David McGoldrick’s 55th minute penalty saw Town to a 1-0 home victory over Bolton. The Blues top scorer had been hauled back by Trotters’ keeper Andy Lonergan after he had dropped a high ball.

Stephen Hunt and Frank Nouble came into the Town side for departed loanee Ryan Tunnicliffe and Paul Anderson, who dropped to the bench.

Former Blue Liam Trotter was named on the bench for the visitors having joined them on loan from Millwall yesterday.

McGoldrick threatened for the first time in the fifth minute, shooting over at the far post after Cole Skuse’s cross from the right had been flicked on. Town’s top scorer may feel he ought to have scored.

A minute later, Lukas Jutkiewicz headed Bolton’s first chance wide from Neil Danns’s cross from the right.

The visitors should have gone in front in the 12th minute after Tim Ream crossed from the left and Jutkiewicz’s effort from the edge of the six-yard box was blocked. The loose ball fell to Mark Davies 10 yards out but he completely missed his kick. Once the former Wolves midfielder had regained control, he scraped well wide.

It was a fortunate escape for the Blues, who hadn’t really settled into a reshuffled 4-3-3 system with Hunt joining Jay Tabb and Skuse in the midfield.

On 17, Chambers crossed from the right but Nouble’s looping header failed to test Trotters keeper Lonergan.

Two minutes later, Tabb found Hunt midway inside the Bolton half towards the right, the Irish international cleverly threading in Nouble, whose shot from a tight angle was deflected wide off Matt Mills.

From the resultant corner, the ball was eventually cleared to Aaron Cresswell 30 yards out, the left-back smashing a powerful strike which looked goalbound until Lonergan got his fingertips to it and diverted it over.

On 27 Skuse required lengthy treatment after a clash of heads just outside the Town penalty area. A stretcher was brought on but eventually the midfielder was led off the field and around the perimeter to the tunnel to warm applause. Anthony Wordsworth took over.

Bolton had another good chance to go in front in the 34th minute, skipper Jay Spearing playing a deft pass over the Blues backline and into the path of Danns. The former Colchester man seemed set to score but Town keeper Dean Gerken did well to save his outside-of-the-boot shot down to his left.

The visitors had dominated proceedings since Skuse’s injury and threatened again on 39, Christophe Berra doing well to nod wide ahead of Jutkiewicz.

Three minutes later, the Scotland international was booked for a foul on Darren Pratley after the former Swansea man had got away from him midway inside the Town half. Spearing’s curling freekick flew well wide.

The Trotters continued to have the better of it as the game moved into six minutes of injury time, Jutkiewicz hitting a low shot wide of Gerken’s left post.

Wordsworth scuffed a shot well over after a corner from the left had reached him deep on the right, then at the other end Medo Kamara hit a powerful strike over from the right but the scores remained level at the break.

Town were rather fortunate to still be on terms, the visitors having had the half’s better chances and been in control for the most part, certainly since Skuse’s injury. Davies certainly should have taken his opportunity, while Gerken had to be at his best to save from Danns.

The Blues’ best chances were McGoldrick’s early strike, which he failed to get on top of, and Nouble’s shot which was well blocked.

McCarthy’s men had looked uncomfortable in their 4-3-3 system and had failed to settle after losing Skuse.

Bolton started the second period on the front foot, Gerken saving Alex Baptiste’s strike from the right at his near post.

Hunt won Town a corner in the 49th minute, Wordsworth eventually sending a strike not too far over Lonergan’s bar from 20 yards.

The Blues, with Tabb in the deeper of the three midfield roles, finally started to impose themselves on the game, Nouble and Chambers sending dangerous balls in from the right.

And in the 55th minute Town went in front from the penalty spot. Lonergan failed to hold onto a high ball under pressure from McGoldrick and hauled the Blues back as he looked to get to the loose ball. Referee Charles Breakspear pointed straight to the spot.

McGoldrick, who had had Town’s last two penalties saved, took the kick himself and smashed it down the middle to claim his 15th goal of the season.

The former Forest man, who has declared his international allegiance to the Republic of Ireland, went close again a minute later, hitting a low shot across the face of goal and wide.

The goal had given the Blues a spring in their step, Hunt striking a dipping half-volley which Lonergan claimed on 62, then two minutes later a corner was laid out to Tabb, whose wayward shot was diverted over by Wordsworth.

The former Colchester man flicked a Hunt corner to the far post in the 71st minute, Ream turning the ball behind ahead of Berra. Two minutes later ex-Town man Liam Trotter was warmly applauded by his old fans as he came on to make his debut for his new club.

Frazer Richardson was given his debut in place of the Blues’ earlier sub Wordsworth in the 78th minute, the on-loan Middlesbrough man slotting into the midfield — taking up the deep role previously occupied by Tabb - rather than his more usual right-back role.

