Second-half goals from Teddy Bishop and Gwion Edwards saw Town to a 2-0 victory over Rochdale, their third successive win by the same scoreline, as they maintained their position at the top of the League One table. Both teams had had chances in the first half with full league debutant Oli Hawkins going close on three occasions but it took until the 53rd minute for Bishop to open the scoring with Edwards sealing the three points six minutes later.

Hawkins’s inclusion in the starting XI was the only change from the team which began last week’s 2-0 win at Bristol Rovers.

Hawkins, whose only previous Town start was in the Carabao Cup tie against Fulham, came into the side for James Norwood, who dropped to the bench.

Again among the subs was Flynn Downes, while there was no place in the 18 for new loan signing Mark McGuinness or Luke Woolfenden, Kayden Jackson, Cole Skuse and Alan Judge, who were all back in training this week after knocks.

For Rochdale, playing their first ever game at Portman Road, skipper Eoghan O’Connell recovered from a knock to take his place at the heart of their defence. Jake Beesley, the son of ex-Blues kit man Paul, who signed from Solihull Moors earlier in the week, started up front.

The two teams took the knee in support of Black Lives Matter prior to kick-off with rain falling steadily and the wind swirling, although not as strongly as earlier in the day.

Town started on the front foot with Rochdale and on five Hawkins headed well over from a Stephen Ward cross from the left and with referee John Busby having blown his whistle for a push.

The visitors claimed a penalty in the sixth minute when Andre Dozzell chested a loose ball back towards Tomas Holy after the keeper had failed to deal with a corner from the right.

Referee Busby wasn’t interested and Town broke quickly after Teddy Bishop had cleared as he was fouled but Jon Nolan failed to find Freddie Sears with a return pass. Once the ball had gone out of play, Jimmy Ryan was booked for the earlier foul on Bishop.

There was further danger for the Blues in the 10th minute as they repeatedly failed to clear their lines inside the box and the ball fell to Alex Newby, who would have scored b for Toto Nsiala’s challenge.

Rochdale were on top and in the 12th minute, with the rain falling more heavily, Aaron Morley shot into the side-netting from the edge of the area.

Town would have been ahead a minute later but for a brilliant save by Dale keeper Gavin Bazunu. Bishop crossed from the right and 6ft 5in tall Hawkins climbed high to power a goalbound header which the Bazunu, an 18-year-old Irish U21 international on loan from Manchester City, somehow managed to bat away from his goal to his right.

Hawkins went even closer in the 16th minute when he turned and shot from the 18-yard line leaving Bazunu standing as the ball struck the outside of his right post.

Rochdale were next the threaten, Matthew Lund crossing from the right but just in front of Oliver Rathbone and Beesley as they slid in inside the six-yard box.

A Town spell of pressure followed and in the 26th minute Hawkins again went close to opening his Blues goals account. Ward crossed from the right and the former Portsmouth man headed down back towards the corner of goal but without too much power and Dale captain O’Connell was was able to stop it in front of the line and clear.

As the game passed the half hour mark the visitors were again seeing most of the ball and on 31, following a short corner on the left, Rathbone struck a shot from the edge of the box which only just flew over Holy’s cross bar, Town having once again failed to clear their lines on several occasions prior to the flag-kick.

On 36 Wilson found Chambers on the right with a cross-field pass, the skipper sent the ball into the box and it fell to Nolan on the edge of the area from where the midfielder struck a powerful low effort which the impressive Bazunu again did well to save and claim at the second attempt.

Four minutes later, Sears crossed back in from the right and the ball was headed out from under the bar by Jimmy Keohane having beaten Bazunu.

In the 41st minute the action moved back to the other end. Keohane crossed from the right and the ball slid off Newby’s head and wide when he might well have hit the target.

That an entertaining end-to-end half finished without a goal having been scored was a surprise with both teams having had opportunities.

Town, and specifically Hawkins, had come closest to breaking the deadlock but Rochdale had given as good as they’d got and at times had been on top in conditions which had led to errors from both sides as they sought to play their passing football, sometimes in dangerous areas.

