Jay Tabb scored the only goal as Town defeated Bolton Wanderers 1-0 at Portman Road. After an open first half in which the visitors had the better chances, the midfielder won it with 11 minutes left, volleying a half-cleared Daryl Murphy cross into the ground and past Trotters keeper Ben Amos.

Town boss Mick McCarthy named an unchanged team aside from Bartosz Bialkowski replacing Dean Gerken in goal. McCarthy had previously said that Gerken wouldn’t be risked having been knocked unconscious at Middlesbrough on Saturday.

Ipswich-born former Northgate pupil and one-time Blue Liam Trotter started in midfield for the visitors, who made a late change on their bench with Kaiyne Woolery replacing Adam Le Fondre.

Town began the game on top, Jonny Parr shooting over after a corner had been cleared to him just outside the area in the seventh minute.

Bolton threatened for the first time two minutes later when Craig Davies played in Eidur Gudjohnsen inside the area but the Icelander was out-muscled by Tyrone Mings. Moments later, Giles Coke struck a 20-yard effort which Bialkowski rather unnecessarily punched away.

The Blues ought to have gone in front in the 16th minute when Freddie Sears stole the ball from Tim Ream and went through one-on-one with keeper Amos, who stood up well and blocked.

On 22 Cole Skuse picked up the game’s first yellow card for a trip on the lively Rochinha as the on-loan Benfica midfielder broke into the Town half.

Bolton started to get on top, Trotter shooting well wide in the 25th minute before Davies cut a dangerous ball across from the left but too far in front of Josh Vela at the far post.

Just before the half hour, Mings made a strong run through the middle from inside his own half before feeding Sears to his left. The ex-Colchester man crossed and the left-back flicked across goal and wide.

Bolton immediately broke, Christophe Berra and Tommy Smith eventually dispossessing Gudjohnsen before Rochinha slipped and Skuse cleared the danger.

A previously subdued Portman Road was starting to wake up and on 31 the Blues went close again, Berra heading a freekick across goal from the far post and Smith diverting a looping ball back into the six-yard area but with no Blue shirt present.

With the action swinging from one end to the other in a very open half, Bolton twice went close within a minute.

First Bialkowski palmed Davies’s shot from the edge of the box out to Vela, who cut back to Gudjohnsen, but the veteran’s effort was deflected wide by Mings.

From the corner, the Trotters went even nearer, Dorian Dervite nodding down to Ream in the six-yard box. The American international worked himself space to shoot but saw Parr block his weak effort on the line, the ball inadvertently bouncing up off the Norwegian’s arm before he cleared.

Tabb broke through from midfield in the 38th minute but could only shoot straight at Amos, who claimed comfortably.

But it was the visitors who were continuing to look the more threatening side with debutant Rochinha’s running their main danger.

In the 41st minute the Portuguese brought the ball forward from deep at pace past a number of defenders, exchanged passes with Davies but shot just wide of Bialkowski’s left post when he seemed certain to score. It was a major let-off for the Blues. Neither side threatened again before referee Fred Graham brought the half to a close.

Bolton will feel they should have been ahead at the end of an open half having come closest to scoring through Ream and the impressive Rochinha. Town had had chances but more of the better opportunities had fallen to the visitors.

Town switch Parr for Luke Varney at the break as they moved to 4-3-3 with on-loan Blackburn man on the left, Daryl Murphy in the centre and Sears on the right.

Skipper Chambers scraped a 55th minute shot wide as the second half began scruffily. Two minutes later, Kevin Bru replaced the quiet Bishop.

Just before the hour, a Sears cross from the right was nodded out to Skuse on the edge of the box from where the midfielder - still without a goal since joining Town in the summer of 2013 - flicked the ball up and volleyed just over.

The former Bristol City man twice went close again within a minute, first beating Trotter to a clearance 25 yards out and hitting a shot which struck Amos’s right post. The 28-year-old was first to the loose ball on the edge of the box and side-footed towards goal but the keeper did well to recover and save.

