Sub Michael Chopra netted the only goal of the game shortly after the break to see the Blues to an important 1-0 victory over Blackpool at Portman Road. The 29-year-old was sent through by Guirane N’Daw in the 50th minute and confidently took his chance.

Anthony Wordsworth made his full Town debut at left midfield with Daryl Murphy moving up front and Aaron Mclean dropping to the bench.

The Blues, with Scott Loach (sprained thumb) and Lee Martin (hamstring) still absent, were otherwise unchanged from last week’s 1-0 defeat at Blackburn.

Blackpool named Tom Ince, son of prospective new manager Paul, on the bench as he spent yesterday at a UEFA hearing in Switzerland.

Carlos Edwards scraped an early shot well wide for the Blues, but the game’s first significant chance fell to the away side. Matt Phillips crossed from the right and Tiago Gomes was let down by a heavy touch and Luke Chambers cleared.

There was another scare for Town on seven when Phillips again crossed from the right and Chambers put the ball behind ahead of Matt Derbyshire. From the resultant corner, Murphy completely missed his clearance and Chris Basham behind him lashed wildly over.

Derbyshire had another opportunity to threaten in the ninth minute when Angel Martinez sent him away but his first touch let him down and Chambers got back to challenge.

The visitors had been much the more dangerous side in the opening spell but on 11 McGoldrick’s shot was deflected wide after Murphy had nodded down Carlos Edwards’s cross. From the corner, Wordsworth’s low ball was turned goalwards by Murphy, Seasiders’ keeper Matt Gilks doing well to bat it away.

Town had got on top and in the 17th minute Edwards found McGoldrick in a dangerous position inside the area, the striker taking a touch away from a defender but shooting wide.

The Blues threatened again a minute later when Wordsworth, McGoldrick and Murphy exchanged first time passes in the area, the Irishman eventually volleying over.

Town continued to have the better of it and on 25 Guirane N’Daw found McGoldrick in a dangerous position inside the box but the striker’s first touch let him down and, after a clever turn, his strike eventually scuffed through to Gilks.

Hyam turned an Aaron Cresswell cross wide at the near post a minute later, the midfielder having started the move in the first place when he dispossessed Basham.

Despite the Blues having been on top, Blackpool went close to going in front in the 28th minute. Basham played through Gomes, who beat Stephen Henderson but his shot struck the outside of the keeper’s left post. Henderson tipped over Alex Baptiste’s subsequent cross from the left.

As the game moved towards the half hour mark Wordsworth underwent treatment after falling awkwardly on his back when challenging with Gilks in the air. The Seasiders had been fortunate that the loose ball hadn’t fall to a Town player with the keeper grounded.

On 34 the ex-Colchester man was forced off by his injury, Michael Chopra taking over and moving up front with Murphy, one of Town’s best performers up to then, moving to the wide left role.

Town’s forced change seemed to hand the impetus back to Blackpool and in the 41st minute Derbyshire headed Gomes’s corner from the right wide.

Blackpool went close again a minute before the end of first half normal time. Derbyshire fed in Baptiste down the right and his cross ran across the Blues’ six-yard box and out for a corner, apparently having taken a touch off Murphy as he slid in.

The visitors continued to press Town back in injury time, winning a number of corners, while after a Blues break McGoldrick teed up Murphy for a low shot from the left which Gilks saved down to his left.

Both sides had had spells on top in what had been a close half, typical of the Championship. The visitors, who came closest to scoring when Gomes struck the post, were in charge early on but the Blues gradually got themselves on top and had created enough opportunities to have put themselves in front.

Wordsworth’s injury seemed to disrupt Town and it was the Lancastrians who ended the half the stronger.

Former Blues loanee Reece Wabara replaced Kirk Broadfoot for the Tangerines four minutes after the break.

A minute later, Town went in front. N’Daw sent sub Chopra away behind Baptiste and the striker superbly took the ball into the area before hitting a left-foot shot across Gilks and into the net for his fifth goal of the season.

McGoldrick curled a cross into Gilks’s arms soon after the goal but chances became rare at either end as the match moved towards the hour.

