Darren Currie and the returning Nicky Forster scored as Town came from behind to beat Crewe 2-1 at Portman Road. The visitors had much the better of the first half and went ahead via a David Vaughan freekick. After the break, Richard Naylor went up front and was involved in both goals.

The Blues lined-up as they had against Leeds and Burnley, with Dean Bowditch continuing alongside Sam Parkin up front. Nicky Forster was back on the bench after his cartilage operation, having started training with the first team on Thursday.

Town almost scored inside the first minute. Jason De Vos was found in an unlikely right wing position by Jim Magilton, the Canadian sending in a cross which was too high for Sam Parkin but which hit the unsighted Darren Currie on the shin. With the ball looking goal-bound, Crewe keeper Ben Williams got across to his left to save.

On four, Jay McEveley made an important saving tackle on Steve Jones after the Crewe frontman had got away beyond the Town defence. McEveley was involved in the action at the other end soon afterwards, running onto a Magilton through ball but Williams was off his line quickly to claim at his feet.

The early stages were proving to be very open with chances at both ends and in the sixth minute Jim Magilton, making his 250th Town league appearance, came close with a bouncing 25-yard effort which Williams uncomfortably pushed round his post. From the corner, Richard Naylor's back header went over the bar.

There were echoes of Norwich's recent goal at Portman Road in the 11th minute when Lewis Price started to rush out to a loose ball on the right of his area. Fortunately, the keeper thought better of it and went back towards his goal as Steve Jones shot well wide.

Richard Naylor flicked a header wide from a corner, before Dean Bowditch missed a golden chance to put the Blues in front. Sam Parkin knocked down a Sito cross eight yards out, Bowditch's first strike was blocked, then his second deflected for a corner, but a sharper reaction to the knock-down might have seen the Blues into the lead. From the corner, Richard Naylor again headed wide.

Eddie Johnson ought to have put Crewe in front in the 22nd minute when he beat Jay McEveley and took the ball into the area but lashed wildly over the bar with only Lewis Price to beat.

Five minutes later, the Railwaymen went in front. David Vaughan, who was on Joe Royle's short-list of potential targets had Town gone up last season, sent in a freekick from deep on the right which missed everyone and trickled into the corner of the net, Lewis Price remaining rooted to his line.

The Blues almost hit back in the 31st minute when Currie created an opportunity down the left. The former Brighton man eked out space to find Jim Magilton, the skipper teeing-up Owen Garvan, whose shot was well-saved by Williams.

After that chance, it was all Crewe up to half-time. Chris McCready wasted a good opportunity, heading wide from close in, then Price did well to save from Jones with the Northern Irishman through one-on-one. The Crewe striker got to the rebound first but shot over the bar.

Naylor made a fantastic saving challenge as Eddie Johnson prepared to strike, then Price made a fine save from the same player after the Manchester United loanee had stabbed Kenny Lunt's cross goalwards. The ball fell loose inside the area but Sito was across to clear ahead of Jones who went in late on the Spaniard, away from the gaze of referee Clive Penton.

Chants of "Royle, sort it out," started in the North Stand and the Blues were booed off at the break. As at Burnley in the week and during the home defeat to Preston heads had well and truly dropped once Town had gone behind. Crewe had passed the Blues off the pitch and created enough chances to have gone in several more goals in front at half-time.

Sam Parkin failed to emerge for the second half due to a back strain which had been affecting him in training during the week, although a tactical replacement for the ex-Swindon man wouldn't have come as a surprise. Richard Naylor took his place up front alongside Dean Bowditch with Fabian Wilnis coming on at centre-half.

The Blues immediately looked a far better proposition and Jim Magilton had a shot charged down within the first couple of minutes and Kevin Horlock saw his header saved by Williams.

On 53 Naylor used his strength to hold off Stephen Foster on the edge of the box and tee-up Magilton who shot over. However, referee Penton awarded a freekick for some clambering on Naylor by Foster and Darren Currie curled a superb freekick into the top right hand corner of the net giving Williams no chance. Perhaps surprisingly, it was Currie's first goal at Portman Road.

Price once again saved from the busy and dangerous, if not clinical, Steve Jones, prior to Paul Bignot receiving the game's first yellow card for kicking the ball away as Town prepared to take a freekick. Joe Royle made his final two changes, switching Dean Bowditch and Jim Magilton for Nicky Forster and Jimmy Juan.

Jones had another chance for Crewe, taking the ball past De Vos and Sito but shooting straight at Price. For Town, Fabian Wilnis ought to have scored a rare goal but headed Currie's corner just wide.

Price saved another Steve Jones effort in the 67th minute, Jason De Vos half-clearing the loose ball to Lunt who shot well over.

A minute later the Blues were in front. Richard Naylor deftly flicked Jay McEveley's ball forward to Forster who turned away from his defender and took the ball on into the left of the penalty area before hitting a sweet strike across Williams and into the net for his second goal in only his second appearance for Town at Portman Road.

Steve Jones was booked for a late lunge on Sito in the 75th minute, then Currie sent Forster away in a similar area to where he had scored his goal, but this time Williams got down to his left to save.

Crewe rarely threatened in the closing stages aside from a Foster header from a freekick which Price claimed with little trouble. Late on, Sito picked up what was perhaps a harsh yellow card for wasting time at a throw-in.

Very much a game of two halves, with the Blues as bad as they have been this season in the period after the Crewe goal. There seems to be a tendency for Town to collapse after going behind, perhaps a result of having so many inexperienced players in the team at present.

Richard Naylor, who might have had a hat-trick of headers from corners before the Crewe goal, made a big difference when he moved up front , holding the ball up and having a role to play in each goal.

Nicky Forster took his goal superbly and showed what Town's attack has been missing in recent weeks, his pace and above all movement always causing the Crewe defence problems.

Dean Bowditch, making his 50th league appearance for the Blues, had had a disappointing afternoon playing Forster's role earlier in the game, although the England U19 international is far more suited to a deeper striking position than playing 'on the shoulder'.

Fabian Wilnis was once again impressive at centre-half after coming on as a substitute and Jimmy Juan put in his best display in a Town shirt, rarely, if ever, conceding possession after being introduced on the hour mark.

Not a vintage display by any means even after the break, but certainly a better performance than in the first period and at Burnley, while in Forster Town look to have the cutting edge which has been missing for most of the season up to now.

Town: Price, McEveley, Sito, Naylor, De Vos, Magilton (Juan 60), Horlock, Currie, Garvan, Parkin (Wilnis 46), Bowditch (Forster 60). Unused: Supple, McDonald. Att: 23,145.

Photo: Action Images

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