Tamás Priskin’s second half goal saw the Blues to a famous 1-0 Carling Cup semi-final first leg victory over a strong Arsenal side at Portman Road. Priskin curled home from the edge of the area after being sent away by Colin Healy with Town fully deserving their victory over Arsene Wenger’s lacklustre team.

Caretaker-boss Ian McParland, still without a host of injured, suspended and cup-tied players, made two changes to the side which got thrashed at Chelsea on Sunday. Tamás Priskin came in for Jason Scotland, who picked up a calf problem in training, while Damien Delaney came into the side for Troy Brown, who has a hamstring problem.

The Irishman lined-up at centre-half alongside Gareth McAuley with Jaime Peters at right-back and Mark Kennedy taking up a holding midfield role behind Colin Healy and David Norris. Carlos Edwards was on the right and Connor Wickham on the left of a five-man midfield with Priskin the lone striker.

New manager Paul Jewell was given a rapturous reception before kick-off when he was introduced to the crowd on the pitch

Arsenal fielded a strong side but after a relatively even opening spell, in which neither keeper was threatened, it was Town who would go closest to a goal, Priskin lashing a powerful shot just wide.

The Gunners were inevitably having a lot of the ball but aside from a few blocked shots — including one memorable charge down by Delaney — the visitors had so far been unable to pick their way through the Town backline and the Blues were looking something of a threat on the break.

As the half hour approached, Town saw shots from Kennedy and then the increasingly confident Wickham saw shots deflect wide. McAuley headed over from the second corner with keeper Szczesny flapping.

Carlos Edwards almost scored a bizarre own goal on 31 when he miscued his clearance goalwards but Márton Fülöp grabbed hold of the ball above his head. Soon after, Theo Walcott struck a low effort, which gave the Hungarian keeper less trouble.

The Town players and Sir Bobby Robson Stand were less than impressed with the way Emmanuel Eboue won a freekick from referee Martin Atkinson in the 38th minute by running straight at Mark Kennedy, but Cesc Fabregas hit the wall with the freekick.

For Town, Wickham was becoming increasingly influential and on 39 whipped in a cross from the left, after easily beating Ebou, but too high for Norris eight yards out.

The Blues by now were the only side threatening and were even getting the better of referee Atkinson’s pernickety approach. In the 42nd minute Priskin had the ball in the Arsenal net via an audacious overhead kick but was offside when Colin Healy had passed.

On 43 Wickham twisted and turned and held off Nicklas Bendtner before unleashing a shot which flew well over.

The 17-year-old was getting himself more into the game than in recent weeks, clearly relishing taking on the sort of opposition which he is expected to be facing regularly in the years to come. Just before the break, Darren O’Dea picked up the game’s first yellow card for a foul on Walcott.

The Town support, which had grown in voice as the half had worn on, cheered their team off at the break, while in the directors’ box new manager Jewell gave his new charges a similarly warm ovation.

The Blues had got more and more into the game as the half had worn on. Arsenal’s trademark passing had somewhat falling apart the nearer the game had got to half-time with Town — and particularly Wickham — gaining greater hold on proceedings. The defensive frailties from Sunday were, so far, conspicuous by their absence.

Andrey Arshavin screwed the second period’s first shot high and wide on 50 with Arsenal starting the new half more strongly than they had ended the opening 45 minutes.

Wickham created the Blues’ first serious attack of the second period with a powerful run past Eboue down the left. Arsenal failed to clear the danger and eventually Edwards sent in a cross from the right but Priskin was unable to divert his header goalwards.

Kennedy tried an audacious 50-yard chip in the 55th minute but Szczesny was wise to it and got back on his line in time.

On 58 Healy cut out a first-time Fabregas pass aimed at Arshavin inside the area, then Priskin broke away from Eboue but hit a shot which the Ivorian got back to deflect into his keeper’s arms. The Hungarian might have done better with Edwards and Wickham breaking forward on either flank.

