Town celebrated manager Mick McCarthy’s second anniversary in charge with a comfortable 2-0 victory at Blackpool. David McGoldrick put the Blues in the lead in the 26th minute and Daryl Murphy sealed it just after the hour.

Jonny Williams (ankle) and Jonny Parr (groin) both missed out for Town, joining Kevin Bru (also groin) on the sidelines.

Skipper Luke Chambers continued at right-back with Tyrone Mings returning from his one-match suspension and taking up his usual left-back role. Tommy Smith again partnered Christophe Berra at the centre of the defence.

Stephen Hunt came into the side for Conor Sammon and started on the left of the front three.

The Blues were forced into a late switch of keeper with Dean Gerken picking up a groin injury in the warm-up. Bartosz Bialkowski came in for his Town league debut with Darren Ambrose taking up the vacant place on the bench with the Blues having no sub keeper.

Debutant Bialkowski claimed an awkward looping John Lundstrum shot on six, a minute before the Blues went within a whisker of going in front.

Teddy Bishop was fouled just outside the area on the right and Hunt curled a brilliant freekick over the wall but off the bar. The loose ball reached Bishop on the edge of the box but the youngster scuffed his strike wide.

Hunt forced Bialkowski into a save in the eighth minute when he intercepted a loose Blackpool pass midway inside the Town half and put rather too much on his ball back to the keeper, who got down well to his right to palm wide.

The Blues went close again in the 10th minute when Chambers crossed from the right and Bishop flicked a header wide.

Bialkowski had a shaky moment three minutes later when he got under a swirling cross and could only help the ball behind.

Ishmael Miller created an opportunity for the home side in the 17th minute, skipping down the left and cutting the ball back to Nile Ranger, but the ball got caught under the former Newcastle frontman’s feet.

Hunt, by now part of a four-man midfield, hit another shot from distance on 23 but went rather less close than his previous attempt, the ball this time striking the lip of the stand roof.

On 26 Hunt won the ball from Donervon Daniels on the Town left and fed Mings, whose cross reached Bishop on the edge of the box, from where his shot was cleared out to the left for a throw.

But the danger wasn’t gone. After a throw, Hunt returned the ball from the left, Bishop hit a shot into the ground which found McGoldrick eight yards out and as the Blackpool defence appealed for offside, the Blues striker stroked home his fifth goal of the season to put Town ahead.

The Blues continued to take the game to the home side having gone in front with Hunt and Mings increasingly influential down the left. On 32 Luke Hyam was booked for pulling back Ranger as Blackpool broke.

Neither side came close again before the break and Town went in deservedly in front, having been on top and having created most of the game’s opportunities.

Aside from Ranger’s chance, Hunt’s backpass and a few set pieces which Town hadn't dealt with particularly comfortably, the home side hadn’t particularly threatened.

Three minutes after the restart Blues midfielder Cole Skuse required treatment for what looked like a groin injury and eventually made his way down the tunnel.

Before Paul Anderson had come on to replace him, Charles Dunne had forced Bialkowski to save down to his right.

Anderson was quickly into the action and his 53rd minute right-wing cross eventually reached McGoldrick at the far post but Blackpool’s Bury St Edmunds-born keeper Joe Lewis blocked. From Hunt’s corner, Murphy headed wide.

Ranger flicked a header beyond Bialkowski’s right post in the 56th minute, then two minutes later Town skipper Chambers fed McGoldrick but his cross was cut out.

The Blues weren’t far from adding to their lead on 59 when McGoldrick moved the ball on to Hunt on the left after good work from Murphy and Anderson, however, the winger shot into the side-netting.

But Town’s second goal was only two minutes away. Bishop superbly tricked his way past three defenders on the right before cutting back a low pass which Murphy slammed into the net to claim his eighth goal of the campaign. The Town players, led by Hunt, jumped on Bishop to congratulate him for his excellent contribution to the goal.

McGoldrick curled a speculative distance effort wide on 68, moments before Bishop was replaced by Jay Tabb having suffered a niggle. The academy product was warmly applauded off as he left the field.

Smith was pole-axed by a 73rd minute Lundstram strike but was OK to continue after treatment.

As the game moved into its final 10 minutes with Blackpool showing few signs of getting back into it, Sammon replaced McGoldrick in the Town attack.

With four minutes remaining Sammon should have made it 3-0 went sent through on the left by Anderson but slipped the ball past both Lewis and his left post.

