Teddy Bishop’s goal three minutes from time saw Town to a 1-0 victory over Gillingham at Portman Road. The Blues had had plenty of chances in the first half, before the Gills improved after the break but Bishop’s fourth goal of the campaign claimed the points for Town, who move up to third in League One.

On-loan Arsenal man Mark McGuinness was handed his Town debut, Luke Woolfenden his first League One appearance of the season and Freddie Sears a return to the side as the Blues made three changes from the team which lost 1-0 at Lincoln on Saturday.

McGuinness and Woolfenden formed a new central defensive partnership with Toto Nsiala dropping to the bench and James Wilson out of the 18.

Jack Lankester moved into a free advanced central midfield role having played wide on the right on Saturday with Jon Nolan suspended for three games following his red card at Sincil Bank.

Sears was on the left of the front three with Gwion Edwards on the right and Oli Hawkins in the centre.

Gillingham included former Blues loanees Jordan Graham and Dominic Samuel in their starting XI.

Sears struck the first shot of the game in the ninth minute from 20 yards but the ball deflected wide.

The Blues, with assistant boss Stuart Taylor in charge in manager Paul Lambert’s absence, dominated the ball and looked the more dangerous side in the opening minutes, albeit without creating many chances.

In the 15th minute Andre Dozzell curled a free-kick wide after he, Lankester and skipper Luke Chambers had all argued their own case for taking it.

Sears had the ball in the net in the 19th minute but with referee Antony Coggins having blown his whistle for a foul.

The former Colchester man had been played in by a ball over the top, Gills keeper Jack Bonham came out to collect but collided with defender Christian Maghoma and dropped it for the striker, However, Coggins appeared to indicate that he felt Sears had committed a foul, which looked harsh on the Town number 20.

Bonham received treatment for the knock he received in the incident but was able to continue.

Lankester went within a couple of inches of his first goal since January 2019 in the 24th minute when he stuck out a leg to divert a Chambers header back into the box towards goal and saw it strike the bar and fall safely for the visitors.

Three minutes later, Rob McKenzie was booked for a foul on Edwards as the Welshman broke towards halfway.

In the 33rd minute Gills keeper Bonham was forced off having received treatment again for what appeared to be a wrist injury presumably suffered in the earlier clash.

Nervous-looking league debutant Joe Walsh, whose most recent of his five previous senior outings was in the EFL Trophy tie at Portman Road last month, replaced the former Bristol Rovers man in goal and with his first touch picked up a back pass just inside his area. The free-kick was played to Sears but he scuffed it wide.

Town went close again in the 40th minute when a patient spell of passing ended with Edwards breaking away from his man on the right of the box and cutting back to Sears, whose low shot was deflected behind off a couple of Gills players.

From the corner, Hawkins headed off a defender and over with the subsequent flag-kick coming to nothing.

In five minutes of injury time, Lankester took a dip from 25 yards but scraped his effort wide.

The half had been all Town - as the 75-25 possession stats illustrated - and after an unthreatening start had created more than enough opportunities to go in front.

Lankester went very close when he hit the bar, Sears looked unlucky with his disallowed effort and was unfortunate with his later chance which was diverted wide, while Dozzell wasn’t far away with his free-kick.

Gillingham started the second half on the front foot but without troubling their former keeper Tomas Holy unduly.

Four minutes after the restart ex-Blues loan winger Graham sent a free-kick deep into the Sir Bobby Robson Stand.

Just before the hour mark another former Blues loanee Samuel found Alex MacDonald who struck his shot against the grounded Chambers, who had got an important touch on the cross, when he really should have scored.

Town began to find their feet again after a slow start to the second period and in the 63rd minute Bishop struck a powerful effort from the edge of the box which Walsh tipped over.

Within a minute, Bishop found Woolfenden in a dangerous position in the box. The defender deftly took it away from his man but shot just wide.

But the Gills were still threatening and on 67 Zech Medley’s shot deflected off Chambers into Holy’s arms. A minute later, Town swapped Sears for Armando Dobra.

Town appeared certain to score in the 69th minute when Hawkins got to the byline on the right and played the ball low across the six-yard box for Edwards who looked set to score his sixth of the season until Ryan Jackson remarkably slid in and somehow took it away from the Welshman. The Blues’ frustrated penalty appeals were ambitious and fruitless.

McGuinness headed a Dozzell corner over in the 76th minute, before Lankester was replaced by Emyr Huws. Gillingham swapped Jackson for Scott Robertson.

Holy batted away a Samuel strike from the edge of the box in the 80th minute after John Akinde had broken away from Woolfenden before being halted in his tracks by the defender - perhaps not entirely legally - just outside the area.

Town were by now camped on the edge of the Gills’ box. On 84 Edwards hit a shot which Walsh did well to push past his left post. Following the corner, Huws headed wide from the edge of the box.

