Town progressed to round two of the Carling Cup with a hard-fought 2-0 victory over Brentford. Substitute Tommy Miller's rather fortunate effort put the Blues in front and Ian Westlake wrapped it up with an injury time second.
Manager Joe Royle made a number of changes from Saturday, Scott Barron making his debut at left-back, Scott Mitchell his first senior start at right-back and Lewis Price his home debut between the sticks.
Tony Dinning and Jim Magilton came into the midfield, and Pablo Couñago into the three-man attack.
Tommy Miller, Shefki Kuqi, Kevin Horlock and Kelvin Davis dropped to the bench, while Matt Richards (foot), Fabian Wilnis (shin) and Jason De Vos (bone bruising) were unavailable. Brentford lined-up with former Town trialist and Sudbury midfielder Alex 'Tiger' Rhodes in their side.
The Blues almost went in front within 30 seconds. Dean Bowditch shot over the bar after excellent work from Westlake and Bent.
On five, Richard Naylor got his head to a Westlake corner but sent the ball straight at keeper Stuart Nelson.
Town thought they'd gone in front in the 17th minute when Pablo Couñago headed in a Mitchell cross from the right. However, referee Paul Taylor felt that the Spaniard had pushed Michael Dobson as the ball came across.
Two minutes later, Darren Bent forced keeper Nelson into a save with a well-struck shot from the right of the area.
Mr Taylor got his book out for the first and only occasion in the 22nd minute when Chris Hargreaves went in late on Ian Westlake, a decision which seemed somewhat harsh.
Keeper Lewis Price did well to tackle Deon Burton on the edge of the area in the 24th minute and that was the last of the goalmouth action until just before the break.
Town had passed the ball around well but, with Brentford defending in numbers, were finding it hard to create too many clear-cut chances.
But, with two minutes of the half remaining, Dean Bowditch came close to putting the Blues in front. The striker had was slipped through to the right of goal and slid the ball past the keeper but wide of the post.
Just before the break, the Bees had their first shot of the game, Ryan Peters belting the ball well over Price's crossbar.
It hadn't really been the most exciting game for the 10,190 who had braved the earlier rain to make it to Portman Road. But Town had never looked in any trouble and Price had been a virtual spectator, however, the goal wouldn't come.
The Blues made one switch at the break, the largely anonymous Pablo Couñago replaced by Shefki Kuqi.
The game continued in a similar pattern to the first half and it wasn't until the 64th minute that either side had a shot.
Mitchell won possession on the right, brought the ball forward, cutting inside before hitting his strike well over. Returning skipper Jim Magilton had started to feel the pace and Tommy Miller took over in the centre of the midfield.
Kuqi shot over at one end and Brentford substitute Jay Tabb did much the same thing at the other but finally, on 74, the Blues went in front.
Lewis Price cleared quickly to Dean Bowditch who played the ball out to Darren Bent to his right. Bent laid the ball into the path of the on-rushing Tommy Miller, whose shot deflected into the air off a defender's foot, over the goalkeeper and into the net. It was Miller's third goal in three games.
Kevin Horlock replaced Scott Mitchell two minutes later, the youngster having taken a knock shortly beforehand. Tony Dinning moved to full-back.
With 11 minutes remaining there was a scare for the Blues. Jay Smith's freekick from wide on the left bypassed everyone in the box and went just past Lewis Price's post.
Brentford came close to an equaliser in the 87th minute when Isaiah Rankin and a number of other Bees clashed with Price as a cross came in, the keeper appearing to be fouled. Referee Taylor failed to blow his whistle and the Town defence were grateful to watch the ball scrape by the post.
In injury time, referee Taylor might have got his cards out for a second time when keeper Stuart Nelson fouled Shefki Kuqi. Bent had looped the ball in to the Finn, his header over the keeper being stopped ahead of the goal-line by a defender, Taylor needlessly clattering into Kuqi after the ball had gone.
Price pulled off the save of the night soon after, diving brilliantly to his left to tip Isaiah Rankin's header round the post.
Within a minute Price set-up Town's second goal, all but scoring it himself. Brentford stopper Nelson had come forward for a corner which Price caught. The Welsh U21 launched a huge kick goalwards with Ian Westlake giving chase. With the ball only feet away from crossing the line, but with a defender in attendance, Westlake stabbed it into the net, his second goal in two games.
The last minute excitement - and it certainly appeared that Price's kick was going in before Westlake's touch - was somewhat untypical of what must have been one of Portman Road's most boring ever games.
Brentford's defensive attitude didn't help matters, while the unfamiliar look to the Town side may also have been a factor.
Town passed the ball around well in the first half and it seemed a goal would eventually come. The second half was a scrappier affair, skipper Jim Magilton tiring as the hour mark was reached, Town's fluidity suffering.
Young full-backs Scott Barron and Scott Mitchell by no means looked out of their depth, although their defensive capabilities were rarely tested.
In goal, Price caught every cross, made one excellent save and, aside from one mis-hit ball to Richard Naylor, kicked well. He also had a key role to play in both goals.
The draw for the second round of the Carling Cup is scheduled for Wednesday.
Town: Price, Barron, Mitchell (Horlock 76), Diallo, Naylor, Magilton (Miller 64), Westlake, Bent, Bowditch, Couñago (Kuqi 46).