Freddie Sears scored twice and Tyrone Mings and Kevin Bru once each as the Blues beat Birmingham 4-2 at Portman Road. Mings headed in his first senior goal in the 24th minute, Sears made it 2-0 four minutes after the break, before David Davis pulled one back on 57. Sears netted his second on 64, Davis grabbed another for the visitors on 79 before Bru sealed it in injury time with his first goal for Town.

Jonny Parr and Paul Anderson came into his side with Jay Tabb and Teddy Bishop dropping to the bench.

Parr started on the left of midfield for Town for the first time, having impressed as a sub on a couple of occasions with Anderson in his usual right-sided role.

The Norwegian made a strong early run through the middle before hitting a weak right-foot shot through to keeper Darren Randolph.

On 10 Anderson crossed from the left but Jonathan Grounds just got in ahead of skipper Luke Chambers to nod away. The clearance fell to Kevin Bru who miscued his volley well wide.

Town were beginning to put the visitors under pressure, Grounds cleared another Anderson cross away from Chambers, then Sears was sent away down the right - from what looked to be an offside position - but his low cross was ahead of Murphy.

The Championship’s top scorer went looking to add to this season’s array of stunning strikes in the 16th minute, curling an effort just over the bar from distance on the right.

Murphy sent strike partner Sears away in the 22nd minute, the ex-Colchester man taking the ball into the box before hitting a shot which deflected into the side-netting.

Two minutes later, ahead of a Town corner on the right won by Sears, Cole Skuse, who had called physio Matt Byard onto the field a few minutes previously for what looked to be a back problem, made way for Jay Tabb.

As the sub took his place on the field, Tyrone Mings appeared to be waved forward for the corner in place of Parr by manager Mick McCarthy and rose highest to power Anderson’s flag-kick down and into the net to claim his first senior goal - in his 50th appearance - and a deserved lead for his side.

There was a scare for the Blues two minutes after going ahead, however, when Bialkowski failed to keep hold of a corner from the left, but Christophe Berra was on hand to clear ahead of Clayton Donaldson.

The visitors threatened again on 28 when Donaldson was sent away behind the Blues’ backline and brought the ball in from the left but Bialkowski did well to save his low shot.

The game immediately moved to the other end with Murphy similarly breaking into the area on the left but the Irishman smashed his shot into the side-netting from a tight angle with Sears unmarked and well-placed to receive a pass at the far post.

Lee Novak headed wide after a spot of head tennis in the 34th minute, then Bialkowski was off his line quickly to claim ahead of Wes Thomas with the Blues largely on top but allowing Birmingham the occasional opening. Three minutes later, Berra headed Anderson’s right-wing cross wide.

Smith looped a back header over on 43 after Tabb had returned an Anderson corner which had been half-cleared.

Town continued to look the more likely scorers of the next in the remaining minutes prior to Select Group official Lee Probert blowing his whistle for half-time.

The Blues were worth their lead via Mings’s excellent header at the break having been the better side, however, Birmingham had had their opportunities - largely as a result of Town slips - and might well have gone in on terms.

Town went close to adding to their lead soon after the break. Tabb’s corner from the left was cleared back out to him and the midfielder chipped the ball to the far post where Murphy got ahead of Berra to nod off the post, the Scot sending the rebound over.

But the Blues didn’t have to wait too long for a second goal. Chambers played a ball over the top from well inside the Town half for Sears who found himself in the clear with only a half-advanced Randolph to beat. The 25-year-old kept his composure and smashed his first home goal for the Blues past the keeper to make it 2-1.

Jonathan Spector cut out a promising Anderson cross from the right as Town went looking for a third before Mings and Stephen Gleeson were spoken to by referee Probert after the Birmingham man had reacted angrily to a poor tackle from the Blues left-back. The official opted against showing either a card.

Birmingham pulled back what had up to then seemed an unlikely goal in the 57th minute after they broke three on two against Town. Berra dispossessed Thomas on the edge of the area, but the danger was still there and Paul Caddis crossed from the right to David Davis, who flicked a header past Bialkowski.

