Callum Connolly, Dominic Iorfa, Martyn Waghorn and Bersant Celina were all on target as Town beat Nottingham Forest 4-2 at Portman Road. Connolly netted his second goal in two games in the seventh minute, Forest equalised via Kieran Dowell’s freekick on 29, then Iorfa’s first senior goal restored Town’s lead in the 37th minute before Tyler Walker made the scoreline 2-2 six minutes later. Eight minutes after the break Waghorn made the most of some hesitant defending to make it 3-2 and Celina sealed a deserved three points on 67.

Iorfa returned to the side for suspended skipper Luke Chambers and started at right-back with Jordan Spence joining Adam Webster at the centre of the defence.

Otherwise the Blues were unchanged from the team which won 1-0 at Derby on Tuesday. Myles Kenlock was on the bench having overcome a hamstring injury which saw him miss training earlier in the week.

Forest included ex-Blues striker Daryl Murphy from the start and former loanee Stephen Henderson on the bench. They made one change from the team which lost 2-0 at Cardiff last weekend with Liam Bridcutt returning from suspension and replacing Barrie McKay in midfield.

Waghorn curled a freekick over the bar in the fourth minute after stand-in skipper Cole Skuse had been tripped by Bridcutt.

On seven Grant Ward won another freekick 25 yards out from which Town, who had dominated the opening minutes, took the lead.

Skuse tapped the kick to Waghorn, who hit low strike past the wall. Forest keeper Jordan Smith got down to his right and saved but could neither hold on nor push the ball away and Connolly followed up to smash his second goal in two games - and his first at Portman Road - into the net from close range.

Murphy headed a Ben Osborn cross over for the visitors on 10 but the Blues were continuing to look the more threatening side and on the quarter-hour they created another decent opportunity.

Huws brought the ball in from the left and fed Connolly, who turned it on to Ward breaking into the right of the box but the former Spurs man blazed over when he had time to bring the ball in closer to goal.

There was a big scare for the Blues on 17 when Dowell escaped down the left and cut the ball back to Murphy, who turned a low shot goalwards.

Bartosz Bialkowski saved to his left but the loose ball fell to Walker, who stabbed a weak effort towards the net, but the Blues keeper got back across to claw it away from just in front of the line.

The ball was cleared to the edge of the box and Eric Lichaj hit a powerful strike wide of Bialkowski’s left post.

But it was still mainly Town, who were keeping possession far better than in recent games, with Huws starting to look his old self in midfield. On 23 Skuse saw an opportunity for a strike but scuffed his effort wide.

However, just before the half hour the visitors got back on terms. Iorfa fouled Osborn 25 yards out, just to the left of centre and Dowell stepped up and curled his freekick over the wall, beyond Bialkowski to his left and just inside the post.

The game was more open and end to end following Forest’s equaliser and in the 36th minute Waghorn had the ball in the Forest net but with the linesman’s flag raised after Knudsen had strayed offside.

But Town fans only had to wait two more minutes for a second goal. After an Armand Traore cross from the left had been cut out, Iorfa headed clear from the edge of the Town box to Waghorn on halfway. Huws moved it on to Celina, who broke forward before playing in the overlapping Knudsen behind him.

The Danish international crossed deep to the far post where his fellow full-back Iorfa rose above Traore to head his first senior goal for either the Blues or parent club Wolves into the net.

Huws hit a powerful strike not too far over on 41 as Town went looking for a third. However, the Blues’ second lead of the afternoon lasted only six minutes.

Bridcutt played a deft pass over the Town backline for Walker, who got in between Iorfa and Webster on the right of the area, shot first time across Bialkowski and into the net. While it was a clever ball into the box, from the Blues’ perspective it was another poor goal to concede.

Dowell was booked for a late challenge on Iorfa as the half moved into three minutes of injury time in which neither side was able to threaten again.

The Blues had started the game very strongly with Forest rarely in it until they scored their first goal.

