Town completed their first double of the season with a 2-1 victory at Coventry City. After a disappointing first half, Jon Macken put the Blues in front on the hour, then Alan Lee added his first goal in open play for two months before Michael Doyle pulled one back late on for the home side.

Despite suggestions that he might make changes for the trip to the Ricoh Arena, boss Jim Magilton fielded the same 11 which lost 1-0 to Stoke on Saturday. Into the 16 came striker Billy Clarke in place of Jaime Peters. Coventry were unable to field loanee Darren Currie under the terms of his loan, while former Town man Andy Marshall was between the sticks.

Sky Blues midfielder Colin Cameron scraped a shot wide of Lewis Price's goal in the opening minute after the Blues had failed to clear Leon McKenzie's cross from the left. Town's first opportunity came three minutes later, Jon Macken getting behind the defence but hitting his shot wide of Marshall's goal.

Sylvain Legwinski picked up a yellow card in the 16th minute for a foul, prior to the half's most controversial incident. Alan Lee took the ball into the Coventry area and seemed about to unleash a shot he appeared to be upended by Mikkel Bischoff. From the end occupied by Town supporters it seemed an obvious penalty but instead — perhaps reacting to some quick protests by Sky Blues players — referee Clive Oliver booked Lee for a dive and awarded Coventry a freekick.

Lee was still arguing his innocence with the official at stoppages when McKenzie again beat Bruce down the Coventry left and crossed to Cameron who scuffed the ball wide from eight yards when it seemed easier to score.

Chances and quality were rare commodities as both sides gave the ball away with worrying frequency. Gavin Williams struck a shot in the 32nd minute but failed to seriously test Marshall. On 35 Matt Richards replaced Dan Harding who had received a blow to the face earlier on in the game and was suffering from concussion.

The Blues ended the half under pressure, Gavin Williams making an important challenge on Colin Cameron with the former Scottish international in space on the left of the Town area and then Leon McKenzie lobbing the ball over the advanced Price but wide of goal.

Neither side had deserved much from a disappointing half, although Town could count themselves lucky that Coventry had been so profligate in front of goal. At the other end, Andy Marshall, currently carrying a knee injury, had never been called into serious action.

Stern John headed a cross from the right wide in the opening minute of the second half but it was the Blues who would start the stronger of the two sides. Jason De Vos's header from a corner was blocked on its way goalwards, then Roberts turned the ball back in for Richard Naylor, whose header was claimed by Marshall. Soon after, Lee shot straight at the former Town stopper.

Marshall did well to push Owen Garvan's deflected 25-yard strike wide in the 51st minute, prior to Naylor heading a Roberts freekick over.

Town went ahead in the 62nd minute. Lee flicked on Sylvain Legwinski's ball forward into the path of Macken who took it into the area before shooting across Marshall. The ex-Town keeper did well to divert the ball behind with an outstretched toe. From the resultant corner, Richard Naylor headed back into the six-yard box from the far post and Macken stabbed home from on the goal line.

Five minutes later, Price brilliantly tipped McKenzie's deft chip onto the top of the cross bar. Soon after, sub Chris Birchall's shot was straight at the Town keeper. Price made another excellent save in the 74th minute, smothering Kevin Kyle's effort at virtually point blank range. Kyle headed wide four minutes later, then Billy Clarke replaced Macken in the Town attack.

With five minutes remaining the Blues increased their lead. The back-to-form Lee kept the ball from two Coventry defenders before laying it wide to Clarke, the youngster crossing back in to his striker partner, who nodded home from eight yards, leaving Marshall standing.

Town went after a third and Marshall did well to tip Gary Roberts's chip over. As the match entered its final three minutes Simon Walton took over from Gavin Williams as the Blues switched to a 4-5-1 formation.

The final moments were made more nervous when Michael Doyle lashed Naylor's deflected clearance beyond Price and into the net from the edge of the area. McKenzie forced another fine save from Price, the Wales keeper tipping his close range header over the bar.

Andy Marshall went up field for a couple of later corners but the Blues weren't to be denied their third away victory of the season.

The Blues had looked a much more threatening proposition than of late in the second half after a first period in which defensive frailties and wayward passing had been all too common, although the home side had been little better.

Conceding another late goal won't please the Town management, but three points which take the Blues up to 15th in the table.

Town: Price, Bruce, Harding (Richards 35), De Vos, Naylor, Legwinski, Garvan, Roberts, Williams (Walton 87), Lee, Macken (Clarke 79). Unused: Supple, Haynes. Att: 22,154.

Photo: Action Images

Ipswich Town Polls