Town got the new season off to a victorious start, coming from behind to beat Gillingham 2-1 at Portman Road. The visitors went in front through Paul Smith but the Blues struck back via Richard Naylor and Dean Bowditch.

New signing Jason De Vos skippered the Blues on his debut, Jim Magilton failing to make it due to his groin injury. Town lined-up 4-3-3 with Drissa Diallo at right-back, presumably for his height against the Gills' big attack and at set-pieces, Town's main source of defensive problems last season.

Up front, Shefki Kuqi started in the middle with Dean Bowditch on the left and Darren Bent on the right.

The first action of the game saw former Norwich player Iwan Roberts get his name in the book for an ugly-looking elbow on Drissa Diallo, which clearly incensed a number of the Town players.

It was Town's goal which would be threatened first, John Hills's cross needing to be headed away from under the bar by Matt Richards.

The Blues were having most of the possession but were missing the fluidity of their best passing, suffering perhaps from Jim Magilton's absence from the midfield. However, on 10 Kevin Horlock struck a shot which was blocked, Dean Bowditch forcing Steve Banks into a save with the rebound from a tight angle.

Ian Westlake came closer in the 21st minute when he latched on to a Dean Bowditch ball, Banks parrying his shot and a defender clearing.

Two minutes later, the Gills went in front very much against the run of play. Ian Westlake failed to find Dean Bowditch with a pass, leaving Town short as a long ball was pumped forward for Darren Byfield to chase. The former Sunderland man played the ball inside to Paul Smith, pursued by Bowditch, who made no mistake in beating Davis.

It was a rare goal from Smith, his last strike coming against the Blues in the game between the two sides at the Priestfield Stadium two years ago.

New midfielder Kevin Horlock struck a freekick into the Gillingham wall on 27, Tommy Miller's rebound deflecting wide for one of a plethora of Town corners.

Town were still enjoying most of the play but just after the half hour, Patrick Agyemang's run teed-up Byfield for a shot straight at Kelvin Davis. Agyemang's pace was proving the main threat to the Blues' new-look defence.

Richard Naylor put Town back on terms in the 35th minute. Darren Bent won a corner on the right, Kevin Horlock sending in a deep ball to the far post where Naylor headed home.

Iwan Roberts, booed vociferously throughout, headed a golden chance high and wide on 37, the striker having been found unmarked in the area six yards out from goal.

Tommy Miller's freekick from the left flashed across the face of goal, before the move of the half, involving Westlake, Bent and Bowditch ended with Westlake's eight-yard shot being scrambled out for a corner by Banks.

Town hadn't been at their best but ought to have been ahead on the balance of play. The Gills, also playing three up front, had proved difficult to break down and on occasion their pacier strikers had caused a the odd problem.

Within seconds of the new half starting, the Blues were ahead. Drissa Diallo looped a ball across the field from right to left after a throw-in towards the unmarked Dean Bowditch. The youngster took one touch before curling the ball into the top left-hand corner of Banks's net from the edge of the area.

Five minutes later, the Blues ought to have been further ahead when Bowditch broke quickly down the centre. The Town number 17 found Darren Bent on the right, the England U21 sending in first time cross towards Matt Richards, whose first shot was blocked on the line before his second went wide.

There was a scare for Town on the hour when a Byfield flick from inside the area went agonisingly wide of Kevin Davis's post.

Soon after, Shefki Kuqi used his strength and persistence to force an opportunity where there shouldn't have been one, the Finn heading into the side-netting from a tight angle having beaten Ashby.

Town had the on-form Kelvin Davis to thank on 66 when De Vos failed to clear an aerial ball and Byfield got in a header which the keeper somehow managed to turn away for a corner. Three minutes later Pablo Couñago replaced Dean Bowditch.

Darren Bent's 25-yarder was saved comfortably by Banks, before the same player crossed low for Couñago, his stab at goal hitting the keeper and then the post before going out for what the referee deemed a goalkick.

There was widespread amusement on 79 when the woefully ineffective Iwan Roberts was replaced, the former Canary having been kept largely out of the game by Drissa Diallo and Jason De Vos.

Town again went close to a third goal in the 86th minute after a neat one-two between Miller and Couñago led to the ball falling to Miller five yards out but his effort struck the post, Nyron Nosworthy playing him onside.

Within 30 seconds, Bent had the chance to settle the result when sent through one-on-one with the keeper. However, last season's top scorer shot straight at Banks.

Agyemang stuck a weak drive to Davis in the surprising four minutes of injury time, but other than that the Kent side failed significantly to threaten.

A win which really ought to have been more comfortable than 2-1, Matt Richards, Tommy Miller, Pablo Couñago and Darren Bent all coming very close to adding a third.

Not the most fluent first half performance but, despite going behind, a game in which Town were rarely seriously threatened. The second half was a better display and ought to have yielded more than just the one goal.

There were decent performances from both new boys - Horlock Town's stand-out player - while Drissa Diallo, apart from the usual hesitant moments on the ball, probably justified his selection in the aerial battle with Roberts and Agyemang.

Up front, Kuqi put in one of his better displays and Bowditch and Bent were always a danger on the flanks.

Town: Davis, Diallo, Richards, De Vos, Naylor, Miller, Horlock, Westlake, Kuqi, Bent, Bowditch (Couñago 69). Att: 23,130.

Photo: Action Images

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