Luke Hyam, Carlos Edwards and Frank Nouble were on target as Town beat Blackburn Rovers 3-1 at Portman Road. Hyam netted in the fourth minute but Jordan Rhodes equalised on the half hour, however, Edwards scored three minutes after the break and Nouble added the third four minutes from the end.

Town boss Mick McCarthy made four changes to the team which beat Charlton on Saturday. Skipper Edwards came in at right midfield, Hyam into the centre, Stephen Hunt made his full debut on the left and Nouble joined David McGoldrick up front.

Paul Anderson, Ryan Tunnicliffe, Jay Tabb and Daryl Murphy all dropped to the bench, while Paul Taylor again missed out due to his shoulder injury.

Blackburn included ex-Blue Rhodes and former loanee DJ Campbell up front from the start with both players applauded by the home support when their names were announced.

Campbell struck the game’s first shot in the second minute, Blues keeper Dean Gerken saving his sharp strike on the turn and Hyam reacting quickest to stab behind.

But as in the games against Leicester and Charlton, Town would take an early lead, Hyam netting his first goal of the season and only the second of his career in the fourth minute.

Cole Skuse looped into the box from deep and Tommy Spurr under pressure from McGoldrick headed to Hyam on the edge of the area. The ball initially got caught under the midfielder’s feet but having set himself he struck a low shot to Rovers keeper Jake Kean’s right and into the net.

The Blues enjoyed most of the early possession but the visitors might have got back on terms in the 14th minute when Josh King broke away down the Blackburn left. The Norwegian international’s touch let him down and Tommy Smith was able to get across to make a superb saving challenge and Gerken grabbed the loose ball.

At the other end, McGoldrick hit a shot on the turn, which only just flew over Kean’s bar, then a minute later Hunt brought the ball forward on the left before crossing towards Edwards, but the Town captain couldn’t control his header.

After Skuse had failed to find McGoldrick with a 25th minute pass as the Blues broke, Campbell was booked for a foul on his former team-mate Aaron Cresswell. Following the resultant freekick, Smith laid the ball off to Edwards, who fired not far wide from the 18-yard line.

Blackburn levelled on the half hour and inevitably Rhodes was the man on target. Grant Hanley played a long ball down the middle which ought to easily have been defended, but the former Blues striker got to the ball ahead of the Town defence, went past the advancing and stranded Gerken and stroked his 11th goal of the season into the empty net with the Town keeper claiming offside.

The striker’s corner flag punching celebration in front of a Blues section of the Cobbold Stand failed to impress the home support with his subsequent contributions receiving boos.

Nouble sent across a dangerous low ball in the 34th minute but behind McGoldrick and ahead of Hunt. However, the visitors had had looked the more threatening side having equalised with the Blues backline the busier of the two defences.

As the half moved into its final minute Blackburn claimed a penalty when a clearance struck Hunt on the hand, however, referee Fred Graham waved away the protests for what would have been a very harsh spotkick.

Town were the side happiest to hear the half-time whistle, the visitors having been on top since netting their goal. The Blues had again started strongly and might have added to their lead before Sunday league defended led to them conceding what was a very poor goal.

From there, Blackburn were much the better side with Town giving the ball away all too easily and rarely threatening.

Within three minutes of the restart the Blues were back in front. Cresswell played the ball into Hunt’s feet just inside the area, the Irishman cleverly turned before finding his way to goal blocked. The ball was stabbed away but only as far as Edwards, who took a touch before calmly beating Kean from eight yards for his first goal of the season.

Berra picked up a yellow card for a foul on King some while after the incident, the referee having waved play on at the time and Gerken claiming a cross in from the Blackburn left. As the Blues central defender had his name taken Smith complained about what appeared to have been a studs-up challenge from Tom Cairney which went unpunished.

There was a scare for the Blues on 69 when Gerken needlessly cleared against Rhodes from inside his six-yard box but fortunately the ball ricocheted off the Town keeper and wide of goal.

On 72 Spurr crossed from the left to Rhodes but the striker’s stretching effort looped well past the post.

Todd Kane was booked for pulling back McGoldrick down the left two minutes later. Cresswell’s freekick was only cleared as far as Hunt just outside the box but the recent signing’s shot flew well over when he will feel he ought to have done better.

Ex-Blues loan man Campbell, who had made little impact, made way on 76 with on-loan Cardiff man Rudy Gestede taking over for the final 14 minutes with the visitors not looking particularly threatening with most of the game taking place in their half of the field.

Impressive full debutant Hunt was replaced to a rapturous applause in the 81st minute along with McGoldrick, Tyrone Mings and Daryl Murphy taking over. Mings slotted into a back three to the left of Smith and Berra.

Town continued to press Blackburn as the game moved towards its final five minutes with Nouble unlucky to lose his footing when found in the area by Cresswell.

