A first half goal from David Norris saw the Blues to a 1-0 victory at Blackpool and their first back-to-back wins of the season. Town deserved the three points and came close to a second when sub Jon Stead hit the bar within seconds of being introduced.

Boss Jim Magilton stuck with the side which started the 2-0 victory over QPR last week with Kevin Lisbie and Jon Walters continuing as the front two.

Blackpool, playing with a strong wind behind them in the first half, weren't far from going in front in only the second minute when Rob Edwards headed a freekick over at the far post.

Town‘s first opportunity saw Alan Quinn shoot wide after a fine move on the right. Soon after, Jon Walters struck a speculative shot through to keeper Paul Rachubka.

The Blues were in control in the early stages despite the home side having the better of the conditions.

Rachubka made a mess of punching away a Town freekick on 14 under pressure from McAuley. The former Manchester United trainee sent the ball across into his own six-yard box but Lisbie could only manage to head over the bar with several defenders in attendance.

The Blues continued to have the better of the game and in the 25th minute Alan Quinn took advantage of a defensive slip and hit a shot from a tight angle which was headed out for a corner.

Town went in front three minutes before the break. McAuley, a big threat in the air throughout, headed a corner towards goal. The ball was cleared from just in front of the line to David Norris, who drilled a low shot through a crowd of players and into the net from 15 yards.

The goal was by no means against the run of play. Town had enjoyed the better of the first half for the most part with Blackpool rarely threatening from open play. The Town defence had generally dealt with the windy conditions well and the Blues had managed to eke out more chances than the home side.

In the uncovered temporary stand which housed the travelling Blues, much of the half-time talk was of Darren Ambrose's apparently imminent return to Portman Road from Charlton, the midfielder having been left out of the Addicks side at Plymouth today.

The wind had dropped significantly as the first period progressed and was less of a factor after the break. As in the first half, Blackpool had an early chance with a Rob Edwards header from a freekick. This time the defender nodded the ball into the net, but with a linesman's flag already raised.

The Tangerines had more of the game in the opening spell of the second half with the Blues tending to sit back more than they had prior to half-time. On 50 Ben Burgess hit a shot wide from the edge of the area.

Three minutes later, Jon Walters made a strong break down the left, cut in and hit a shot which was easy for Rachubka when a ball across the area to the unmarked Kevin Lisbie might have been a better option.

Shaun Barker headed straight at Richard Wright, then Keith Southern became the first player to enter referee Colin Webster's book for a foul on Jon Walters 10 yards outside the area. Owen Garvan curled the freekick over.

On 71 Walters played a ball in from the right to Kevin Lisbie, who did well to get a shot in but went narrowly over. Walters switched to his right midfield role as the Blues protected their lead in the closing stages.

Blackpool sub Adam Hammill, on loan from Liverpool, sent in a fine cross in the 82nd minute but Southern headed wide. Before Richard Wright took the goalkick, Jon Stead replaced Kevin Lisbie, who had done well but was tiring.

As against QPR, Stead immediately made an impact, chasing a ball over the top and lobbing Rachubka, however, the ball somewhat unluckily struck the top of the cross bar.

On 84 Moritz Volz crossed from the right and Norris hit a weak effort to he keeper.

Blackpool almost got back on terms a minute later when Southern played a ball into the box and Gary Taylor-Fletcher headed the ball off the bar with Richard Wright beaten.

Sub David Fox was booked for a foul on Alan Quinn as he broke in the 85th minute, the Irishman limping off for treatment and briefly returning before being replaced by Tommy Miller for the final minute.

In injury time, David Norris was yellow-carded for catching Shaun Barker with an arm, but the home side failed to test Richard Wright any further and the Blues had their third away win of the season – the same as in the entire 2007/08 – and their first back-to-back victories of 2008/09.

Another strong away performance from the Blues. The defence repelled everything thrown at them by the Tangerines with Gareth McAuley the stand-out performer at the back.

Veliche Shumulikoski again impressed as the more defensive central midfielder alongside the classy Owen Garvan. Overall though, it was another fine team display with the Blues thoroughly deserving of their victory and looking well capable of making an impact at the right end of the division.

Town: R Wright, Volz, D Wright, Naylor, McAuley, Shumulikoski, Garvan, Quinn (Miller 89), Norris, Walters, Lisbie (Stead 82). Unused: Supple, Bruce, Couñago. Att: 7,349.

Photo: Action Images

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