Full debutant Noel Hunt scored twice and sub Jonny Parr once as Town beat Millwall 3-1 at the Den to climb back to second in the Championship. Hunt put the Blues two in front before Magaye Guyeye pulled a goal back for the Lions just before the break but Parr sealed it in the 77th minute.

Town were without David McGoldrick and Luke Hyam with knee injuries sustained in the 1-0 FA Cup defeat to Southampton, and Cole Skuse, who is ill.

Up front, Noel Hunt was handed his first Town start alongside Daryl Murphy with new signing Freddie Sears one of only six subs on the bench. Balint Bajner was missing with Notts County understood to be close to signing the Hungarian striker on loan.

Millwall made eight changes to the team which lost 4-0 at Bradford in the FA Cup in midweek. Former Blue Dan Harding made his home debut, while ex-midfielder Lee Martin and one-time loan striker Ricardo Fuller were on the bench.

Anderson hit an early speculative shot wide for the Blues, who were in their all orange away kit.

The Lions went close to going in front in the fourth minute when debutant Diego Fabbrini’s shot deflected up into the air and Town keeper Bartosz Bialkowski punched poorly under pressure from Stefan Maierhofer. The loose ball fell to the on-loan Watford man, who shot wide with the goal gaping.

Within a minute the Lions were made to rue that miss. Murphy flicked on a Tyrone Mings freekick deep on the left and Stephen Hunt found himself space on the edge of the box before stabbing the ball through to his brother Noel ahead of him to his left. The former Leeds man deftly diverted the ball past advancing Millwall keeper David Forde and into the net.

It was the Irishman’s second goal for Town and his first since signing a contract until the end the season earlier in the month.

On the quarter hour, it was 2-0 with Noel Hunt again the man on target. Stephen Hunt crossed from the left just too far in front of his brother. Bru shot from a tight angle, a defender’s toe deflecting it to Noel Hunt, who tapped in his second of the game and third of the season at the other post before a knee-slide celebration. The home fans felt there may have been a suspicion of offside.

The last time Noel Hunt scored twice in a game was back in January 2013 for Reading in 4-0 FA Cup win against Sheffield United, while he most recently netted a brace in the league back in August 2009 for the Royals in a 3-1 win at Barnsley.

The Blues continued to look the more likely scorers, Anderson saw an audacious overhead-kick deflected over on 23, then after the second of two corners had been cleared and returned into the box Murphy headed straight at his international team-mate Forde.

Moments later, Noel Hunt wasn’t far from getting his head to an Anderson header from a left-wing Mings cross.

Millwall were unable to create another serious opportunity until the 35th minute when Maierhofer cut the ball back from the right to Jimmy Abdou on the edge of the box but the midfielder scuffed well wide.

But the Blues were continuing to look the greater threat, Anderson seeing an effort blocked and then screwing his cross into the crowd from the rebound.

Seconds later, Millwall centre-half Byron Webster slipped and Murphy broke into the area but scuffed his shot wide.

Two minutes before the break, the home side pulled a goal back. Maierhofer headed down a freekick from the left, Gregory hooked it on to Gueye, who shot home off the inside of the post.

It was a poor goal to concede from Town’s perspective with Christophe Berra perhaps still feeling the effects of a clash of heads with Abdou moments earlier.

The goal roused the previously resigned home crowd as the half moved into three additional minutes.

Town were well worth their lead at the break and given the number of chances they had created they ought to have been further in front.

Millwall’s goal before the break had come against the overall run of play and gave the home side a lifeline which they didn’t really deserve.

Town started the second half on top, Anderson sent Noel Hunt away on the left but the two-goal striker’s cross was cut out before it reached Murphy. Hunt’s subsequent over-head kick was blocked.

Murphy scuffed a shot through to Forde five minutes after the restart with the game continuing in the manner of much of the first half. Soon after, Millwall appealed for a penalty when Lee Gregory turned the ball onto Berra’s hand but a spotkick would have been harsh.

The home side began to put the Blues under pressure for the first time in the match as the hour mark approached. After good work on the left from Maierhofer and Harding, goalscorer Gueye saw a shot from deep on the right blocked. From the resultant corner, Webster flicked his header across goal and wide.

On 63 two-goal frontman Noel Hunt was replaced by Freddie Sears, making his Blues debut following his Friday move from Colchester, while Jonny Parr took over from Stephen Hunt at left midfield and ex-Blue Lee Martin replaced Fabbrini for the Lions.

Gueye curled a freekick over after Anderson had fouled Abdou 25 yards out, then for the Blues Sears played in Murphy on the left of the area but 19-year-old Millwall skipper Sid Nelson stuck out a toe to dispossess him.

