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

thebeat added 11:10 - Mar 18 Good 3 points but just papers over the cracks for me. Surprise surprise we played better 2nd half when going to 4-3-3? Some of us have only been calling for it for nearly 3 months now!! The defence is still unbalanced with 2 players out of position hence why Bolton ripped us apart a few times 1st half and shouls have gone into the break ahead. Playing Smith out of position has completely destroyed him confidence wise and any good manager would drop him just to take the pressure off him for a while. He made 3 elementary mistakes again last night including letting the ball through his legs with a Bolton player behind him and i stand by what ive said before, if we play this back 4 for the rest of the season we wont make the play offs. Im not Tabbs biggest fan but he is much better in a 4-3-3 system, infact all the midfielders are, look back at our best run of the season and they all played in that system at one stage or another. If we play it for the rest of the season with Parr at right back we have a chance of top 6 but i fear The Master Tactician isnt brave enough to go with it and we will miss out. The media annoy me aswell, Brenner Wooley telling Mick he thought Smith was solid last night. Why do they brown nose him so much?

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bostonusablue added 11:17 - Mar 18 When are people going to realize that playing Tabb is not the answer to our current problems, regardless of whether he scored yesterday. Yes he runs about and gets stuck in but what else does he offer? His set plays are awful; check his assists for the season. How many goals has he contributed? If we want our beloved Town to continue to move in the right direction, after years of crap, then Tabb is not the answer. And, I don't need to be a ex pro or manager to see that.

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bohslegend added 12:32 - Mar 18 I think the post match reports are generally where the moaners lurk. If you read the forum section you get far more reasoned debate (both sides of the argument). Here's a link to a current thread which I whole heartedly agree with. http://www.twtd.co.uk/forum/337409/some-of-our-fans-are-so-infuriating/#16
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BlueMachines added 12:37 - Mar 18 Best stick to there then Bohslegend, hey.
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thebeat added 12:56 - Mar 18 Basically if u say one word against Micks decisions it means ur a moaner and not a real fan in bohslegends eyes. Even tho theyve nearly all been wrong for 3 months, you cant argue with this, its a fact based on results and our ridiculous fall from 2nd in the table destroying teams in a flexible formation with round pegs in round holes to a 7th placed team clinging on to the play offs by our finger nails playing in an easy to play against formation with square pegs in round holes. Apparently we have to be forever grateful for Mick saving us 2 years ago, forget the fact hes ruining local boy Tommy Smith by playing him out of position and has openly said the more fans question his team sheetsvand formation the more he will ignore them just to prove whos in charge. A good manager admits when hes wrong, he doesnt stick to his guns to the detriment of results just to spite the fans. The facts are the team and formation the fans want got us to 2nd, the team and formation Mick wants has meant our season imploding. But dont you dare disagree with him, he saved us you know......

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jas0999 added 12:59 - Mar 18 I am just relieved to get the three points. Could have been two or three behind at half time, but better second half saw us get three very important points. It would be wrong of me to state that Tabb is brilliant just because he scored the winner. I'm pleased he did and I'm pleased for him. But one goal doesn't change my opinion. I don't think he is good enough. Goal aside I thought he was average last night. Not too many stand out performances to be fair, but we won so very pleased.

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JimmyP45 added 12:59 - Mar 18 10 out of 10 for Kevin Bru in my opinion. Just purely because of the energy he brought to a very flat game that sparked life into the team and we went on to score and win.
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prebsa added 13:01 - Mar 18 @thebeat spot on!
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GerkensBeard added 13:12 - Mar 18 A mention for Kevin Bru who changed the game when he came on and is streaks ahead of Bishop at this moment in time. Think we've got to go 4-3-3 Saturday to counteract Watfords 3 in midfield and would be happy to see Bru, Tabb and Skuse occupy that away from home. And a mention for Skuse who had his best game for a while and showed he can strike a ball! But apart from that let's admit it was a pretty dire performance. We were far worse than Boro Saturday and if we were playing a better outfit it could've been a repeat scoreline with the chances Bolton had. If that had finished 0-0 every one would be saying how crap we were and our season is over We have to massively improve for Saturday but hopefully this much needed 3 points will give us a boost going into the game.

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bohslegend added 13:15 - Mar 18 @thebeat A Good Manager gets teams up the table, to a point where they can achieve success. You lot are fixated with personality issues around MM. Can you imagine if he did keep coming out admitting mistakes when/where they happen, and yes they do happen to every manager, good and bad? He would be slated by you lot for doing so because you would perceive it as a weakness. Face it, he cannot win with you lot -even if we do get promoted you'll be back next year with more sh1te in the Premier league.

