Freddie Sears scored twice and Christophe Berra once as Town beat already-relegated Blackpool 3-2 at Portman Road. The Blues fell behind to Andrea Orlandi’s fourth-minute goal, prior to Sears striking twice before the break, then Henry Cameron levelled for Blackpool, but Berra sealed a win which really should have been more routine in the 83rd minute.

Tyrone Mings returned from his two-match ban at left-back, while Teddy Bishop was back in midfield and Sears up front.

Zeki Fryers dropped out of the 18 completely, while Richard Chaplow and Chris Wood were on the bench, alongside Jonny Parr, back from his hamstring problem. Already-relegated Blackpool included former Blues loanee Darren O’Dea from the start.

The game got off to the worst possible start for Town with Blackpool taking the lead with the first serious attack of the afternoon in the fourth minute.

Henry Cameron was played in down the left by Jamie O’Hara and cut the ball back to Orlandi breaking unchecked from midfield and the former Swansea man swept home from 10 yards.

The Blues immediately looked to get back on terms, Tommy Smith was unable to get enough on a header from a corner, then Daryl Murphy was stopped in his tracks by a Peter Clarke challenge just inside the area.

On nine Bishop curled an effort wide from the edge of the box, then a minute later Jay Tabb sent Sears away towards the area but Seasiders keeper Elliot Parish came off his line quickly to challenge.

Luke Varney, who opened his Town goals account at Huddersfield on Monday, should have equalised on 12 when he was allowed a free header from Bishop’s left-sided corner but nodded the ball well wide.

Cole Skuse dispossessed Charles Dunne midway inside the Blackpool half on the quarter hour, but his low cross towards Murphy was cut out by O’Dea.

Town continued to keep up the pressure, Murphy overran the ball having made a strong run down the left, Tabb was unable to get in a shot from a Mings cross, then Murphy hooked the ball back across the edge of the six-yard box but it wouldn’t fall for a Town player.

On 23 Sears volleyed over from the edge of the box, then Paul Anderson replaced Varney, who went straight to the dressing room having apparently suffered a knock.

Within seconds of the change, Town were back on terms. Smith sent a freekick to the left of the area from deep on the right, Mings nodded it down and Sears turned a half-volley beyond Parish and into the roof of the net. It was the former Colchester man’s sixth goal for the Blues and his 20th of the season.

Four minutes later, Sears made those totals seven and 21 and the scoreline 2-1 to the Blues.

Skuse fed Murphy to the right who turned it back into Chambers as he broke into the area on the right.

The Blues skipper looked to find Tabb with a low pass across the area but Orlandi intercepted but inadvertently diverted the ball into the path of Sears, who gleefully slipped under Parish from close range.

Ex-Blues loanee O’Dea was replaced by David Ferguson on 32 following a spell of on-field treatment, the former Celtic man appearing to have broken his nose.

Town claimed a penalty in the 37th minute when Anderson fed Sears inside the area and the ball struck Clarke’s raised arm. However, referee James Linington showed no interest in the Blues players’ appeals.

In injury time, Anderson scuffed Mings’s cross from the left wide before referee Linington ended the half.

After being rather caught cold by Blackpool’s early goal, the Blues quickly got themselves on top and the rest of the half was virtually all Town pressing and probing for openings in the visitors’ defence.

Town probably ought to have been ahead prior to Sears’s two goals, the former Colchester and West Ham man continuing the excellent start he has made to his Town career with two fine finishes.

Shortly after the restart Anderson sent Murphy away on the left of the area but the Irishman took the ball too wide and screwed his shot wide.

There was a scare for the Blues on 50 when Berra’s back-header beat the advanced Bartosz Bialkowski, who was pleased to see the ball run wide of the post as he chased towards his line. Three minutes later, Murphy headed Sears’s left-wing cross wide.

Berra saw a header blocked inside the six-yard box on 58, then Tabb skipped into the area and fed Sears, whose low shot was saved down to his left by Parish.

