Yesterday was the potted version of Portman Road's season. A sterile, below-par beginning and then suddenly the swagger arrived; four second-half goals that gave Ipswich Town 14 points from the last 18. "It's been a good Christmas," deadpanned Joe Royle, the Ipswich manager.

The Tractor Boys, pre-season favourites who had been slumming it down in 19th place after a four-month-long implosion, have now jumped into the top half, just five points short of the play-offs. "If we keep winning, who knows?" said Royle.

On an increasingly greasy surface, Ipswich cranked up the tempo in the second period, especially after Marcus Bent was introduced on 52 minutes. Five minutes later Tommy Miller sent a 20-yard blur under the crossbar. Then Jermaine Wright, a Millwall trainee, marked his 150th Ipswich appearance with a classy strike in the 75th minute as, 30 yards from the target and seemingly treading water, his drive had pace and precision, fizzing into the bottom corner.

Bent converted Jamie Clapham's corner in the 79th, and four minutes from time Miller got his second, a penalty awarded for Robbie Ryan's lunge at Darren Ambrose. Captain Matt Holland had to intervene to ensure Miller slotted the spot-kick; Ambrose, playing by schoolboy rules of whoever makes them, takes them, had snatched the ball and, at first, refused to budge.

Ipswich could have had more, with Jim Magilton twice wobbling the woodwork with two chips, but have yet to shake off the habit of conceding sloppy goals. Royle put Millwall's 64th-minute equaliser down to "mental tiredness". Neil Harris, with the cut-back, was the provider as Steven Reid, with the drilled shot, scored.

Daily Telegraph