Having regained their lead via Iorfa’s header, Town will feel they should have gone in ahead at half-time - a lead they would have deserved on the balance of play - with Forest’s second goal very preventable.

Ex-Blues striker Murphy hit the second half’s first effort five minutes after the restart. The Irish international twisted and turned his way past Webster before hitting a right-foot shot from an angle on the right of the box which Bialkowski palmed over.

Forest had started the second period strongly but in the 54th minute Town went ahead for the third time.

Mancienne appeared to slip under pressure from Waghorn as he looked to see a ball played from deep by Connolly back to Smith and the Town striker seized on his error, took it into the area before confidently stroking his 10th goal of the season past the keeper.

Waghorn, unsurprisingly full of confidence having scored, shot over from a freekick on the right when he ought to have crossed in the 58th minute.

Murphy got behind the Town defence chasing a ball down the middle on 66 but shot straight at Bialkowski.

And a minute later, the Blues extended their lead to two goals for the first time. Forest gave the ball away just inside their half on the Town right and Huws brilliantly played in Waghorn.

The Town top scorer might have taken it on and shot himself, but instead he cut the ball across to the breaking Celina, who tapped home his seventh goal of the campaign.

Ahead of the restart, Forest made a double switch, Mustapha Carayol and Andreas Bouchalakis replacing Osborn and Vaughan.

Celina and Waghorn interchanged well again on 70, the former Leicester and Sunderland man shooting into the side-netting from a tight angle on the left. Moments later, Huws was replaced by Kevin Bru to warm applause from the Town support.

Waghorn was booked for a foul on Joe Worrall on 82, then two minutes later was replaced by Freddie Sears to a standing ovation from the Blues support.

Iorfa headed a Celina corner from the left wide at the far post, then Connolly was somewhat harshly booked for a foul when he looked to have won the ball.

In injury time Carayol saw a shot deflect over then from the corner Murphy powered a header goalwards but Bialkowski superbly palmed the ball onto the underside of the bar and it was cleared.

After Bridcutt was booked for a needlessly cynical foul on Ward as he broke - the game had effectively been over since Celina’s goal - referee Darren Bond blew the final whistle to confirm Town’s second win over East Midlands opposition in five days.

As is becoming familiar, Knudsen took on Sir Bobby Robson Stand fist-pump duties in the absence of skipper Chambers

Town were well worth their win - indeed they probably should have had the three points confirmed in the first half - with Forest never able to impose their patient passing game on the Blues.

Once Waghorn had clinically netted his 10th of the season - all in the league, more than top scorer Tom Lawrence netted last season - and Celina had scored his seventh the result and Town's first back-to-back wins since the five-game winning streak in August were in little doubt.

The victory sees the Blues up two places to seventh, three points off the play-offs ahead of next Saturday's game at Middlesbrough, who were beaten 2-1 at Bristol City in the day's later game.

Town: Bialkowski, Iorfa, Spence, Webster, Knudsen, Skuse (c), Connolly, Ward, Huws (Bru 67), Celina, Waghorn (Sears 84). Unused: Gerken, Bishop, Nydam, Kenlock, Morris.

Forest: Smith, Lichaj, Mancienne (c), Worrall, Traore, Bridcutt, Vaughan (Bouchalakis 68), Walker (McKay 81), Dowell, Osborn (Carayol 68), Murphy. Unused: Henderson, Mills, Clough, Cummings. Referee: Darren Bond (Lancashire). Att: 16,808 (Forest: 1,124).

Photo: TWTD

Minneapolis_ITFC added 02:45 - Dec 3 Perhaps the very best thing out of all this is you EXPECT us to score in games now (whereas before more often than not tentative uninteresting no score draws were quite often frequent). What a relief to see center fowards available, a fair number of different options to select from. If other departments in the team were as good, we could properly challenge, but this season still has a course to run. If the team had gone out like today on the end game of last season, then Nottingham would surely have been in League One at this moment i.e. today's game would never have occurred. Bialkowski is a damn fine goalkeeper last but by no means least, in today's market you feel sometimes he could command an eight figure sum, he is that impressive on occasion.

