Full debutant Noel Hunt scored twice and sub Jonny Parr once as Town beat Millwall 3-1 at the Den to climb back to second in the Championship. Hunt put the Blues two in front before Magaye Guyeye pulled a goal back for the Lions just before the break but Parr sealed it in the 77th minute.

Town were without David McGoldrick and Luke Hyam with knee injuries sustained in the 1-0 FA Cup defeat to Southampton, and Cole Skuse, who is ill.

Up front, Noel Hunt was handed his first Town start alongside Daryl Murphy with new signing Freddie Sears one of only six subs on the bench. Balint Bajner was missing with Notts County understood to be close to signing the Hungarian striker on loan.

Millwall made eight changes to the team which lost 4-0 at Bradford in the FA Cup in midweek. Former Blue Dan Harding made his home debut, while ex-midfielder Lee Martin and one-time loan striker Ricardo Fuller were on the bench.

Anderson hit an early speculative shot wide for the Blues, who were in their all orange away kit.

The Lions went close to going in front in the fourth minute when debutant Diego Fabbrini’s shot deflected up into the air and Town keeper Bartosz Bialkowski punched poorly under pressure from Stefan Maierhofer. The loose ball fell to the on-loan Watford man, who shot wide with the goal gaping.

Within a minute the Lions were made to rue that miss. Murphy flicked on a Tyrone Mings freekick deep on the left and Stephen Hunt found himself space on the edge of the box before stabbing the ball through to his brother Noel ahead of him to his left. The former Leeds man deftly diverted the ball past advancing Millwall keeper David Forde and into the net.

It was the Irishman’s second goal for Town and his first since signing a contract until the end the season earlier in the month.

On the quarter hour, it was 2-0 with Noel Hunt again the man on target. Stephen Hunt crossed from the left just too far in front of his brother. Bru shot from a tight angle, a defender’s toe deflecting it to Noel Hunt, who tapped in his second of the game and third of the season at the other post before a knee-slide celebration. The home fans felt there may have been a suspicion of offside.

The last time Noel Hunt scored twice in a game was back in January 2013 for Reading in 4-0 FA Cup win against Sheffield United, while he most recently netted a brace in the league back in August 2009 for the Royals in a 3-1 win at Barnsley.

The Blues continued to look the more likely scorers, Anderson saw an audacious overhead-kick deflected over on 23, then after the second of two corners had been cleared and returned into the box Murphy headed straight at his international team-mate Forde.

Moments later, Noel Hunt wasn’t far from getting his head to an Anderson header from a left-wing Mings cross.

Millwall were unable to create another serious opportunity until the 35th minute when Maierhofer cut the ball back from the right to Jimmy Abdou on the edge of the box but the midfielder scuffed well wide.

But the Blues were continuing to look the greater threat, Anderson seeing an effort blocked and then screwing his cross into the crowd from the rebound.

Seconds later, Millwall centre-half Byron Webster slipped and Murphy broke into the area but scuffed his shot wide.

Two minutes before the break, the home side pulled a goal back. Maierhofer headed down a freekick from the left, Gregory hooked it on to Gueye, who shot home off the inside of the post.

It was a poor goal to concede from Town’s perspective with Christophe Berra perhaps still feeling the effects of a clash of heads with Abdou moments earlier.

The goal roused the previously resigned home crowd as the half moved into three additional minutes.

Town were well worth their lead at the break and given the number of chances they had created they ought to have been further in front.

Millwall’s goal before the break had come against the overall run of play and gave the home side a lifeline which they didn’t really deserve.

Town started the second half on top, Anderson sent Noel Hunt away on the left but the two-goal striker’s cross was cut out before it reached Murphy. Hunt’s subsequent over-head kick was blocked.

Murphy scuffed a shot through to Forde five minutes after the restart with the game continuing in the manner of much of the first half. Soon after, Millwall appealed for a penalty when Lee Gregory turned the ball onto Berra’s hand but a spotkick would have been harsh.

The home side began to put the Blues under pressure for the first time in the match as the hour mark approached. After good work on the left from Maierhofer and Harding, goalscorer Gueye saw a shot from deep on the right blocked. From the resultant corner, Webster flicked his header across goal and wide.

On 63 two-goal frontman Noel Hunt was replaced by Freddie Sears, making his Blues debut following his Friday move from Colchester, while Jonny Parr took over from Stephen Hunt at left midfield and ex-Blue Lee Martin replaced Fabbrini for the Lions.

Gueye curled a freekick over after Anderson had fouled Abdou 25 yards out, then for the Blues Sears played in Murphy on the left of the area but 19-year-old Millwall skipper Sid Nelson stuck out a toe to dispossess him.

New signing Sears had his first sight of goal in the 73rd minute when he was sent away by Murphy’s long ball. The ex-West Ham youngster took the ball inside Harding but Nelson blocked his shot.

