Daryl Murphy’s ninth goal of the season saw Town to a 1-0 home victory over Birmingham. The Blues might have added to their lead in the second half with Paul Taylor twice coming close with curling efforts from just outside the area.

Taylor replaced Stephen Hunt in an otherwise unchanged Town side but with new loan signing Jonny Williams missing from the 18, having picked up a minor knock in training on Friday. The Blues lined-up in a 4-3-3 formation with Taylor up front with Daryl Murphy and Frank Nouble.

Town started brightly, Murphy sending a dangerous ball across the Birmingham box but behind his team-mates, however, the first significant chance fell to the visitors in the third minute. Nikola Zigic’s header found Lee Novak on the left just inside the box but the striker mis-hit his shot well wide.

There was a scare for the Blues in the 11th minute when Zigic blocked Tommy Smith's clearance and sent Federico Macheda away on goal. Fortunately for Town, Christophe Berra got back to stab the ball away from the on-loan Manchester United frontman.

The visitors went close in the 18th minute when Zigic found Novak on the edge of the area from deep on the right. The ex-Huddersfield man hit a powerful low shot just wide of Dean Gerken’s right post.

Town had most of the ball in a scrappy first half hour but with Birmingham having created the game’s only openings. The Blues’ first opportunity of the afternoon came right on 30 when Berra headed just wide from Aaron Cresswell’s freekick on the left.

On 36 Taylor sent in a dangerous cross from the right which was cleared, then Cresswell played in Nouble on the left of the area but he scraped his shot through to the keeper under pressure.

But a Town goal was only two minutes away. Having been found in space on the right by Taylor, Nouble whipped over a low ball which flashed across the Birmingham six-yard box past five defenders - Aaron Martin completely missing his kick - before reaching Murphy at the far post, where the Irishman tapped home his ninth goal of the season.

Prior to the restart Zigic was shown a yellow card having continued an ongoing dialogue with the referee Keith Stroud for too long.

Town continued to push for a second in the first half’s remaining minutes, Luke Chambers seeing a cross-shot blocked having left a defender for dead, but were unable to add to their lead.

The Blues had had more of the ball than the visitors during a scruffy half but hadn’t seriously threatened until shortly before the goal, which Birmingham will feel they ought to have defended much better.

The Midlanders, who switched Paul Caddis for on-loan Liverpool winger Jordon Ibe at the break, will also believe they should have made more of their earlier opportunities.

Five minutes after the restart, Jay Tabb headed the second half’s first opportunity to Birmingham keeper Darren Randolph from a Taylor cross on the right. A minute later Nouble, Town’s biggest threat in the first half, made way for Paul Anderson having suffered a knock.

Moments later, Town the Blues having switched to 4-4-2, the dangerous Taylor forced Randolph to save well to his left with a curling 25-yard effort which otherwise would have nestled in the corner of the net.

Ibe shot straight at Gerken on 57, then a minute later Taylor curled another shot just wide of Randolph’s left post. On the hour, Jonathan Spector was booked for a foul on Murphy.

Birmingham should have got back on terms in the 63rd minute after Smith lost out to sub Chris Burke, who sent over a low cross from the right, which Novak somehow put over the bar from a couple of yards just beyond the far post.

Blues skipper Chambers curled a shot just wide after cutting in from the right in the 68th minute, Hunt taking over from Tabb, who was warmly applauded off, soon after.

Spector almost gifted Town a second goal in the 77th minute, Anderson seizing on his poor backpass. The Blues’ midfielder took the ball wide past Randolph but the keeper did well to get down to his right to save.

On 82 Cresswell nodded Green’s cross from the right into the ground and into Randolph’s arms, the ball having evaded Murphy ahead of him.

With five minutes remaining Taylor was switched for Tyrone Mings, the striker, a constant threat to the Birmingham backline, receiving a standing ovation from the Portman Road crowd. As the game moved into its final two minutes Skuse was booked for a foul on Emyr Huws.

Just prior to the fourth official holding up his board to signal four additional minutes, Murphy hit a low shot from the left through to Randolph.

Town saw out the remaining minutes comfortably to claim three points which, with previously sixth-placed Reading drawing with eight-man Yeovil, keeps them very much in the play-off hunt.

Having perhaps been fortunate to be in front at half-time with the visitors spurning a couple of decent chances, the Blues were in control after the break and man of the match Taylor in particular was unfortunate not to add to the lead.

The result sees the Blues climb to ninth, four points behind Wigan, who leapt ahead of the Royals and into the final play-off place.

Town: Gerken, Chambers (c), Smith, Berra, Cresswell, Skuse, Green, Tabb (Hunt 68), Taylor (Mings 88), Murphy, Nouble (Anderson 52). Unused: Loach, Wordsworth, Richardson, Ebanks-Blake.