And in the 87th minute the deadlock was broken. Edwards nodded a Chambers cross from the right out to Ward to his left and the Irishman teed-up Bishop to waft a shot past Walsh to his left and into the net for his fourth of the season.

A minute after the Town goal, Gills boss Steve Evans was booked for dissent and goalscorer Bishop for time-wasting.

Town swapped Bishop, who had been undergoing treatment, for Keanan Bennetts in the final minute of scheduled time, then as the game moved into five additional minutes the Kent team switched skipper Kyle Dempsey for Vadaine Oliver.

Almost immediately, the sub hit the post with a header, a corner from the right having made its way to him at the back of the box.

It was a lucky escape for the Blues who were forced to withstand some pressure from the visitors in time added on but were able to see out the remaining minutes to continue their 100 per cent home record and fourth League One home clean sheet of the season.

Having dominated the first half, Town were less impressive immediately after the break but got back on top and had had a number of chances to go in front prior to Bishop’s goal well-worked and well-taken goal.

The Blues are in home action again on Saturday when Crewe Alexandra visit Portman Road.

Town: Holy, Chambers (c), Woolfenden, McGuinness, Ward, Dozzell, Bishop (Bennetts 90), Lankester (Huws 77), Sears (Dobra 68), Edwards, Hawkins. Unused: Cornell, Nsiala, Kenlock, Simpson.

Gillingham: Bonham (Walsh 33), Jackson (Robertson 76), Tucker, Maghoma, Medley, McKenzie, Dempsey (c) (Oliver 90), MacDonald, Graham, Samuel, Akinde. Unused: Eccles, Woods, Willock, Coyle. Referee: Antony Coggins (Bicester).

Photo: Matchday Images

TonyMowbray added 21:36 - Oct 27 Go on the Town! Promotion winning form at the moment. Yes, we have lost two games against a couple of the better teams in the league, but the negativity after them baffles me a bit. I get that last season appears to be repeating itself in some respects but it seems to me that Lambert has learnt a lot from the mistakes of last year. Less squad rotation with more attacking line ups and possession based football is a huge plus for me. Lambert has had little money to spend since he took charge.....tonight's starting eleven didn't contain a single transfer fee? The players seem behind him and barring an absolute failure in the next three or four months, he's not going anywhere, so might as well get behind him and the team? Yes, we need to starting beating some of the better teams, but I honestly think we will this season given time and positive support.

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coolhand added 21:41 - Oct 27 O Dear, need a leader in mid-field, a joey Barton type player, I honestly think Chambers would be better there than at right back or in middle of defence. He would give us a force and a help to the defence allowing dozzel and bishop to play. Was Hawkins playing tonight, what's the point with everybody trying to play pretty football along the ground
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1psw1ch added 21:42 - Oct 27 Phew looking like a draw tonight,,, great to bag 3 points and put us back on the winning track and 3rd in the league,,, well done lads,,, Teddy bishop your the man 😎
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Help added 21:43 - Oct 27 Sometimes you win ugly, and boy were we ugly today. Would I like pretty and win, of course, are we capable, possibly. But only if Lankester plays wide, Edwards wide on the left, Sears offers more in the middle then Hawkins. Needed more of an older head in midfield to help the youngsters, but that change was to late tonight. Still take the 3 points and move on to Crewe. Another 1-Nil and 3 points will do me fine. The fancy free flowing football and convincing wins can come in time.

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Saxonblue74 added 21:46 - Oct 27 A deserved and very welcome win. Desperately need a striker or two back in the line up as should have been home and dry by half time. Not sure we can learn a lot about the back 4 against that opposition, seems to my they had a few shaky moments against a very poor side. Still, happy to bag the three points. Any updates on KVY, Jackson and Nors gratefully received!
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EssexTractor added 21:51 - Oct 27 Yes we have won four consecutive home matches but there is still some discomfort watching the games...and tonight opponents who looked woeful at half time might have taken at least a point.. The highlight I thought was watching McGuinness play so assuredly ..but he is an Arsenal player, so we do expect that ...he must stay in the starting line up... So much possession but the two Gillingham keepers were barely tested ... Maybe it was because no one passed to him ..but the fairly immobile Hawkins is I fear not a player who we can rely on to make defenders fearful.....but who else to play there is a major problem now...and despite Bishop finding the net again we need a striker...from somewhere....

