Jay Tabb scored the only goal as Town defeated Bolton Wanderers 1-0 at Portman Road. After an open first half in which the visitors had the better chances, the midfielder won it with 11 minutes left, volleying a half-cleared Daryl Murphy cross into the ground and past Trotters keeper Ben Amos.

Town boss Mick McCarthy named an unchanged team aside from Bartosz Bialkowski replacing Dean Gerken in goal. McCarthy had previously said that Gerken wouldn’t be risked having been knocked unconscious at Middlesbrough on Saturday.

Ipswich-born former Northgate pupil and one-time Blue Liam Trotter started in midfield for the visitors, who made a late change on their bench with Kaiyne Woolery replacing Adam Le Fondre.

Town began the game on top, Jonny Parr shooting over after a corner had been cleared to him just outside the area in the seventh minute.

Bolton threatened for the first time two minutes later when Craig Davies played in Eidur Gudjohnsen inside the area but the Icelander was out-muscled by Tyrone Mings. Moments later, Giles Coke struck a 20-yard effort which Bialkowski rather unnecessarily punched away.

The Blues ought to have gone in front in the 16th minute when Freddie Sears stole the ball from Tim Ream and went through one-on-one with keeper Amos, who stood up well and blocked.

On 22 Cole Skuse picked up the game’s first yellow card for a trip on the lively Rochinha as the on-loan Benfica midfielder broke into the Town half.

Bolton started to get on top, Trotter shooting well wide in the 25th minute before Davies cut a dangerous ball across from the left but too far in front of Josh Vela at the far post.

Just before the half hour, Mings made a strong run through the middle from inside his own half before feeding Sears to his left. The ex-Colchester man crossed and the left-back flicked across goal and wide.

Bolton immediately broke, Christophe Berra and Tommy Smith eventually dispossessing Gudjohnsen before Rochinha slipped and Skuse cleared the danger.

A previously subdued Portman Road was starting to wake up and on 31 the Blues went close again, Berra heading a freekick across goal from the far post and Smith diverting a looping ball back into the six-yard area but with no Blue shirt present.

With the action swinging from one end to the other in a very open half, Bolton twice went close within a minute.

First Bialkowski palmed Davies’s shot from the edge of the box out to Vela, who cut back to Gudjohnsen, but the veteran’s effort was deflected wide by Mings.

From the corner, the Trotters went even nearer, Dorian Dervite nodding down to Ream in the six-yard box. The American international worked himself space to shoot but saw Parr block his weak effort on the line, the ball inadvertently bouncing up off the Norwegian’s arm before he cleared.

Tabb broke through from midfield in the 38th minute but could only shoot straight at Amos, who claimed comfortably.

But it was the visitors who were continuing to look the more threatening side with debutant Rochinha’s running their main danger.

In the 41st minute the Portuguese brought the ball forward from deep at pace past a number of defenders, exchanged passes with Davies but shot just wide of Bialkowski’s left post when he seemed certain to score. It was a major let-off for the Blues. Neither side threatened again before referee Fred Graham brought the half to a close.

Bolton will feel they should have been ahead at the end of an open half having come closest to scoring through Ream and the impressive Rochinha. Town had had chances but more of the better opportunities had fallen to the visitors.

Town switch Parr for Luke Varney at the break as they moved to 4-3-3 with on-loan Blackburn man on the left, Daryl Murphy in the centre and Sears on the right.

Skipper Chambers scraped a 55th minute shot wide as the second half began scruffily. Two minutes later, Kevin Bru replaced the quiet Bishop.

Just before the hour, a Sears cross from the right was nodded out to Skuse on the edge of the box from where the midfielder - still without a goal since joining Town in the summer of 2013 - flicked the ball up and volleyed just over.

The former Bristol City man twice went close again within a minute, first beating Trotter to a clearance 25 yards out and hitting a shot which struck Amos’s right post. The 28-year-old was first to the loose ball on the edge of the box and side-footed towards goal but the keeper did well to recover and save.