Birmingham: Randolph; Spector, Martin, Packwood, Robinson, Caddis (Ibe 46), Huws, Lee, Novak (Howard 79), Macheda (Burke 59), Zigic. Unused: Doyle, Shinnie, Adeyemi, Blackett. Referee: Keith Stroud (Hampshire). Att: 15,596 (Birmingham: 512).

Photo: Action Images

masetheace added 18:31 - Mar 1 Very little mention of the performance of Berra which was outstanding especially against the big guy ! Leaving McGoldrick aside he is by a street our best player this season
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bluemikey100 added 18:32 - Mar 1 TAYLORS the man TAYLORS the man mustnt be replaced be a loan player imagine the 2 in midfield creativity thats a word not heard before lol
2

h32 added 18:45 - Mar 1 Quite surprised that MM appeared reluctant to give Taylor too much praise in his post match comment on Radio Suffolk. He really pushed his ability into MM's face today - a very deserved MoM, without doubt. He has to be in the team.
14

Cloddyseedbed added 18:54 - Mar 1 Well done Taylor today. I admit on previous showings I have given him a hard time but he was really up for it today and deserves to keep his place on this showing. Nouble actually won quite a few headers today and got an assist, so it was better overall. 3 pts in the bag in a bit of a scrappy game. Thought Green had a good game too. Disappointed at not seeing Williams today but I'm looking forward to seeing him in the team.

11

ericclacton added 19:28 - Mar 1 I enjoyed it we won, free pints.
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DerryfromBury added 19:30 - Mar 1 Cloddy You've said it all. Obviously someone, I suspect A Lee, has been spending some 1-2-1 time on the training ground with Big Frank Nouble, It really showed today.
4

StochesStotasBlewe added 19:44 - Mar 1 Good win against a poor but robust Brum. Berra made some excellent tackles to keep us in the game early on, Green had his best game so far, even Frank put in a decent shift. Taylor along with Berra were my pick of the players today, he surely must start now. Tabb needs to be dropped, always playing the ball sideways or backwards. Will be interesting who MM picks in his midfield next week if young Williams is fit. Still, the beer tastes much better this Saturday evening.

9

jas0999 added 19:47 - Mar 1 Great result, and more importantly a decent second half performance. Thought we improved when Nouble went off, although ironically thought he had a better game! Taylor played very well with a very good all round performance .... The type of showing Mick rightly expects ... Tracked back, supported his team mates, whilst providing a creative spark. However, although Taylor was good, for me man of the match was Berra, who was outstanding at the back. He has his critics, but for me he missed nothing, controlled the defence and pulled off two outstanding last ditch tackles. Only negative was the initial midfield three. Tabb didn't really contribute, whilst no creativity from the other two. Anderson did okay when he came on, whilst hunt has some quality. Delighted with the result. A better performance, but debatable whether it was worth £35 (I'm a season ticket holder, but that's a lot of money to pay for a football match in the championship!)

9

Dozzells_Bobblehat added 20:02 - Mar 1 Poor first half, much better second, with Taylor, Berra and Green my pick of the bunch. Good to see Anderson and Hunt put in decent performances too when they got on, and both full backs really pushed up in the second half. Taylor must now have a run in the side and I personally would get Hewitt back. We are more than safe and I really can't see us making a play off push so let's try a few things for next year.

8

runaround added 20:02 - Mar 1 A much needed victory. For first 30 minutes I thought we were awful although defended really well. We then improved & once we scored there only looked to be one winner. We could have scored more & for once looked to attack rather than try & sit on a one goal lead. Taylor did very well as did Berra whilst Murphy, Tabb, Cresswell & Chambers worked their socks off. The win was much deserved & puts us back on track to try & finish as high as we can. Play offs are a step too far I feel but finishing 7th or 8th is achievable. It's just nice to leave Portman Road happy after a home win, it may only be a game, but it can improve your mood!

8

Surco72 added 20:03 - Mar 1 Taylor did my talking for me today , easy man of match . Still can't see what Tabb and Nouble do to deserve a starting place and thought we were better with them off the pitch again . Thought all back four were solid and Green edged Skuse in middle . To those still saying we didn't drop points against poor sides Barnsley and Blackpool think again
7

Jimmy86 added 20:08 - Mar 1 Has to be said, not a great performance by any stretch of the imagination, ut a win and a massive 3 points none the less. Taylor rightly deserves all the plaudits he is getting and demonstrated to mick why he should be a regular starter for town. He is technically the best footballer at the club and links midfield with attack, he deserved to be on the score sheet, but wasn't quite meant to be. Ref was terrible and not seen anything as funny as when he gave zigic a lecture, talk about little and large. Still within a shout of play offs

5

TimmyH added 20:16 - Mar 1 Well basically this was a 'must' 3 points today if we were to maintain any thoughts of possibly being a play-off contender - what I've heard the first half (before the goal) was again just completely non-entertaining football but after the goal we performed better and could of added to our lead. Not taking anything away from the lads but Birmingham are in a bit of turmoil at present and many pundits were expecting a Town win today against an average team at best. Nice to see as well as posts above have mentioned the calls for Mr Taylor to start (particularly at home) and nice to be proved correct that he can offer us a lot more on the attacking side of play. Well done lads now for a much needed away win.