The goalscorer picked up the game’s first yellow card for a late tackle on Bru in the 63rd minute and within a minute the Blues restored their two-goal lead.

Tabb tried to thread the ball through to Murphy but Spector got a toe in the way but could only divert it into the path of Sears, who comfortably outpaced Spector before beating Randolph to grab his second goal of the game.

In the 70th minute, after Parr had lashed a promising shot from the left not far over, Richard Chaplow was handed his Blues debut in place of Anderson.

With 11 minutes remaining Birmingham pulled back another goal. Gleeson’s cross from the right was headed to the edge of the area from where Davis, who played for Mick McCarthy and Terry Connor at Wolves, hit a low shot which squirmed under Bialkowski and into the net to make it 3-2.

With nine minutes left on the clock Birmingham broke quickly from a Town corner and were suddenly three against two again. However, Parr did well to get back to slide in and dispossess sub Lloyd Dyer.

The visitors continued to threaten and with five minutes later another sub, Demarai Gray, whipped over a cross from the right but well in front of his team-mates.

Town were having chances of their own, however, and a minute later Murphy hit a shot which Randolph saved. The ball ran to Sears to the right of the six-yard box and the one-time West Ham man took a touch before hitting a shot which deflected across the face of goal before being turned behind by a defender at the far post.

From the resultant corner, Murphy headed goalwards, Sears tried to turn it on but Randolph blocked.

Two-goal Sears was replaced by Matt Clarke soon afterwards, the striker receiving a warm ovation from the Blues support as the 18-year-old took up a central midfield position.

Town finally sealed the win in injury time when Bru dispossessed a dallying Paul Robinson after Randolph had played it out and brought it forward to the edge of the box before feeding Murphy. The Birmingham keeper saved the Town top scorer’s shot but the Mauritian was on hand to tap home the rebound, his first goal for the Blues.

Before the end sub Nikola Zigic headed off the bar and then into the net, but with the linesman’s flag having been raised, then Gleeson saw a strike deflect wide.

However, the Blues weren’t to be denied a win which really ought to have been somewhat more routine than they made it, particularly once they had gone two goals in front. A better side than Birmingham may well have made more of the opportunities Town allowed them.

Sears took both his goals with great confidence and will grab all the headlines as the Blues move back to third - ahead of Bournemouth who weren’t action this evening - as they go into Sunday’s East Anglian derby against Norwich - who are just a point behind in fifth after their 2-1 win at Blackburn - on Sunday.

Town: Bialkowski, Chambers (c), Smith, Berra, Skuse (Tabb 24), Bru, Anderson (Chaplow 70), Parr, Murphy, Sears (Clarke 89). Unused: Gerken, Varney, Connolly, Bishop.

Birmingham: Randolph, Caddis, Spector, Robinson (c), Grounds, Cotterill (Gray 65), Gleeson, Davis, Novak, Donaldson (Dyer 78), Thomas (Zigic 83). Unused: Doyle, Kiernan, Reilly, Shinnie. Referee: Lee Probert (Wiltshire). Attendance: 17,161 (Birmingham: 415).

Photo: Action Images

TractorBeezer added 22:54 - Feb 24 Well done lads. Am delighted that Sears is doing the business and that Chaplow looked effective. We need Bart to get over the wobbles before the Scum! UTTBs
1

blueboy1981 added 22:55 - Feb 24 warktheline ...... close enough - when I need to. Take a tip - you are very capable of posting some good stuff - just don't let the obsession with MM run away with you. Here's to 3 points at Carrot Road - and I expect nothing less - if we do I'll buy you a pint when you next get to Portman Road.
7