Bolton sub Chris Eagles hit a low shot through to Gerken on 83 with the Trotters throwing players forward in numbers as they went looking for an equaliser. The Blues were largely content to sit and catch the visitors on the break.

Berra skipped past a couple of Bolton players, then struck an effort which was blocked in the 85th minute, then three minutes later debutant Richardson shot over.

The Blues continued to look the more threatening side as the game moved into injury time, Hunt’s right-foot effort scuffing wide.

Bolton never looked like getting back on terms during the final minutes and referee Breakspeak’s whistle confirmed Town’s victory.

While the Trotters had been the better side before the break, the Blues were very much on top in the second half and in the end deserved the victory.

Having gone in front via what looked a very definite penalty, Town could have increased their lead with Bolton, who ought to have been in front at half-time, looking very much a struggling side once they were behind. The Blues remain in seventh, four points behind Reading in the final play-off place.

Town: Gerken, Chambers (c), Berra, Smith, Cresswell, Tabb, Skuse (Wordsworth 32 (Richardson 78), Hunt, Nouble, McGoldrick, Murphy. Subs: Loach, Mings, Anderson, Edwards, Taylor.

Bolton: Lonergan, Baptiste, Knight, Mills, Ream, Spearing (c), Medo (Lee 80), Pratley (Eagles 59), M Davies, Danns (Trotter 73), Jutkiewicz. Subs: Bogdan, White, Vela, Moritz. Referee: Charles Breakspear (Surrey). Att: 15,429 (Bolton: 372).

Photo: Action Images

livrich added 23:15 - Feb 1 Delighted with the result, league position, not sure what do without the weekly will we wont we hang on for a narrow win followed by the buzz when we do.... The odd 3-0 or bigger win would be nice but anything is better than losing. Just mick keeps on clinching enough results to keep us in the mix
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blueboy1981 added 23:28 - Feb 1 ...... why do people constantly, and seemingly forever, keep harping on about 'how bad we were when Keane and Jewell' were here - and comparing with now ?? Those are days best forgotten - not remembered forever (unlike the glory years !) Most of these said (and sad) people were probably the very one's who thought they were both doing a good job - there were plenty who had much support for them and could see no wrong in them !!. Let's move on - to bigger and better times - AGAIN. (Some of us have been there before ) - and like it.

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thebeat added 23:52 - Feb 1 I do wonder if some people on here actually know what the plus and minus buttons for. Its for agreeing or disagreeing with the comment. So many comments stating Taylor would be a better option than Nouble have been minused tonight. Im sorry but if you think Nouble actually produces anything resembling an end product you know nothing about football.
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Langdon_Blue added 12:36 - Feb 2 Blueboy - I think people compare now with the Jewell days to make it simpler to understand for those that appear to struggle to see the improvement Mick has achieved arriving. No need to call fellow Ipswich fans 'sad'. Although you seem to always be on a bit of a downer, you do come across far more mature than that.
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ShropshireBluenago09 added 14:01 - Feb 2 All good teams go through spells of playing sh*t and winning
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battyblue added 15:47 - Feb 2 one more on the Taylor saga maybe Phil or someone can ask MM why he is not playing and why he is second fiddle to Frank Nouble being a high % of supporters want him playing,probably get some didly skit answer but there we are.
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blueboy1981 added 18:36 - Feb 2 Langdon Blue - No one should be incapable of seeing, and accepting, that improvement has been made during the period you mention - League position indicates that alone. However, far too many people use that as a benchmark now, and anything better than 'where we were' is considered acceptable enough, which in my opinion is totally wrong - those days are well behind us, and certainly NOT worth remembering. The days when the Club won the FA CUP and UEFA CUP are well worth remembering - and what is wrong with having the ambition / desire to aim in that direction again. It may well never happen again in the history of the Club for various reasons - BUT it certainly won't without the ambition to do so. Clubs die without ambition - through low entertainment levels, and dwindling crowds as a result of such. Hit the minus button as you will - I will only ever want our Club to continuously move forward, and never rest on poor quality laurels.

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RRanger added 18:57 - Feb 2 My problem with Frank Nouble is that he cannot play with the ball at his feet. On the odd occasion where the ball is played for him to run onto he can be quite effective - he has made some excellent crosses from the dead ball line on the right side but he persists in thinking he has close control and he hasn't. Whenever he receives the ball to feet and tries to turn his man (a la Didsy) he always loses it. If MM insists on playing him why cant players slide the ball into the channels for him to run onto.