3

StowTractorBoy added 20:35 - Mar 1 A crucial 3 points which keeps the pot bubbling. Posters keep saying Birmingham were a poor team but they can only play how they are allowed to play and remember their away record is impressive to say the least. First half an hour was a little bland but once we scored it was a different story. Glad to see Berra getting some praise at last as he was immense today as he has been in many games this season. Nouble won the first 5 headers he challenged for which is a vast improvement and I do believe he is slowly improving all round. I have always been a Taylor fan and it was good to seem him put in a great shift today. He did not score today but he has goals in him and will get better with regular playing time. Tabb was poor but was pleased with Green and with Skuse who covered acres all over the field. A very important win and those calling for Darren Ferguson as Manager on Radio Suffolk need their heads tested.

12

Miles added 20:41 - Mar 1 Great win but also a very important win. Big away games against Middlesbrough and Yeovil the we have 4 of the teams above us so it's crucial we put in some good displays prior to those games. Saturdays are much better when we win!
4

ArnieM added 20:43 - Mar 1 For those still havjng a go at Nouble ffs give it a rest. The lad played probably his best game for us and IS improving if only some of you would care to actually see it. He won just about every header - unlike Murphy. He is also begining to show he's understanding of how to use his body against opponents and hold the ball up. Murphy has done thiz for years. Nouble is just 22yrs and having the first real run of games in any team he's been with. His assist today will be the first of many more. Back him and watch him flourish. He's a young Town player! COYB'S

17

BillBlue added 20:51 - Mar 1 Well MM has read all the posts and dared to play him now, surely, there can be no going back?
1

nthstd added 20:53 - Mar 1 A wins a win ugly rubbish first half but we scored more than them. Thanks beer o'clock
0

Cakeman added 21:25 - Mar 1 Been said but will add my four penneth too. Taylor was outstanding and I also agree with masetheace that Berra was also outstanding. For me Berra just gets better and better. In hope this now gives Taylor a boost to know that the fans really want him to do well. He now needs a run of games and by starting , not coming on as a bit part player.
4

KiwiTractor added 21:26 - Mar 1 Well done lads, love that winning feeling. Great to hear that Taylor played well after finally being given a start. My worry is that MM dropped him after he apparently played well in the QPR game at home. Hopefully he gives Tayls a run of starts now....
5

harlingblue added 21:41 - Mar 1 Good result and Taylor will get well deserved plaudits for a MoM display, but another (much maligned player, by me also) made a big impact...yes...(Big Frank), won his headers, helped make the goal and seems to have an understanding with Green, who also had a good game. Berra looked solid and at last our fullbacks ventured forward while Murphey looks to have gained pace to his game.

6

Bobby_Petta added 21:56 - Mar 1 If only Mick had played Taylor more we could be sitting in Play off places! Nouble had his best game for town today, fair play to him. As for Tabb another poor game, don't see what he offers the team, Like to see Williams replace Tabb, would give us the creativity the midfield lacks. Please Keep Taylor in, think with a run of games can only get better.
6

Hegansheroes added 01:26 - Mar 2 Saw the highlights tonight about 30 seconds and then about 30 secs of MM, seems the whole nation now knows what incredibly ugly foot ball Ipswich play & that was coming from the horse's mouth, that's why attendances are dropping away plus the price of tickets. I can't afford to go now having spent £1000s over the years & wouldn't even if I could as I won't pay out £30 for utter rubbish. I am going to the Brighton match on 22nd however. Will Taylor be dropped for the next match, sounds as if he was man of the match-at least Mick Mills thought so

3

bring_back_Wickham added 09:28 - Mar 2 Would love to see this next season Loach Hewitt Berra Smith Cresswell Hyam Skuse Taylor. Hunt SEB Mcgoldrick
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Elwood added 09:35 - Mar 2 In fairness, seeing they attract a lot of negativity, I thought Tabb and Nouble both put in a good shift. Green was quite impressive, good touch, didn't panic when put under pressure. Defence generally solid, with Berra outstanding. Taylor was very good, mom, link up and covering as well as attacking play. Suspect his of field antics / attitude haven't impressed MM but he should be given a extended run now, a second chance.

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