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blue75 added 07:21 - Dec 3 That's more like it 4 goals at home and a entertaining game!! The play before the first goal was some of the best I've seen under McCarthy! I was a little concerned how after we'd scored we sat deep and invited Forrest to attack us, but we battled on for the whole half and I was disappointed but satisfied with it being 2-2 at halftime. For the first time in a while I took my seat for the 2nd half instead of staying at the bar, I'm glad I did Huws showed he's the player we've been missing he really controlled things. The whole team worked hard for each other and were easily the better team Forrest look lost Murphy was isolated up front and Webster had him in his pocket!!! I hope we play on in this way and that this isn't going to be another false dawn! As I really enjoyed the game yesterday yes procession was low but look what we did with 30%, if we continue to attack confidence will grow and the level of procession should increase. So it's over to Mr McCarthy will he let the players play?

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Murphys_Law added 08:26 - Dec 3 One name that hasn't had a mention is Spence, he deserves great credit for stepping up to centre half again and giving an accomplished display alongside the excellent Webster. Having been at the game I think the possession stats can be taken with a pinch of salt. Forest spent an awful lot of the time playing in front of an organised town without creating much. A really enjoyable game!

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DazBent added 09:22 - Dec 3 Looks like Mick is proving everyone wrong, long may it continue. We couldn't be in a better position. I'm not sure many teams in the league take us too seriously but with a good run we are in the playoffs
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Paddy39 added 10:43 - Dec 3 One of the best all round performances we have all seen at home this season. I couldn't help get off my seat every time we attacked. Great result.
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Steelmonkey added 10:52 - Dec 3 Just read a report on the game in the Sunday papers, well crow all you like MM, but the football was S%%t and boring to watch and if goes back to that then yes please feel free to get out of this club, because you'll be hearing it again. It's nice to see that you were able to take the comments on board and have done something about it. I dare say that if those comments didn't come your way we would still be having more of the same hoofball that you were serving us up because you wouldn't have changed otherwise, so your philosophy on the way you were approaching games was wrong - just admit it, if your big enough that is.

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Davidwb20 added 11:51 - Dec 3 There's only one Martyn Waghorn and then there's the best goalkeeper in the championship both a different class!!
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oldegold added 12:05 - Dec 3 We must learn to keep up the pressure when we go in front as once again we paid the price twice for sitting back and inviting the opposition to come to us.Happens to often when we should be pressing and going all out to double the score. Iorfa looked sloppy apart from the goal and a real liability today and begs the question where have all our youngsters gone i.e Downes,Kenlock and Bishop who seem to be discarded. Kenlock should be in the starting line up from the off. and Emmanuel recalled from loan period and McCarthy begin to bank on our youngsters.

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IpswichT62OldBoy added 14:12 - Dec 3 It must take 5 years to build a club back up from the ground. Maybe this is the year in which we reap the rewards.
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coolcat added 15:28 - Dec 3 Good comment IpswichT620OldBoy. Tend to agree with that. Well deserved win yesterday. Came up to London to watch the game, as usual. Hard to pick any of the team as stand out as I thought they all were great. Good pairing of Iorfa and Spence. Touches of brilliance from Bart, I thought. Reminds me of a cat, but wouldn't like to 'steal' that nickname from another famous gk, namely Peter Bonnetti.. Great meeting up with fans in the fanzone before the match. :)

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Seasider added 16:16 - Dec 3 Haven't read any of the comments;but if anyone criticises this display,then they deserve to have their loyalty questioned! The commentator on the highlights described it as a fabulous open game,whilst the BBC team of Brenner and Mick Mills were equally complimentary. I took a long time Ipswich season ticket holder,who like many have given up his season ticket,mainly because of the Manager;but he said this is the best game he has seen for ages.I would certainly say that this was far and away the best this season,partly because Forest made it such an open game. I was a bit worried as most of the their attacking play was down our right,and I have not been too enamoured with Dominic Iorfa recently;however he stood up to the task reasonably well. My Colleague who was a goalkeeper,once on Spurs books,and who played for many years locally;was full of praise for Bart,saying a couple of his saves were world class. I concur with all the above.Connolly again had a great game,and Mick must take the credit for converting him into a good sitting midfielder,whilst Skues has benefitted from his presence,and is now living up to his Managers praise. No one had a bad game with Waghorn and Celina also outstanding,and even old cynics like me are starting to think that we could make the playoffs. COYB