Murphy shot wide on 73 but chances at either end were coming far less frequently than they had in the first half.

Rochinha, Bolton’s biggest threat before the break, was replaced by Rob Hall with 11 minutes remaining having been far less influential in the second.

Almost immediately, the Blues went in front. Murphy crossed from the left, the ball was half-cleared to Tabb just inside the area and the midfielder volleyed into the ground past the wrong-footed Amos and into the corner of the net. It was Tabb’s second goal of the season, making the first Town midfielder to score more than once this season.

Bolton looked to get straight back in it, sub Hall turned a Tom Walker cross to Bialkowski, then at the other end Mings smashed a powerful right-foot shot against a defender having cut in from the left.

As the game entered its final five scheduled minutes Bru fizzed a low shot across Amos and wide.

Bolton should have grabbed an equaliser in the last minute. Following a corner, Ream crossed from the right and Davies headed wide at the far post when he seemed certain to score.

As the match moved into injury time, Matt Clarke replaced Sears, Murphy shot well wide from distance, then Bru was booked for a foul but the Blues saw out the remaining minutes without too many dramas to end their run of four games without a win.

While Bolton should probably have been ahead at the break, until Davies's miss in the closing moments the Blues had the better second-half chances with Skuse unfortunate not to grab his first Town goal when he hit the post.

While Tabb’s goal was by no means a classic it was as important as any Town have scored this season, although with Brentford winning 3-2 at Blackburn the Blues remain seventh a point from the play-offs with eight left to play.

Elsewhere, Wolves remain two points behind the Blues in eighth having beaten Sheffield Wednesday 3-0.

Town: Bialkowski, Chambers (c), Mings, Berra, Smith, Skuse, Bishop (Bru 57), Parr (Varney 46), Tabb, Murphy, Sears (Clarke 90). Unused: Kenny, Anderson, Chaplow, Wood.

Bolton: Amos, Vela, Mills, Dervite, Ream, Trotter, Coke, Walker, Rochinha (Hall 79), Gudjohnsen (Bannan 64), C Davies. Unused: Bogdan, Moxey, Woolery, Twardzik, Threlkeld. Referee: Fred Graham (Essex). Attendance: 16,923 (Bolton: 249).

Photo: Action Images

NoelTheDub added 03:37 - Mar 18 bohslegend your some tulip with the above post..Tabb scored tonight but he has been a very poor player for us over the last number of weeks and one of the reasons of many we are struggling to stay up in the playoffs.Dont jump on the band wagon that Mick was right to pick him every bloody week he was not.We have been very poor and this was a very lucky night and all teams need them nights but our problems still exist.Football teams will pass us by and thats my problem we will win some games but our style and tactics will bring us down when we have a great chance.

5

Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 06:28 - Mar 18 We're only hanging on by our fingertips, but we are hanging on. After the next two games, we'll probably know whether we've heaved ourselves up over the edge or fallen off the cliff face.
2

dirtydingusmagee added 06:54 - Mar 18 ok,3 points [great ].Scorer, Jay Tabb[bloody hell] but as much as im pleased with result i dont think it was a convincing win,and we have tougher games coming up.Bailkowski worries me,so many mistakes ,its just as well Bolton missed their chances ,that was reason we kept clean sheet.Anyway we are still in with the same slim chance of playoffs and must hope someone above us blinks first.IF only we could recover our form of first half of season COYB

3

BlueMachines added 06:57 - Mar 18 @bohslegend. The majority of posts actually state we didn't play well but we'll take the win attitude. Not sure what you've read? The Pink 'un?? Tabb wasn't great first half. Mainly as he was on the wing. You may not have realised but he isn't a winger, difficult to see, particularly if you're not there. But he managed to affect the game more from his central position second half. SHOCK! No one has ever said he plays better in centre mid have they!??? Parr has been our best performer over recent games. But, for the first time in ages, MM made changes that actually worked. They affected the game. So credit where it is due. Unfortunately that decision making just hasn't been there over the last 2 months.