The Blues striker had another opportunity a minute later when, having been sent away by Mings, he cut in from the left but saw Parish block his shot.

As the clock reached the hour mark, Sears again cut in from the left but this time screwed well wide, then soon afterwards he almost profited from Skuse winning the ball on halfway, but Parish came off his line quickly to clear ahead of him.

The second half had been all Town but on 64 the Blues were caught sleeping for a second time and the Tangerines levelled.

Orlandi took a quick freekick from halfway on the right and fed Gary Madine. The on-loan Sheffield Wednesday crossed low to Henry Cameron, who slid into the net from close range to claim his first senior goal.

It was another poor goal for Town to concede, having had plenty of chances to add to their two goals and really should have had the game well won by this stage. On 66 Mings turned and shot over from eight yards when he might have laid the ball back to Murphy.

Jonny Williams replaced Tabb for the final 14 minutes with the Welshman taking up a role behind the front two. Three minutes later, Madine headed over for Blackpool from an O’Hara corner.

Town restored their lead in the 83rd minute when, after a freekick had been cleared, Mings played to Chambers on halfway. The skipper found Murphy on the right of the area, the Blues top scorer turning his man before chipping a superb right-footed cross to the far post from where Christophe Berra nodded in his sixth goal of the season.

Jonny Parr replaced Mings for the final five minutes and the Blues saw out the remaining minutes without any further drama, midfielder Bishop completing a full 90 minutes for the first team for the first time.

Having established the 2-1 lead at the break, the result really should never have been in any doubt and Town had plenty of chances to increase their lead before conceding their second sloppy goal of the afternoon.

Fortunately, against a poor Blackpool side they were always going to get further chances to win it and Berra duly took his opportunity when it came via Murphy’s excellent cross.

The victory and results elsewhere see the Blues move back up to sixth, ahead of Brentford and then Wolves - who lost 2-1 at Birmingham - on goal difference and a point behind fifth-placed Derby, ahead of Tuesday's home game against Cardiff City.

Town: Bialkowski, Chambers (c), Mings (Parr 85), Berra, Smith, Skuse, Bishop, Varney (Anderson 23), Tabb (Williams 76), Murphy, Sears. Unused: Gerken, Hunt, Chaplow, Wood.

Blackpool: Parish, Maher, Dunne, Clarke, O’Dea (Ferguson 32), Perkins, O'Hara, Cubero (Delfouneso 86), Cameron (Osayi-Samuel 70), Orlandi, Madine. Unused: Boney, Ferguson, Oliver, Barkhuizen, Telford. Referee: James Linington (Newport, IoW). Attendance: 19,290 (Blackpool: 175).

Photo: Action Images

PJH added 21:10 - Apr 11 Good job we did not lose or even draw because would be on page 5 on here by now. COYB
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prebbs007 added 21:12 - Apr 11 Now don't get me wrong I'm happy we got 3 points. But we were absolutely abysmal today against easily the worst team in the league. Our defending was schoolboy like. Our midfield was nondescript and up front we had only Freddie. Bart had little to do except pick it out of the net twice. Chambers is possibly the worst right back to have played for us in years. Not his fault he is out of position but he is a weak link and teams target him as such. Smith well what a joke of a player. Mick you continue to select a guy who can't kick the ball with his right foot at right centre back. One "shank" in the 2nd half had 19k people laughing their heads off. This guy is truly awful and has cost us countless points in 2015. Berra is solid but is again a poor ball playing defender. Saved our blushes today. Mings was shocking today. His best pass all day was to Bart after the ball had gone out for a goal kick. Part is so much better. Skuse worked really hard today as normal but still doesn't give you that defence splitting pass or any much needed goals. Bish again worked hard but got dragged down by the dross around him. Tabb is a terrible footballer. He's a very good headless chucked and runs around a lot but gives the team absolutely nothing in a creative sense. Anderson came on and gave the ball away regularly. Crossed to no one and created nothing. Murphy when not scoring is laborious lazy and cumbersome. He didn't win any headers in attack missed free header from middle of goal 7 yards out and if he hadn't crossed for Berra at the end may as well of stayed at home. Freddie got 2 goals so tough to criticise but he fluffed 2 one on ones and missed a host of other half chances. If we do fluke our way into the playoffs and play like that whoever gets us will be delighted. Mick continues to select wrong players out of position still picks his favourites no matter how shocking they play and his stubbornness is what will cost us. Struggling like hell today he STILL waits for 70th minute before making a sub out of choice and we made the worst team in the league look almost ok. 3 points but awful performance that will not be good enough against anyone else.