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Elizabeth added 18:59 - Feb 2 One word ... result !
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Surco72 added 19:13 - Feb 2 Keanish sorry for the late reply to your posting still recovering from the dull game and the even duller journey home . As you state 3 points is great but the football and entertainment so poor . Regarding the Taylor question we had a conversation when he was loaned out and I questioned it saying I would rather he stay here to get fit and that MM just doesn't rate him , I think this point has been well a truly proved now . How Nouble / Anderson / Tabb or even Edwards regularly get picked above him in whatever formation is beyond me . I still think we are punching well above our weight which is an absolute credit to MM and hope he has some loans lined up to add a bit of spark or can see us dropping as quickly as we got up there ?

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Langdon_Blue added 19:27 - Feb 2 Blueboy - That post sounds like you have a good understanding the mess that Mick picked up the day he started. Players disrespecting the club (Chopra) and going out getting drunk and ignoring club rules (Bullard). Loan players openly admitting that the players employed by Ipswich didn't even care about our Club, hence we were bottom of the league and in complete disarray. Of course that isn't the benchmark to any of our supporters, we all want success and as the points above were as recent as last Winter I'd say Mick has been successful so far. Who know's where he might take us this year? A top 6 finish? We aren't that far away and it's his first year. If you aren't going to be happy until we win the FA Cup or UEFA cup then you aren't going to be smiling anytime soon...but if you want Ipswich to be taken seriously as promotion candidates then, the players have given us hope that could be sooner rather than later and that is thanks to the changes the current Manager and his staff have made in the 14 months they have been here. Enjoy our fantastic past, want us to be in the Premiership, but be realistic in how long that will take. The progression that you can clearly see is a good sign that things are starting to turn around for the better.

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TimmyH added 20:09 - Feb 2 If I had a pound for every time I've seen some body mention we would be playing Div1 football if it wasn't for Mick!...Well I'd have a season ticket over the half way line. Are people serious when they say this? it's becoming almost laughable now.
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warktheline added 21:07 - Feb 2 Fact TimmyH.What do you want? Do you want to change manager? If so who do you suggest? Do you want to change style of play? If so where is the money going to come from to buy better players? It is what it is,sitting 7th in the championship with an honest bunch of lads and a manager making the most out of what he's got to work with.
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budgieplucker added 21:38 - Feb 2 I stand to be correct but I seem to recall that a sizeable proportion of Taylor's fee is not due until he has completed a certain number of appearances. With him missing a season already I suspect that this trigger point has not yet been reached. I also suspect that this amount is in the "budget". If Taylor is not an MM type of player then big Mac might just fancy being able to use the budget in other ways by preventing too many appearances before season end that might just trigger that payment this season.

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theobald1985 added 22:30 - Feb 2 irishtim we dont need to watch re runs of ROI games to know mick is long ball we see it every week with town. Long ball football will get you so far at championship level but there is no real future in playing this way-awful to watch if he does not take us up this year which i dont think he will we would be better off getting somebody in to adhere to a new club philosophy of passing attractive football and play the same way right through youth level-we are not barcelona but there can be no harm in trying to emulate there phiolosophy-a similar project has worked wonders for swansea who are traditionally not a big side but seem established in the prem and playing in europe

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theobald1985 added 22:30 - Feb 2 irishtim we dont need to watch re runs of ROI games to know mick is long ball we see it every week with town. Long ball football will get you so far at championship level but there is no real future in playing this way-awful to watch if he does not take us up this year which i dont think he will we would be better off getting somebody in to adhere to a new club philosophy of passing attractive football and play the same way right through youth level-we are not barcelona but there can be no harm in trying to emulate there phiolosophy-a similar project has worked wonders for swansea who are traditionally not a big side but seem established in the prem and playing in europe

1

TimmyH added 12:17 - Feb 3 So no other manager could have come in at that time (beginning of November last season) and turn our season round other than Mick, don't forget a £1M carrot was dangled in front of him if we weren't relegated and whose to say we couldn't have got another manager of similar caliber?. Look at your post before hand and read what you have said, I'm not talking about what Mick has done since then results wise or if I want to change manager now as I believe he has done a good job on a shoe string budget and a squad with a fair amount of PJ's players so don't take things out of context!

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TimmyH added 12:18 - Feb 3 * could even say in the first paragraph...'stop us being relegated other than Mick'.
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BlueandTruesince82 added 14:46 - Feb 3 RE Taylor- Hes not the messiah hes a very naughty boy, RE how bad we were under RK and PJ- Ppl keep harping on about how bad we were because we were awfull. I will take a 1-0 wk in wk out if its a choice between that and being on the wrong en of 5 or 6 nill. At least there is togetherness now, which is something the club had alays had righ up to Keane arrival. He then banished former player from the training ground (players who sponnsered the youth team) threw hi weight around and acted like, well Roy Keane. PJ tried sortin it with big names which I imagine rankled some players already here. MM has boufgt stability and a winning mentality back.

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