On 63 Blackpool replaced Gomes with Tom Ince, whose father Paul, who is set to be named Blackpool’s new manager on Monday, was watching from the directors’ box.

McGoldrick was unlucky to slip when played through by N’Daw in the 65th minute, the on-loan Nottingham Forest man making way for Frank Nouble four minutes later.

Chopra almost profited from a mix-up between Cathcart and Gilks in the 73rd minute, Nouble stabbing the ball off the keeper, who managed to grab it ahead of the Town scorer. Five minutes later, N’Daw picked up the game’s first booking for a foul on Basham.

The visitors almost equalised in the 79th minute when Baptiste headed a Phillips corner goalwards but Nouble blocked it on the line. Town broke quickly after Ince had missed his kick on the edge of the area but Chopra was challenged just as it appeared he was in the clear.

Town were very much on the backfoot at this stage but with Henderson not yet particularly tested. Blackpool were committing more and more men forward and were looking vulnerable on the break.

Murphy headed Edwards’s freekick over after Chopra had been fouled by Stephen Crainey on the Town right. Soon after, Nouble dispossessed Baptiste in a dangerous position midway inside the Seasiders’ half and appeared to be tripped, however, referee Robert Madley waved away his protests.

Despite the visitors continuing to have most of the ball and a number of freekicks and corners in the closing stages, Henderson wasn’t overly employed, aside from claiming crosses, which he managed comfortably.

A vital three points for the Blues, gained in the second half in the type of scrappy, battling manner which manager Mick McCarthy outlined on Friday.

Town had one clear-cut chance in the second half and Chopra, whose off-field antics have created more headlines than his football recently, showed that there are few finishers better than him at this level when the opportunity came.

Once ahead, the Blues ground out the victory with Baptiste’s header off the line Blackpool’s only significant chance.

The win moves Town up to 18th in the table, four points from the relegation places with a tough-looking home game against Watford on Tuesday.

Town: Henderson, Stearman, Chambers, Smith, Cresswell, Edwards, Hyam, N'Daw, Wordsworth (Chopra 34), Murphy, McGoldrick (Nouble 69). Subs: Lee-Barrett, Hewitt, Kisnorbo, Drury, Mclean.

Blackpool: Gilks, Baptiste, Cathcart, Broadfoot (Wabara 49), Crainey, Basham, Angel, Gomes (Ince 63), Taylor-Fletcher (Delfouneso 71), M Phillips, Derbyshire. Subs: Subs: Halstead, Ferguson, Osbourne, Eccleston. Referee: Robert Madley (West Yorkshire). Att: 16,673 (Blackpool: 394)

Photo: Action Images

StowTractorBoy added 18:56 - Feb 16 At the moment it does not matter how we win and I will settle for that kind every week of the season rather than put on a cracking performance and lose. I know we all want superb play and flair but I watch my team every week to win no matter how. Today we ground out a crucial result against a very useful side who on another day could have taken the points themselves. In the predicament we find ourselves in its not all about just entertainment but picking up the necessary points we need to stay in this league. Today was a battling display and whilst Hyam and N'Daw may get stick for their passing, heavens they worked their socks off which is what is required at the moment. Great to have a goalkeeper who can take crosses and take pressure of the defence and a back four who look a solid unit although Cressy started slowly today. Well MM you were spot on with your assessemt of what is to come this season and I'll settle for more of the same on Tuesday.

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village_blue added 19:02 - Feb 16 A poor game today but 3 vital points so have to b e pleased, but what at the moment is our captain Carlos bringing to the team he will not take the full back on down the line he always wants to cut back inside time for him to have a rest I think.
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h32 added 19:13 - Feb 16 Ipswich24 - you certainly have a point, and few 'sensible' people would disagree with you - but as pinewoodblueboy has said it's all about being able to win ugly now that really matters. Lets then hope for MUCH better in terms of entertainment next season.
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h32 added 19:24 - Feb 16 JewellintheTown - you're at it again - 'either support the squad for their Football (what football?) or take your support North of the County" - how pathetic to keep telling people to stay away. As if the Club can afford for that to happen - GET A GRIP. We need MORE through the turnstiles - NOT LESS !!
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Ipswich24 added 19:32 - Feb 16 Why I got thumbs down for previous comment just proves to show that some of you know nothing about football. You can support your football club and be critical of things your not happy with. All I will say is I pay for my season ticket and am entitled to my opinion. I was there today and was not proud watching my team with players who can't deal with a football on the ground. Yes I am happy we won but that's it.

