Millwall 1-3 Ipswich Town

Noel Hunt signed a contract to the end of the season earlier this month after being released by Leeds

Ipswich moved back into the automatic promotion places in the Championship as Noel Hunt's early double inspired them to victory at struggling Millwall.

Hunt punished a static home defence from brother Stephen's lobbed pass, then added a second from close range.

Millwall, who had made eight changes, pulled one back as winger Magaye Gueye lashed in his third of the season.

Byron Webster headed wide as the Lions pressed for an equaliser, but Jonathan Parr's composed finish sealed the win.

Millwall boss Ian Holloway, given a vote of confidence by chairman John Berylson on Friday after a run of only one win in 13 games in all competitions, made wholesale changes to his starting XI following the 4-0 FA Cup defeat by League One Bradford City.

He also entrusted the captaincy to 19-year-old defender Sid Nelson.

Diego Fabbrini - signed on loan from Watford - was only inches away from a debut goal inside two minutes as Ipswich failed to clear after his first effort was blocked.

Having made an encouraging start, it was a body blow to the Lions to concede in Ipswich's first attack as Hunt found space to beat David Forde with a left-foot effort.

And the 32-year-old former Leeds forward was soon celebrating again, sidefooting home after Kevin Bru's effort ran to him off defender Dan Harding.

Daryl Murphy and Paul Anderson forced saves from Forde before Djimi Abdou shot wide when well-placed.

But Millwall did manage to pull one back before half-time as Stefan Maierhofer laid off to Gueye, who fired past Bartosz Bialkowski.

With 6ft 7ins Maierhofer offering a physical presence up front, the Lions enjoyed some sustained pressure but did not come any closer than Webster's glancing effort from Gueye's corner.

And Ipswich boss Mick McCarthy's decision to replace the Hunt brothers paid off as new boy Freddie Sears, signed from Colchester, flicked on for fellow sub Parr to score his first goal since a 2-0 home win over Brighton in September.

Millwall manager Ian Holloway: "I think it's vital the boys realise that I'm here and I've been given the job to save this club.

"We need to be a little bit more physical, a little bit more at it and some of the lads need to realise that. We are family and I'm not going to give up, ever.

"We're letting too many goals in and we're not scoring enough. I believe I'm totally at the right place and I'm going to work to make it better."

Ipswich manager Mick McCarthy: "It was an outstanding performance from Noel Hunt, I'm delighted with him.

"I said that when we took him on loan and now we've signed him permanently I'm even more happy with him.

"I wouldn't have liked going into the last five minutes with only a one-goal lead - and we were able to kill the game off with that third one."