'BREATHTAKING'.Tommy Miller summed up Ipswich Town's exhilarating first half-hour in one word but warned that the job is nowhere near finished yet, writes Derek Davis.

'BREATHTAKING'.

Tommy Miller summed up Ipswich Town's exhilarating first half-hour in one word but warned that the job is nowhere near finished yet, writes Derek Davis.

Miller put in a man-of-the-match display to help destroy Pompey's midfield, scored the second goal and had another effort cleared off the line by the keeper.

Miller: "I thought first half we were breathtaking and that was just playing in it. The fans here and the people watching on television would have been impressed. Portsmouth played very well but we were outstanding and it could have been four or five by half time.

"We didn't allow them any chances and at half time at 3-0 up we were cruising so we kept it tight at the back and didn't concede any silly goals in the second half."

Miller snatched Town's second on 27 minutes when a Matt Richards cross was half-cleared by the luckless Arjan De Zeeuw and the midfielder struck left-footed from 10 yards.

But he was annoyed that he had not netted earlier when his right-footed shot was saved from 12 yards after exceptional work by Pablo Counago to pull the ball back.

Miller said: "I probably should have scored. Pablo had done all the spadework and cut it back but the keeper has saved it.

"I don't get many with my left foot but it was good to get it – usually with my left it goes over the bar."

It was the bargain £1m buy from Hartlepool's 11th goal of the season. He said: "I would like to get 15 goals. I had a good goalscoring record at Hartlepool and I would like to take that on at this club."

As brilliant as the win, and the performance was, Town know it will all be for nothing if they don't pick up three more points at Millmoor on Monday.

Miller said: "One of the teams is going to wobble and I would not like to say which one it will be. All we can do is keep winning and be ready if one slips up and get in there.

"Rotherham will be tough, they are a big physical side and Ronnie Moore has done a fantastic job with them. But we are going there fully confident hoping to get the three points."

Town's opener came from Dutchman Martijn Reuser, who is enjoying a late renaissance to the season after an injury wrecked the opening half of his campaign.

He picked up a loose pass from De Zeeuw before strolling unchallenged to 25 yards out before unleashing a low shot which beat Shaka Hislop.

He said: "I know when I hit the ball well I can score and it has not happened much this season so it is good to be on the scoresheet, especially at such an important stage of the season.

"At last I have shaken off my injury and have convinced the manager of my qualities. In every game now I have shown him my potential."

Counago took his tally to four goals in as many games with a superbly-taken third and said: "We are now just one point off the play-offs. I'm pleased with my goal but it is more important that we win as a team and we are still in with a chance but we know we have to keep winning."

And if Town were to go up after being fourth from bottom last October that really would be breathtaking.