Daniels shot well over for the Tangerines in the penultimate minutes of scheduled time, then in five minutes of injury time Bialkowski came off his line to claim ahead of Seasiders’ skipper Tony McMahon. Soon after, referee Andy Haines blew his whistle.

The Blues’ victory was never in doubt once the second goal had gone in with what looks to be a League One-bound Blackpool side huffing and puffing but without ever significantly testing debutant Bialkowski.

Town, who might have won more comfortably, will be delighted to get back to start what is a difficult month with a win, having failed to record a victory in their previous five games.

The result sees the Blues move up to eighth with fourth-placed Wolves at Portman Road on Tuesday and Watford, who now lead the Championship, visiting Suffolk on Saturday.

Blackpool: Lewis, Dunne (Orlandi 65), Clarke, Rentmeister, Daniels, McMahon, Lundstram, J Oriol (Zoko 58), Delfouneso (Blackman 75), Miller, Ranger. Unused: Parish, Mellis, E Oriol, Cywka.

Town: Bialkowski, Chambers (c), Mings, Berra, Smith, Skuse (Anderson 52), Hyam, Bishop (Tabb 69), Hunt, McGoldrick (Sammon 81), Murphy. Unused: Ambrose, Clarke, Henshall, Bajner. Referee: Andy Haines (Tyne and Wear). Att:

Photo: Action Images

kozmik added 17:07 - Nov 1 could see Ambrose on Tuesday with all these injuries to our midfielders
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jcITFC added 17:11 - Nov 1 Back to winning ways and no crumble in the last 10 minutes. First clean sheet in 6 games...keep Bart in?
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TractorBoy666 added 17:14 - Nov 1 Glad we saw this one out with two tough home games coming up. Bishop sounded class today, very bright future and I cannot wait to see his assisted goal, I wish I was there for it! Let's keep it up now lads, the table is very close so let's get another run going. I would love to see Bishop and Willians in the starting line up at home in the next two games and see us take the game to Wolves and Watford. COYB!

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jas0999 added 17:15 - Nov 1 Good albeit expected win, but in fairness can only beat what is in front of you, which is exactly what Ipswich did today. Well done to all. It's particularly pleasing to see both McGoldrick and Murphy on target, but a shame Sammon failed to take a decent chance again. Two crucial games coming up, four points must be the minimum target. However, with injuries mounting and such a small squad, I wonder if mick will be tempted to bring in a loan? The defence still lacks senior options, with Smith having to deputise for three of them in recent weeks. The lack of squad depth could prove costly, but very pleased to get back to winning ways today.

6

pazelle added 17:16 - Nov 1 All about the result that - perfect!
4

kuyski added 17:19 - Nov 1 Good for 3 points to kill a very poor team,next 3 games result will tell us what we are in this season!COYB! Excellent 2nd goals assisted for Teddy .
6

Londonblue52 added 17:22 - Nov 1 Well done boys. Clean sheet. Barrtowski to be given an extended run hopefully. Sounds like Bishop shone too. Now the real test with Wolves and Watford to come. We can do it. Micks best planning and tactics needed for these two
5

Cloddyseedbed added 17:24 - Nov 1 Starting to have a groin strain curse it seems! Great result and 3 points. Wolves are very much beatable if we play to our best ability.
3

TimmyH added 17:28 - Nov 1 A very much needed win against to be fair a fairly poor Blackpool side. Sounded like it was a comfortable win but as others have mentioned a bit concerning that injuries are starting to mount up with a fairly small squad. Can anybody confirm we had only 2 shots on target today?, if so that's a tad disappointing. 3 points is 3 points and getting back to winning ways is the most important thing. Wolves and Watford will really prove where we stand alongside play-off candidates. Well done lads.

2

rendoblue added 17:28 - Nov 1 Happy anniversary super mick, murphy and mcgoldrick goal machines!
5

TractorCam added 17:30 - Nov 1 Sounded like we played well there, M &M with the goals again, 13 between them now isn't it? Happy anniversary Mick and Terry!
4

NoelTheDub added 17:35 - Nov 1 Well done today lads did a good job v a very poor Blackpool team.Teddys play for our 2nd was a delight to see but at times our overall play was hard to watch but I cant have everything I guess.Our bench does nothing to help when they come on so I would lice to see Ambrose or Henstall coming in before Tabb or Salmon.
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DanLyles added 17:35 - Nov 1 Listened to the game on Radio Suffolk and Bishop sounded fantastic, Mathie compared the way he glided past players (to assist Murphy) to a young Dyer. I wonder whether MM would play him and Williams in the same team? We could play some lovely football with this team: (4-3-3) Gerken; Parr, Chambers, Berra, Mings; Skuse, Bru, Williams; Bishop, McGoldrick, Murphy
1

martleshamitfc added 17:53 - Nov 1 Anyone know who would have gone in goal if Bart had got injured?
0

blrmy added 17:57 - Nov 1 Watched it online (nice that most away games can be seen these days online), individual performances, like Bishop, probably better than the overall, but good 3 points, could have been a banana skin. Blackpool really are woeful, whole club and team in a right mess....
2

beano added 17:57 - Nov 1 Great result , but just seen the goals on sky and McGoldrick wearing gloves ??? WTF
2

