Tyrone Mings’s first senior goal has given the Blues a 1-0 half-time lead over Birmingham City at Portman Road. The left-back rose high to nod home Paul Anderson’s 24th minute corner.
Jonny Parr and Anderson came into his side with Jay Tabb and Teddy Bishop dropping to the bench.
Parr started on the left of midfield for Town for the first time, having impressed as a sub on a couple of occasions with Anderson in his usual right-sided role.
The Norwegian made a strong early run through the middle before hitting a weak right-foot shot through to keeper Darren Randolph.
On 10 Anderson crossed from the left but Jonathan Grounds just got in ahead of skipper Luke Chambers to nod away. The clearance fell to Kevin Bru who miscued his volley well wide.
Town were beginning to put the visitors under pressure, Grounds cleared another Anderson cross away from Chambers, then Sears was sent away down the right - from what looked to be an offside position - but his low cross was ahead of Murphy.
The Championship’s top scorer went looking to add to this season’s array of stunning strikes in the 16th minute, curling an effort just over the bar from distance on the right.
Murphy sent strike partner Sears away in the 22nd minute, the ex-Colchester man taking the ball into the box before hitting a shot which deflected into the side-netting.
Two minutes later, ahead of a Town corner on the right won by Sears, Cole Skuse, who had called physio Matt Byard onto the field a few minutes previously for what looked to be a back problem, made way for Jay Tabb.
As the sub took his place on the field, Tyrone Mings went forward for the corner and rose highest to power Anderson’s flag-kick down and into the net to claim his first senior goal and a deserved lead for his side.
There was a scare for the Blues two minutes after going ahead, however, when Bialkowski failed to keep hold of a corner from the left, but Christophe Berra was on hand to clear ahead of Clayton Donaldson.
The visitors threatened again on 28 when Donaldson was sent away behind the Blues’ backline and brought the ball in from the left but Bialkowski did well to save his low shot.
The game immediately moved to the other end with Murphy similarly breaking into the area on the left but the Irishman smashed his shot into the side-netting from a tight angle with Sears unmarked and well-placed to receive a pass at the far post.
Lee Novak headed wide after a spot of head tennis in the 34th minute, then Bialkowski was off his line quickly to claim ahead of Wes Thomas with the Blues largely on top but allowing Birmingham the occasional opening. Three minutes later, Berra headed Anderson’s right-wing cross wide.
Smith looped a back header over on 43 after Tabb had returned an Anderson corner which had been half-cleared.
Town continued to look the more likely scorers of the next in the remaining minutes prior to Select Group official Lee Probert blowing his whistle for half-time.
The Blues were worth their lead via Mings’s excellent header at the break having been the better side, however, Birmingham had had their opportunities - largely as a result of Town slips - and might well have gone in on terms.
Town: Bialkowski, Chambers (c), Smith, Berra, Skuse (Tabb 24), Bru, Anderson, Parr, Murphy, Sears. Subs: Gerken, Clarke, Chaplow, Connolly, Bishop, Varney.
Birmingham: Randolph, Caddis, Spector, Robinson (c), Grounds, Cotterill, Gleeson, Davis, Novak, Donaldson, Thomas. Subs: Doyle, Kiernan, Reilly, Zigic, Shinnie, Gray, Dyer. Referee: Lee Probert (Wiltshire).