Ipswich hung on for all three Coca-Cola Championship points at Portman Road to go second in the table despite failing to convert early chances - with goals from Darren Bent and Tommy Miller proving just enough against injury-hit Wolves.

Bent's header gave Ipswich a slender half-time lead as Joe Royle's Tractor Boys threatened to run riot and Miller converted an early second-half penalty to leave Wolves with it all to do.

But Dave Jones' side hit back through Seyi George Olofinjana four minutes after Miller's spot-kick and went on to dominate the closing stages to leave Town's nail-biting fans counting the clock down.

Neither manager made any changes from Saturday, Royle fielding the same line-up which kicked off at Rotherham and Jones naming the same patched-up 11 who started at Leicester.

Joachim Bjorklund, Dean Sturridge and Carl Cort are all nursing hamstring problems; Vio Ganea is recovering from cruciate knee ligament surgery, and George Ndah is ruled out after minor surgery on his thigh.

New £1.2million signing Ki-Hyeon Seol from Anderlecht was ineligible and is expected to make his bow against Wigan next month.

Ipswich, prompted by the impressive Magilton and Kevin Horlock, ran the show and went on to create several gilt-edged chances - while Wolves centre-half Joleon Lescott showed up well in only his second start after missing the whole of last season with career-threatening knee injuries.

Wolves goalkeeper Paul Jones pulled off a fine save to deny Miller following Magilton's pin-point cross, and the latter sent a 25-yarder fizzing wide soon afterwards.

Shaun Newton blew a golden chance to snatch an early lead for the visitors when he mis-kicked his shot from Lee Naylor's ball in with only goalkeeper Kelvin Davis to beat, and Bent was guilty of a glaring miss at the other end.

Miller then stung Jones' hands with a 20-yarder, and Ian Westlake found his range from distance to twice go close before Ipswich broke the deadlock in the 28th minute when Bent headed home his third goal of the season from Magilton's cross.

Miller almost made it 2-0 but saw his right-footer hit the woodwork, and Jones then saved brilliantly from Shefki Kuqi's header.

Kuqi was guilty of a another bad miss moments after the restart, hitting the post from two yards with time to spare following Bent's cross.

Ipswich finally got a second from the penalty spot. Lescott was caught out by Magilton's threaded pass to Kuqi and pulled the former Sheffield Wednesday striker's shirt. Miller coolly converted in the 50th minute.

But Wolves were back in the match soon afterwards. Naylor fired in a quality free-kick, and the unmarked Olofinjana dived to head the ball beyond Davis for a goal out of the blue

Suitably perked, Wolves went on the offensive - with Olofinjana, Leon Clarke and Naylor all firing in on target as Ipswich were forced on to the back foot for the first time in the game.

But Royle's side held on.

SportingLife.com