Ipswich came from behind to pick up their first away victory of the season, with midfielder Jim Magilton scoring a superb winner in the 2-1 win at Watford who have only managed one win to their credit in the league, and look set to face a long, hard winter.
Much of the blues first half attacks came from long balls from the back to strikers Alun Armstrong and Darren Bent to little effect, and the long ball game which many have feared for so long, which Joe Royle has repeatdly denied playing, seemed to be upon us.
Howver at half time Royle made two changes, substituting the ineffective Ian Westlake, and Alun Armstrong who earlier picked up a knock to his back. Former Spanish Under 21 striker Pablo Counago and latest loan signing Shefki Kuqi replaced the outgoing duo.
Watford took the lead three minutes into the second half when a miss-hit shot by Lee Cook fell to Scott Fitzgerald who toe-poked the ball into the net and just about deserved the lead having created more goalmouth incidents in the first half.
But three minutes later, Magilton split the defence with neither Paul Robinson nor Alec Chamberlain cutting out the pass which set up Kuqi for an angled shot from close range for the Finnish striker to score on his debut after joining up with his team-mates for the first time only yesterday.
Ipswich grew stronger and finally broke through and got the winner after 82 minutes.While Watford were appealing for offside, Magilton chipped the ball over Chamberlain from the edge of the box delightfully to send the visiting fans wild to seal what looked like an almost certain point.
Watford went through the motions of trying to retrieve a point towards the end, but were unable to trouble the blues goalkeeper Kelvin Davis.
Three league wins in a row now for the blues, and things are starting to look up again, after a long ball dominating first half, the introduction of Shefki Kuqi and particuarly Pablo Counago seemed to liven things up after the break, where the long ball game seemed to play less of a part of the game.
Kuqi will be pleased to score on his debut, but really should have had two, when he sent an easy chance begging with the score at 1-1, Counago came on and played well, creating plenty for those around him, and although didn't get a goal, he impressed greatly and will be pushing for a starting 11 place on Tuesday at the Stadium of Light.
Other Key peformers for Town today were Jim Magilton, with a magnificent chip to seal the points for the blues whilst the score was tied, which was the best possible way he could answer his critics. Matt Richards, having poor games of late, also came good, and will be satisfied with his excellent peformance at Vicarage Road.
Town Side: Davis, Wilnis, Santos, Naylor, Richards, Bart-Williams, Wright, Magilton, Westlake (Kuqi 45), Armstrong (Counago 45), Bent. Subs Not Used: Price, Nash, Bloomfield.
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