But the lively striker wasn’t to be denied his second goal of the season. Mings played an 86th minute long ball forward, defender Scott Dann left it for keeper Kean who was caught in two minds as Nouble closed him down on the edge of the area. As he hesitated, the Town frontman seized on the ball and took it into the area before tapping into the empty net.

A minor bout of handbags broke out on 88 after Rhodes clattered into Gerken with the keeper having already claimed the ball, Chambers pushing the striker over and triggering a brief free for all which led to Nouble and Marshall being booked.

Rhodes turned a late strike to Gerken when he might have done better prior to the fourth official signalling seven minutes of injury time. But the Blues weren’t to be denied their first home win since the Brighton game in September.

The now familiar Chambers fist pump was followed by Rhodes applauding the home support before making his way off, presumably to apologise for what the Sir Bobby Robson Stand in particular saw as an overzealous celebration.

Having ended the first half in a disappointing manner, Town continued their recent habit of scoring goals early on in halves, Edwards taking his goal with great confidence after good work from the excellent Hunt.

Blackburn never got back on top and Nouble’s goal was the icing the cake, the striker receiving his reward for Shefki Kuqi-esque chasing throughout the game, forcing Dann and Kean into their error.

The victory moves the Blues up to eighth, two points off the play-offs with Huddersfield visiting Portman Road on Saturday.

Town: Gerken, Chambers, Berra, Smith, Cresswell, Edwards, Hyam, Skuse (Tunnicliffe 90), Hunt (Mings 81), McGoldrick (Murphy 81), Nouble. Subs: Loach, Tabb, Anderson, Graham.

Blackburn: Kean, Kane, Dann, Hanley (Kilgallon 59), Spurr, Cairney, Williamson, Lowe, King (Marshall 66), Campbell (Gestede 77), Rhodes. Subs: Eastwood, Rochina, Judge, Henley. Referee: Fred Graham (Essex). Att: 14,953 (Blackburn: 302).

Photo: Action Images

Pip50 added 09:08 - Dec 4 Delusional .... We have beaten two very average sides and not been the best side for much of the games. Two points from play offs we might as well be two hundred. Where is the building for the future, with the likes of Hunt and Edwards playing, although fair to say it worked for the game last night. No youth outside Hyam who will be discarded. No future under this dinosour just a temporary false dawn. Sadly we have two many average players. Don't get me wrong I will be at PR Saturday cheering us on but the future is being viewed on here through the proverbial tinted glasses!

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Wickets added 09:29 - Dec 4 The appeals for their goal was for handball by the very impressive Rhodes, not for offside! not sure it was though.
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Bowler1 added 09:31 - Dec 4 Whats all this fuss about Rhodes celebration, do people forget how he was treated by itfc, if I had been him and scored I would have gone up to the directors box and stuck two fingers in MEs face, oh he couldnt ME would not have been there.
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brittaniaman added 09:38 - Dec 4 Rhodes did not get the bad treatment from the club as someone suggested ???? It was bad treatment from our Ex Dark Lord (who thought he was God) !!!! One could go on and on with the Demolition he done to this Great Club !!!!!! but that is the past now ... Any way back to the Game, to think we achieved that result with NO Loanees in the team Hey ??? and we came out guns blazing the second half That is a great result Blues Well Done

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warktheline added 09:51 - Dec 4 Pip50,you can only beat the team in front of you,Blackburn have Rhodes and Campbell up top,average?the league table doesn't lie,continued progress.some fans are never happy.
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irishtim added 10:30 - Dec 4 @pip50. Things are improving. Hopefully a few shrewd investments in jan & playoffs might be more than a possibility. Think positive. We are a work in progress.
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blueherts added 11:02 - Dec 4 I love to see that some 'Fans' come on here still whinging or moaning - The 'glass is always half full brigade' MM has done what no other manager has achieved for us in many years Built a squad with a mix of youth and experience Tonight he bought in some of the older heads in Hunt and Edwards and they performed We finally have some options and remembering we have Hewitt and Marriott off getting first team football - I , for one , am optimistic Would love to see us play three at the back - Chambers / Berra/Smith ( Mings) with Cresswell and Edwards or Hewitt The league is tough to call this year with bottom teams now beating top teams and for me it is great to hear Watfford fans crying - no home wins in 4 !! COYB !

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thebeat added 11:14 - Dec 4 bohslegend im not anti MM at all.I dont get it when people say we play hoof ball because we dont. I appreciate what hes done for us but as so many fans agree he hasnt picked the right team lately. No matter what you say the fact is Anderson has been shocking since he signed and offers nothing going forward.League 1 player at best.Tabb isnt a winger either. I was so happy when i saw the team sheet as i knew we would be a threat down the wings which we arent when Anderson and Tabb play. Its not rocket science, you play proper wingers with actual ability and you have more chance of winning. Last night for once we took the game to them,it was refreshing to see, i just want Mick to believe in these players more as an attacking force and keep playing like this as opposed to a boring narrow midfield with no flair.