New signing Sears had his first sight of goal in the 73rd minute when he was sent away by Murphy’s long ball. The ex-West Ham youngster took the ball inside Harding but Nelson blocked his shot.

But aside from that opportunity Millwall were on top and looking for openings from which to grab the equaliser. On 75 Berra did well to cut out Gueye’s cross from the right.

However, two minutes later it was all over. The lively Sears cleverly turned Murphy's flick from Bialkowski's long kick on to sub Parr, who showed a striker’s quality to slip the ball past the advancing Forde and into the corner of the net for his second Town goal.

Ex-Blues loanee Fuller replaced Shaun Cummings for the final 10 minutes with the impetus now firmly back with the Blues after Millwall’s brief and unconvincing second-half fightback.

With two minutes remaining 18-year-old Matt Clarke was handed his league debut as a sub for Anderson. Clarke went to left midfield with Parr going to the right.

Parr teed up Bru to shoot into Forde’s arms as the game moved into its final scheduled minute, prior to the fourth official’s board signalling four more.

Town saw out the remaining minutes with little trouble with the result moving them back to second in the table with Derby having lost to Nottingham Forest earlier in the day.

The Blues really ought to have had the game well and truly won prior to Parr’s goal having gone 2-0 in front via Hunt’s first-half brace. They had had had the opportunities to seal it well before then, but in fairness to the Lions they kept going and took their chance when it came.

But overall, the Blues were well worth their fifth away win of the season which takes them two points ahead of the third-placed Rams just a point behind leaders Bournemouth.

Millwall: Forde, Cummings (Fuller 80), Nelson, Webster, Harding, Gueye, Abdou, Powell, Fabbrini (Martin 63), Gregory, Maierhofer. Unused: King, Shittu, Wilkinson, Woolford, McDonald, Fuller.

Town: Bialkowski, Chambers (c), Mings, Berra, Smith, Tabb, Bru, Anderson (Clarke 88), S Hunt (Parr 64), N Hunt (Sears 63), Murphy. Unused: Crowe, Ambrose, Stewart. Referee: Graham Salisbury (Lancashire). Att: 11,603 (Town: 2,503).

Photo: Action Images

battyblue added 20:15 - Jan 17 Don't know what game you were at Letchworth Blue thought we were dreadful for much of the game with brief spells of control after Parr and Sears came on.
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PJH added 20:47 - Jan 17 I think that was a game that we more or less had to win(as was the game at Blackpool)and win it we did.Looked like it was going to be easy early on(although they should have scored before we did)but their goal just before half time got their crowd involved.Third goal came at a good time to prevent nervy last 15 minutes or so. I thought back four played well as did Anderson.Parr looked very good at left midfield and took his goal brilliantly.Sears looks like he could be a great addition. Now on to Brighton.

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Letchworth_Blue added 21:09 - Jan 17 I was at the same game as you. It's called an opinion. Calling us dreadful, in my opinion is an absolute joke pal.
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KiwiTractor added 21:19 - Jan 17 Well done lads, good to see goals coming from other players. Hopefully we can get a few bodies back for Brighton.
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warktheline added 21:24 - Jan 17 Letchworth blue, spot on pal, admittedly I wasn't there, but when you score 3 away from home, what more do some want? Yes, people do view games differently, but you must also take into consideration, some don't appreciate Mick's so called 'tactics '. In my book it's called WINNING!
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PJH added 21:31 - Jan 17 Just like to add that I thought referee and linesmen did well today and did not allow Millwall crowd to bully them, unlike the officials at the game there last season.
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tractorgrl added 21:44 - Jan 17 It seems to me that any/all of the players in our squad firmly believe they can score goals, play anywhere that Mick wants them to and want to help one another even if they are not in the team. Long may it continue!
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Kirbmeister added 23:05 - Jan 17 Battyblue - Who cares if we were dreadful, we won away 3-1 for god's sake!!!
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Samassi100Abou added 23:25 - Jan 17 Now I hate to big myself up, but by most of the comments their is hardly no gratitude towards N hunt? Maybe because I was one of few who said give him A chance he was a ledgend at reading he's face just didn't fit at Leeds as he wasn't Italian, he works hard and he will get goals from his work rate ? What happened today ? Good I love it when I'm right Oh btw my post of the above got minus 4 when he signed so shows how much some of our fans know about football

