Ipswich Town made two changes from the side that lost 1-0 at home to Norwich in the Anglian derby on Tuesday for today's First Division tussle with Stockport County at Edgley Park.

Into Petta's place on the left of the middle line came Town's latest loan signing, the 26-year-old Jonathan Hunt who arrived early last week from Derby.

Back in the side at central midfield was 19-year-old England Under 21 star Kieron Dyer after missing two matches with a ham string tear. Dyer came back at the expense of Town's other loanee, the 18-year-old from Arsenal, Paolo Vernazza.

Today's match in Greater Manchester was a special one for Mick Stockwell. The right sided midfield man was making his 550th appearance. It was a rain and wind lashed day in the north west and the Town players warmed up before the start in front of the majority of their supporters who were standing out in the open at the Railway end.

Town were looking to get back to winning ways after the Norwich defeat against a Stockport team with eight draws to their names this season. Gary Megson's team have not been beaten at home since the 2-0 reverse to Norwich on the opening day of the season.

For today's match County had their four goal top scorer, big target man striker Brett Angell back in the side after a three game suspension.

Blow by blow:

At kick-off the rain was still sheeting down but gradually it began to ease. Town were playing in their orange away strip against a home side in their familiar blue and white stripes.

Stockwell earned a corner early on which Hunt took from the left. Hunt got on the end of the ball again soon after and he got in a shot that was charged down, the ball spinning away for a corner again, this time on the left. Hunt, the on loan man from Derby went over to take this one and his effort was cleared.

Stockport mounted an attack , their £800,000 striker summer signing from Nottingham Forest had an effort charged down by Taricco. Then Taricco got forward to try and supply Scowcroft. But the attempt to put the striker through was too strong.

Stockwell, making his 550th appearance, then wade in with a pass to send Scowcroft chasing down the right. County defenders were able to deal with it and, as the game continued, it was Town who were passing the ball around the better of the two teams. The home side were mainly relying on a long ball game to try and break the deadlock.

Both managers, Burley of Ipswich and Megson of County, were out of the dug outs and well forward towards the touchline. Megson had to be spoken to by the referee as he was encroaching a bit too far.

With 17 minutes of the game gone Megson became more concerned with a young spectator than what was going on out there on the field. A stray ball flew into the crowd and a young lad about eight years old, sitting not far from the dug out was hit. Ambulance men were in attendance to give a bit of treatment, but it was good to see Megson, the former Norwich manager, showing such concern.

The rain came back again much to the annoyance of those poor Town fans out in the open at the Railway End. But travelling supporters showed their appreciation though despite the wet miserable weather for a perfectly timed tackle by Holland that robbed Moore. Hunt then showed his passing skills with a good ball that was swept out to the left in the direction of Taricco.

Moore made ground down the right for County but his cross was too quick and Angell couldn't get there.

Then there was drama when in the 22nd minute Wright had to stop County from going ahead. Moore played the ball back to Angell and the former Everton man let fly from long range with a dipping shot. It looked to be going in at the far post but England Under 21 keeper Wright threw himself backwards, just managing to palm the ball away. It was a desperate save by Wright but a brilliant one.

In the 27th minute Wright was having to show his ability for his side again. Branch centred from the right and Angell got in a header that the Town keeper was at full stretch to palm away.

There was drama at the other end in the 29th minute when Hunt sent Johnson away with a slide-rule pass. McIntosh challenged the Town seven goal joint top marksman and Johnson went flying. Referee Lynch was in no penalty giving mood however. He brushed aside Town appeals and booked Johnson for an alleged dive.

The protests continued about the denied penalty but it was to no avail. Venus tried his luck with a long range free-kick for Town soon after the penalty turn down incident. The shot was charged down by Flynn.

Johnson, was in action in the 34th minute when he received a ball near the edge of the penalty area to turn and get in a shot that flew low into the arms of Nash.

Stockwell whipped over a cross after 35 minutes but it was too high for the Town strike force. At the other end Dinning got in a shot that was no trouble for Wright.

Johnson then saw a centre cleared by Flynn. Town were continuing to play the better football as you would expect from a team with such a passing reputation. County were relying on their usual gusto and effort. But it was them who had come closest to scoring so far in the first half with Wright having to pull out the stops on two occasions.

