Two second half goals from Darren Currie took the Blues to a deserved 2-1 win over Plymouth Argyle, one of his former clubs. With Tommy Miller substituted, Currie took responsibility from the spot and netted a second not long after. Mickey Evans pulled one back not long after Currie's second.
Boss Joe Royle recalled midfielder Kevin Horlock for Jim Magilton and brought loanee Daniel Karbassiyoon in for his first start, taking over at left-back in place of Matt Richards.
The game started in blustery conditions and the first chance of the game fell to Kevin Horlock. The midfielder's fourth minute volley was blocked and Ian Westlake's subsequent effort was easy for keeper Romain Larrieu.
Horlock was at the centre of the action early on and created a great chance for Darren Bent in the 10th minute. The England U21 was sent through one-on-one with Larrieu and tried to take the ball past him but the keeper stuck out a hand and saved.
It was a good chance and not the first one-on-one Bent has missed in recent games. Plymouth's first opportunity came from a Paul Wotton freekick which Kelvin Davis saved to his left.
Tommy Miller hit a speculative effort from 20 yards which went wide, before Horlock went over from slightly further out.
The Blues were well on top and a goal didn't look too far away from coming, Darren Bent coming close with a turn a shot from the edge of the box which went over and a low ball across the box which failed to receive a Town touch.
Town felt they might have had a penalty with Ian Westlake appearing to be felled in the penalty area but replacement referee Dermot Gallagher felt otherwise.
Just after the half hour, Horlock went wide with a 20-yard shot after a corner which Larrieu had punched clear.
Despite Town having the best of it, David Friio first headed over and then shot straight at Davis from a tight angle after a freekick, Karbassiyoon having picked up a yellow card for a foul on David Norris.
With five minutes remaining before the break, Kelvin Davis did well to claim a Scott Taylor corner at the near post.
As half-time got closer, Karbassiyoon hit a weak shot to Larrieu, while for Argyle Tony Capaldi's shot from the edge of the box was easy for Davis.
The Blues had been the better of the two sides and might have been in front, having created one or two decent chances.
David Friio had the first shot of the second half but failed to test Davis with a strike well wide of goal. On 57 Matt Richards and Jim Magilton replaced Tommy Miller and Daniel Karbassiyoon.
On the hour, new Argyle signing Taylor worked himself an opportunity but shot straight at Davis.
The Blues went ahead in the 67th minute. A superb Jim Magilton ball played in Darren Bent, who took the ball past Larrieu, the keeper sending him to the ground. Referee Dermot Gallacher had no hesitation in pointing to the spot and showing the keeper a yellow card.
With Tommy Miller substituted, Darren Currie stepped up to take the kick and put it low to Larrieu's left and into the net.
Plymouth tried to get back on terms immediately via a Capaldi freekick which went through a crowded area to Kelvin Davis.
The Blues deserved to score a second via a superb move on the left which concluded with Westlake crossing for Kuqi who bundled the ball just wide.
Soon after, Bent, by now booed by the home supporters for his role in the goal, dispossessed Paul Connolly inside the area and laid the ball back to Kevin Horlock who might have done better than to loop the ball wide.
But a Town second wasn't too long in coming. With five minutes left on the clock, Fabian Wilnis put the ball into the path of Jim Magilton on the right, the skipper sending over a first time ball which Currie stroked into the net from six yards.
The game seemed settled but within two minutes the home side had pulled one back. Connolly crossed for Evans, Davis saving his first effort but not his second.
Late on, Westlake picked up a yellow card for a foul, his fifth booking of the season. The midfielder will now miss a game, probably the home match against Coventry.
Plymouth went looking for an equaliser, mainly via long balls into the box which were in the main dealt with well by the Town defence.
A battling display and deserved three points against a Plymouth side lacking quality but not effort. Town created chances and the goals eventually came.
Reading's defeat and a draw for Sunderland gave the afternoon an extra frisson and left the Blues five points clear ahead of Wigan's game on Tuesday.
Town: Davis, Wilnis, De Vos, Naylor, Karbassiyoon (Richards 56), Miller (Magilton 56), Westlake, Horlock, Currie, Bent, Kuqi.