But aside from that opportunity Millwall were on top and looking for openings from which to grab the equaliser. On 75 Berra did well to cut out Gueye’s cross from the right.

However, two minutes later it was all over. The lively Sears cleverly turned Murphy's flick from Bialkowski's long kick on to sub Parr, who showed a striker’s quality to slip the ball past the advancing Forde and into the corner of the net for his second Town goal.

Ex-Blues loanee Fuller replaced Shaun Cummings for the final 10 minutes with the impetus now firmly back with the Blues after Millwall’s brief and unconvincing second-half fightback.

With two minutes remaining 18-year-old Matt Clarke was handed his league debut as a sub for Anderson. Clarke went to left midfield with Parr going to the right.

Parr teed up Bru to shoot into Forde’s arms as the game moved into its final scheduled minute, prior to the fourth official’s board signalling four more.

Town saw out the remaining minutes with little trouble with the result moving them back to second in the table with Derby having lost to Nottingham Forest earlier in the day.

The Blues really ought to have had the game well and truly won prior to Parr’s goal having gone 2-0 in front via Hunt’s first-half brace. They had had had the opportunities to seal it well before then, but in fairness to the Lions they kept going and took their chance when it came.

But overall, the Blues were well worth their fifth away win of the season which takes them two points ahead of the third-placed Rams just a point behind leaders Bournemouth.

Millwall: Forde, Cummings (Fuller 80), Nelson, Webster, Harding, Gueye, Abdou, Powell, Fabbrini (Martin 63), Gregory, Maierhofer. Unused: King, Shittu, Wilkinson, Woolford, McDonald, Fuller.

Town: Bialkowski, Chambers (c), Mings, Berra, Smith, Tabb, Bru, Anderson (Clarke 88), S Hunt (Parr 64), N Hunt (Sears 63), Murphy. Unused: Crowe, Ambrose, Stewart. Referee: Graham Salisbury (Lancashire). Att: 11,603 (Town: 2,503).

Photo: Action Images

Gilesy added 17:40 - Jan 17 Why are people complaining about the media? They showed the goals on Final Score!
2

Simonds92 added 17:45 - Jan 17 Timmy H, they were showing our goals on the BBC! Very good finish from parr!
1

warksonwater added 17:53 - Jan 17 Terrific win. Many of us might have been tempted to doubt after the last two games. But the quality of a team lies in its ability to bounce back after a couple of poor results. We certainly did that today.
1

irishtim added 18:02 - Jan 17 Important win. Settles us once again, removes the doubts. Well done Noel Hunt. Sears looked lively. Parr could be a midfield option after that goal. Took it well.
7

gippeswyk added 18:04 - Jan 17 Our second double and many more to come hopefully!
1

muccletonjoe added 18:08 - Jan 17 Started to play much better toward the end of this match. Hopefully the blip is behind us
2

spanishblue added 18:08 - Jan 17 Crikey we made a mistake and lost to Derby and got beat by a very good premier league team who are in third place we have beaten a lot of teams close to us the last six weeks which is tough work we played badly today possibly (sounded it ) we won 1-3 which is brilliant in my book on to glory,don,t forget a lot of the squad are suffering with the bug
6

buntITFC added 18:11 - Jan 17 Fantastic result, more because all bar Derby won in the top half of the table so was paramount that we got all 3 points. Could have been a potential banana skin but we did well to win it, especially getting two early goals. So happy for N Hunt and that is exactly what we needed. It shows we are not wholly reliant on Murphy and McGoldrick for goals! And we still have Bishop and Skuse to return with an in form Bru. Midfield starting to look good. As is the attack with a number of options now up front. COYB

8

carlo88 added 18:11 - Jan 17 The bookies just don't rate us do they. I'd have us second favourites after that.
0

vanmunt added 18:18 - Jan 17 Good win, looking forward to getting skuse and bishop back in starting 11.. Really starting to lack any quality in midfield without them. Thought Sears looked a good addition to the team. looking tough at the top now with 7 to 8 teams pulling away.
1

ITFC1234 added 18:25 - Jan 17 Can't help but feel that if we were playing a top half team today we would have got beaten. Their defending was awful to let us get to 2-0 and from then on we fluffed a few chances. However, we did what we needed to do and got a much needed three points, COYB!!
3

86wsblue added 18:25 - Jan 17 I think some posters on here think we have a divine right to go up going by the first half of the season but a promotion season is full of ups and downs brief heartaches and intense joy. after the dross of the last few seasons suck it up and enjoy it.COYB.
3

hairbear added 18:26 - Jan 17 Very good result today. We showed great resolve to dig in but I do believe were a much better footballing team with 3 in the middle of the park. When were leading I think we need to hold on to the ball better. Still we won and I'm very happy COYB
2

julesbda added 18:56 - Jan 17 We got 3 points and there were a few bright things that occurred but we can't kid ourselves . We played " HOOOOOFFF " ball all day long and it was horrible to watch . We need to use the midfield more and once parr came on at left midfield and then switched to right midfield we looked much better . 3 points but still a worry for me the way we play high balls constantly to no one !! we need to keep the ball better and we will win games easier ! onwards and upwards .