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ChestnutSe added 21:29 - Apr 11 As so many on here have said we are just an awful team with a rubbish defence and only playing hoofball (is that like football?) due to a dinosaur manager who refuses to change his style to take account of all the expert commentators on here. If only Mick would learn from all his mistakes and get us higher than the best position we have been in for the past 13 odd seasons. On a more positive note Tommy Smith, Bish and Mings are a credit to our youth development program. Stubborn old dinosaur Mick has brought in some really good players for us (Bart, Christophe, Skusey, Bru and Sears to mention just a few. Long may the Dinosaur continue and Wembley here we come

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runningout added 22:20 - Apr 11 Mings is not from our youth program
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jabberjackson added 22:57 - Apr 11 Why does everyone say it's in our hands. It definitely isn't fact
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shedboy added 23:13 - Apr 11 I know Freddie will get the headlines and rightly so, but for me Skuse there he is ! quite literally ran Freddie very close for man of the match today. He must be one of the first names on the timesheet and each week. I know people level let at him his lack of goal scoring prowess but if that is the only negative and they can't see past this then they don't appreciate what he brings to the team. 4 cup finals left COYB

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NITFC added 23:28 - Apr 11 Jabberjackson - .....er......we are on 6ths place. We win all our remaining games, we are in the playoffs. In my experience, that makes it in our hands !!!
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NSL added 23:40 - Apr 11 Funny game that one, to the neutral it would have looked like a diabolical team playing a poor team. Thought tab did alright today, when people say bish was brought down by the others I actually fail to see the immense talent he supposedly has. sears had no quality around him either but shone today.
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thebeat added 00:01 - Apr 12 Happy with the 3 points but papering over the cracks again. We were awful, simple as, anybody who thinks we played well today are totally deluded. Ive said it before and i'll say it again if we play this back 4 for the rest of the season it will cost us a play off place. Every team we play target the area between Smith and Chambers but Mick refuses to address the situation. It completely baffles me and many others.

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GiveusaWave added 00:53 - Apr 12 Very happy to win the game but both teams were woeful. Awful awful defending, but the fact is we are back in contention. Like so many have said here, Smith deserves a break. It's not even his fault: he's being played out of position every match. Don't understand why Parr isn't starting at rb. It's great to stay loyal to a player but Smith just needs a rest. His concentration is all over the place, needs to do a mindfulness class or something like that. Lack of concentration seems to be the key with all our back 4. Blackpools first goal was oh so easy. HoofBall tactics once again, which surprised me as we do seem to be so predictable. A mix of tactics would be good.

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Elizabeth added 08:08 - Apr 12 Too many negative comments on here. To be where we are at this stage of the season is amazing. I do agree that MM does appear to have his favourites but so do other managers. His team selection at Huddersfield did cost us the game . We don't have players with the technical ability of some who are in the chasing pack. Let's just hope that grit and determination will see us through. I've seen it all before !! Bring on Cardiff!!

