IPSWICH Town came tumbling back down to earth after their marvellous midweek cup exploits when they allowed Millwall to come from behind to gain the Championship points at the Den on Saturday afternoon.

Millwall 2-1 Ipswich Town

So the era of the Blues’ 14th manager – Paul Jewell – began with a defeat with Town having already beaten the Lions twice this season – in the home league fixture and in London in the Carling Cup.

They slipped further into relegation trouble with Jewell having a battle on his hands to lead Town to a move up the table.

Tamas Priskin joined Jason Scotland as leading scorer with seven goals with a well-taken effort in the 26th minute with Danny Schofield equalising in the 45th minute. As Town faded Steve Morison grabbed a 75th minute winner.

Town kept an unchanged side from the one that beat Arsenal 1-0 in the Carling Cup semi-final first leg at Portman Road on Wednesday.

There were three changes on the substitutes’ bench with Fallon available again after being cup tied and Scotland and Hyam back after injury. Murray, Hourihane and Lambe dropped out of the squad.

Millwall were hit by a number of injuries with ex-Town man Trotter out with a back problem and P Robinson, Shittu, McQuoid and Mkandawire also injured while Lisbie is on loan from Ipswich and ineligible to play. New permanent signing T Robinson was on the bench for the Lions.

Both Jewell and new coach McCarthy were on their feet in the technical area with the latter being the more animated of the two.

Dunne shot over when well placed in the fourth minute before Ipswich scored their first goal of the Jewell era in the 26th minute.

Priskin netted his seventh goal of the season after he ran on to a well-weighted pass by Edwards. The Hungarian international drove his way beyond Craig and turned the ball low into the net from a tight angle for a very well taken goal.

There were signs of unrest in the Town camp when Kennedy berated Fulop when the keeper opted to punch a deep cross. The two squared up head to head, but it was all smiles after the referee called them over to chat things over.

Town should have gone further ahead in the 37th minute after Peters’ cross struck the bar and rebounded to an unmarked Priskin who fired hastily wide of the goal.

When Wickham was pulled up for a foul just as the three minutes of stoppage time began the home side equalised. The resultant free-kick was only half cleared, and Schofield drilled a low left-foot 18-yard shot into the corner of the goal to Fulop’s left.

Within seconds sloppy Town play when Edwards failed to clear led to a left wing cross and Morison somehow missed the target when unmarked right in front of goal.

In the 47th minute, Morison had time to line up a close range shot after a corner, and Peters did well to get in a block.

Soon after Town switched from 4-1-4-1 to 4-4-2 with Kennedy going to the left side of midfield and Wickham partnering Priskin up front with the home side now looking to hold the aces after an impressive start by the Blues who were playing in all red.

In the 67th minute Healy crossed low superbly from the right as Town broke, and Wickham was a foot away from getting a vital touch in front of goal.

Millwall won their tenth corner in the 73rd minute compared to Town’s one, with McAuley clearing upfield.

Two minutes later the home side took the lead when Morison beat a square Town defence to a diagonal pass from substitute Hackett and all alone in front of Fulop was able to guide the ball over the line.

McAuley had a header saved on the line by Forde, but Ipswich never looked like getting back into the game although O’Dea put Scotland through in the final seconds with Forde blocking the shot.

Teams

Millwall: Forde; Smith, Craig (Hackett 46), Ward, Barron; Henry, Dunne, Abdou, Schofield; Harris (T Robinson 70), Morison. Substitutes: Mildenhall, Grabban, O’Connor, Marquis, Gallagher.

Ipswich Town: Fulop; Peters, McAuley, Delaney, O’Dea; Kennedy (Scotland 75); Edwards, Norris, Healy, Wickham; Priskin. Substitutes: Lee-Barrett, Eastman, Civelli, Hyam, Smith, Fallon.

Referee: Mr I Williamson (Berkshire)

Attendance: 12,111

MILLWALL v IPSWICH TOWN MATCH RATINGS

Millwall: Forde 6; Smith 7, Craig 5, Ward 6, Barron 7; Henry 7, Dunne 7, Abdou 6, Schofield 7; Harris 6, Morison 8.

Ipswich Town: Fulop 7; Peters 8, McAuley 7, Delaney 6, O’Dea 6; Kennedy 6; Edwards 6, Norris 6, Healy 7, Wickham 6; Priskin 6.

MATCH STATS

Millwall 2

Goals: Schofield 45, Morison 75

Bookings: Barron 78

Sent off: -

Shots on target: 6

Shots off target: 9

Woodwork: -

Corners: 11

Free-kicks conceded (including off sides): 8

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Ipswich Town 1

Goal: Priskin 26.

Bookings: Priskin 38, Delaney 45

Sent off: -

Shots on target: 3

Shots off target: 2

Woodwork: 1

Corners: 3

Free-kicks conceded (including off sides): 17