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Kirbmeister added 23:48 - Jan 17 Samassi - you're dead right! Hunt is a great signing who will give everything he's got.
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Kirbmeister added 23:53 - Jan 17 Record since Norwich defeat P22 W13 D7 L2 F40 A19 P46
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lowtit added 07:12 - Jan 18 millsy, boring? hes a legend, rather listen to him than the nasal rantings of mathie - not great today but good result - the beeb have always hated ipswich, jimmy hill, laurenson etc
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WarkyWonderLand added 08:05 - Jan 18 3 goals away, on 50 points and second in the league with our best chance of promotion, how can people moan at that. Mick will become a Portman Road legend. And who can remember when it was alleged to be between MM and Holloway for the job. I know who I wanted. Both Mick and ME can smell promotion is there for the taking and so should we. COYB
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skinnyman27 added 08:44 - Jan 18 dont know why people think it was a bad performance, we started brilliantly, should have gone into half time at least 3-0 instead of 2-1, ok sexond half wasnt great bit we should have been out of sight by then. great win and have always liked sears, i know hes never proved him self but always talked of highly, definatly got natural talent and jf we get sharp as well then i think we have every position fairly well covered.

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warktheline added 08:46 - Jan 18 @Abou and warkywonderland, many conveniently forget their previous post and then attack you for being negative on forum because you remind them! It's laughable.
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Derdunka_ITFC added 11:31 - Jan 18 Thought we was superb in the first half we looked lively and looked like a day when we would have a big scoreline second half we dropped off but our defence performed brilliant to keep them at just the one. But im pretty sure a good team knows how to grind out wins and thats what the team did great win now lets movr on together for Wednesday
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Pendejo added 12:50 - Jan 18 Facts first; 3 - 1 win watched by 2,503 Town fans making almost 22% of the total crowd there 2nd in the table Opinion We could / should have really hammered them. The goal we conceded gave them far more hope and inspiration than they deserved, which would then have been bolstered by their manager at half time. They then gave it a go. I just wish our players realised how far up the pitch their keeper was playing as there were at least 2 occasions when even a tame but accurate shot from distance would have gone in as Forde was playing keeper sweeper. Personally I came away from the game happy, after the body shock of 2 straight defeats we got a win. McG was missing but in comes Noel to snatch 2 goals, gotta be happy with that eh? Freddy Sears came on and looked lively and Parr was a revelation as an attacking winger. Finally, the end of the game and the way the team, especially Chambers, congratulated each other shows real unity and spirit. They knew they could have played better, but whether you play well, indifferently or poorly it's points that win prizes and wins get fistpumps. Chambers went to EVERY member of the team before the fistpump[s]. 3 points - enuff said

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Fat_Boy_Tim added 13:05 - Jan 18 Well put Pendejo, don't understand critisism of the BBC on here. We were, most people agree, pretty poor in the FA Cup replay and although Mark Lawrenson over played the "Championship" and "Lack of quality" comments a bit it was probably due to there being no decent football to talk about. This game was the feature match on the football league show (Even though we were playing Millwall!) and so there clearly was a reporter from the BBC at the game and we given a pretty positive assesment both during and after the highlights.

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NoelTheDub added 17:42 - Jan 18 Can I just add to all the good and not so good things yesterday,yes we won,yes we were ok as a team,yes they were a very poor side but at times we were very untidy in our passing also we hoofed it up the pitch so many times.The important thing was we started well got early goals and game should have been over but the hoofball started as soon as they got a goal back.Yes this could have been a banana skin game but at times I though we could lose or draw a game like that yesterday.I said last week that we need Parr and Bru or Ambrose and also I criticised Mick for putting Noel Hunt out wide when he came on v Derby he is a good poacher as seen at the Den,I believe we can play better when those guys are in but MM sees Tabb and K Hunt and Anderson as maybe harder workers but I think they struggle in games solely because we dont keep the bloody ball and work their socks off to get it back.We have done amazing to date can we keep playing like that and succeed so far MM is right and Im wrong but clearly we have to fight for every point we have got when I think games like yesterday should have been easier if we play our ball players the ones I referred to.Even when Dids is back play him behind Murf with Hunt/ Sears alongside and Parr plus Bru should keep their places Anderson/k Hunt should have a rest IMO,but anyway Mick keep proving me wrong Im enjoying me tactic battle with you and your way ahead.

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50yearsablue added 18:58 - Jan 18 It may not have been pretty, it may have been a game we ought to win but win we did. I will take that. Remember, 3 of our most composed players in Skuse, Bishop and McGoldrick were missing so most of what's left, Bru apart, are workmanlike. Some supporters are becoming so expectant now of wins and performance that this game is attracting the number of posts that only a defeat usually does.

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Surco72 added 22:21 - Jan 18 We won 3 - 1 away from home without our two play makers and our composed midfielder playing against a team scrapping for anything , for gods sake enjoy . Well done MM and TC again have got more out of Hunt than all the Leeds managers put together . Other teams will get bugs and injuries to key players and lose games like these , we just keep going
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Razor added 10:43 - Jan 19 Millwall will get better.
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