Town continued their improved pre-season form with a 2-1 win over newly promoted Premiership side Crystal Palace. The Blues went ahead in the fourth minute through Drissa Diallo before Shaun Derry put the visitors back on terms. Dean Bowditch netted the winner just before half time.

The Blues lined-up playing a 4-3-2-1 formation, with Couñago the only out and out attacker, Bowditch and Bent - on the left and right respectively - playing more withdrawn roles, the midfield three in central roles.

Town's opening goal was from their first attack of the game. A one-two between Pablo Couñago and Jim Magilton had won a corner on the right, the Northern Irishman whipping the ball over and the unmarked Diallo heading home from six yards.

There were some surprisingly cynical challenges going in from the visiting side, Westlake on the end of a couple of very crude Michael Hughes tackles which in a competitive match would certainly have been worth yellow cards, as would Boyce's clash with Couñago which saw the Palace man strike the Spaniard in the face.

Palace's first shot of the game came in the 27th minute, Finn Aki Riihilati shooting well over from 20 yards. Soon after, referee Mr Taylor called a cricket-style drinks break which was hardly enthusiastically received by the 5,282 crowd.

Town had enjoyed most of the possession with Jim Magilton and Kevin Horlock running the game from the centre of midfield.

Magilton wasn't far from adding a second just after the half hour when Westlake found him with a ball from the left, the Town skipper's shot just flying wide of the Palace goal.

There was a scare for Town on 38, when Drissa Diallo sent the ball high into the air and off his own crossbar. The ball fell invitingly for Hughes eight yards out but the Irishman blazed his shot into the top tier of the North Stand.

However, two minutes later the Eagles were level. While Town were still arranging their wall, Shaun Derry took a quick freekick from the Palace left, the ball just sliding under Kelvin Davis's body, the keeper unimpressed with his defenders.

Referee Taylor ought to have shown at least a yellow card in the 44th minute when Derry went in studs up on Diallo inside the centre circle, the Guinean international requiring extensive treatment and not reappearing after the break. Once again the referee seemed determined not to show any cards.

As the game entered injury time, Town went back in front. Bent beat Derry on the right before playing a ball into Couñago inside the box. The Spaniard lost control of the ball but it fell to Bowditch who cleverly slid the ball into the corner of the net, giving keeper Speroni no chance.

At the break, the Blues brought on Wilnis for Diallo and Miller for Magilton. Town deserved their lead having enjoyed most of the ball and having restricted Palace to few chances, although Hughes certainly should have netted his opportunity.

On 54 Jason De Vos appeared to react to a call from behind when he left a cross from the Palace right. Freedman behind him seized on the chance but Kelvin Davis did well to save, Wilnis blocking Hughes's rebound.

Hughes was spoken to for the third time during the match by the referee after another foul on Westlake just before the hour, the official's apparent decision not to caution players looking more and more misguided.

After Kuqi had replaced the largely quiet Couñago, Darren Bent had a shot from the right of the area well saved by Speroni.

The England U21 made a good run down the right in the 62nd minute, crossing towards Dean Bowditch whose shot was well over.

Central defenders De Vos and Naylor had in the main kept Andy Johnson in check, but on 66 he managed a header which was easily saved by Davis. Not long after, a second drinks break was greeted by slow handclaps.

A fine move involving Scott Barron, Darren Bent and Shefki Kuqi ended with the Finn putting Bent's cross wide, when he should at least have got the ball on target.

On 77 Bent caught keeper Speroni in possession but the Argentinian was able to recover enough to scramble the ball out for a corner.

With three minutes remaining, Freedman flicked the ball over Davis after getting away beyond the defence but watched the ball pass wide of the post before he could add a final touch. The Scot saw a shot deflect wide seconds before the final whistle.

A decent performance from Town against a side who usually cause them problems. The first half was a better game to watch than the second with Magilton and Horlock the stars of the show in midfield.

Andrew Johnson was kept largely quiet with De Vos, impressing in his first appearance for the Blues at Portman Road, while Naylor alongside him also had a solid game.

Up front, Bent and Bowditch were the pick of the frontmen, Couñago having one of his quieter games.

Town: Davis, Diallo (Wilnis 46), Richards, De Vos, Naylor, Westlake, Magilton (Miller 46), Bent (Murray 78), Couñago (Kuqi 59), Bowditch (Barron 70), Horlock.

Photo: Action Images

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