Gwion Edwards scored twice and skipper Luke Chambers and Teddy Bishop once as Town beat Blackpool 4-1 at Bloomfield Road to return to the top of the League One table. Chambers gave the Blues the lead with a brilliant strike on 16, Edwards made it two in the 37th minute before Bishop added the third just before the break. Gary Madine pulled one back for the Tangerines on the hour but Edwards sealed it with his second with 10 minutes remaining.

Town boss Paul Lambert made three changes from the team which drew 1-1 away against the MK Dons last week with Myles Kenlock, Emyr Huws and Alan Judge coming into the XI.

Kenlock was at left-back for Stephen Ward, who was expected to miss out with the achilles injury he suffered at Stadium MK, Huws took over in midfield for Jon Nolan, who was left out as a precaution due to a calf strain, and Judge came in for Freddie Sears, who dropped to the bench. The Irishman started on the right with Edwards moving to the left.

Loanees Mark McGuinness and Keanan Bennetts were both included in the 18 for the first time, while Luke Woolfenden and Kayden Jackson were also among the subs.

Former Town midfielder Grant Ward and ex-loanee Luke Garbutt, making his full league debut, both started for the Seasiders.

Striker Madine was handed his first start of the season, while new addition Jordan Gabriel made his League One debuts for the home side.

The players took a knee in solidarity with Black Lives Matter before the game got under way in blustery conditions.

Toto Nsiala blocked a Madine effort on the edge of the box in the fifth minute with the Tangerines starting the game on the front foot and Town struggling to pass their way out from the back.

On 14 Garbutt shot over from distance following a Blackpool corner on the right, but two minutes later, the Blues took the lead via their first serious attack of the game.

Andre Dozzell played a ball into the feet of Oli Hawkins, who laid it off to Huws, who fed Edwards.

The Welshman left Gabriel standing as he broke down the left at pace and sent over a cross which reached Chambers bursting into the area.

As the ball bounced up to him potentially awkwardly, the skipper smashed a superb strike which flew past Blackpool captain and keeper Chris Maxwell to his right and into the roof of the net.

Chambers celebrated his second goal of the second, and almost certainly his best for Town, in front of the empty stand behind the goal, cupping his hand to an ear.

Chances were a rarity at both ends following the goal with neither side able to create a significant opportunity. However, just before the half hour, a loose ball fell to Keshi Anderson on the edge of the box but his strike flew well over.

Moments later, the ball was cut back to Ward who turned and shot but the former Town man’s effort was charged down by a determined Blues backline.

Town made it 2-0 with their second shot of the game in the 37th minute. Kenlock dispossessed Gabriel on the Town left and brought it inside before it was stabbed away from him. Bishop played a clever ball out wide for Edwards and Hawkins left it for the Welshman, who cut in and hit a low shot between Maxwell and his right post for his third goal of the season.

A minute after the goal Ethan Robson was booked for the latest in a series of fouls on Bishop and in the 39th minute the midfielder almost created a third for the Blues.

The midfielder chased a ball down the right and crossed it low towards Hawkins, who shot over from the edge of the area under pressure from Gabriel, who the former Portsmouth man felt had fouled him. Referee Christopher Sarginson believed otherwise and it would have been a harsh penalty.

In the final scheduled minute of the half, Town made it 3-0. Anderson went to ground somewhat easily on the Blues’ right just inside the Blackpool half, Bishop picked up the loose ball and made a trademark driving run towards the area before curling a low shot which crept just inside Maxwell’s right post.

It was the midfielder’s third goal of the season at a ground where he enjoyed one of his best afternoon’s as an 18-year-old in his breakthrough 2014/15 season, picking up two assists in a 2-0 win.

On-loan Nottingham Forest full-back Gabriel was booked for a frustrated foul in injury time before referee Sarginson brought to an end a half which couldn’t have gone much better for the Blues.

While it was never a fluent passing display, the windy conditions made that unlikely, they looked a threat every time they went near the Blackpool area, scoring with three of their four shots.

