After a poor performance down at the New Den, Town were eager to get back on track and maintain their top spot, having clung onto it somewhat precariously thanks to results going our way elsewhere.

Captain Jim Magilton was back into the starting line-up, Joe Royle favouring him over Kevin Horlock.

Town started brightly and were in control from early on, the signs were positive as Bent raced forward onto a Davis clearance, unfortunately the out-of-sorts striker shot straight at the 'keeper although one-on-one.

The chances came thick 'n fast for Town, but it remained frustratingly nil nil up until 10 minutes from the break. Shefki Kuqi at last broke the deadlock with a well worked one-two with Westlake in the box, not as pretty as some of the efforts Town had missed prior to this, but a great strike all the same.

It was a goal that had been coming, and at that point it seemed that it'd surely be the first of many.

Stoke of course are no mugs as we found out at their place earlier in the season, and kept playing their game, and did well to keep things tight throughout the second half. Another goal would've settled the nerves but it never came, but thankfully the one goal was enough to take a much needed 3 points.

Being a natural cynic, I was expecting a drab game and of course with it being screened live on the telly, a defeat was inevitable. Thankfully, and it has happened once before, I was proved wrong.

Wigan managed to bring at least 3 coach loads of fans to Portman Road, so that left plenty of room to be filled by 28,000 or so Town fans. The atmosphere followed the game, up and down of course, but it was Town who were causing the most trouble in the first half and therefore generated the noise.

Horlock was out, suspended, and Diallo is injured for a month so Joe Royle had to ring the changes. New boy Darren Currie was given his home debut, and Westlake started. Loanee of the day was Daniel Karbassiyoon, fresh from the Arsenal training field, he spent the game on the bench.

Magic was the man to get the first chance, striking a dropping ball first time which looped over the goalie but just over the bar, hitting the roof of the net.

Other chances came the way of the two Town strikers Bent and Kuqi, but both were guilty of poor finishing, and at times a hint of selfishness. Wigan were simply unlucky at the front, the chances that they did get were essentially wasted, but well created. The visitors played Town at their own game though, both sides choosing the passing game which was providing some excellent entertainment.

Half time arrived, neither team had scored and with so many Ipswich chances having gone begging, talk was of whether they could keep up the pressure.

Second half started well again for the Blues, but well you've read the script so many times before, the team who had been under pressure opened the scoring. Currie almost got away with a slightly duff clearance into the centre, but it was picked up by Leighton Baines, who took a short tap forward, before unleashing the mother of long-range drives. The ball left his foot, straight as an arrow towards the top corner, Kelvin Davis couldn't get close at full stretch. It'll be a long time before we see another goal like that, and it was Baines' first for the club. Some guys get all the luck.

Wigan perked up. They'd win now, obviously. Well, that's what I thought at the time, but Town weathered Wigan's best spell and eventually the pace was back at evens.

Town won a free kick 30 yards out which Currie swung into the box. As the ball arched away from the 'keeper, Richard Naylor launched himself Matrix-slow-motion-stylie through the air (sort of) back to goal and brilliantly diverted the ball into the far post. Genius.

The game kept it's high entertainment factor right to the death, with chances for both sides to claim the coveted top-spot. It looked like an honourable draw until a minute from the end.

Darren Bent became the hero of the hour when he latched onto a bouncer on the edge of the box, but being out wide the chance looked slim. He never gave the ball a chance to settle though, and caught it on the half volley perfectly, to lob over the stranded 'keeper. It seemed like an age before the ball was in the net and the home crowd went berserk.

Top spot was ours - and the stats say that the team at the top at Christmas always get promoted. But, Town have a habit of breaking records... Ever the pessimist.

This week Town spent a decent amount of money on a player for the first time since 2001, with a quarter of a million splashed out on Darren Currie of Brighton. How times have changed, that sort of money was spent on boot polish back then, but it seems that it buys you much more in today's post-collapse market.

Currie didn't start the match, but got a half-and-a-bit to check out his new team mates from the bench. He was probably impressed with what he saw at the start of the match, Town getting forward plenty and the QPR 'keeper being forced to make 4 or 5 excellent saves to deny De Vos, Miller, Naylor and Bent the opener.

During this spell QPR rarely threatened, and almost inevitably Town did score first. After the good chances saved, you could argue that it was a somewhat scrappy goal, but they all count. Magilton sent in a corner and after Bent had rescued the ball from going out by sending it looping over the 6 yard box, Naylor headed back towards goal, De Vos heading the loose ball powerfully home.

This unfortunately seemed to wake QPR up, and the Town lead lasted just a minute before they were level, Furlong getting in a long range effort under no pressure from the Ipswich defence which sailed in past Davis.

It wasn't long before it got worse, QPR now sniffing confidence for the first time in the game were again allowed way too much space, and it was Furlong again who sent another long range shot goalwards, this time Davis getting something on it but unable to stop it.

A goal down at half time, the inevitability now seemed to hint at a Town defeat.

Royle obviously had other ideas and made a change at the break, withdrawing Drissa Diallo and bringing on Matt Richards. Whether this change was the main factor I don't know, but Town were once again on top of the game right from the start. Soon into the half Currie got his debut, Horlock making way after getting a booking. The new boy was lively from the outset, playing down the left and taking Town's corners, which were noticeably better.

Currie was involved in the equaliser, sending in a great ball to Kuqi who kept possession with good strength, before feeding Bent who looped a shot above and around the 'keeper.

The ex-Brighton man was soon at it again, this time his part in a one-two with Bent resulted in a shooting opportunity on the edge of the box, which he duly dispatched inside the far post via a deflection. A dream debut, he looked ecstatic! Fantastic.

As ever, we needed that 2 goal cushion to calm the nerves, on the pitch too I expect, and with about 20 minutes left it was big man Shefki Kuqi who sort of cleverly flick-volleyed [see it on the telly] the ball home.

Currie came close again from afar, Bent missed at least one sitter, and the game finished with 3,500 or so very happy travelling tractor boys singing their way out of the ground.

Wigan kindly set up the big 6 pointer for Tuesday week by beating the Gills. Can't wait.

Damn that Manager of the month award, we don't want it! Are managers allowed to refuse to accept them? On the previous occassions that Joe Royle has won it we've lost the following match. We can do without that sort of hoo-doo with the table as tight as it is.

Town set up the game nicely, Bent and Kuqi up front putting themselves about. On about 10 minutes Bent was fed by Kuqi and didi well with the shot but pulled it just wide of the post with the 'keeper beaten. A few minutes later Bent returned the complement, but again the shot went wide, this time from the big Fin.

Ipswich were the team on top, so typically it would be the home side who scored first. It was a good goal by the division's leading goalscorer Dean Ashton, who then just moments later added another to his tally, putting Crewe 2 goals ahead. The first was a clever piece of persistence and less-than eagre defending which let Ashton in close to goal but at a sharp angle. With Davis perhaps expecting a pull-back the striker chose to shoot and the ball went under the Town 'keeper through his legs and into the net. Ashton's second followed some very poor marking at he back, and he found himself clean through before easily putting the ball away.

By half time Town would probably feel agrieved at not at least getting something out of the game so far, but the pace of the Crewe frontline had troubled our back four and we could only be to blame for not getting our chances on target.

Royle decided to withdraw Diallo for the second half which started well. Davis almost scored with a huge kick-out, forcing Crewe 'keeper Clayton Ince into a scrambled save as the ball threatened to drop under the bar. This came moments after Magilton came close with a driven effort, Town were obviously starting the half with deliberate pressure.

Bent went close soon after following a quick move but yet again he put the ball wide. Not to worry as the goal soon came for Town, not through one of the frontmen but via the boot of Richard Naylor, who controlled a knock-down and lashed a shot into the roof of the net.

We kept up the pressure and it brought an equaliser less than 5 minutes later on the hour. This time Darren Bent made no mistake picking up a Westlake header and hooking a superb effort home, almost with his back to goal.

Tommy Miller missed a fantastic opportunity to take the lead on 75 but scuffed his shot. There were other chances as Town pushed for the goal to take all three points, but Crewe held on for the draw.

Not a bad point, but the 2 goals were conceded in a disappointingly easy fashion, and despite those we could've taken all three points had our finishing been a tad more clinical. Good results elsewhere though, so Town remained top after the game, although Wigan will almost certainly take back top spot when they play Preston.

As for the manager of the month curse being broken, I'm not convinced.