Town notched their second home win of the season with a comfortable 3-1 win against Cardiff City, and in doing so went fifth in the table. Darren Bent put the Blues ahead in the first half but Alan Lee hit back after the break, only for Tommy Miller and Ian Westlake to net for Town.

Skipper Jim Magilton failed to make it back after his thigh injury, the Blues once again switching to 4-3-3 with Dean Bowditch, Shefki Kuqi and Darren Bent starting up front, and Tony Dinning dropping to the bench.

New England U21 cap Matt Richards dropped out due to his foot injury, his left-back berth taken by Fabian Wilnis, Drissa Diallo carrying on at right-back. Jason De Vos started despite the injury picked up by a scan in Canada earlier in the week.

Chances were rare in a stop-start first half. On four Richard Naylor had to leave the field with a nosebleed. After five minutes' attention from physio Dave Williams, he was ready to return but, as he had traces of blood on his shirt, referee Phil Joslin prevented him doing so until he had changed.

This prompted a ‘mercy dash' round the field to the Cobbold Stand touchline by coach Steve McCall to provide the defender with a new (unnumbered and unnamed) shirt.

Town's first opportunity came in the 13th minute, Cardiff keeper Tony Warner saving Darren Bent's shot from Tommy Miller's freekick.

The Blues were looking the better side and had enjoyed more of the possession and on 21 they went ahead. Kevin Horlock played a diagonal ball out to Darren Bent on the right, the striker cutting in and beating Warner with a powerful shot at his near post.

On 26, Drissa Diallo got his name in the book for a foul on John Robinson. Soon after, Town midfielder Kevin Horlock had to leave the field after picking up a cut to his head in a collision with Robert Earnshaw. The former Manchester City man returned eight minutes later, wearing another unnumbered and unnamed shirt.

With nine minutes remaining of the first half, Ian Westlake picked up a caution for a clumsy challenge on Graham Kavanagh, a decision which didn't impress Town fans, referee Joslin having failed to show a yellow card to Kavanagh for a high challenge on Shefki Kuqi a few moments earlier.

Cardiff's first shot of the game came in the 39th minute but Lee sent his shot well over the bar. Town's last effotr of the half saw Dean Bowditch hook the ball over Warner's crossbar.

It had been a scrappy opening 45 minutes, mainly due to several injury stoppages and a rather picky referee, however, the Blues had passed the ball better than on previous occasions this season and had created what few chances there had been.

Town's two nameless players were restored to their regular number six and 11 shirts when the teams came out for the second half and Naylor wasn't too far from a goal within two minutes. The striker-turned-defender managed to get his head on a Jason De Vos flick from a corner but the ball landed on the roof of the net.

On 49, Miller and Bowditch exchanged a one-two on the edge of the box, the midfielder just failing to get to the ball ahead of Warner, the keeper catching him as he grabbed the ball and Miller requiring attention.

The visitors somewhat undeservedly got back on terms on 55. Richard Naylor, up to then putting in a solid display against Earnshaw and Lee, mis-hit a back-pass and Lee took the ball on towards goal. He appeared to have been forced too wide to shoot by Jason De Vos, but somehow found room to lash the ball into the roof of Kelvin Davis's net.

Town went looking for their second goal of the afternoon, Bowditch curling the ball wide of Warner's goal before Pablo Couñago replaced Shefki Kuqi up front.

The substitution had an immediate effect, the Spaniard turning a defender and playing the ball wide to Dean Bowditch on the right. The England U19 call-up crossed low and first time and Tommy Miller swept the ball home.

Wilnis had a 25-yard shot deflected into Warner's arms just prior to Joe Royle switching to 4-4-2, loanee Tony Dinning coming on to replace Dean Bowditch.

With nine minutes left, Couñago sent Bent away on goal. Tuesday's England U21 scorer took the ball round Warner but found himself at a tight angle on the left of goal. Bent waited and laid the ball back to Couñago who sent the ball into the top tier of the North Stand when he ought to have at least hit the target.

Couñago had a weak shot saved by keeper Warner before the Blues went further ahead. Naylor played a ball down the right, Bent just staying onside and taking the ball down the flank. With Couñago at the far post, Bent laid the ball to the edge of the box where Westlake was running in, the midfielder slipping the ball in off Warner's post to settle the game.

An 89th minute defensive error allowed Couñago a sight of goal but Warner's fingertips prevented him from netting a Town fourth with his neat chip.

A much better performance from the Blues, although against a very poor Cardiff side who looked far weaker than they were last season.

The visitors rarely caused Town too much trouble — Davis not being forced into a save aside from the goal - and the Blues could afford to spend 15 minutes of the first half down to 10-men, with Naylor and then Horlock off the field requiring treatment.

Town's central midfield three were far more dominant than they had been in previous games and by the end the Blues were passing the ball around with great fluency.

Darren Bent was a danger throughout, while Pablo Couñago appeared far keener than in pre-season and on his previous appearances as sub this season.

Town: Davis, Diallo, Wilnis, De Vos, Naylor, Miller, Horlock, Westlake, Bent, Bowditch (Dinning 76), Kuqi (Couñago 63).

Photo: Action Images

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