The Blues should have gone in front in the 62nd minute when Koscielny misjudged a Peters ball over the top, Priskin getting in behind the French defender but as the Town striker was waiting for the ball to come down, Djourou nipped in to put it out for a corner.

Wickham shot wide a minute later with Arsenal looking rather ordinary and Bentner up front becoming increasingly frustrated up against McAuley and Delaney.

Kieran Gibbs shot wide for the Gunners in the 67th minute before Arsene Wenger decided to make the evening’s first changes, Alexandre Song taking over from Jack Wilshere and Marouane Chamakh coming on for the hapless Bendtner.

Fülöp was out quickly to block from Walcott in the 71st minute, the Blues’ keeper’s first serious save of the evening. Moments earlier Szczesny had clearly handled outside his area to the right, neither referee nor linesman spotting it.

The Gunners should have gone in front with 15 minutes remaining. Gibbs crossed from the left and the ball reached an unmarked Febragas six yards out, the Spaniard somehow diverting it over with his knee. It was a lucky escape for the Blues, but a lead would have flattered the visitors given their lacklustre performance.

Town went in front three minutes later. Healy stabbed a loose ball on halfway into Priskin’s path and the Hungarian took it on to the edge of the area before curling a low shot into the corner of the net beyond Szczesny.

With ‘1-0 to the Tractor Boys’ resounding around Portman Road in a manner it hasn’t for some while, Arsenal made their final substitution, Carlos Vela replacing the distinctly under-par Arshavin.

Sub Chamakh hit a shot on the turn which Fülöp was unable to hold in the 84th minute but the Hungarian former Spurs keeper pounced on the ball before Vela could react.

Fülöp made a more impressive save moments later, coming off his line quickly to block from Walcott after a superb Fabregas pass into space on the Arsenal left.

The game was now almost exclusively being played in Town’s half of the field, but on 87 Edwards somehow got behind an asleep Arsenal defence on the right from a Fülöp long kick. The Trinidadian’s shot from a tight angle was put out for a corner by Szczesny.

Arsenal looked for openings in and around the Town box during injury time but could find no way through and after nearly five minutes of injury time the Blues completed a famous pride-restoring victory.

At the whistle Portman Road erupted and the players, Márton Fülöp in particular, celebrated long and hard on the pitch.

The Blues had fully deserved their victory against an Arsenal side that had rarely shown their sparkle with Town building their confidence during the first half. The Gunners fleetingly threatened during the second period - Fabregas missed their best chance while Fülöp made two outstanding saves - but the home side equally had their opportunities and Priskin took his second when it came.

Town looked a more confident and more threatening side than in recent weeks and months with so many players putting in fine performances. McAuley and Delaney were immense at the back, Jaime Peters again excellent at right-back, Mark Kennedy playing a calming and important role in front of the back four and O’Dea solid at left-back. Keeper Fülöp made two vital second half saves.

Wickham and Edwards caused problems down the flanks and played their part defensively, while Priskin ran all evening and deftly curved in the decisive goal. Colin Healy and David Norris buzzed around Arsenal’s midfield, the Irishman creating the all-important opening for Priskin.

It was a huge performance from the Blues in front of their new manager Paul Jewell, hopefully signalling the start of a new, happier, more successful era at Portman Road.

Town: Fülöp, Peters, O’Dea, McAuley, Delaney, Kennedy, Norris, Healy, Edwards, Wickham, Priskin (Murray 90). Unused: Lee-Barrett, Smith, Eastman, Civelli, Lambe, Hourihane.

Arsenal: Szczesny, Gibbs, Eboue, Koscielny, Djourou, Denilson, Wilshere (Song 69), Fabregas, Walcott, Arshavin (Vela 80), Bendtner (Chamakh 69). Unused: Ramsey, Eastmond, Miquel, Shea. Referee: Martin Atkinson (West Yorkshire). Att: 29,146 (Arsenal: 4,435).

Photo: Action Images

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