At the other end, the Town defence had been as resolute as they were at Stadium MK last week with Nsiala and Wilson repelling everything sent in their direction.

Neither side made a change at the break and five minutes after the restart Kenlock was booked for pulling back CJ Hamilton on the right touchline.

Following the resultant free-kick, Hamilton claimed Kenlock had fouled him again as the ball came back in from the left. Referee Sarginson was again not interested.

Ward was booked for a foul on Wilson in the 52nd minute, then five minutes later Jackson was introduced for his first action of the season for Hawkins up front.

Unsurprisingly given the scoreline, Town were playing conservatively, perhaps too much so.

And as the game approached the hour mark, the home side were given some hope when Madine pulled a goal back.

Gabriel crossed low from the right, Chambers failed to clear and the former Sheffield Wednesday and Bolton man slammed the loose ball into the net off Holy.

Perhaps realising they had invited too much pressure on to themselves, the Blues began to look forward for the first time since the break. A Huws shot was blocked, then Edwards curled a low effort which deflected just wide.

As Town prepared to take the corner, Anderson was booked for an earlier foul on Bishop. From the flag-kick, Jackson turned the ball into side-netting but from an offside position.

Bishop shot wide from distance in the 64th minute, then three minutes later Dozzell was yellow-carded for a foul on Anderson.

Town handed a debut to on-loan Borussia Mönchengladbach forward Bennetts in the 69th minute, Bishop making way. The former Tottenham youngster went to the right of the front three with Judge moving back into the midfield three.

Four minutes later Madine hit a low shot which Holy saved but didn’t hold on to, Kenlock outmuscling Hamilton to win the loose ball. On 75 MJ Williams took over from Anderson for the Tangerines.

Town had been poor in possession with too many passes going astray or out of play. But in the 78th minute Jackson was sent away on the right with Maxwell - sent off for Preston for felling the Town striker when rashly charding out of goal in November 2018 at Portman Road - similarly rushed off his line and slipped. However, the Blues sub failed to find Judge with his pass.

The ball quickly returned to Town and Bennetts curled a shot not too far past Maxwell’s right post.

But a fourth Blues goal wasn’t long in coming. Edwards was found on the left by a Chambers long pass, the Welshman’s first touch brilliantly took him away from Gabriel and he burst towards goal before hitting a well-struck shot past Maxwell to his right for his second of the match and his fourth of the season.

That goal killed off the already unlikely prospect of a Blackpool comeback and the Blues saw out the remaining minutes.

Having given themselves a three-goal lead in the first half, the result was never in any real doubt after the break.

The home side didn’t give up despite the scoreline, while Town sat back a little too much in the early stages, but despite Madine’s goal and some pressure from the Tangerines, a dramatic turnaround never seemed likely.

The victory and Lincoln’s 2-1 home defeat to Bristol Rovers sees the Blues return to the top, now by a point with Accrington Stanley at Portman Road next Saturday.

Blackpool: Maxwell (c), Gabriel, Robson, Anderson (Williams 75), Yates, Madine, Ward, Turton, Ekpiteta, Hamilton, Garbutt. Unused: Sims, Thorniley, Mitchell, Kemp, Antwi, Lubala.

Town: Holy, Chambers (c), Nsiala, Wilson, Kenlock, Dozzell, Huws, Bishop (Bennetts 69), Judge, Edwards, Hawkins (Jackson 57). Unused: McGuinness, Woolfenden, Lankester, Bennetts, Sears, Cornell. Referee: Christopher Sarginson (Staffordshire).