Murphy shot wide on 73 but chances at either end were coming far less frequently than they had in the first half.

Rochinha, Bolton’s biggest threat before the break, was replaced by Rob Hall with 11 minutes remaining having been far less influential in the second.

Almost immediately, the Blues went in front. Murphy crossed from the left, the ball was half-cleared to Tabb just inside the area and the midfielder volleyed into the ground past the wrong-footed Amos and into the corner of the net. It was Tabb’s second goal of the season, making the first Town midfielder to score more than once this season.

Bolton looked to get straight back in it, sub Hall turned a Tom Walker cross to Bialkowski, then at the other end Mings smashed a powerful right-foot shot against a defender having cut in from the left.

As the game entered its final five scheduled minutes Bru fizzed a low shot across Amos and wide.

Bolton should have grabbed an equaliser in the last minute. Following a corner, Ream crossed from the right and Davies headed wide at the far post when he seemed certain to score.

As the match moved into injury time, Matt Clarke replaced Sears, Murphy shot well wide from distance, then Bru was booked for a foul but the Blues saw out the remaining minutes without too many dramas to end their run of four games without a win.

While Bolton should probably have been ahead at the break, until Davies's miss in the closing moments the Blues had the better second-half chances with Skuse unfortunate not to grab his first Town goal when he hit the post.

While Tabb’s goal was by no means a classic it was as important as any Town have scored this season, although with Brentford winning 3-2 at Blackburn the Blues remain seventh a point from the play-offs with eight left to play.

Elsewhere, Wolves remain two points behind the Blues in eighth having beaten Sheffield Wednesday 3-0.

Town: Bialkowski, Chambers (c), Mings, Berra, Smith, Skuse, Bishop (Bru 57), Parr (Varney 46), Tabb, Murphy, Sears (Clarke 90). Unused: Kenny, Anderson, Chaplow, Wood.

Bolton: Amos, Vela, Mills, Dervite, Ream, Trotter, Coke, Walker, Rochinha (Hall 79), Gudjohnsen (Bannan 64), C Davies. Unused: Bogdan, Moxey, Woolery, Twardzik, Threlkeld. Referee: Fred Graham (Essex). Attendance: 16,923 (Bolton: 249).

Photo: Action Images

Jimmy86 added 22:28 - Mar 17 The main thing tonight was to win and gain 3 points and that's what we did. Was noticeable that we didn't just hoof the ball aimlessly forward so much and we tried to be more measured in our build up play. We played through Skuse, who for me was man of the match and was brilliant and was so unlucky not to open his goals account. Bru also did very well when he came on and Varney did a good job at what he was asked to do coming on mixing it up with the aerial battles. Thought Bolton were quite a dirty team, highlighted by Davies, who was a right dirty tosser. They did play some good stuff, especially in the first half, when really they should have been ahead. Thought Neil lennon's touchline antics were an absolute disgrace and don't know why he wasn't spoken to by the ref. An average manager, who managed an average team in the Mickey mouse league that is the SPL. Massive 3 points and a much needed win. Watford will be tough, as we don't get anything down there usually, I'd take a draw tbh. Onwards and upwards COYB!!!

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StochesStotasBlewe added 22:30 - Mar 17 The only reason we kept a clean sheet tonight was Boltons woeful finishing. Our defence was all over the place in the 1st half, the midfield anonymous & only the introduction of Bru improved the teams performance. However, a win is most welcome but we will have to be much better on Saturday because Deeney & co will be a lot more clinical if given the chances Bolton wasted.

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blueherts added 22:31 - Mar 17 Yesss onwards to our unhappy hunting ground !! Think we can beat em I would like to see Hunt back on bench - he would be up for abit of Watford We owe em one - also that Swede who hacked JW down at PR Great change of formation and well done Tabb We have all been vocal and busy past few days but we all want the same thing at the end Win ugly fine by me - Lots of goals flying in - would love to see us bury afew at the Hornets on Satdday !!

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bluesince84 added 22:33 - Mar 17 blueboy and mickzztactics have it spot on. Really happy with the win of course, and happy for tabb as much as i detest him.Quite right a round peg in a round hole and bugga me, we go 4-4-3 and we win. The trouble is, and you ALL know its coming, next game, and the one after that, and the one after that, and the one after that will be 4-4-2. 45 oust of mins does not a 'for all yuo doubters; make. 45 mins out of 1080 mins at 4-4-3 is not enough for me to start praising micks tactics. 442 on sat and watford will tear us apart.

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Gcon added 22:35 - Mar 17 Jay Tabb - Match winner! How's that humble pie tasting?...
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backwaywhen added 22:37 - Mar 17 Just back , not pretty tonight , could have lost if Bolton had a decent striker , but hey ho 3 points , clean sheet and maybe a little more confidence to take to Vicarage Road . Have to say apart from couple missed place passes Tab played well and as usual worked his socks off !...COYB.
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Ipswich58 added 22:38 - Mar 17 McCarthy is petty and vindictive. Replace Parr? He tries to make a point. The sooner MM goes the better. Sick of his stubbornness bloodymindedness and refusal to see the obvious.
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warktheline added 22:40 - Mar 17 GCon, how much weight have you put on through season....your remark doesn't stack up. Hardly prolific, nor rest around him in midfield. Hard worker, yes.
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TimmyH added 22:43 - Mar 17 Very important win although probably expected against an average Bolton side. As per after the Sheff Wed and Birmingham games really when we needed those moral boosting wins - but home wins against sides that won't be threatening the play-offs, it's games against our rivals which will make or break us and yet another one comes along this saturday. Very glad we've kept a clean...and that will give the back 4 that MM will no doubt keep persevering with some confidence although against a very low scoring Bolton team. Sounded like Cole Skuse had a good game so well done to him. Bigger games ahead which will test us more than this game that's for sure, it's our away form which is of most concern. But well done tonight boys.

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WashbrookBlue added 22:46 - Mar 17 Feel the much criticised (some of it fair) manager should take some credit for substitutions that definitely worked for us second half. I thought Varney looked lively - won lots in the air at both ends and it was his spin and pass that led to goal. Bru made major impact by adding some slick distribution to the (excellent) work rate and contribution of Skuse and the much maligned Tabb. Agree with assessment of first half fragility. A win is a win of course and punctuates a grim period with some cheer....but its hard to see anything from next two games.

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runaround added 22:52 - Mar 17 Ees great is Tabby....that is all
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warwickblue added 22:54 - Mar 17 MM worked a special bit of magic tonight. He subdued an entire crowd into near total silence for 88 minutes out of 90. And no, truthhurts, I didn't properly celebrate when Tabb scored to be honest, I just sort of laughed at the irony of it on a night when I thought he had been awful again. Still, three points on the board as they say and sod the punters...
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StowTractorBoy added 22:54 - Mar 17 Three crucial points in the bag in what might prove to be our most important win of the season. We were by no means great in fact far from it but a win is a win and so pleased for Tabb who should not be criticised the way he is on here - he wears the ITFC shirt and gives his all but gets unfairly lambasted. He is not the greatest player in the world but his performance tonight was better than most of our players. Bart was again very shaky and we should have been behind at half time. Change of formation changed the game and Bru made a huge difference. Skuse was my man of the match and was unlucky not to score when he hit the post. Varney did well when he came on but Murphy was non existent and Sears although he worked hard made little impression and should have scored early on to ease the nerves. There is no doubt we will have to improve on Saturday otherwise Watford will beat us but for the moment we are still in there with a shout.

