Oli Hawkins’s first Town goal saw the Blues to a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Crewe Alexandra at Portman Road and up to second in the League One table. The visitors will count themselves unlucky not to have taken something from the game having been on top for long spells and having had the better opportunities prior to Hawkins’s 62nd-minute header.

Town boss Paul Lambert has made one change with Alan Judge replacing Jack Lankester in the advanced midfield role.

Lankester started the previous two games following his lengthy injury absence so it was little surprise that the youngster dropped to the bench, replacing Armando Dobra.

Judge returned having missed the last two matches with a hamstring injury, while Kayden Jackson was back among the subs having recovered from Covid-19. For Crewe, Tom Lowery came into the midfield for Luke Murphy.

With rain falling heavily as it had done in the hours up to the game, neither side threatened in the opening minutes.

On six, a dangerous Harry Pickering free-kick from the Crewe left was headed off Tomas Holy by Luke Offord and Town broke quickly. Judge played an excellent cross-field pass for Sears, however, the former West Ham man’s first touch was too heavy and Alex keeper Will Jaaskelainen claimed.

The visitors were seeing more of the ball in the early stages and Holy was forced to save down to his right in the 14th minute when Owen Dale hit a low shot from the right of the box fizzing across the slick surface.

There was a scare for the Blues in the 20th minute when Dozzell gave away possession with a wayward pass and the Railwaymen broke away three against two into the Town half. The Blues got men back quickly, however, and Judge slid in to make a challenge on the edge of the area and the danger was cleared.

A minute later, Crewe skipper Perry Ng beat Mark McGuinness on the edge of the box but failed to trouble Holy with his low shot.

Penalty area action at the other end of the field was non-existent until the 23rd minute when a Ward ball in from the left was diverted behind ahead of Hawkins by Offord. The corner was cleared to the edge of the box from where Dozzell hit a shot against a defender.

The Blues had started to see more of the ball and in the 28th minute Edwards struck an effort from distance which flew well past Jaaskelainen’s right post.

But a minute later the Alex should have been in front. Following a well-worked move, Pickering floated a cross from the edge of the area on the left to the far post from where Dale knocked it down to Lowery five yards out. The midfielder seemed certain to score until Holy blocked superbly.

The Railwaymen, who had passed the ball around with far greater confidence than Town throughout the half, threatened again in the 32nd minute when Ng sent over a low cross from the right but too far in front of Mikael Mandron and Holy claimed.

Town were next to create an opportunity. Edwards sent over a cross from the right which reached Sears at the far post but the ball struck the ex-Colchester man, who had presumably been unsighted, and bounced wide.

The Blues could count themselves fortunate to be on terms at the break with the visitors having had much the better of the half and the period’s one outstanding chance. While Holy read the situation brilliantly and made a terrific stop, Lowery will feel he really should have taken the opportunity.

Town had been out-passed by the fluent Railwaymen with Jaaskelainen still to be tested as he made his way off at the break.

Following a half-time downpour of biblical proportions, the Blues returned with the same XI despite the disappointing first period.

Town began the second half positively with Dozzell hitting a shot which deflected over in the 48th minute.

Three minutes later, Bishop broke down the left and sent a dangerous ball across the Crewe six-yard box but with no one there to add the final touch.

But the Railwaymen continued to look a danger. On 56, after Dozzell had been yellow-carded for dissent, a free-kick from midway inside the Town half was floated to the far post and Mandron nodded across the box but beyond his team-mates.

Almost immediately at the other end, Ward crossed from the left and Hawkins did well to get ahead of his man to head goalwards but Jaaskelainen was able to claim.

However, the former Pompey man didn’t have to wait too much longer for his first goal for the Blues.

In the 62nd minute, Judge played a short corner on the left to Ward, the left-back stopped the ball for the former Brentford man, who curled in a cross which Hawkins nodded past Jaaskelainen from six yards.

Crewe could count themselves unfortunate to be behind on the balance of the game, although the Blues had begun to look a little more dangerous.

Judge was booked for a foul on Lowery in the 66th minute with the Town players having shown their frustration towards referee Trevor Kettle shortly beforehand after he failed to penalise a Crewe player for a late challenge on Hawkins.