Three minutes after the restart Sears scraped a shot from distance wide, then O’Connell was booked for felling Bishop just outside the box as the midfielder was making one if his trademark runs forward.

Sears took the free-kick but hit the wall with his initial effort before his rebound reached Hawkins, who was in an offside position.

The Blues had started the half on top and in the 53rd minute they took the lead. Ward played the ball into Hawkins’s feet from the left and the striker turned it into the path of Bishop, who ran across his man and slid it back across Bazunu and into the net from 10 yards.

It was Bishop’s second goal in three games within a fortnight, both at home, having had to wait since November 2014 since his first.

Having finally got their noses in front, the Blues didn’t have to wait very long for their second of the match.

In the 59th minute, after Ward had cut back from the left to Bishop, a Sears effort deflected across the face of goal to Edwards, who shot low into the net at the far post for his second of the season.

Coincidentally, the Welshman’s first of the campaign came in the 2-0 victory over Wigan a fortnight ago, again following an opening goal from Bishop.

Rochdale swapped Ryan for Stephen Dooley on 63, then Nolan was booked two minutes later for a foul on Rathbone, before the Blues switched goalscorer Bishop for Downes in the 68th minute.

Six minutes later Edwards sent over a dangerous low ball from the right which somehow avoided everyone in the area, before Rochdale threatened for the first time since the break.

Nsiala had given the ball away midway inside the Town half but eventually got back to slide in on Beesley as the striker seemed destined to net a debut goal. Chambers hooked the loose ball away from another Dale player before Nsiala blocked a strike from Matty Done. Moments later Newby had the ball in the net but clearly having strayed offside.

Town replaced Hawkins, who can be happy with his full league debut and was unfortunate not to score at least once in the first half, and Sears with Norwood and Jack Lankester in the 75th minute.

The Blues weren’t far from a third in the 81st minute when Lankester’s cross was looped up in the air and only just over the bar by Done.

Beesley shot straight at Holy on 87 with the visitors taking the game to Town in the closing stages. A minute later, the striker and Morley were swapped for Fabio Tavares and Ethan Brierley.

As the game moved into five minutes of additional time, sub Tavares struck a cross-shot from the left which looped beyond the far post but Blues keeper Holy wasn’t to be denied his third successive League One clean sheet and his fourth in a row in all competitions.

Town deserved their victory having been very much the better side in the second half virtually from the whistle.

Having gone in front via the well-worked goal finished by Bishop, Edwards’s second coming so soon afterwards all but sealed the win by the hour mark.

Rochdale, who in the first half looked a level above any of the Blues’ previous League One opponents but lacked a cutting edge, never looked like getting back into the game despite continuing to push until the end.

Town top the table from Hull City on goal difference with third-placed Doncaster Rovers two points behind.

The Blues are next in action a week today when they face the MK Dons, who were beaten 2-0 at Crewe today, at Stadium MK.

Town: Holy, Chambers (c), Nsiala, Wilson, Ward, Dozzell, Nolan, Bishop (Downes 68), Sears (Lankester 75), Edwards, Hawkins (Norwood 75). Unused: Cornell, Norwood, Donacien, Lankester, Kenlock, Huws.

Rochdale: Bazunu, McShane, O’Connell (c), Morley (Brierley 88), Newby, Beesley (Tavares 88), Keohane, Rathbone, Done, Ryan (Dooley 63), Lund. Unused: Lynch, McNulty, Hopper, Dunne. Referee: John Busby (Oxfordshire).

Photo: Matchday Images

dusth added 17:49 - Sep 26 We're making chances through good passing and movement. What's not to like? Rochdale were much better than I expected and played with energy. They gave us a game. Toto made a few bad passes but many good interceptions and good in the air. Downes made a couple of crazy challenges, maybe through need to make an impact. Jackson maybe the key to get more goals with the way we play but Hawkins did well. Two more points next week would be handy. What are going to be the difficult games - who knows in this league.