Cooper was booked for a foul on Taricco and then as play continued County keeper Nash couldn't catch hold of the greasy ball as Venus centred a free-kick from the right. Fortunately for Nash the ball was cleared and no real danger came of his failure to deal with the situation properly.

It had been an interesting half of contrasting styles. On the slippery surface it was at time difficult for defenders to turn and deal with situations. But both sides were playing their part in an interesting game and while Town had displayed the better footballing technique County had come closest to breaking that deadlock.

A minute before the interval Scowcroft went chasing away on to a long ball. But former Crystal Palace keeper Nash came out smartly to deal with the situation.

Just seconds before the whistle Stockwell came in from the right to feed Dyer who then flicked the ball out to Scowcroft, but the ball skidded off the wet surface and went out of play.

Half time: Stockport 0, Ipswich 0

Cook pumped the ball forward at the start of the second half but Mowbray headed away well. Then Clapham lofted up a long pass in the direction of Johnson. The Town striker moved for it but McIntosh got his header in first.

After 55 minutes Stockwell fed Dyer and from his cross Scowcroft hooked in an effort that was not far wide. Cook and Cooper then combined for County and from Cooper's cross Angell almost got in for a header.

Stockwell had to receive treatment after a challenge from Branch and then there was some exciting play from Town. Dyer, who was beginning to get on the ball to good effect more and more, made ground down the right to whip over a super cross. Holland, the Town midfield man who has scored three goals this season, got in a shot that was not far off target.

In the 60th minute Ipswich took the lead when the back from injury DYER scored his second goal of the season. Hunt put the Town number seven through with a lovely ball and he went through on his own to chip over Nash and send the ball high into the roof of the net. It was a perfectly executed goal by the young Town star.

Dyer had done some good things in the first half but he had began to exert his authority more and more after the break and his goal was taken with all the coolness and authority in the world.

Hunt's ball to him was beautiful service indeed and just the boost the on loan from Derby man needed.

Hunt slipped in a neat ball from the left for Johnson but the County defence covered well and then Cook centred from the right for the home side. Cooper had moved into a good position but just failed to connect with his header.

Hunt, gaining in confidence all the time in the number 11 shirt, showed his defensive qualities in the 70th minute when he came back to make a good challenge on Cook in the centre circle.

County boss Megson brought on Wilbraham as a 69th minute substitute. The striker came in to replace midfield man Branch. Three minutes after his appearance the 19-year-old Wilbraham was showing some lively form early on and in the 73rd minute he got in a low shot that was not too difficult for Wright.

Wright had to excel again in the 76th minute to keep Town ahead. Cook floated over a centre from the right for County and Flynn got in a header which Wright somehow managed to keep out. Flynn knocked the ball downwards and as the bodies rained in on Wright he managed to keep hold of the ball on the ground.

Hunt was showing great skill again for Town a minute after Wright's heroics. The loanee put Johnson away with a lovely pass, this time struck with his right foot and the Town number nine was not far off with a shot that flew just past the far post. Clapham then centred for Town and Scowcroft was not too far off the mark with a good header.

Hunt showed his defensive qualities again when he dispossessed Connelly to almost get in a good cross for Town. Then play switched to the other end as the sun came out for the first time. Moore latched hold of the ball for County and was not far off with a useful low shot.

With seven minutes to go there was a scare for Town. Gannon put Moore away on a run and the former Nottingham Forest striker went in to the penalty area. This as a real danger situation for the Blues, but Clapham had chased back well and just managed to get a vital touch on the ball to give away a corner. It was excellent defending by Town number four Clapham and Town fans at the Railway End were now disappointed with the going in of the sun as the rain started to come down once again.

Wright dropped to his knees to catch hold of a well struck right foot shot from Cooper and then Venus chipped forward a ball in the direction of Scowcroft but the Town man was off side.

Stockwell, the landmark appearance man, on this his 550th game, had taken a knock early in the half. With three minutes remaining he went off and was replaced by Naylor.

Naylor moved to play up front with Johnson as Scowcroft dropped to the right of midfield. Scowcroft tried to set Naylor away with a good right foot pass but the Blues number 12 was off-side.

With referee Lynch beginning to look at his watch Moore was not far off the mark for County. He received the ball in the inside left channel and turned to let fly with a right foot shot that dipped just over the bar.

The reserve official signalled that there were two minutes of time added on to be played and Town managed to see it out safely.

Result: Stockport 0, Ipswich 1

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