Ipswich Town 2 Walsall 1 An Alun Armstrong penalty and a second half goal from Darren Bent secured Town their first league win of the season, moving them off the bottom of the First Division table.

Ipswich Town 2 Walsall 1

An Alun Armstrong penalty and a second half goal from Darren Bent secured Town their first league win of the season, moving them off the bottom of the First Division table.

Town started the game brightly enough, although there was still evidence of a lack of confidence in front of goal as well as some shaky defending. However, the game turned in the 13th minute when Walsall keeper James Walker shamelessly brought down Bent in the area. Armstrong converted the penalty and Town were ahead.

They stepped up the pace, but against the run of play Walsall got back in the game when a Gary Birch header beat Kelvin Davis.

Ipswich almost regained the lead on 42 minutes, but Bent's header from a Fabian Wilnis cross was brilliantly tipped round the post by Walker.

At half-time, boos echoed round the stadium and it seemed as though Town would once again let their lack of confidence get the better of them.

However, on 67 minutes a whipping ball from Wilnis was headed past Walker by Bent and Town were ahead again. They held together for the remaining minutes, despite some Walsall pressure, and could have made it 3-1 when late substitute Pablo Counago pulled the ball just wide.

Most notable was the impressive home debut of Mahon, who gave Ipswich pace and energy in midfield that points to more positive performances - and hopefully more points - in the near future.