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h32 added 19:37 - Feb 16 Ipswich24 - agreed.
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dirtydingusmagee added 19:55 - Feb 16 Not exactly an inspired performance,but enough to get 3 priceless points .Clean sheet too , welldone lads. Tough game coming up with Watford,to get anything from them at mo will be great . COYB
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starofkerry added 20:15 - Feb 16 JUST LOOKED AT THE TABLE AND IF EVERY TEAM DOWN THERE WITH US WON THEIR GAMES IN HAND THE TABLE WOULD LOOK LIKE THIS. BOLTON 41 BLACKPOOL 40 HUDDERSFIELD 40 WEDNESDAY 39 IPSWICH 38 BARNSLEY 37 PETERBORO 36 WOLVES 35 BRISTOL 31 ITS GONNA BE TIGHT!!!!!!!
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WashbrookBlue added 20:54 - Feb 16 This was a poor , poor game and much of our play going forward was pretty static and unthreatening BUT there are more positives than negatives. Surprised at how little comment there is about Hyam's magnificent display. I thought his break up tackling , closing down, winning the ball etc etc was truly top draw. Ok, he might not be able to pick a 40 yard ball but that's not his role and I thought he held us together in the middle the whole match. Defensively we are worlds apart from early season - gone are the horrendous gifts and that is always going to give you a chance of grinding out games like we did today. And finally there is a togetherness and a willingness to put bodies on the line that DEFINITELY wasn't there before MM came. The rest of the season is all about scraping enough points to give us ANOTHER chance to rebuild better than we have been able to before. Entertainment? You've got men in hamster wheels at half time, our ex CEO's greatest self aclaimed achievement. What more do you want......?

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petermorris added 20:56 - Feb 16 Like some of the comments on here — not pretty, but in the end we got a goal and they didn't. With the remains of a ridiculous squad, and some cheap replacements, MM is doing a job of trying to keep us in the league and I'm happy with that.
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BerlinBlue added 21:07 - Feb 16 Ipswich24, of course you're entitled to your opinion, as we all are. However, bearing in mind the position we're in, I think we should be more concerned with getting 3 points than with the quality of our football. Playing badly and winning is surely a good thing!
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coyb99 added 21:14 - Feb 16 sometimes wins like this dont come pretty. The most important thing is that we got the 3 points against a blackpool side who beat us 6-0 earlier in the season. Big game on tuesday against a good watford side- a win or a draw would suit me nicely.
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CornardBlue added 21:39 - Feb 16 Who cares if it was'nt a great game but it was one hell of result for Town. MM has done what the last 3 managers have failed to do, that is made us hard to beat and getting everyone to work there socks of for each other.
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Edmunds5 added 22:22 - Feb 16 I agree with the majority that points on the board at this stage is more important than pretty football. However if we cannot keep possession for decent spells and fail to play open and offensive football then we will get resoundly beaten in my opinion, negative I know and I apologise. We may get away with it against Blackpool, who are a little bit in the middle of nowhere at the moment and their best player is sitting on the bench. But Watford have some very inventive players and if they can get good service into Vydra and Deeney (if not rotated) we will get punshed. N.Forest and Birmingham both play quite direct to the likes of Zigic, King/Blackstock and were beaten 3-0 and 4-0 because I feel they simply conceded possession to cheeply through long balls and allowed them to play there game. My fear is that McCarthy will play similarly and continue to try and grind out results plus I dont know if we have the right players to play how I said, We have to show how good we are, like Palace did at home to us and like Palace did at Watford not long back and like we did at the start of the season against them where we had players like Luongo in there, which was suitable for that game, we'll see what happens.

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blockb_steward added 22:46 - Feb 16 Town held their nerve in a game they would have lost a few months ago. It wasn't pretty but these are three very important points. I am worried that we cannot seem to keep/pass the ball but we harried and chased well and I am hoping that Watford won't enjoy that. Will be a big test on Tuesday but I am hoping Big Mick Mac's unbeaten home record remains intact. The passionMM has is there for all to see, he clearly is the man to inject some pride back into the ITFC faithfull. COYB for Tuesday!

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R_LAMB3 added 00:15 - Feb 17 I am a season ticket holder and i was at the game today and thought we were playing really well and were bossing the game until Wordsworth got injured and we just lost our shape a little bit. It was a clever move to bring Chopra on and even more so as it turned out he got the winner and i for one was glad to here the final whistle. A lot of people on here dont seem to happy about how we are playing at the moment and trying to grind out results to get the three points but Mick told us all before the game started it wont be pretty because we are desperate for points. Would some of you be happy if we played pretty football and lost because if that had happened today we would have been down in the bottom three. Can i be the first one on here today say sorry and how unlucky poor Wordsworth was getting injured today after getting picked in the starting line up and having to spend the night in hospital. Hope you make a speedy recovery.

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yun added 07:57 - Feb 17 A hugely important win, and one we probably would have lost earlier in the season. Must try to snaffle at least a point on Tuesday night.
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wkj added 09:01 - Feb 17 to be fair I've been to many games the last couple of seasons where we've played pretty well but lost (especially in the dying minutes). Saturdays game was poor; but I enjoyed seeing those three points much more.
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algarvefan added 09:40 - Feb 17 I agree with Washbrookblue completely, MM said this season is all about survival in the Championship and without him I think we would already be as good as relegated. OK the football is not pretty, when is it ever that way in the relegation area! I've said it before and will say it again it's taken us years to get in this mess and will take us a few to get out of it...... miracles happen in movies not at Portman Road! All we can do is get behind the lads, COYB!!!!!

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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 10:41 - Feb 17 starofkerry: In a sense, all the teams down around us can't win their games in hand (depending on which game you count as the "one in hand"). What I mean is on Tuesday, for example, B'ham play Sheffield Wed, and Barnsley play Wolves, so they can't all get three points, thank God. But I absolutely agree we are not out of the woods yet, and it will be very tight. Makes that Blackpool win look even more massive than yesterday.

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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 10:43 - Feb 17 Would be happy with a point on Tuesday and over the moon with three.
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Warkys_Tash added 11:25 - Feb 17 Chopra has to start on Tuesday night. Class.
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blueherts added 12:03 - Feb 17 Like before the Boro game - I feel strangely confident about Tuesday - why? Well Watford play open attacking football - they have some good ball players and that will suit us - Barnsley , PBoro , Bristol City etc came here and we pretty much cancelled each other out in dire games - I would put JET out there on Tuesday - Think we need something unpredictable against the 'better teams' . I like McGoldrick to start and think Chopra has earnt a recall JET in an advanced CM position could ? be just what we need against a cock a hoop confident italian second team - I just so wnat to beat Watford ( my nearest club!!) Be delighted if we get a 0-0 Defensively we are much better than 2 months back and Hyam is getting better With Wordy out ? I think JET ( much as he frustrates the hell out of me) has the ability to shine in this sort of game !

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johnwarksshorts added 12:44 - Feb 17 Just seen Watford on tv, they are scoring goals for fun, Town are going to need every player to be on their game for this one on Tuesday eve. Would be great if we could get a win but I can't see it, will do well to get a draw. Hopefully MM will get them all fired up and treat it like a cup final. Well done against Blackpool we so needed that win and nice to keep a clean sheet. Hope Chops can make an impact now and for the rest of the season.

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Fatcatevans added 14:51 - Feb 17 Blue hearts. are you joking? JET against Watford. This is another game where we are gonna have to dig in and run our nuts off to compete against a more than useful outfit. We can't afford show boaters like JET in such an environment
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