The visitors went close to getting on terms twice in the 68th minute. First, Holy saved from Lowery at his near post on the right then, following the corner, Offord nodded goalwards but the Czech got down and across well to save.

Town swapped goalscorer Hawkins for the pace of Jackson, making his first appearance since his Covid-19 absence, in the 69th minute, then two minutes later, after a Bishop shot had been saved down to his right by Jaaskelainen, the Alex switched Mandron and Dale for Chris Porter and Daniel Powell.

The Blues were finding themselves under some pressure from the visitors, last season’s League Two title winners, with a number of efforts from the edge of the box blocked by Town defenders.

Skipper Luke Chambers made his frustrations with his team-mates known after Ryan Wintle had hit a low shot which Holy claimed confidently. In the 80th minute Lankester took over from Bishop.

Crewe replaced Callum Ainley with Oliver Finney in the 82nd minute and two minutes later Town introduced Keanan Bennetts for Sears.

On 86 Jackson was cautioned for time-wasting as the Railwaymen prepared to take a free-kick, then Edwards joined him in the book for a foul two minutes later.

The visitors continued to pile the pressure on in five additional minutes in which sub Porter nodded a dangerous ball in from the left high and wide but the Blues were able to hang on and claim their fifth home win of the season.

It was far from a vintage Town display with the Alex unlucky not to take all three points let alone a point from the game.

The visitors certainly had the better of the first half and created most of its chances and, having got their lead via a well-worked set piece and Hawkins’s header, the Blues were forced to dig in to see out the game and secure their three points.

The Blues’ 100 per cent home record in League One continues and they are still to concede a goal at Portman Road.

The win moves Town up to second, behind new leaders Peterborough United, who beat Shrewsbury 5-1, on goal difference and similarly ahead of Lincoln, beaten 1-0 at Doncaster, in third.

The Blues are next in action at sixth-placed Sunderland, who won 2-0 at Gillingham, on Tuesday evening.

Town: Holy, Chambers (c), McGuinness, Woolfenden, Ward, Dozzell, Bishop (Lankester 80), Judge, Edwards, Sears (Bennetts 84), Hawkins (Jackson 69). Unused: Cornell, Nsiala, Kenlock, Huws.

Crewe: Jaaskelainen, Ng (c), Pickering, Wintle, Lowery, Kirk, Ainley (Finney 82), Mandron (Porter 71), Offord, Dale (Powell 71), Beckles. Unused: Richards, Zanzala, Johnson, Murphy. Referee: Trevor Kettle (Rutland).

Photo: Matchday Images

LWNR2013 added 18:23 - Oct 31 Crewe played pretty but no real goal threat.
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cat added 18:28 - Oct 31 Another ‘professional performance' lol with another 3 points in the bag. Pleased for the ‘big man' top draw saves and another clean sheet and a striker bagging the winner. It ain't pretty but hopefully there's plenty of room for improvement.
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ChrisFelix added 18:31 - Oct 31 Strangely over the years I have watched town away (especially at Reading). Play well & lose, wondering how ever did we lose that. Well today the boot was on the other foot. We won
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Lathers added 19:23 - Oct 31 We would have lost today with Nsiala and Wilson at the back. Fact. Our defence was superb today against a team that showed us how you are supposed to pass the ball about. When will our midfield 3 all turn up together? Bish was Ok today but Judge may as well have stayed in bed and Dozzell plays so deep that he adds zero creativity and his passing has been getting sloppier by the week. I don't think we will make the top 6 unless we get consistency out of the guys in the middle. Also thought Sears and Edwards were poor today. Well done to the back 5 and Oli for his first goal winning us the game.

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Billericay12 added 19:34 - Oct 31 Great performance from Holy and Wolfie and Mcguiness look much more comfortable playing out from the back than Nsiala and Wilson. What I don't like is that when they play the ball in to The Midfield it mostly just gets knocked back to them. Need the midfielders to be braver on the ball and take more responsibility. Pleased for Hawkins to get off the mark although his first touch is not as good as PL would have you believe. He is too slow and he won't score enough goals for us this season. Will take the 3 points though and great to see a good number of home grown players in the team.