Photo: Pagepix

dangerous30 added 19:44 - Oct 10 Bloody great result have a good week everyone 😀👍
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Esseeja added 19:45 - Oct 10 And to note: I feel as if we don't need The Wolf at the moment, nor do we need Downes at this time, both have been good enough to stay in the team and haven't conceded more than 1 goal in a game yet. the entire back 4 have only let 2 past them in 5 games so I would only put Ndaba or Mcguinn at LB.
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Lightningboy added 19:55 - Oct 10 Wasn't much in it for the first 30 minutes then we started passing it forwards (which always helps funnily enough) and our finishing was clinical..thought Edwards was superb in his favoured position (take note Lambo)..would prefer Sears,Jackson or Lankester on the right of the 3,Judge still way past his best in an attacking role..thought Kenlock grew into the game & got better but he still gets caught out of position too often for my liking..Huws had a poor passing game today..on the whole though pleased with our start to the season. Keep it up this time round guys 👏🏻

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Roola added 20:38 - Oct 10 Don't always post on here but wanted to give some credit to certain players that have been given a fair bit of stick in the past. Firstly Chambers, he has been first class this season... He is far more assured on the ball and I've really enjoyed how he has managed to get forward and support... Some of his passing has been excellent and goals too have shown his real passion for the club, keep it up Luke. Secondly Toto, last season I felt scared every time he was put under pressure at the back or went for a tackle in the penalty area... This season he's been a real rock at the back, using his strength properly... He's confident and has played some fantastic balls out from the back. Yes he's made a few loose passes but overall he's an integral part of the team at the moment. Edwards for me has also really come into his own this season, last year he would go missing in games and be muscled off the ball or lose it... This year he's doing what he should be doing, running at teams and shooting! Really proud of all the boys, they are working together as a coherent team and it really shows.

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Billericay12 added 20:59 - Oct 10 Over the last few seasons we have rarely won games by more than the odd goal, particularly under MM. nice to see us winning games more convincingly. 4 cracking goals. Great for team spirit and morale. Need to keep the unbeaten run going but more importantly bounce back quickly when we do eventually lose a game. We really really need to get out of this League !!! (Sorry). It feels a long way AW from the big time. Great start, let's keep it going.

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Northstandveteran added 21:24 - Oct 10 That Chambers strike was the best goal I've seen scored by an Ipswich player in a very long time. Edwards is becoming the player that I thought he would be after I saw him taking on and beating players on the opening day under Hirst against Blackburn. But..But.. Are we beating teams that have had to reduce their squads due to the financial situation? The reality is, there aren't any teams in this division that we shouldn't feel confident about beating with perhaps the exception of Sunderland, a club of similar stature. Perhaps it's just the slow but steady decline of the club's standing that means I am not getting carried away. Or maybe the years of getting my hopes up just to watch them crumble thinking to myself, " Why did I fall for it AGAIN?!" I would say I'll be the judge of how they're doing come Christmas but that didn't prove to be much of a yardstick last year did it? Realist or miserable ba$tard? Take your pick. Nevertheless, a really really really good result and brilliant performance 😁 COYB's

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bobble added 21:25 - Oct 10 groovy...
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Northstandveteran added 21:26 - Oct 10 " There's no pleasing some people " " That's just what Jesus said sir "
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Edmundo added 21:29 - Oct 10 Brilliant, just brilliant. Think Blackpool will be a top 8 team, and we destroyed them. So much more promising than last season. COYB.
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KiwiTractor added 21:38 - Oct 10 Really good result, well done all. I'm looking at the 5 unused subs and thinking there is some real quality there (for this league), not to mention we will have KVY, S Ward, Downes, Nolan, Drinan and Norwood to fit in somewhere. I'm feeling optimistic at this stage. We will lose a game at some stage, but it's all about bouncing back from that, rather than being all doom and gloom. Enjoy the rest of the weekend!

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BlueandTruesince82 added 22:15 - Oct 10 COYB.... 4 goals. A rare thing
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Linkboy13 added 23:44 - Oct 10 Edwards scored two goals but what impressed me was his all round game you can see why Lambert likes him always tracking back and helping out the defence. The only minus point for me was the performance of Huws who i fear is never going to be the player he was and i expect Nolan to be back next week. As i said last week Lambert will be itching to get Jackson up front alongside Hawkins at the expense of Sears who doesn't offer enough for me.