StowTractorBoy added 22:55 - Feb 24 Shoot me down if you like but if we play like that on Sunday we will get beaten. Obviously I am chuffed as nuts with the win but there were many things so wrong tonight. Start with our number one who has become very shaky and does not give me any confidence at all. Smith still looks horribly lost on the right of the central defence so please MM put Chambo back in the middle on Sunday. Murphy is undoubtedly aware of his broken nose and hardly won a ball in the air. Thank goodness for Freddie Sears and what a great piece of business by MM. For the neutral it was probably a decent game but Birmingham were very poor at the back and Murphy on song would have had a field day. Well done Sears well done Bru for getting your first goal but although I go to bed happy tonight I fear the worst on Sunday. Please prove me wrong Town,

9

bluefeast added 22:58 - Feb 24 tight as a gnats chuff the top 8 is.
2

warkthelint added 22:59 - Feb 24 Bart is looking like a turkey who has just seen Bernard Matthews when a striker gets the ball and is about to shoot towards his goal. Not at the top of his game at the moment...but still better than Gerken but must pick up.
-1

BillBlue added 23:00 - Feb 24 Three very valuable points plus a dent in the goal difference so let us be satisfied with that and, hopefully, play better on Sunday.
2

StochesStotasBlewe added 23:00 - Feb 24 Very welcome 3 points tonight, overall deserved the win but...........we are going to have to be much more solid at the back on sunday. Great to see Bru & Mings get their first goals for us & Sears deserved his brace for his tireless performance, he runs the channels superbly. Much improved from our dire performance against Reading. Lets go at Naridge from the off & get in their faces, we may just pull it off.

5

warkthelint added 23:03 - Feb 24 blueboy1981..careful about offering warktheline a pint...last time I had a drink with him at the pub and it was his shout, he muttered something 'bout answering a call from MM and never saw him again lol !
5

marcus139 added 23:22 - Feb 24 Warktheline and blueboy need to rent a room.
-1

MHS added 23:56 - Feb 24 Good win against a pretty poor Birmingham side, thought we were playing some good stuff before Skuse went off injured. Fair play to Tabb for filling in and doing a decent job at DM. Worried for Sunday if Skuse isn't fit - chaplow could perhaps play alongside Bru but wouldnt offer as much protection against a dangerous looking Norwich side. Other option would be to pack the midfield and play with a 5 but cant see Sears being dropped after tonights performance. Mcgoldrick has to start on the bench for me, we'll be punished if we play with all 3. Hope knockaert signs before Sunday, would provide some much needed quality. COYB

1

ArnieM added 01:00 - Feb 25 Our Secret weapon for counter attacking football on Sunday..... Freddie Sears!
3

battyblue added 05:51 - Feb 25 Good three points well done all just read the result didn't bother with the game after Saturdays performance.
3

KiwiTractor added 08:25 - Feb 25 Well done lads, good result. Shows some character that we haven't lost two on the trot this season. Really happy for Sears, by the sounds of things his recent performances have deserved a goal or two, so this will do his confidence no end of good. A hatrick on Sunday against the scum would top off the week quite nicely thanks. Great to see Mings and Bru hit the target too, take a bit of pressure off Murph with a few others chipping in.

2

NoelTheDub added 08:32 - Feb 25 Well done all super 3pts after sat.Great to see Jonny Parr getting a start well overdue and well deserved.Early goal very important but when I saw Jay Tabb coming on I had my doubts and although they did ok I think we are vulnerable.I was also happy to see Chaplow getting a run even at 3 2 because its better to try get another goal than trying to hold on and as a result we did just that.Please be positive on Sun Mick its the only way.

1

RegencyBlue added 08:34 - Feb 25 Excellent win and good to see Sears score two very good goals but we will need to defend much better than last night on Sunday. We got away with a couple in the first half and a better team than Birmingham would have made us pay.
2

BlueandTruesince82 added 08:41 - Feb 25 Good result, happy with 3 points but agree we must play better on Sunday, lets hope Knockeart is in by then as he will add a real spark although even if he is he wont start. I still would like to see Parr at RB. Its so tight that all that matters now is winning. I dont care if we play bad so long as we win. Winning is all that matters between now and the end of the season