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fatboyakasha added 21:52 - Oct 27 There really are some morons on here. We won, and definitely deserved to win. BE HAPPY! Some of our ‘fans' are just embarrassing. And they seem to congregate in the TWTD comments sections.
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BettyBlue added 21:55 - Oct 27 A dead cat's bounce. Lambert has to go.
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Karlosfandangal added 22:00 - Oct 27 BromleyBloo I think the second half was due to the very young team trying to force the game instead of being patient. That can only come with experience. If Town can keep this team together we will be going places in the Championship. You hope the team has enough to get us up this year.
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DifferentGravy added 22:04 - Oct 27 Cant comment on the performance as first league game ive missed.,...very nice to get home and find we have won ! We have Super Matty Holland, Magic Magilton......need to think of a superlative for Teddy B
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Saxonblue74 added 22:04 - Oct 27 Fatboy, I'm sure there isn't a single poster on this forum who isn't delighted with 3 points. Many will not be convinced by the level of performance though, and I'm afraid I'm one of them.
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TimmyH added 22:10 - Oct 27 Well a win is a win so well done lads but I always look at performances as a guide and tonight was one of those in the very average bracket and to be honest it does feel after an encouraging start to the season we have lost our way to a degree and finding chances difficult to create. Long way to go in this shortened season so the games will come thick and fast and does worry me how well perform when the pressure really comes on.

4

herfie added 22:12 - Oct 27 In the final analysis it comes down to quality. Whilst we have a large squad, the balance of numbers versus true, match–winning, quality is tipped towards the former. Labouring to a 1-0 win over a very average Gillingham side is a long way short of true promotion potential. That said we did win, and we should celebrate it - but unless we carry the momentum into Saturday's game against Crewe, tonight's result will not count for much.

3

Bluearmy71 added 22:18 - Oct 27 Defo not convincing but then no one ever said gaining 3 points had to be pretty! Next game please...
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algarvefan added 22:25 - Oct 27 A win is a win, bring on Crewe Saturday and another 3 pointer. Teddy Bishop is class.
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ringwoodblue added 22:35 - Oct 27 It's a strange division is League 1. Burton holding Posh, Dale drawing with the Black Cats and who would've predicted Lincoln would be top of the league after 9 games. Happy with the 3 points but concerned about our lack of quality, pace and cutting edge. Hope Bish's injury is just a knock. Think Crewe will be a tougher test on Sat.
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SpiritOfJohn added 22:38 - Oct 27 Concerned that we didn't create more clear cut chances in the first half when we were well on top. Gillingham proved that they couldn't be that bad for another 45 minutes and Graham got the better of Ward several times and put in some dangerous crosses. Hawkins must be wishing that he had similar service. Well done Teddy for sparing our blushes late on. If Nsiala had made a lunge from behind like Ryan Jackson did to prevent Edwards from tapping in to an empty net the ref would have had no hesitation pointing to the spot. Nice to see Evans going into the referee's notebook - must have been something he said!

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Linkboy13 added 22:43 - Oct 27 Desperately need Jackson back .Hawkins is ok but i think we need someone playing off him ,Sears is ok but is too lightweight but would be a good impact player to have on the bench.
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DerryfromBury added 22:46 - Oct 27 As Mick Mills said in the commentary at the end of the first half "Gillingham have got to be the worst team in league one" (or something very similar), he did change his tune towards the end of the game, but you have to agree, the Gills offered very little in terms of quality opposition, but still made us look a very average league one team, and could have quite easily have got a point if not 3.

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TonyMowbray added 22:50 - Oct 27 .......and if my Auntie had bollox she would be my uncle!
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MickMillsTash added 22:51 - Oct 27 Gillingham Poor - how have they got 10 points- this league is rubbish! Bishop and Edward looked dangerous Sears below average Hawkins isolated but he really must do better - with a more mobile forward surely we are a lot better, is Hawkins fit, fat or just rubbish? Why was Wilson not in the 18 and Nsiala was ?
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Skip73 added 23:18 - Oct 27 Only 46 comments on here tonight after a win. 116 comments when I last looked after Saturdays defeat. Sums up the 'fans' on here perfectly. I'll probably be trolled now.
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Kirbmeister added 23:45 - Oct 27 Some of you town fans love a good old moan don't you, even when we win. Boring.
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Esseeja added 23:48 - Oct 27 I need to add another comment because this sort of positivity from some town fans, this has to be said by the way, is very risky, if you carry positivity to a mild win against a team who, in my opinion, were the better team in the second half, (we should have not had that goal disallowed in the first half though,) then I question why that should be seen as a positive? If we remember last season, we were poorly winning 1-0 last season and look where it got us, we can't be positive about this, we have to demand better or we will continue to get worse. I'm also very confused at the positive comments for Mcguiness because when i was watching attempted counter attacks by Gillingham (who were very very poor, worst team we have faced yet) he seemed to misplace a lot of his tackles, I know he is young but you can't do that when you are pushing for promotion. I still don't understand why Wilson was dropped either or why we continue to play players out of position. Sears isn't a wide player, if he is to play wide, he has to be allowed to cut inside with Edwards on the left to turn the formation into a narrow 4-3-3, that way, Hawkins gets way more support.

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BettyBlue added 04:12 - Oct 28 poor hawkins, yet another forward we can't get the ball to in an attack. you chose him lambert get something out of him or clear off.
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