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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 04:11 - Oct 11 And to think that before the game, I said I'd be satisfied with a draw. Happy days!
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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 04:11 - Oct 11 And to think that before the game, I said I'd be satisfied with a draw. Happy days!
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Westy added 05:43 - Oct 11 With games coming thick and fast in October we are well placed provided we can maintain momentum.
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Help added 07:14 - Oct 11 A worrying trend forming here, that is two goals in two games against. Sort it our PL. No only joking another win, only ITFC and Sunderland without defeat in League 1. A good team performance. Not all the 1st choice players available and still a good win. Back to the top of the pile. Take each game as it comes and I still say keep the fans away whilst we keep performing like this.

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Wooly74 added 07:40 - Oct 11 A very good performance and four equally great goals, not a lot to be unhappy about. I would rather see a fit KVY in at right back and Woolfy in the CB position, but other than that maybe Nolan in the midfield for games like this. I don't actually rate Downes myself, but against the bigger teams in this league I might play him in CM as protection for the back four. The strikers are the area though that concerns me, 11 goals so far this season and not one from a striker! Hawkins pulls defenders away to allow the midfielders the space to attack and shoot and that's been proven again today as it certainly was the other week against Rochdale at home. But in more tighter games we simply need a contribution and threat from who ever plays up there. Hopefully Jackson will get match fit and although I don't rate him anywhere near what others do he probably is our best bet at present. Of course on paper, we should expect this many wins from the games we have had already, please don't shoot the messenger but we simply haven't played anyone of note yet. I've said it time and time again, we have to pick up more wins that defeats against the following teams to really get excited Sunderland, Peterborough, Portsmouth, Hull, Fleetwood, Oxford, Doncaster, Lincoln, Charlton. These are the teams I expect deeper into this season to be in the mix in the top 10 with us. Until we have played these sides home or away at least once this campaign we won't know exactly where we can expect to be and we play two of them in the next three games!

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shortmarine1969 added 09:27 - Oct 11 Must admit i dont quite get those that complain about Chambers as much as some do , yes he does make a mistake now and then - but as a defender they are quite often magnified - but the guy has been a player for 8 years for the club and Captain for 5/6 years and he is also getting up there in terms of appearences , he puts in a shift every game , he bleeds blue and he has always come across as a decent guy , has he ever done anything negative to a fan..i have never heard of it.! - so while not a "great" footballer as some have previously been he has been decent footballer at our level and overall a very, very good aquisition ..and i would say he is getting into the area of "Club" legend- not many can match his stats for the club !!! - facts pure and simple

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heathen66 added 09:29 - Oct 11 Fantastic result, and a great performance, however please keep off Myles Kenlocks back. He was not the one 'directly' responsible for their goal (Just saying !!!) Great performance again from Edwards. Does more than his fair share defensively and gives us so much going forward in goals and assists. Thought we may miss Nolan, but Huws is a capable replacement and also gives a lightweight midfield more Physicality. I also have to say what a great strike from Luke Chambers. Effective going forward !!!

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ChrisFelix added 09:32 - Oct 11 Playing as a team at last. Also we now have flexibility & fluidity in our midfield at long last. Only 2 unbeaten teams in the league
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Marinersnose added 10:08 - Oct 11 Excellent win and most importantly for me we scored four excellent goals. Midfield chipping in regularly this season so far which is excellent.I have criticised Edwards for going missing but today he was at it for 90 minutes and was a real threat. He also tracked back and defended well. Bishop is getting back to fitness and his goal demonstrates the level at which he can play. Quality finish.Defensively we were sound but Holy must work at his distribution and claiming crosses as he is a tall keeper who must do better. Minor detail which cannot take the shine off an excellent win and team performance.

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Linkboy13 added 15:33 - Oct 11 How anyone can say they don't rate Hawkins is beyond me he's given us an extra dimension that we have been lacking for several seasons , all that is lacking is a goal ,but as long as he's creating space for others im not too bothered. Don't know why fans take an instant dislike for a player and can't give them any credit. Come on big Ole.
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