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Kirbmeister added 13:48 - Mar 18 MM likes Tabb and will continue to pick him. He also won't change the defence so get used to both of those points for the rest of the season. Our away form has been patchy but MM will argue we have only conceded 0.68 goals per game at home, so the defence cant be all that crap - especially with a very average midfield in front of it.
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blueherts added 13:53 - Mar 18 Funny how ALOT of people on here were moaning why dont we go get players like Ince , Bent and Lingeard - just take a look at their last 5 results LLDDL - Money well spent eh ?
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PJH added 14:17 - Mar 18 That was what I was thinking blueherts. They may well still go up but if they do fail, it would have been a very expensive failure.
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Kirbmeister added 14:20 - Mar 18 Yeah i agree and Derby get gates of 10,000 more than us which means they can afford the better players - thats business!
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Razor added 14:51 - Mar 18 People must be careful----if they express an opinion that does not agree with yours or is critical it does not automatically make them a moaner. It was a fantastic result in a game that we could easily have lost---OK, Tabby scored but every dog has its day and it does not make him a good footballer overnight. Skuse MOM, as on Saturday, and Bru fantastic when he came on (why did he not start?). Both keepers worry me and would have Kenny in with a wide player on Saturday. We are missing Didds and Hyam so much----please come back!! I fear for Saturday if we defend like last night. Not moaning, just comments, thats all.

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NoelTheDub added 15:20 - Mar 18 bohslegend OMG you paint over some cracks,you only come out with your brush after a win and tell us all so called moaners how great everything is.We were again very poor last night and yes got 3pts but as some of us were saying try for gods sake a 433 formation and look what happened.Most of my issues with MM is his reluctance to change a player or tactics even when its so bloody obvious. As for hoofball I have no problem a defender putting a ball in row z or 40 yrds up the pitch providing he is under pressure but so often thats not the case and MM is happy with this and as a supporter sitting for 90 odd min looking at that I have a right to leave early.I am happy to be around the playoffs at this stage of a season seldom is wonderful but its my belief that football the way it should be played will win the day because if you play hoofball in Wembley your looking for trouble. We do have a few ball players in our small squad but sadly on a Town pitch.Happy Paddys Week all enjoy..

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phillo added 15:49 - Mar 18 So to sum up if you have ever had the temerity to make a slightly critical opinion about MM or a player ( mainly Tabb) or EVER disagree with posters who supposedly never do this you are apparently not a "true fan" ........ interesting ...... long live debate & discussion eh !!!
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buxton199 added 16:28 - Mar 18 Just found a new video of 'the ipswich twins ' soooo funny Go to YouTube channel RandomAs
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PJH added 17:07 - Mar 18 Razor-We are certainly missing McG and have been for a while but I would question whether we are missing Hyam at the moment. It was generally agreed(even on here!) that you should not play Skuse and Hyam together and as Skuse has been playing very well in recent times, where would you put Hyam?
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blueboy1981 added 18:06 - Mar 18 bohslegend ........... absolutely entrenched aren't you ? ..... just like McCarthy - you must either be related to him, haven't a clue about the game (but watch it), or forever satisfied as long as a Football is kicked at Portman Road. Can be no other reason for the tone of your posts. 15,000 like you and we go nowhere - as there would be no need to. God Forbid.
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blueboy1981 added 18:17 - Mar 18 ............ I guess you dream every night about MM 'saving us' two years ago. You'll certainly never let anyone forget that ............ but change the record and let's hear the 'B' side for once - please.
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carsey added 18:34 - Mar 18 Lucky but pleasing 3 points last night - we could so easily have been behind at half time. In spite of the fact we won we still looked woeful at the back and I fear for us at Watford on Saturday. Poor old Tommy was all over the place again, he almost got done on the turn twice last night as he did at 'boro and I fully expect it to happen at Watford. I have just read the blog by Away Days "Nine Games to Seal Our Fate" and I believe his forecasts are very optimistic - not losing in the next 9 matches and gaining somewhere between 12 & 15 points. I hope he is right. As for MM nothing from last night convinced me to change my mind about him or his style and the fact that (in my opinion) we will be roundly thrashed every week if we get lucky and gain promotion. Only the parachute payments will soften the ignominy of coming straight back down.

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PJH added 18:43 - Mar 18 Did you press the right button in relation to my post blueboy?
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blueboy1981 added 18:49 - Mar 18 PJH ............ no bias with me - if I agree with something it doesn't matter who the poster is. I leave that pettiness to those who obviously do otherwise. Hyam - in my book has potential, but spends too much time preening and playing sideways / backward balls for my liking - hence not creative enough. Wouldn't have him in my team.
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martin587 added 18:59 - Mar 18 WATFORD 2 IPSWICH 3. COYB. ⚽️⚽️👍👍
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