Palestine added 17:59 - Nov 1 I wasn't there today, and have yet to see Bart but my gut feeling is that Bart will be the man for us - hopefully less error-prone and a more solid No1.
0

MedwayTractor added 18:08 - Nov 1 Just as well it was only Blackpool. Down here in deepest Kent it's not the ideal place to follow Town on their travels to the far North West. I was following the streaming commentary on BBC's sport website, it's all I can get. As the old saying goes, you can prove anything with statistics, but sometimes the numbers can be revealing. The BBC's stats show that both sides had 12 attempts at goal, with just 2 on target each, so our good fortune that our 2 went in. The stats show, also, that, of Blackpool's attempts on goal, half came in the last quarter after Tabb replaced Bishop. Is it me, or is history repeating itself? Just like the other recent games, late substitutions have replaced a talented attacking midfielder (Williams or Bishop) with a journeyman like Tabb, when there's the opportunity to replace like with like (Henshall or Ambrose, for example). This gives the opposition a late chance to get back in the game, hence all the late goals conceded and points lost, when we should be going for the throat. As I said, just as well it was only Blackpool.

1

jocasaja added 18:11 - Nov 1 WIN the next three games - this league is up for grabs. I honestly think we have a decent chance of automatic promotion - the squad has more stength in depth than we have had for many a season...Cameron Stewart, Balint Bajiner, Darren Ambrose and jack Collison...still to be seen - and Teddy Bishop our most exciting young prospect since Kieron Dyer
4

neillrumsey added 18:57 - Nov 1 A win was a must at Blackpool and we have gone and got a good win with a clean sheet for the debutant in goal. I wasn't at the game so my post is based on what I heard from Alex Mathie and Radio Suffolk. In Bishop we have a quality and very clever young player who wants the ball and is comfortable in possession and more importantly is positive and wants to get forward with the ball and dictate play. We should protect him but the team needs him in the otherwise workmanlike midfield. Great to see B make his debut in goal and keep a clean sheet. I hope he's given a run in the side. More positives both strikers scoring again. Negative though for me again appears to be this desire to put teams to the sword and kill the game off. I'm sure that I am not alone in thinking that we were again going to through away the 3 points judging by the commentary. We must go for the jugular once we get our noses in front. Great 3 points important week ahead with 2 tough home fixtures. COYB

1

BlueandTruesince82 added 19:02 - Nov 1 Blmry, where online? Next 2 are tough, Watford are bit of a bogey team for us. Hope Parr and Chambo are fit by then. If we could take 4 from 2 I'd be happy, looks like lots of jostling at the top this yr
3

StowTractorBoy added 19:07 - Nov 1 This was not a vintage Town display but as Jas says you can only beat what is put in front of you. It is easy to say Blackpool were a poor side and in the end they were but don't forget they beat Cardiff not so long ago and look what Cardiff did to us. Teddy Bishop was outstanding and I thought Hunt although a bit wasteful at times put in a good shift full of enthusiasm. Not sure about the goalkeeper as he did look shaky in the early stages making a hash of a deep cross but too early to judge on one match. Back four were reasonably comfortable and lost count of the clearances Berra made. In midfield Hyam and Skuse were effective and a shame Skuse had to go off injured. McGoldrick and Murphy are there to score goals and they did that today but both looked very jaded and McGoldrick has not got back to his best yet. Easy to say now but a comfortable 3 points and lets hope its the foundation for out next two home matches which are vital. I suspect we hill have to better than we were today though. Town support was fantastic and many of us will be happy in Blackpool tonight.

6

martleshamitfc added 19:47 - Nov 1 Blueandtruesince82 - there is a live stream most weeks www.wiziwig.tv/livestream
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buddsterblue added 19:49 - Nov 1 Brimy: can you give me an idea on the link to watch away games, have tried but never any luck, we done ipswich coyb
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martleshamitfc added 19:55 - Nov 1 link 2 above in my last post
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