake (D Bent 59), Santos (Wright 46), Couñago, Armstrong.

Photo: Action Images

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