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Reuserscurtains added 17:51 - Sep 26 No chambers at centre back, no problems
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Orraman added 17:58 - Sep 26 OK we have not beaten anything special yet but we are building a winning mentality with a settled team. Success breeds success and our opening six league fixtures are giving the squad time to settle and gel together. It also helps to have someone breathing down the neck of most players in the team. Much better to win first three games and be top than lose first three games against strong opposition and have to claw our way up from the bottom

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Hiltzkooler added 18:11 - Sep 26 How did dozell play?
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runningout added 18:11 - Sep 26 VERY long way to go.
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WhoisJimmyJuan added 18:14 - Sep 26 Agree with everything said. McGuiness and Woolfie should provide strength against the harder tests to come which makes me feel better. Would like to see some goals from the strikers to add to these handy midfield ones. Open question to all: Are Norwood's days numbered or is he still coming back from injury?
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Wooly74 added 18:16 - Sep 26 Good start yes, but until we play some of those top teams in this division let's not get carried away. What is good is that the midfield are contributing to goals, Teddy looks like the old self from way back in 2016. Edwards shows touches of flare which up until now has been lacking and Andre might have finally found a level of consistency and work rate. However...... Sorry, the two centre halves worry me, Chambers looks solid at right back (until hopefully Vincent Young is fit and I particularly like the solid look of Ward, who can equally create things going forward. Nsiala, nice bloke, polite and good in front of the camera, but OMG sadly I don't think he will ever convince me and Wilson (whilst he didn't do anything wrong today) reminds me of a Sunday league old school centre half, the ball could go anywhere. We desperately need Woolfy back and fit for the bigger teams and perhaps (if he is as good as some Gunners fans claim), McGuiness alongside him? Up the front also concerns me, Hawkins had a reasonable game today, but certainly didn't boss the game a statement made apparently by Tony Cottee on Sky Sports 🤦‍♂️ Norwood doesn't either look match fit and/or interested and I personally think Jackson will be on his way (the club will cash in on him before he walks on a free at the end of the season). Good early optimism though and next Saturday has to be another 3 points away at MK Dons for me. Look at October, November, December and January. We play all of what is likely to be the top sides and some of them both home and away in those months. We simply have to win more than we lose against the likes of Sunderland, Peterborough, Hull, Portsmouth, Oxford and probably Fleetwood if we are serious about the top two places. For now though, great start boys and thank you for making me smile in a Saturday again

4

blues1 added 18:20 - Sep 26 Debsy angel. Just one question for you. Who is Williams?😂😂
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pennblue added 18:20 - Sep 26 I like the fact there is less talking this season, let the football do the talking.
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Nobbysnuts added 18:22 - Sep 26 Good win and another clean sheet. 3 wins without really playing great but when we do someone is going to get well and truly hammered! Coyb.👊👊👊 just think what we can do when our strikers start banging them in........
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itfchorry added 18:22 - Sep 26 Edwards is on fire - Another encouraging performance and result. 💙💙
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runaround added 18:28 - Sep 26 Another win. Another clean sheet. Still top of the league. Cannot complain. It felt a strange game as at times we were totally in control creating chances and could easily have scored more. Yet our defence still felt as shaky as the ifollow footage I was watching & I feel a sense of panic every time Toto has the ball at his feet! But we won & move on to next week
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DebsyAngel added 18:32 - Sep 26 Blues1 - I meant EDWARDS of course! Getting all my comments and names muddled today!! Will edit my comment now!
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therein61 added 18:36 - Sep 26 Norwood sadly is just not looking like he wants to be here(pubs in Tranmere must be better) Jackson appears to not want to be involved(speculation again turning his head, at least Downes is back in the fold) we have missed Drinans get up and at em approach as it gives others room to do damage up front from midfield hope he's back soon or get rid of the other two and bring in someone who wants to be here.

