Town got back to form on Sunday with a 2-1 victory over fellow promotion candidates Manchester City. Town made several changes from the side that drew 1-1 with Crewe in the week with Manu Thetis, Fabian Wilnis and Jermaine Wright all returning to the starting line-up and Matt Holland starting at sweeper in place of the suspended John McGreal. Richard Naylor, Wayne Brown and Jamie Clapham all dropped to the bench whilst Gary Croft came in for his debut. The new boy was to have quite a game.
Town started the better side but didn't really create any clear-cut chances against a solid and imposing City rearguard. City looked content with a draw and had obviously learnt the lesson from Birmingham and Crewe that the best way to get a result out of Town is to frustrate them. Town's best chance came from a curling David Johnson shot excellently saved by Weaver.
In a tight first half it took 'til the 43rd minute for the deadlock to be broken when an excellent cross from Fabian Wilnis and an even better header from David Johnson beat Nicky Weaver. Weaver has become Richard Wright's main rival for the England U21 shirt and looked good at shot-stopping, however he was highly dodgy at kicking and at organising his defence.
Town might have felt slightly fortunate to be ahead going in at half-time, although City had created little themselves.
Town came out reorganised after half-time with Jamie Clapham replacing Jermaine Wright and taking up a left wing position in a 4-4-2 formation. Matt Holland had gone into midfield. Before Town had really settled Man City hit back with a run down the left from Mark Kennedy leading to Shaun Goater putting his cross past Richard Wright. Little blame can be levelled at the 'keeper, but Wilnis had had a tricky time of it all afternoon against Kennedy and was eventually swapped over with Gary Croft who handled the left winger much better.
The game continued to be close, but Town were now winning a lot in midfield. Weaver made another magnificent save, this time from Scowcroft's looping header and it seemed as if we were heading for the first League draw at Portman Road since last August and the second in the week in all competitions.
Fortunately for Town fans this wasn't the case as Gary Croft moved onto a pass from the excellent Jamie Clapham and hit a shot. It wasn't exactly the most powerful of attempts, but a deflection off Richard Jobson sent the ball spinning and curling away from Nicky Weaver and into the net for a debut goal from the former Grimsby and Blackburn man.
Town held out for the remainder of the game, but as had been the case all afternoon it was very tight indeed.
R Wright 8 Nothing Wrong
Wilnis 6 Worryingly weak defending (Brown 76)
Thetis 8 Best game for a while and didn't get cross
Holland 7 Better in midfield in second half
Venus 7 Good passing and crossing
Croft 8 Looked good with both feet
J Wright 6 Didn't really get into it (Clapham 46, 8 Looked better in midfield
Magilton 7 Best game so far this year
Stockwell 9 Rolled back the years, Town Man of the Match (Naylor 83)
Scowcroft 8 Another excellent Scowy performance
Johnson 8 Another goal