Ipswich Town 3 Huddersfield Town 0

IPSWICH secured three more points at home to Huddersfield who were, as manager Peter Jackson admitted, "beaten by a much better side".

Huddersfield's defence creaked from the outset, and after 13 minutes Johnson turned Craig Armstrong well from Jim Magilton's throughball and fired in a left-foot shot. Vaesen saved, but was helpless as Magilton stroked the rebound home.

Huddersfield were too reliant on the strength and presence of Wayne Allison up front, and Ipswich scored a deserved second just before half-time. James Scowcroft knocked down Fabian Wilnis cross and the ball broke to David Johnson, who struck it beyond Vaesen.

At half-time Ipswich replaced struggling Manuel Thetis with Adam Tanner, while Huddersfield introduced the lively but raw Delroy Facey for the disappointing Ben Thornley.

This change gave Huddersfield some temporary impetus, but the Ipswich defence remained solid. Chances continued to come at the other end, with Scowcroft denied by Vaesen and the woodwork.

Bobby Petta replaced Mick Stockwell and immediately scored after finding himself unmarked in the six-yard box from a Wilnis cross.

Scowcroft was withdrawn as a precaution and Huddersfield's Wayne Allison was replaced by Simon Baldry, but to no avail.

Ipswich manager George Burley was delighted with the performance and paid particular tribute to the partnership between Scowcroft and Johnson, which he sees as the key to achieving automatic promotion to the Premiership.

If Magilton stays, and the defence remains as miserly behind them, Ipswich look extremely good candidates for that second spot.

Daily Telegraph