7

Elizabeth added 18:56 - Jan 17 Complaining about the media because they were ridiculing our side against Southampton. Almost making fun of us ! Absolutely no need for it ! They should be more professional than that .
2

buntITFC added 19:05 - Jan 17 @ITFC1234 You can only beat what is front of you. It is completely irrelevant trying to guess how we would have fared playing against a different opposition today. We won. 3 points.
6

runaround added 19:16 - Jan 17 We needed that! Had to get back to winning ways as soon as possible & today we did. Whether we played well or not, hoofball or not doesn't matter. All that matters is the result at the moment. We were missing a few players today but now we're back in second & onto Brighton on Wednesday Cmon you Blues
4

blueboy1981 added 19:19 - Jan 17 ..... great start, hid them hard from the off - 0 -2. Then we lose our way somewhat, and look anything but decent to be honest - however, another great 3 points to add to the tally. Must learn not to be so benevolent in giving the ball away, when we should be coasting and seeking further goals. Well done all - just don't rest on the laurels, and we could all have a great end to the season.

7

blueboy1981 added 19:20 - Jan 17 .... sorry - for 'hid' read 'hit' .........
0

blueboy1981 added 19:30 - Jan 17 ...... we must soon incorporate a midfield into our play - so much could be created from there with the right combination. Hoofball will never impress the purist, and in fairness the media criticism is probably justified - BUT it has, and probably will continue to get us results - but not forever. Let's see a bit more of the 'beautiful game' from us, sooner rather than later, with results to complement what we know we can produce.

5

warktheline added 19:34 - Jan 17 Shows how far we've come under Mick, no longer we won't, we hope, now we expect. Again Mick's boys deliver the goods. Not bad for a team, described as journeymen with a sprinkling of youth! Doubters.....please get on board, surely McCarthy has done enough to convince you of his intentions. His intentions, a hatrick of Championship promotions. Look back on post when Mick signed N.hunt in first spell....many should stand up,and acknowledge, mick knows his players. 3 goals already, when many said he couldn't hit a barn door! We are very serious promotion candidates, and if you didn't believe it before, surely you do now!

5

StochesStotasBlewe added 19:43 - Jan 17 Great 3 points. However poor we were Millwall were worse. Well done all. As blueboy said, musn,t rest on our laurels, keep working hard & this could well be our year. COYB,S.
2

Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 19:56 - Jan 17 Very pleased with the result and the best team won. Like several others on here, however, I do wish we could pass it around in the middle a bit more. We seemed happy often just to send the ball back to "Miwwoll" as if to say, "OK, come and have another go at our solid defence." Just as well the defence works excellently most of the time, but need we put it under so much pressure? Still, a good win in a match I was thinking we might only draw before the start of the game. Sears looks as if he could be a great addition. With McG, Sears, and maybe Ambrose all in together, maybe we could get a bit more of that passing game I was talking about. COYB!

3

Letchworth_Blue added 19:58 - Jan 17 Don't know where this "we played poor today" has come from? We were excellent in the first half and soaked up the feable home pressure in the second, before sealing it. A very professional performance against an awful Millwall team. Agree with blueboy that we dont have to resort to hoofball and our midfield should be competant enough to pass our way forward. Thought Sears looked good. How the feck did Leeds bin Noel Hunt? Fans were fantastic all game. COYB.

3

StowTractorBoy added 20:11 - Jan 17 Certainly don't think we were terrible if that's what Radio Suffolk said. I thought we were very good early on and had Millwall all over the place with our off the ball running. Noel Hunt was very lively early on as was his brother and our two goals were deserved. We made Millwall look ordinary and it was a surprise when we were caught napping at the back for their goal. The minutes before half time saw a rejuvenated Millwall with the crowd getting behind them for the first time. Thankfully we held on in there and when we scored the 3rd goal (well done Parr) it knocked the stuffing out of the Lions. Bart looked a bit shaky today but Berra was back to his best although you could look at him for their goal although he took a terrible bang on the head and got stick from the crowd for it - unbelievable. Bru was excellent but was visibly tiring but Micks substitutions were spot on with Sears looking lively when he came on . People will say we only beat Millwall but that is not the way football works and at one time today our lead looked slender indeed. Thank goodness we won as the 25 minute lock in outside the ground was not welcome but I suppose the police played it safe with both sets of fans heading for the same trains. Well done lads we have bounced back but a pity all the challenging teams Derby apart won as well. On to Brighton now and another 3 points will be great.

2

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls