IPSWICH Town were trailing 1-0 to an impressive Coventry City side at the interval of their npower Championship game at Portman Road on Saturday.

Clive Platt scored the only goal of the half in the 19th minute heading in from close range.

Town made just one change from the side that beat Leeds United 2-1 a fortnight ago. The progress and importance that teenager Hyam has in the squad was noted by his return to the starting line-up after serving a one-match. He took the place of Eastman with Peters dropping from midfield to right back.

There was no place for regular skipper Norris after his return from his ban with Leadbitter continuing to wear the armband.

There was no place in the Town squad for Colback, who re-joined the club on Friday on loan from Sunderland until January. Healy and Murray dropped out of the squad after being substitutes against Leeds with Town having a particularly strong looking bench.

The Sky Blues also had one alteration from their previous game with McSheffrey coming in to play on the left of midfield at the expense of the injured Ward.

It was an often sunny but chilly day with the visitors playing in green and black striped shirts.

After a lively opening a poor pass by Kennedy gave Jutkiewicz a chance to run at McAuley with his eventual shot going well wide from 18 yards in the sixth minute.

Very little of note happened - with Westwood restricted to a couple of collects from long throws - until the visitors took the lead in the 19th minute.

Clingan’s deep corner from the left was headed back and into the six-yard box by Gunnarsson, and with Fulop unable to intercept, former Colchester striker Platt headed into the roof of the net.

It had taken a long time, but at last Ipswich woke up. A 28th minute move involving Edwards and Townsend ended with Livermore curling a shot a foot wide from 18 yards.

McAuley was Town’s saviour in the 31st minute after hesitant defending allowed Jutkiewicz to go through on goal. McAuley sped across to get in a crucial tackle just before the visiting striker was about to shoot from 11 yards.

Coventry’s tactics were working far better than Ipswich’s with Carsley and Clingan having control of midfield.

In the 39th minute, the Sky Blues were a whisker away from a deserved second goal. A hopeful lob forward by Keogh saw Jutkiewicz get goal side of McAuley, and his thundering left foot shot from 17 yards hit the underside of the bar before bouncing down on the goal line and into the grateful hands of Fulop.

Clingan’s free-kick in the 42nd minute saw Fulop speeding across goal to save in the top right hand, before the busy Peters crossed from the right, but Scotland could only scoop his effort over the bar.

Scotland then saw his low shot deflected go a foot wide of the far post with Town needing to improvement greatly to get anything from this match. Half-time: Ipswich Town 0 Coventry City 1

Teams

Ipswich Town: Fulop; Peters, McAuley, Smith, Kennedy; Hyam; Edwards, Leadbitter, Livermore, Townsend; Scotland. Substitutes: B Murphy, Delaney.

Coventry City: Westwood; Keogh, Wood, Turner, Cranie; Gunnarsson, Clingan, Carsley, McSheffrey; Platt, Jutkiewicz. Substitutes: Ireland,

Referee: Mr R Shoebridge (Derbyshire)