9

blue7579 added 07:37 - Mar 18 So we got lucky against a team we should have beat comfortabley, just because a poor player scores against a poor team with a poor goal doesn't mean he should be there, we still won't make play offs with him in side, and of course we will celebrate when our team scores, we support itfc not the individuals who come and go, although we are forever grateful for what they do, We celebrate what they do for our club. If tabb was our best option he wouldn't be as criticised, but he's not.

5

oldegold added 07:46 - Mar 18 I think we were all wondering where bohslegend had got to in this period and gone back to supporting Peterborough Utd as he has been very quiet and lo and behold, we win and he reappears with his usual bitter rant against fellow Town supporters. I bet he keeps the Samaritans busy! We are not Johnny come latelys and there is not ant-MM brigade and these recent period of terrible hoofball and poor results has seen some of the most enlightening comments on the direction of our club. With this manager who lacks the bottle, with this outdated and antiquated style we are going nowhere and it is exactly this sterile way of playing soccer that has caused our downfall. We "love" our club and will follow through thick and thin but that doesn't mean we can't express our opinions as we are in the end paying customers and plough hard earned cash into the club and can have our say at all times.

10

Surco72 added 07:52 - Mar 18 Good result and desperately needed 3 points to keep us in the playoff hunt . MM again got the team selection wrong from the start and we were lucky not to go in behind against lets be fair an awful side in Bolton , the defence still look nervous with each other and in possession of the ball and were cut wide open on a number of times . This select the same team and see what happens management is so poor , credit in the second half he changed it and Varney I thought made a big difference but it was down to hard work against a poor team not adding any creativity or class which will be found out against the better opposition coming up . Tabb looked better in middle and I think he has been doing ok of recent and his effort can never be faulted . Skuse had one of his best games in a blue shirt and even added a goal threat . Bish and the front two found it hard to get going as the service and width to them is so poor at present . Thought the half time sub was the perfect time to remove Smith and slot Parr at right back also as Smith versus Deeney on Saturday is going to be a massive mis match . Good result but certainly not playoff standard at present and need a big game sat to change my mind

4

warktheline added 08:01 - Mar 18 As for Saturday's game we live in hope, what do they say, funny old game, the only thing predictable about football is its unpredictability....if somehow we won our next 2 games wouldn't it shake up the table! Here's hoping!!!!!
0

ipswich134 added 08:08 - Mar 18 The end of the season fight is getting to every club fighting for promotion and relegation. Let's hope we go from strength to strength from here.
1

ipswich134 added 08:08 - Mar 18 The end of the season fight is getting to every club fighting for promotion and relegation. Let's hope we go from strength to strength from here.
1

Guthrum added 08:25 - Mar 18 Winning percentage with Tabb on the pitch (starting or sub): 48% Winning percentage without Tabb on the pitch: 25%
1

1RWR added 08:29 - Mar 18 I just cannot believe people on here, all the 'anti-Tabb' banter and what happens tonight (or last night) someone who is 3ft 6" at best wins the majority of headers & then scores the winning goal equals 3 points, c'mon, give the lad a break for heavens sake! Don't slag the boy off, he tries his best but if you, the 'anti-Tabb' brigade, had your way he wouldn't have started & we maybe sitting here two points shorter, have you thought of that? possibly not! Perspective is the key word!

8

KiwiTractor added 08:33 - Mar 18 3 points, check. Clean sheet, check. Goal from midfield, check. Get in. Happy for a few days at least.....
3

Gazelle added 08:34 - Mar 18 Off topic a bit, strange that we don't seem to take any inswinging corners. Most other teams do.
0

BillBlue added 08:45 - Mar 18 oldegold - good post, spot on!
0

BackTheBlues added 08:45 - Mar 18 Don't think anyone can disagree - Mick McCarthy "CHANGED" the game twice... 4 - 3 - 3 at half time - tactical change number 1 stopped Roschina and gave us legs in Varney upfront (he chased a lot of nothing) Bringing on Bru for a tired Bishop gave us legs in the middle which really changed the tide! Well done Mick, TC & The boys! Scrappy or not - it's all still to play for!

