There was no happy return to Portman Road for Baggies boss Tony Mowbray, a former captain and coach of the Tractor Boys. He admitted: "We were well below par and I'm not looking for excuses about tiredness, weary legs or one game too many.

"You have to give credit to Ipswich. Their home record suggests this isn't an easy place to come and so it proved." His one-time Ipswich team-mate, Blues' current boss Jim Magilton, hailed his team as they extended their unbeaten home record to 13 in a topsy-turvy season that has seen them fail to record a single win on the road.

"I can't explain our away record, said Magilton. "But we've just beaten the best side in the Championship and I don't want to talk negatives.

We're close to turning it round and if you check the league table we're sitting sixth."

Left-back Wright burst forward in the 75th minute to head in only his sixth career goal in 340 senior games.

Ipswich-born Liam Trotter, 19, making his first home start, sent over the perfect cross for Wright to glance a header past Dean Kiely from close range. Canadian De Vos, rated doubtful until just before kick-off, then headed home No.2, throwing himself forward to meet Gavin Williams' free-kick.

Magilton added: "Jason was struggling with bruised ribs and an ankle injury. Plus he was just getting over the flu. But he's a man's man who wants to play and always competes very well.

"To keep their strikers at bay - Albion are way out in front as the top scorers in this league - takes some doing. We have kept a very good side quiet."

Ipswich were let off the hook when Albion striker Ishmael Miller, on loan from Manchester City, made a real hash of a great chance in the 25th minute.

He was completely unmarked when picked out at the far post by Robert Koren's right-wing cross, but headed hopelessly wide from seven yards.

Magilton admitted: "That was a big help. We were lacking a bit of selfbelief against a team who came here full of confidence.

"If anything, we probably gave them a bit too much respect. But our secondhalf display was as well as we have played in a long time."

Both Town's Pablo Counago and the Baggies' Kevin Phillips saw long-range shots rattle the woodwork in a lively first half and Kiely also did well to keep out a Danny Haynes effort.

Home keeper Neil Alexander was also at his best to turn a snap-shot from Phillips over the top.

But after Ipswich took the lead it was one-way traffic, Kiely using his legs to deny Counago and also blocking a follow-up effort from Williams.

Ipswich are set to make a new bid for Plymouth midfielder David Norris after their initial £1million offer was rejected.

Daily Mirror