Town made hard work of a game against league strugglers Brighton but eventually did enough to take the points and regain the top spot.

The game started positively enough for the Tractor Boys, with some unsuccessful forays forward into a stubborn Brighton defence. It was obvious from the outset that the visitors would be happy to get just a point from this game.

It wasn't too long though before their plan was scuppered though, and it was Shefki Kuqi who opened the scoring. Ian Westlake received the ball and advanced towards goal, and about 30 yards out unleashed a shot. Whilst Jim Magilton stood shouting at him, presumably for not squaring it, the scarlet-clad Brighton 'keeper made a smart save, only to see Kuqi rushing in. The Fin chose to calmly chip the ball over the sprawling goalie into the net.

The play seemed to open up nicely and for a while it looked as though the game would result in a comfortable win. Bent was getting deep and putting in some tantalising crosses, with Kuqi coming close to getting on the end of one a couple of times.

Not so as it turned out. The Seaguls were far more aggressive in the second half, and as the game wore on, Town looked increasingly under threat. That aggression was a tad too literal for a few of the Brighton players, in particular Danny Cullip who seemed to have a nasty streak in his game throughout.

If ever the tag "veteran" is justified then never more so than when describing Steve Claridge. The Guls frontman was lively and tireless, and came close with a good header which went beyond the reach of Davis but wide.

I was impressed with the way Brighton kept at us and grew in confidence, you wouldn't think that at the end of the match we were looking at two teams at opposite ends of the league.

With displaced leaders Wigan only managing a draw at Reading, Town are now a point ahead, and Sunderland now appear the more likely threat.

It's happened again. All the results went our way, followed by Town missing out on a chance to capitalise. It wasn't the first time and won't be the last.

Those who made the cold, long and - thanks to Sky, early journey up to the Stadium of Light may well be feeling cheated today. After all, apparently it "wasn't us" out there on the pitch. So we'd paid to see imposters, and very unconvincing ones at that. Apart that is, from the striker who came on when look-a-likie-Deano was fouled out of the game. Now he was just like the real Pablo Counago.

Pseudo-Bowditch had provided what little creativity Town had up until then, and it was clear that Sunderland were out to rattle him, perhaps even get him sent off after he'd picked up an early yellow card. They got their way when Jeff Whitley stamped on his ankle and left him hobbling.

The game deteriorated with the Black Cats enjoying most off the chances not to mention plenty of space in the Ipswich box.

But lets not lose faith, ok we missed a chance to go top but as Joe Royle has said before, it's better to be in second place where people won't be trying to knock you off the top. It's obvious that this was JR's plan all along, a deliberate underperformance and defeat.

A master stroke of genius. Let's hope Wigan win on Saturday so we can safely get three points off Brighton.

Talking of lookie-likies, did anyone notice the Suderland striker who looked like Marcus Stewart in everything but his touch?

This game had stood out on the fixture list since the start of the season, it was always expected to be a big test for Town and certainly lived up to that. It didn't however live up to all the hype that brought the highest crowd of the season so far to Portman road, which fell short of 30k by just 45 people.

It was a poor first half for the home side, Leeds charged at Town from the off, and we did well to soak up some pressure. The distribution was careless by Ipswich and with passes going astray and things not working in the midfield, chances were just not coming our way.

Thankfully half time arrived with the scores still level at zero, and it was obvious from the restart that Joe had got changes in mind, Miller came off for Bowditch, although Miller was injured.

The new forward line-up was far livelier, Bent looked far more eager than in the first half and was getting more of the ball. Bowditch too was making a creative difference.

It was only 6 minutes into the half when Ipswich broke the deadlock. Kuqi surged forward and got in a powerful shot which the 'keeper saved but couldn't hold. The ball fell towards the line and Bent pounced. He made hard work of it, missing the chance to tap it in the goalie got his hands on it but it spilled behind him under challenge from Bent, who made no mistake the second time.