0

Surco72 added 08:51 - Feb 25 This stage of season any three points are great so well done MM and TC , performance was nervy at times but we were the much better side . For me we have a dilemma with Skuse when he isn't playing we look edgy at back but also more threatening going forward and score more goals without him ? A must for away games but maybe at times at home we could go for it ? Sears looks an excellent signing and his pace over the top we have been missing for a long time. A point on Sunday even nil nil would be a good result as long as we don't sit to deep

1

PJH added 09:07 - Feb 25 At least nobody should accuse MM of saying how good Naarwich are in his pre match press conference because loads on this site already doing it. Hopefully the 2000 of us actually going on Sunday are all going in the belief that we are a good team with a good manager and capable of getting a good result. That is of course except those on here going in their yella and grin. If all players go there with belief we can do it. Freddie on fire and Murph due another goal.

2

rachelsdad added 09:07 - Feb 25 exciting game not too much skill,Sears took his goals well and on another night Murphy would have scored a couple. Birmingham always looked dangerous but tonight, unlike Saturday we created chances and had more energy going forward. Bart did not have his best game and sad to see Skuse go off early, need him for Sunday.
1

brittaniaman added 09:23 - Feb 25 Well done you Blues last night, a very hard fought 3pts. but much needed win before Sunday !! Thanks MM. for pushing Mings up and pulling Parr back in the defence for the corner, good Tactic that !! We all need to be on song for Sunday, as we all know the Flying Canaries seem to be picking up points in abundance lately ??? One more thing let us hope that Bart gets over this little blip, which is unusual for him !!!

2

Jimmy86 added 09:41 - Feb 25 Great result heading into Sunday, but we don't half make it hard for ourselves!!! Think if we are to get anything out of the game on Sunday we must be more considered and measured in our play. Still far too many aimless long balls down field, hit more in hope that something will come of it. Pleased for Mings and Bru scoring their first goals for the club. With Mings height I'm amazed he doesn't go up for more corners, I know he is quick and that's why he is perhaps left as the last man if they leave 1 up, but why not leave someone back who's not as big, but still quick enough. Well taken goals from sears and he has the pace to get in behind. Great win but need to play better Sunday for sure

3

Reecex28 added 10:12 - Feb 25 Great result but strange match. Still too much Hoofball but after Sears first goal and, two goal cushion, confidently started passing it on the ground. Back to 2-1, confidence goes and its up in the air time again. MM done a great job but players would rather thump it up field than get a bollocking for losing ball in own half. MM would bite your hand off now for point against Scum and will set us up defensively and only change if we are behind with 20mins to go.

3

Razor added 10:28 - Feb 25 A scratchy win from a nervous team in front of a nervous crowd. We still have two dodgy goalies and would PK in for Sunday but doubt that will happen. Parr much better defensively so swap him with Mings, most of danger from his side. If Didds fit play him in Eric Gates roll so he can put passes throught to Freddie,on the ground,his pace and finishing will upset their defence. Play Chapelow---even from his brief stint looked solid,professional and a good player. Was not nervous abiut this game 2 weeks ago but am now----we need a positive attitude but guess we will go and scrap for a point and lose-----hope I am eating humble pie at teatime!!

3

Lightningboy added 10:40 - Feb 25 Why is it that whenever we score 2 or 3 or 4 we have to go and let in 2 or 3 etc...is it lack of concentration??..sort it out guys! Great result though in what could've been another banana skin..Really really chuffed for Freddie..excellent signing.
3

warktheline added 10:57 - Feb 25 Hold you to that pint Blueboy. warkthelint? guess you must be obsessed with me! Think I need to change my name, really don't wont our post getting mixed up. Relief to see Sears score a couple, takes pressure of Murphy. Would still like the back four as follows, Parr, Chambers, Berra, Mings. Hate to say it, but Norwich are form team, and last night result proves their credentials as very serious automatic candidates. Feel sick saying that! Think we will need a plan, and a slice of luck to take all 3 pts on Sunday. Derby game, guess anything can happen. We remain in contention to date, March will give us a true reflection to how our season could turn out. Have a feeling Chaplow and Varney may have a part to play in remaining games.

3

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls