Second half goals from skipper Nick Barmby and Craig Fagan earned the Tigers a 2-0 victory against Ipswich Town at the KC Stadium this evening.

Peter Taylor made two changes to the side that drew at Crewe on Boxing Day. Barmby and Billy Paynter both earned starts at the expense of Kevin Ellison and Stuart Green.

Green earned a place on the bench and was joined by Sergio Leite, Stuart Elliott, Curtis Woodhouse and Mark Lynch.

A light covering of snow at the North Stand end of the ground greeted the players as the game kicked off on a freezing cold night.

The home side made the brighter start and produced the first effort on goal when Barmby crossed for Paynter, but his header was weak and easily gathered by Shane Supple in the Ipswich goal.

With nine minutes gone, City almost gifted Ipswich an opportunity when Bo Myhill spilled a deep cross from the left. Nicky Forster played the ball into the six-yard box and after Sam Collins had sliced it up into the air, Myhill recovered to punch clear.

That punch sent City away on a counter attack but they were pulled back as the referee stopped play with Jason De Vos injured in the centre circle.

The referee wasn't endearing himself to the home supporters and he angered them again on 13 minutes when he booked Ryan France for a challenge on Darren Currie.

City almost created a great opportunity to take the lead three minutes later when Jason Price burst into the box but he lost control of the ball as a defender got back at him.

Paynter looked to reproduce his Boxing Day heroics in the 20th minute when he was given time and space in the middle of the pitch. He drove forward before firing a shot just over from 20 yards.

Ipswich looked to create something at the other end but Myhill was alert to hold a hard, low cross from Forster.

Paynter was heavily involved in City's attacking play and he almost got lucky on 25 minutes when he deflected a Price cross goalwards, but the keeper made a smart save to his left.

A minute later, another Price cross from the right caused confusion in the away defence as both the keeper and a defender looked to clear it. They clattered into each other but the ball just wouldn't drop to Fagan who was lurking in front of goal.

Ipswich were forced to make a change after only 27 minutes when Danny Haynes replaced the injured Forster.

Not long after, Fagan attacked from deep but saw a low shot from distance gathered by Supple.

Nine minutes before half time substitute Haynes had a half chance but he poked wide after the ball had been crossed to the near post.

Some good football from the Tigers a couple of minutes later saw Price deliver a perfect cross into the box, but the header from Fagan was well saved by the keeper.

City looked to put pressure on Ipswich as the game headed towards the interval and Leon Cort almost got the opening goal after a long throw from Sam Collins, but his shot on the stretch went straight at Supple.

Half Time: Tigers 0-0 Ipswich.

Ipswich started the second period brightly and Ian Westlake was unlucky to see his right foot shot swerve narrowly wide.

Moments later, a cross from the left set Currie up for an acrobatic effort which went wide of the post.

At the other end a run from Fagan into the box finished with the ball deflecting to Paynter who skied a shot when he should have done better.

Neat play from Price in the 55th minute allowed him to get a shot in from the edge of the area, but it flew straight at Supple.

A minute later, the Tigers took the lead. Price was set free down the right. He crossed to the back post where Barmby [pictured] nodded the ball to France who played it back to the City captain and he produced a cool right foot finish into the bottom corner.

Sixty seconds later City almost doubled their lead. Again Price crossed to the back post and this time Paynter produced a header which Supple saved at the second attempt.

Ipswich looked to hit back and Currie again had an effort on goal, this time volleying high over the bar from a good position.

The away side made their second change in the 66th minute as Matt Richards came on to replace Westlake and the substitute almost had an immediate impact, producing a low ball across the face of goal but nobody could get a touch.

City should have had a second on 69 minutes. A long ball out of defence sent Fagan racing through on goal but he tried to be clever and lob Supple but the keeper saved above his head.

Seconds later it was 2-0. Damien Delaney sent Price away down the right with a glorious pass. Price produced a low ball across the face of goal to Fagan [pictured] who arrived unmarked at the far post to tap home into an empty net.

The Tigers continued to attack and Price almost set up the chance of a third goal, but his through ball was just too strong for Paynter.

Fagan then saw his shot slip through the hands of Supple and go wide for a corner. Barmby delivered the ball to the back stick and when it was headed back across by Paynter, Fagan was just inches away from making it three.

Ten minutes from time City made their first change as Lynch came on for Price, who left the field to a standing ovation.

Ipswich almost got a goal back six minutes from time when Currie hit a shot on the turn from 25 yards but it went just the wrong side of the post.

With two minutes remaining City made their second substitution as Woodhouse replaced Paynter.

Deep into added time City made their final change as Elliott came on to replace captain Barmby.

City controlled the final moments to secure three valuable points and a third consecutive home win.

Tigers (4-4-2) Bo Myhill; Ryan France, Leon Cort, Sam Collins, Andy Dawson; Jason Price (Lynch 80), Keith Andrews, Damien Delaney, Nick Barmby [captain] (Elliott 90), Craig Fagan, Billy Paynter (Woodhouse 88).

Subs: Sergio Leite, Mark Lynch, Curtis Woodhouse, Stuart Green, Stuart Elliott.

Bookings: France 13

Ipswich Town (4-4-2) Shane Supple; Luis Sito Castro, Richard Naylor, Jason De Vos, Fabian Wilnis; Gavin Williams, Jim Magilton [captain] (Garvan 83), Jimmy Juan, Ian Westlake (Richards 66); Nicky Forster (Haynes 27), Darren Currie.

Subs: Lewis Price, Dean McDonald, Owen Garvan, Danny Haynes, Matt Richards.

Bookings: Nil