2

Blueballs83 added 18:40 - Sep 26 Perfect analysis @Wooly74. I completely agree regarding the defense. I also feel Toto and Wilson may not have the tactical awareness or skill to protect and set us up to play against the better teams. A pairing of Woolf and McGuiness sound great, but I'm not sure Lambert will trust 2 young centre backs together. I think adding Woolf with one of the currant pairing is most likely and if Toto continues to improve from where is was last season which I feel is massively down to confidence, he could be a big player for us this season. Up front, it's clear Norwood isn't either fit or match sharp, but hope this changes as I feel he is the only true goal scorer we have and will play the central role far better than Jackson or Hawkins. Time will tell, but it's so nice to feel optimistic for a long time. I realise we had a good start last season, but I feel we have a more cohesive team this year and hope the good form will continue for a lot longer!

4

Billericay12 added 18:43 - Sep 26 Great result and some good attacking play at times. Nsiala is not bad at basic defending and is a physical presence but his distribution is shocking. Lost count of how many misplaced passes he made even when under no pressure. People on here have moaned about Chambers but his first touch today was different class to Nsiala. (Sounded like McCarthy there ! Sorry). Apart from that it was a decent performance and I thought Hawkins looked a threat. He needs a goal and maybe once he gets one he might go on a run. Was much more of a threat than Norwood.

1

Radlett_blue added 18:48 - Sep 26 Sears still taking free kicks? Anyone know why?
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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 19:06 - Sep 26 I actually thought Wilson did very well today. And I agree with the general view on Toto: solid defending but some very loose distribution. I want to see McG in the back line, but justification for change is a problem at the moment with the defence performing pretty well as they are. Good win today!
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martin587 added 19:07 - Sep 26 Another good solid performance from the lads.Very well done and good to see goals from midfield.
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dirtydingusmagee added 19:12 - Sep 26 a win.a clean sheet, goals from midfield great, just need a striker on form ,Norwood is not showing anything, I really cant see him coming good with Town .Hawkins was unlucky today and has goals in him, but he wont be enough .Pleased with result but not getting carried away its early days and weve been here before . JUST a thought, Bishop is injury prone , does he really need that lump of a captain on his back ? i dont think so.

1

warktheline added 19:21 - Sep 26 Predicted we'd score at least 2 and win in a comfortable fashion ! There are many extremely poor threadbare squads in the ‘lower' leagues Evans has plunged our club into! Who knows, we might be ‘competitive' this season!
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heathen66 added 19:35 - Sep 26 Good Solid performance if not spectacular. I thought Hawkins led the line well and was unlucky not to score. Apart from a few wayward passes, I thought Nsiala was solid and made some timely tackles especially in the 2nd half. Thought Dozzell bossed the play from deep. I still have reservations of playing 4-5-1 (or 4-1-4-1 as it was at times) as the striker was again left very isolated, remember this is against Rochdale at home !!! Would love to see us play a genuine 4-3-3 and really go for it but perhaps that is just being greedy :-) Would have taken this at the start and cannot see why it should not continue. Plus if there is a second wave of Covid 19 we will be promoted !!!...Surely !!!

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BangaloreBlues added 19:35 - Sep 26 Sitting here laughing my head off at these comments. As soon as we lose it will be, "Lambert Out, ME has ruined our club, Chambers needs to go, we should have played the team I choose because I can do this job better than the professionals, etc, etc etc..." I would love to see this positivity and real support throughout the season, through good or bad, not just when we win a couple of games. I received plenty of abuse last season for requesting some patience while we rebuild, let's hope we have learned that lesson now. ME gave Lambert a 5-year contract for that very reason, and many of you will be eating your words from last season sooner or later and, in the process, hopefully hanging your heads in shame. Quietly confident this season will be the breakthrough, but many fears that the league will be curtailed as clubs start to fold if no financial support is offered. Three games, three clean sheets, nine points at the start of a season! I read the last time that happened was 93/94. So, is it okay if Lambert stays now? Call yourself a true supporter when you SUPPORT your club! Rant over, carry on.

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londontractorboy57 added 19:43 - Sep 26 Great we are Top of the league its a shame we seem to play better behind closed doors could that be anything to do with the toxic atmosphere of the past few seasons ?
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Ebantiass added 19:46 - Sep 26 Another three points absolutely delighted. Clean sheet and goals from differing midfielders. Really looking forward to Norwood banging them in.
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