9

dirtydingusmagee added 09:07 - Mar 18 once again ,only a fraction of posters when we win compared to when we lose, they say the British like a loser, as soon as anyone is winner or does achieve anything people want to see em lose, so thatthey can moan and groan &snipe . HAPPY DAYS .
0

rickw added 09:09 - Mar 18 It was good to see MM change the system to 352 after about 20 mins and then 433 second half, I think we'd all like him to be more adaptable when it's not working which too often he's stubbornly stuck with 442 when it wasn't working. Last night we were awful at the start, but credit to him he changed things and we were the better team after that, yes we got lucky they couldn't score brothel, but you make your own luck!

1

Gazelle added 09:26 - Mar 18 Happy with the result until I got home and watched the Arsenal highlights. Stay 7th PLEASE.
-1

ArnieM added 09:49 - Mar 18 We looked MUCH better when we reverted to 4-3-3 . Strange that, as I recall our best form of the early part if the season coincided with us playing 4-3-3 . Not rocket science is it Mick!
3

PJH added 10:02 - Mar 18 Very nervy both on and off the pitch. At times there was more noise coming from on the pitch than there was from the crowd. Nice to get a win that we did not deserve as opposed to dropping points that we did not deserve to,as at Leeds. Skuse man of the match as he has been several times in recent weeks, both home and away. Pity that Brentford won but a good result on Saturday would keep us very much involved. Pressure seems to be getting to all teams at and near the top so just need to stay in touch.

3

jabberjackson added 10:12 - Mar 18 We are 3 points behind Derby County When you think what an awful run we have had in the last 2 months that is quite amazing We need David McGoldrick back tout de suite He has to play behind Sears and Murphy in the Eric Gates role i.e. Sears = Brazil, Murphy = Mariner top 6 guaranteed, and a Boys of 81 renaissance
3

titanicclown added 10:26 - Mar 18 Jay Tabb is like a rabid staffy! Granted his passing isn't always great but he'll bite the ankles off anyone and lets face it that's the type of midfielder that is effective in the way we play. I think those who take umbrage with Tabb should really redirect their frustration at the overall tactics of the team. If we tried to knock it about in midfield he wouldn't play but we don't so he does! That said playing him wide left in a 442 is totally wrong. A 442 needs attacking an threat wide. Lets hope MM goes 443, Varney looks fit and hungry give him a go I say.

1

bohslegend added 10:34 - Mar 18 All the usual moaners on down-marking my post Fellas you seem to think I'm the only one who (in your opinion) wrongly credits MM with not only the position we are in but how he has given us a fighting chance still of promotion with a team made up of free signings and loans. If you look at the vast majority of posts on here they acknowledge a good result in difficult circumstances and also the fact that Tabb has been working his b0ll0x off for the team all season and it was great to see him get the winner and a valuable 3 points. As has been pointed out above, the number of posts seems to go down when we win, not when we lose. A lot of seriously disappointed 'Town fans' after last night I suppose.

-3

GiveusaWave added 10:42 - Mar 18 Bru and Varney played well and I'm pleased with the 3 points. It's good that we had a bit of luck for once (Bolton should have been 2 or even 3-0 up by half-time). We did ride our luck and it's nice to see that we still have an interest in the season. If we'd lost we would have been 4 points off the play-offs with an away game at Watford to look forward too. It was a VITAL win, shame Brentford won at Blackburn. Like ArnieM has said, given our tactics (mostly hoofball) we are better when we are 4-3-3. Would be a risky strategy away at Watford though. Have a feeling we will be our customary 4-4-2 once more with the back 4 unchanged and Tabb and Skuse in midfield. I'm ok with that; we need some tough characters at Watford to get anything from the game. A 0-0 given their recent form would be an exceptional result. We need to hope that Wolves and Brentford both slip up next game too. Been really impressed with Sears; he has made his mark in the team. Varney too could be a good signing: he works hard and seems to enjoy the hoofball tactics. Yes, he has yet to score but it's his overall play that counts.

1

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls