MATTY Fryatt’s 76th minute winner condemned Ipswich Town to a 1-0 defeat and their first league loss of the season.

The visitors had the better of the second half although Town can be a little aggrieved not to have gone in at the break ahead after Damien Delaney’s header cannoned against the top of the crossbar.

After a cagey first 20 minutes at Portman Road, Aaron Cresswell had the crowd on their feet when his cross-cum-shot hit the side netting with Hull keeper Peter Gulacsi scrambling across his near post.

From then, the half-chances started to come with Lee Martin curling a speculative effort just over and Gulacsi making a good save from Lee Bowyer’s drive.

At the other end, David Stockdale held a 25-yard shot from Robbie Brady and Matt Fryatt couldn’t get a good enough touch at the far post after Corry Evans flicked on Tom Cairney’s flag kick.

In fact, it was from corners that Town looked most dangerous, winning seven and going close through Tommy Smith and Delaney before the Irishman smacked a header against the crossbar in the final minute of the half.

Recovering from that let-off, Hull improved greatly after the restart and Stockdale was forced to save well from Fryatt, Robert Koren and James Chester.

All Town could muster was a half chance from the disappointing Jay Emmanuel-Thomas and a rare shot from Michael Chopra which hit the body of Gulacsi.

City made the breakthrough in the 76th minute when Fryatt was inexplicably left one-on-one with the backtracking Smith.

The striker had the skill to beat his man and the composure to fire low past Stockdale.

Kicked into life, and with Nathan Ellington brought on to support Chopra, the Blues looked to fight back but the closest they came was a long range shot from man of the match Aaron Cresswell which whistled past the far post from close-on 30 yards out.

STARTING LINE-UPS

Ipswich Town: Stockdale, Edwards, Delaney, Smith, Cresswell, Emmanuel-Thomas, Bowyer, Kennedy, Leadbitter, Martin, Chopra. Subs - Lee-Barrett, Andrews, Ellington, Carson, Ainsley.

Hull City: Gulacsi, Rosenior, Chester, Hobbs, Dudgeon, Koren, C Evans, Cairney, McKenna, Brady, Fryatt. Subs - Basso, McLean, Barmby, Adebola, Bradley.