Darren Bent created several good chances that flashed across the goal but were either met by a defender or just slighty beyond the other Town strikers reaches

Late on Leeds staged a fight to grab the equaliser, earning several corners to have home fans biting their nails, but eventually the final whistle went.

That was a big 3 points won, a good test and high profile scalp to take. With Wigan losing as well, we now find ourself level on points at the top.

Only a few weeks after the home tie against Burnley it was our turn on the road for the return fixture. Kelvin Davis was back to fitness and back between the sticks, Price having stood in well in his absence. Another injury worry Jason De Vos thankfully made it into the side after a dead-leg-blood-clot thing.

This turned out to be rather a scrappy affair, with neither team hitting top gear throughout the match. Burnley's troubles started after 12 minutes or so with Frank Sinclair having to be subbed, he was obviously an important influence for them. Not long after this Davis hoofed a long clearance up-field, his safety first ball turned quickly into attack when Darren Bent raced after it and found himself clean through on the 'keeper. He made no mistake in slotting it in for the first goal.

Davis was having a reasonably game but did spill a couple of shots, but without creating a real situation for himself. Burnley were however trying to make something out of one or two characteristic defensive errors by Town, but still never really threatened for long periods.

There was a moment of excitement before half time when De Vos passed to Magilton when the Town captain clearly thought there were better options, the two had a brief shouting match and got on with things.

Jim was in the wars not long after the break, having been challenged heavily but fairly he went down holding his knee. Thankfully he was soon back up again and looked to be fine.

The game hadn't improved, was messy and neither Burnley or Town looked like being the dominant side. The home side did have a chance through a free kick which rattled the Town bar, but it was Ipswich who eventually got the second goal of the game. It was Darren Bent again fed by Magilton, this time it was a fantastic strike from distance and under pressure, the ball hammered into the top corner beyond the reach of the 'keeper.

Miller had a chance late on, but his shot never had enough on it although the resulting save still had to be a good one.

10 games unbeaten now, and the norm now seems to be wins rather than draws. With Wigan losing the gap is now back to 3 points, hopefully they have started a new trend of their own too.

They had it coming. Or at least someone did according to popular opinion. We had played well enough to stick 5 past a few of our recent opponents, although often lacked the finish to do so.

The Finnish was certainly there on this occassion, Shefki Kuqi former player for the other Sheffield side Wednesday, was very obviously up for this match and the away fans let him know that they hadn't forgotten his spell with their rivals.

Having spurned several chances to score, Town drew first blood via a penalty, Darren Bent racing through into the box and being brought down by the large frame of sprawling Paddy Kenny. I've seen 'keepers sent off in that situation but the ref saw fit to not even book him.

Shefki Kuqi argued with Magilton to try to take the penalty, but the Captain allowed Tommy Miller to step up, and his shot thundered past Kenny into the net despite him diving the right way.

The ever-battling Shefki got his goal very soon after though, the home fans were only just settling back into their seats when he tore into the box after a bad clearance looped up inviting him to cleverly nod it over Kenny.

Given how Town were ripping United apart at this stage, I dread to think what the result could've been had Kenny been sent off!

As half time drew close, Shef U pulled one back from a set piece which perhaps could've been cleared, they had continued to battle so you couldn't begrudge them a goal but 2-1 at half time was very skinny on Town's part.

After the break it wasn't clear if the teams had changed ends or instead changed shirts. Shef U were now the side dominating and getting the chances.

Ipswich needed to stamp on this lively period for the visitors, and did so after the hour following a few half chances. Richard Naylor got on the end of a corner from Jim, heading the ball low into the net. This sparked another spell of domination from Ipswich.

Town rampaged forward and were getting plenty of chances, and it was Kuqi who got the forth after turning outside the box to put a shot through the legs of a defender and into the far corner. It was becoming a rout.

Ian Westlake netted the fifth after a Bent-Miller one-two resulted in a drive across goal, Westy sidefooting it in. He celebrated with a rather fitting swimming motion, after his [slightly strange?] competition with Karen Pickering.

I haven't enjoyed a game like that one for a while.