4

beeringo added 22:59 - Mar 17 Alright lads, just had a crack with my new time machine, heres how the table finishes: Team Pld W D L F A W D L F A Pts GD Middlesbrough 46 16 4 3 42 11 12 6 5 31 21 94 41 Watford 46 15 3 5 51 23 13 4 6 40 26 91 42 Norwich City 46 11 8 4 47 23 14 4 5 39 22 87 41 Derby County 46 13 6 4 46 21 11 6 6 32 24 84 33 Ipswich Town 46 16 4 3 38 14 7 8 8 31 34 81 21 Brentford 46 13 5 5 44 25 11 4 8 29 30 81 18 AFC Bournemouth 46 12 7 4 41 25 11 4 8 46 24 80 38 Wolverhampton Wanderers 46 12 7 4 36 19 8 8 7 28 32 75 13 Oh and we win the Champions League in 2021, Naarch go into liquidation after Delia uses the club as a front for her secret meth lab and gets busted. Oops should have said 'spoiler alert' ;)

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truthhurts added 23:04 - Mar 17 Warwickblue - that's what i like to hear. Proper support as always :)
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Minneapolis_ITFC added 23:17 - Mar 17 Hugely valuable three points and great comeback after the Boro loss. Other promotion chasing teams pick up points here and there also (?) which sours things a little, but we're still hanging in there and in a very good position going into the last weeks of the season. So want to be involved in the play-offs again after being away for 10 years.
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TimmyH added 23:23 - Mar 17 @beeringo - haha! but don't think Bournemouth will miss out on play-offs but who knows what might happen in the coming weeks. @greentractorboy - do one!
0

Cakeman added 23:35 - Mar 17 Welcome 3 points although we are a shaddow of the team of 3 months ago. On the positive side I thought the formation change and introductions of Varney and Bru worked well. On the negative side although a clean sheet the back four and keeper who I have been impressed with for the vast majority of his performances all looked hesitant. The games against Watford and Bournemouth are massive and I think we need to get at least four points from them.

2

bohslegend added 23:39 - Mar 17 With so many teams dropping points every week, just as we have done, the severity of the criticism against individual players and the manager himself is unfair, unless of course you think either a) we have some God given right to win every time we play or b) you deliberately decide to forget the enormous difference financially between us and most of the other clubs we are scrapping against for promotion. Tonight those who have played this game already on their Xbox using 2 defenders, 3 in the middle and 5 up front, and by using henshall, Stewart and any other player who hasn't been selected recently, are trying not to be impressed with the win. They point out that MM 'listened' to them and went 433 and that's the reason we won. They neglect that he took off their fave player Parr and they neglect that the usual boo-boy target Jay Tabb scored the only goal. So the hypocrisy will continue. And the anti-MM noisy minority will continue to act like an anchor to the clubs progress under MM.

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bellazzurri79 added 23:40 - Mar 17 Not a great performance and I agree with mm we didn't deserve to win that game, but we did so we will take it. We have to win ugly some times and that certainly was Worried about Watford for sure.... Berra and Varney second half were the pick of the players for me....
0

Tractor_Bhoy added 23:41 - Mar 17 At this end of the season it's a results game. Not pretty this evening, but 3 points. Bolton should have scored at least one but we should have scored more than we have done in recent games when results have not gone our way. I'm a Tabb fan, I like the effort he puts in but appreciate that he's not always the top performer and, although I don't always agree with it, I understand why many on here are not his biggest fan. Still, the boy did good tonight and the back four - although not always solid - did not concede. 3 much needed points and , always the optimist, I'm certain we can get something from Watford at the weekend. Important times - let's get behind Mick and the lads.

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BlueNomad added 00:01 - Mar 18 All this moaning, and calling MM "vindictive", because Parr was substituted. I thought tonight was his worst game for us. Loads of misplaced passes tonight.
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gorse added 00:24 - Mar 18 HELL YEAH TABB well deserved son
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essexbluey added 00:41 - Mar 18 Glad we are back to winning ways. Just got back to southend had a lovely curry at norwich road befor i drove home. The owner of the maharani was a lovely guy. He joked and said when he first opened up the restaurant ipswich had a good side. I will go back again. COYB.
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NoelTheDub added 02:48 - Mar 18 3pts tonight but our probems are stiil there no creativity no pace no width to take us to the next level,ie the play offs we will be out done by football teams this just covered the cracks. Its a crazy league so go for it for gods sake...
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