Ipswich Town 2 WBA 0: Ipswich's split personality jolts leaders

The immovable object of Ipswich Town's home form reduced even the Championship leaders to a resistible force here yesterday. West Bromwich Albion arrived in fine fettle after scoring nine goals in their last two games, but despite taking an early grip on the game, they had it wrested from them by Jim Magilton's men who continue to be as impressive at home as they are dismal away.

On the road Ipswich have endured wretched fortunes, with a League record this season of no wins, four draws and nine defeats. But on their own patch they are now unbeaten in 17 games, all but two of them wins, and the latest victory lifts them into the play-off places. Albion, meanwhile, have seen their lead reduced to a matter of goal difference over Watford and Bristol City.

Magilton who may follow up on the rejection of his 1m bid for Plymouth midfielder David Norris remains baffled by his side's split personality. "I can't explain it," he said in the aftermath of a match where he felt the football they played in the second half was as good as anything they have produced during his 18 months in charge. "We were looking a little bit short of self-belief, which may have been a hangover from our last two away games," he said. "But after the break we were excellent."

As Albion's manager Tony Mowbray lugubriously pointed out, his players were harried relentlessly throughout. "We had an off day," he said. "But you have to give credit to how hard the home side worked all over the field."

If Ipswich earned parity through industry, however, the win was finally achieved through artistry. David Wright, who had hit the inside of the post with a first-half cross-shot, tipped the balance of the match with a fine bit of enterprise in the 75th minute. After finding Jonathan Walters with a crisply struck pass, the left-back continued with his forward surge and arrived at the near post at the perfect time to glance home Liam Trotter's cross with his head.

Nine minutes later the Ipswich captain Jason De Vos settled the game with a deliberate header at the far post after Gavin Williams had swung over a perfectly weighted free-kick from the left.

Albion finished in muted fashion, although Kevin Phillips, who hit the bar with a dipping 25-yarder eight minutes before half-time and had another apparent goal ruled offside, was a threat. Mowbray does not feel the need for any new players in the transfer window. "We've got plenty of competition all over the pitch," he added. Even in defeat, Albion looked like a side en route to the Premier League.

Ipswich Town (4-4-2): Alexander; Castro, Bruce, De Vos, Wright; Haynes, Williams, Garvan, Trotter (Lee, 82); Walters, Counago (Clarke, 88). Substitutes not used: Supple (gk), Wilnis, Legwinski.

West Bromwich Albion (4-4-2): Kiely; Hoefkens, Pele, Cesar, Robinson; Gera, Greening, Koren, Morrison (Teixeira, 78); Miller (Bednar, 66), Phillips (Beattie, 66). Substitutes not used: Albrechtsen, Brunt.

Referee: T Kettle (Rutland).