Boss Jim Magilton says he hopes his side are making their move towards the play-off places just at the right time, although he conceded that they need to find more consistency. Crystal Palace manager Neil Warnock felt his side ought to have been awarded a penalty.

Magilton said: "Hopefully we can be in the promotion shake-up. There's a bit of a gap developing but all the teams can beat other and that hasn't changed.

"We've beaten Reading at home but we need more consistency. I just hope we're making our move at the right time. It's a marathon not a sprint.

"We knew we had to come here and compete. The scoreline probably flattered us but we showed great togetherness, character and grit.

"I'm really proud of the players and to go away and win 4-1 at any level takes some doing. It's the sign of the growing belief we now have away from home. We had to do something about our away form after last season and we have done that. Now we have to get things right at Portman Road.

"It's one Saturday gone and hopefully we can build some momentum from here."

Magilton was particularly pleased with Dan Harding and Pim Balkestein, both back in the side after lengthy absences: "Ben Thatcher went down with a virus overnight and Dan came in and did fantastic for us and Pim did a great job as well.

"I had no worries about putting Pim in at the back. He's going to be a good player for us. He's only young and he's going to make mistakes, we have to accept that, but he will mature with games."

The Town manager felt that Palace's goal probably shouldn't have counted: "If you are offside, you are offside and I thought the player was interfering with play. The linesman called it right and the referee overruled him and I think that was the wrong decision."

Palace boss Neil Warnock was angry that referee Clive Penton didn't award a penalty when Tommy Miller challenged Nick Carle inside the area in the second half: "I'm disappointed. It was a major decision in the context of the game and he hasn't given it.

"Miller got nowhere near the ball and it's criminal, the decisions we're not getting at the moment. How the hell can't you see things like that?

"I think experienced referees should stay on but if Clive's not fit enough to keep up with play there, that's not on.

"That's not my fault, that's down to his fitness. I know it's his last year, but he has to be better than that.

"Games are changed by things like that. If it had happened at 3-1 or 4-1, then you wouldn't get any complaints. But 2-1? Dear me.

"I don't think we should have video evidence for penalties - I just think a referee should be able to see an incident like that and make the right decision."

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