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Kirbmeister added 14:55 - Dec 4 Good to finally see positive comments in the majority. I said weeks ago, when these blogs were full of moaners slagging off MM, to see where we were at Xmas. Well it all looks much better now - and all with an average team too! MM deserved loads of credit to improve the side to this level in little over a year.
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Surco72 added 15:05 - Dec 4 The reason the majority of the board is positive is because MM played a side that "the moaners " as you call them have been calling for all season and it worked . Which for me highlights how he got it wrong at Birmingham , Barnsley,Bolton ,Sheff Weds ,Wigan ,Burnley and how many points we dropped playing narrowly and negatively , but others will still only see a master tactician who changed the side and got a win at home .Lets see what he reverts back to ?

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Lukeybluey added 16:00 - Dec 4 Dont we have the youngest squad in the championship though?? Could be wrong, but thats what i heard, so lack of youth is a non argument really. Anyway, great win today lads! Great position to be in just before christmas.
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luke_38 added 16:37 - Dec 4 Good performance! Great atmosphere from 50-60th minute! 'Mick McCarthys Barmy army for 10 minutes straight haha! Despite the low attendance the lower Sir bobby done us proud, keep it up for Saturday and we could be in the play-offs
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bohslegend added 17:42 - Dec 4 Surco, as I said earlier, we are not in 8th place because we won 3-1 last night v Blackburn, we are 8th because MM has managed the team fantastically well since the start of the season. Everything is going in the right direction, but it seems not quickly enough for some on here, who seem to want success and NOW goddamit! You seem to be saying that you were right all along. No you were not. You moaned and bitched all the way but now with a really good win you are forced to reluctantly give MM a morsel of credit for the team he picked. It must be making you squirm. I'm not naive enough to think there are only blue skies ahead till the end of the season, but should we slip up along the road you will not hear me laying the boot into MM like you and many other s love doing. Never Felt More Like Singin' The Blues! COME YOU BLUES!

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blueboy1981 added 18:14 - Dec 4 What is the problem for some people with Rhodes celebration - ha has every right to celebrate scoring for his Club. Some of these 'finicky' people need to realise that it was not his wish to leave this Club - the decision was made for him. These are probably the same people who said he wouldn't be successful at a higher level. HaHaHa. There's only one disappointment - he should have been scoring for ITFC - sad that he is n't. On another note - Gerken has raw ability - but desperately needs GOOD COACHING - when are we going to see some improvement ?? - it's needed.

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thebeat added 19:21 - Dec 4 bohslegend the point people like me and Surco72 are making is exactly what you said......we were right all along, while we were struggling to scrape draws against the likes of Barnsley and Sheffield Wednesday we were screaming for a more attacking team with natural width and decent players in the pitch. No coincidence then that in the one and a half games we have played that way against Blackpool 2nd half and last night we won both of them 3-1. Also no coincidence that Anderson wasnt on the pitch for either of them yet hes there every time we play poor. Facts dont lie Mick got it right last night but some of us would have picked that team weeks ago while others would rather struggle with sub standard players.

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TimmyH added 19:38 - Dec 4 thebeat, surco - spot on! Some on here what ever Mick does and that includes putting the Tea Lady in the starting 11 will praise him to the hilt, look at some of the posts previous to last nights game and for weeks before calling for 2 natural wingers (in their correct positions). Some games I can understand putting a more defensive midfield out but he's hasn't swayed from it at all bar Blackpool and last night. As for my French spelling - duh!

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Hegansheroes added 19:43 - Dec 4 Some ridiculous comments about Rhodes' goal celebration and about him. He was shown the door by the club for whatever reason, only those involved actually know despite all the speculation by the many clairvoyants on here. ITFC showed him little respect but at least he had the decency to applaud the SBR stand at full time. Wonder when RK's next biography is due out, he may come up with the answers.

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Gazelle added 20:10 - Dec 4 Excuse me but was I watching the same game as some of you. For long periods of the match a pretty average Blackburn side outplayed us and they and their supporters must have gone home wondering how on earth they managed to lose it. Skuse, Edwards and Hyam had nothing games despite two of them scoring and we only won because our opponents gave away three bad goals. The first was when their centre have headed a clearance straight to Hyam who had time to fish the ball out from between his legs before firing past an unsighted keeper. For our second Edwards had time to take a second touch less than ten yards from goal and the less said about our third the better. I shudder to think what you all would have said if we'd conceded goals like that.

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Reecex28 added 21:28 - Dec 4 The best thing about the evening was the result. First half was very poor and unfortunately Nouble hardly won a ball - pointless playing a big target man if he can't do that. Without the ability to hold the ball up it just comes back with interest. Hunt was MOM and his attitude/effort rubbed off on the rest of the team and big improvement in 2nd half where passing broke out. MM has done a fantastic job but it is real challenge to move the team on - fingers crossed he can. Rhodes let himself down and should have showed the class that Ramsey did at Cardiff. Shame because I have cheered for every goal he has scored ( except one) since he was forced out.

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