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RoyalAscotBlue added 17:49 - Dec 3 People do make me laugh with their undying love of the magnificent Mick McCarthy. The Everton website proclaims that versatility is one of Connolly's main attributes. Explaining that he can play anywhere across the back-line and in central midfield. However, it seems it is actually the magnificent Mick that should be credited for converting him into a central midfielder. Thanks for enlightening us.

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Elto added 20:48 - Dec 3 Oldegold Downes was serving a one match ban. Knudsen is better than Kenlock at the moment. Bishop is coming back from a long term injury. Both Kenlock and and Bishop were on the bench so they havn't gone anywhere. Are you seriously suggesting MM breaks up something that is starting to look good just to get the youngsters in? No, you're just scrabbling around looking for a stick to beat MM with and failing miserably.

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dirtydingusmagee added 21:53 - Dec 3 the team is performing, we are scoring again, and two good results. Hope we can see the players get settled now , if its not broke ,don't try to mend it as they say, NOT it aint broke so mend it till it is . COYB
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oldegold added 21:54 - Dec 3 Elto...Failing miserably ? Judging by the thumbs up received it would appear that a large number of fans agree with me so would hardly call it failing miserably...get a control on yourself man and watch your language. Stay calm as we have only won 2 games on the trot after a bad hoofball performance last Saturday and if you look at the stats, Nottm Forest had most of the possession and we as usual relaxed both times we went in front. Regarding youngsters, there was no reason for Bishop not to play as he had a cameo against Derby and Kenlock is better than Knudsen as a full back in my opinion and there was not one young home produced player in the starting line up, which was essentially my point.

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Theipswich added 22:00 - Dec 3 Agree with Oldegold and I think Elto needs a reality check.Always good to see our youngsters in the mix but McCarthy is known for pushing youth but sticking with his favourites irrespective if they play well or not, which is hardly motivational for other players to burst through and stake a claim.
1

RoyalAscotBlue added 22:49 - Dec 3 Elto... You're quite right Bishop is coming back from injury; so ideally he needs to come on for the odd 20 mins or so when we are a couple of goals to the good... at home. Bru on the other hand has been told he can leave. So explain that one, if you can?
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Sospiri added 00:11 - Dec 4 I find it annoying the way Mick always says a goal conceded by us was a defensive error. Both Forest goals were sublime; they weren't defensive errors. Give credit where credit's due. If anyone has cause to complain about defending, its their manager.
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cat added 08:54 - Dec 4 Wow, that's coming across like a well random ‘pop' there coolcat, (maybe harbouring a grudge from a few months ago??) The poster who just loves to tells us they “came up from London” again & again......(YAWN) Nicknames are usually bestowed on you, unless your so far up your own that you would choose one for yourself, such as????? errrr cool! keeping to the cat theme, ‘pussy' might be more your bag!! Lol

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Seasider added 16:02 - Dec 4 cat.Think you took coolcats posting the wrong way as I couldn't see anything wrong with it.The reference he made was correct about Peter (the cat) Bonetti who was Chelsea' gk in the days when Town could hold their own against the London and Manchester teams. Sigh!!!
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cat added 19:00 - Dec 4 We'll have to disagree on this one Seasider, maybe a first on that front.
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BillBlue added 17:21 - Dec 6 Sorry Coolcat - I hit the wrong arrow, apologies.
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BillBlue added 17:30 - Dec 6 Hold their own Seasider??? HaHa - you must have been sleeping!!!
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