Two goals from Daryl Murphy took the Blues to a comfortable 2-0 victory over a poor Cardiff City side at Portman Road. Town dominated throughout and might have won by more but for a number of saves by Bluebirds keeper David Marshall.
Boss Roy Keane made four changes to the team which lost at Blackpool on Saturday. As predicted Liam Rosenior dropped out but David Wright came in at right-back rather than Jaime Peters, who moved to the bench. Shane O’Connor made his home debut at left-back with Jack Colback switching to left midfield.
Owen Garvan replaced the suspended Grant Leadbitter in the centre, while David Healy came in up front alongside Daryl Murphy, allowing Jon Walters to move to right midfield with Carlos Edwards dropping to the bench.
After a pre-match huddle, Town started strongly and might have gone ahead in the third minute when Gareth McAuley flicked on a Damien Delaney freekick and David Healy turned the ball wide.
Five minutes later, Owen Garvan crossed and David Marshall saved Daryl Murphy’s header.
On 10 Cardiff defender Gabor Gyepes was very lucky to escape without a card of either colour when he caught David Healy with a raised boot at groin level. Referee Grant Hegley, a late change of official for the second Town game in a row, somehow decided the challenge wasn’t even worthy of a yellow card with the Sir Bobby Robson Stand baying for a red.
Three minutes later, Michael Chopra sent a dangerous bicycle kick over Brian Murphy’s goal.
But overall, the Blues had enjoyed much the better of the game and on 18 they deservedly went in front. David Healy’s looped ball from the right was flicked on to Jack Colback by Daryl Murphy. Colback, playing in a tucked in left-sided role, did well to hold on to the ball and then send in a low pass to Murphy, who diverted it past Marshall.
Town continued to dominate against a Cardiff side looking nothing like a team which is challenging in the division’s higher echelons, although there were few further chances at either end until just after the half hour when a corner dropped to Gareth McAuley, who tried a snap shot with the outside of his right boot which Marshall did well to save.
Murphy’s 43rd minute header was too weak to trouble the former Norwich keeper, then just before the whistle Cardiff had their best opportunity of the game. Michael Chopra - who played for Roy Keane at Sunderland and who the Blues boss has said he would have moved for in the summer if he hadn’t already been on the way to the Bluebirds - was found in space eight yards out but completely mis-hit his shot and the ball sliced into the South Stand.
But a goal would have been harsh on the Blues at the break with Town having continued from the latter stages at Blackpool and most recent home game against Bristol City, but importantly this time having scored a goal. Cardiff had been very much a disappointment for their very small band of travelling fans.
The second period started with Chopra shooting well wide from the edge of the Town box and on 55 the ex-Newcastle man was lucky to remain on the field after kicking out at the grounded Owen Garvan. The Cardiff striker appeared to aim a kick at the Irishman’s head with the midfielder having fallen on top of the ball.
After the obligatory melee and the officials consulting, referee Grant Hegley showed merely a yellow card, which seemed excessively lenient given the offence. Chopra was booed by the Town support for the remainder of the game.
From the resultant freekick on halfway, Damien Delaney’s ball into the box was eventually put out for the corner from which the Blues would score their second goal. David Norris played the ball to Jon Walters on the edge of the box, the skipper moving it on to Owen Garvan, who hit a shot which Marshall saved but couldn’t hold and Daryl Murphy slammed in the rebound for his fifth goal in eight games for the Blues.
Pablo Couñago immediately replaced David Healy, then for Cardiff Jay Bothroyd hit a shot straight at Brian Murphy.
Just after the hour, Couñago almost played Colback in on goal as Town broke but his pass was too close to keeper Marshall. Two minutes later, Marshall was almost embarrassed when Walters blocked his kick but the keeper got back to claim before the ball crossed the line.
Aside from those chances, Cardiff were having their best spell of the game with the Blues missing the outlet of Healy running into channels, but the visitors were causing the Town backline very few problems.
On 67 David Wright’s low shot was flicked on by Damien Delaney, Marshall doing well to save Daryl Murphy’s effort from close in.
Superb work from Couñago in the 71st minute saw the Spaniard eventually lay the ball wide to Walters, who sent in a cross which the Town number nine head goalwards and Marshall again saved.
Damien Delaney and David Norris both picked up yellow cards as the game moved into its final 20 minutes, both for fouls significantly less serious than Gyepes’s earlier tackle on Healy which had received no sanction.
Connor Wickham replaced Daryl Murphy for the final 11 minutes, the 16-year-old again making a significant impression, sending both Gyepes and Kevin McNaughton - who seemed to spend most of the match being treated for one injury or another - flying with his strength during his time on the field.
Couñago had the ball in the net with six minutes to go but having fouled a defender, according to referee Hegley.
For once Town got their reward from a fine performance, dominating one of the division’s higher flyers, grabbing two goals, deserving more and rarely looking like conceding.
Jack Colback was probably the outstanding performer returning to the midfield, while Owen Garvan certainly did enough to keep his place, while Shane O’Connor enjoyed an impressive home debut, taking on defenders on a number of occasions and being part of a solid defensive performance.
Up front, Daryl Murphy netted two more goals and looked sharper after a couple of quieter games, while David Healy still looks a little off the pace at times but his movement provided a useful outlet during his time on the field.
All in all, probably the Blues’ most complete performance of the season. The best displays, the away game at Sheffield United and the home matches with Watford and Bristol City, have failed to yield wins, but on this occasion, despite another keeper on great form, a fine performance was turned into three vital points which move Town up to 17th, four points from the relegation zone.
Town: B Murphy, D Wright, McAuley, Delaney,O'Connor, Walters, Norris, Colback, Garvan, Healy (Couñago 58), D Murphy (Wickham 79). Unused: Lee-Barrett, Martin, Peters, Balkestein, Edwards. Att: 19,997.