Ipswich Town 2 Coventry City 1: IPSWICH Town won their first home league match under Joe Royle's management with a thrilling 2-1 win over Coventry at Portman Road.

Ipswich Town 2 Coventry City 1

IPSWICH Town won their first home league match under Joe Royle's management with a thrilling 2-1 win over Coventry at Portman Road.

Ipswich took the lead after just nine minutes from a corner when Fabien Debec failed to command his area and Darren Bent rose highest to head the ball into the net.

It was end-to-end stuff throughout the first half with Coventry spurning three great chances to equalise.

Town's loanee keeper endeared himself to the home crowd making three one-on-one saves, two from Jamie McMaster and one from Gary McSheffrey.

Ipswich were relieved to go in at the break with the one-goal advantage and opened the second half brightly with Fabian Wilnis working well to nullify the dangerous McSheffrey.

Coventry did have chances with player-boss Gary McAllister providing a stream of well-placed corners but in the end it was a mistake in the Town defence that gifted the Sky Blues their equaliser.

In the 74th minute Chris Makin played a loose ball across Town's back line and John Eustace raced onto the ball before firing it low past Gerrard.

Royle immediately made a change with Alun Armstrong being replaced by Pablo Counago and the fiery Spaniard certainly made his presence felt.

In the 82nd minute Counago was tripped right on the edge of the Coventry box to give Town a free-kick in a very dangerous position. Jim Magilton curled a shot around the wall which Debec failed to hold on to and Counago was first to the rebound to score.

Town showed their home supporters the positive changes that have resulted from Royle's time in charge and their was an extra dose of passion to make up for what has been missing in recent months.

In return the fans responded by providing a cracking atmosphere at Portman Road and with Norwich losing as well it's now officially good to be a Town fan again!