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Kirbmeister added 08:16 - Apr 12 Prebbs007 - Can't believe you have critisised Berra. Poor ball playing defender? Think about the midfield in front of him. If we played through our midfield then he would have a simple pass all the time. Same as Smith and its not his fault the poor sod is playing on his wrong side.
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BlueMachines added 08:39 - Apr 12 prebs007 You make some valid points. But Smith and Chambers are both quality players. But they are being played out of position week after week. Not their fault. And what would it matter if we were on page 5 PJH?
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BlueMachines added 08:45 - Apr 12 It isn't in our hands. As we are there on goal difference aren't we? If Brentford out score us we finish 7th even if we win all our games. Assuming Brentford also win their remaining.
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PJH added 09:43 - Apr 12 BlueMachines-my point about page 5 is one that I have made before and I think we possibly had a discussion about it then. Some people have more to say if things have gone wrong and some other people ONLY have something to say if things have gone wrong,therefore increasing the number of posts and therefore pages. It is not really worth arguing about but I do feel that it is a fact that there are some "contributors" that are only happy when they can find something negative to say.

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BlueMachines added 10:10 - Apr 12 There wasn't a lot of positive that could be found to talk about from yesterday.
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Geoff added 10:33 - Apr 12 After standing behind watching that defence again,MM must drop Smith and move Chambers into his place along side Berra. Keep hearing from all no right back at the club what has happened to Elliot Hewitt or move Parr into that spot. Come on MM swallow your pride and do the right thing for the team to maximise our chance to make the play offs.
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hairbear added 11:51 - Apr 12 I stand to be corrected but I think we have won more points so far this season than in any of the the last 10 seasons. Now I know there was a couple of iffy pieces of defending yesterday but come on people. Going on recent history this has to be a good time to be a town fan. #COYB #inourownhands #backtheboys
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purplealien added 11:52 - Apr 12 Missed the commentary yesterday as I was photographing a wedding. Thought I'd consult twtd to find out what happened. What a moan fest! Hope the players don't read this.
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PJH added 11:56 - Apr 12 BlueMachines-I agree that the only positive to take from yesterday was the 3 points but my claim is that if we had NOT got the 3 points there would have been a lot more people posting. Anyway,we move on to Cardiff game and I would take another 3 points however well or otherwise that we play.
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blueboy1981 added 12:08 - Apr 12 ......... with performances like this, we are but 'flirting' with the play-offs - reality is, we are nowhere near good enough for the Premiership, or the play-offs. The only way will me return to 'Ipswich Pedigree Play' and success - is appoint Mark Warburton at the earliest opportunity - otherwise, we stay as we are, where we are, for maybe as long again - in terms of seasons.

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blueboy1981 added 12:10 - Apr 12 .... should read: 'we will' ..... not 'will me'.
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warktheline added 12:33 - Apr 12 The fundamental purpose for this forum is for fans to exchange points of view, whether in agreement or otherwise. There is a difference between moaning and constructive criticism. Yes, we took 3 pts yesterday, but that doesn't mean people can't judge any misgivings they perceived through 90 mins. Personally I believe positional structure of defence is wrong, and has been for a while. Does that mean I should stay silent because we beat relegated Blackpool? As long as we all respect each other's comment, whether we disagree or not, I can't see the problem! Let's remember we all want what we believe is right for OUR club, believe me, if been 'at it' plenty of times when I've taken negative comments personally, but I've finally realised fans on forum all want success for OUR club. Win, lose, or draw, let's keep exchanging on a civil bases, and ignore the odd few that decide to get personnel. COYB, play offs here we come! My nerves are shredded !

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blueboy1981 added 12:54 - Apr 12 warktheline .............. very fair and genuine post that. Not so sure (present tactics considered, along with disjointed back four- still !!! ) that the play-offs would be anything other than an embarrassment to us tho'. But who knows ?
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NITFC added 13:05 - Apr 12 Blue Machines - "It isn't in our hands. As we are there on goal difference aren't we?" Isn't that the definition of being on our own hands? If we win our remaining games and do better than Brentford and Wolves, goal difference wise, there is nothing they can do about it
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