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Henz10 added 19:45 - Oct 31 The second game I've watched this season and it was a great improvement on last week. Woolfenden has an ability to bring the ball out from the back and looks a cut above. Bishop was our best midfielder and we will be lucky to keep hold of him if we don't go up. I can't be the only one who thinks that Judge is vastly overrated. He's slow and ponderous on the ball, and he gave Wintle the freedom of the pitch. I thought we should have sold him to QPR and he's done nothing to change my mind. Pleased with the spirit and determination of the team and it's nice to get an ugly win. Would like to see Lankester in for Judge and Bennetts in for Sears. I thought Dozzell was neat and tidy without dominating the game. At least Lambert gave an honest post match interview for once. Excellent start to the season and am pleased with the results if not performances. It's not often we are second in the league so we should enjoy it while we can. COYB :)

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planetblue_2011 added 19:54 - Oct 31 Good win definitely take that & happy with the result. What a footballing side Crewe are, very impressed with them. Teams certainly raise their games against us!! Up to 2nd COYB⚽️
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herfie added 20:19 - Oct 31 Delighted with the win, and the three points. Early days, and the league table shimmers and glimmers. But (and there's always one!), we're going to have to improve upon our consistency and, possibly, self-belief if we're not to be found out, as just flattering to deceive. Deja vu and all that. PL in his post match comments, and not for the first time, mentioned players having to get the ‘basics' right- working hard, running hard, looking to create etc as the bedrock of all performances. This Implied criticism of a team wanting to be seen as serious promotion contenders, and one who he constantly calls ‘brilliant and fantastic', is a tad concerning and hints, perhaps, at attitude or mental strength issues. We cannot and must not take to the pitch and think that ‘something' will happen. Suggest PL and training staff impart some hard home-truths to those who perhaps believe they're better than they actually are. Clinging on to a fortunate 1-0 lead, at home against Crewe (no disrespect intended) is not good enough.

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BobbyPetta11 added 21:15 - Oct 31 Paul Jewell
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Linkboy13 added 21:21 - Oct 31 Im getting fed up of saying this but our midfield is as weak as dish water and even with Downes back we will still need a ball winner with a good engine, other wise it's another season in the first division.
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AucklandBlue added 21:33 - Oct 31 Good win today against a good League 1 outfit. If Crewe continue to play like that they will have a good season. As for us, can't argue with 3 points but we are certainly suffering from our endless injuries. Agree with the comment made that it's good to see our home grown talent doing well. That is the way to re-build ITFC. As and when we get promoted back to the Championship, we will need to clear out a lot of deadwood. Reading despite their first loss of the season on Friday have shown what can be achieved. Flirting with relegation for a number of seasons but getting their act together and voila! Leeds United are another case in point. Relegated to League 1, got back up eventually but not pulling up any trees in the Championship. Built a good young team around home grown talent like Calvin Phillips. Then the owners put their hands in their pockets and invested wisely in talented players. Now look at them go. Note here to Marcus, appreciate your financial support now in a Covid-19 world but you have been too tight fisted in the past.

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Billericay12 added 21:56 - Oct 31 I agree that we look a bit lightweight in midfield. When Downes returns that will help a bit. I do think though that Dozzell is gradually improving the more he plays. He needs to do a bit more but hopefully that will come. Dozzell, Downes and Bishop all home grown and would love to see them bring us success and then step up to the Championship with Ipswich.
3

FAC150 added 22:24 - Oct 31 We won, we are second. Grow up people. Not every game is a 5-0 with 80% possession. Playing many young home grown players. I really don't know what some people realistically expect.
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Skip73 added 23:08 - Oct 31 We're not on form but still winning. The performances will get better.
2

Rimsy added 23:45 - Oct 31 A win is always welcome, but that's 3 of the last 4 we've been thoroughly outplayed. Some good saves from Holy, he just dos'nt inspire confidence. He should be dominating the box with his size.
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Bluearmy_81 added 00:29 - Nov 1 Link boy, if only we were in the first division... It sounds better but we're third division (of 4.)
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hyperbrit added 02:09 - Nov 1 7 clean sheets from 10 games and some of you are still moaning!!
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BlueandTruesince82 added 09:18 - Nov 1 Why we don't play Edwards on the left is beyond me. JL on the right and Freddy competing for a spot down the middle
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atty added 09:23 - Nov 1 Defence doing ok, but with the horrendous turnaround on games can't see the two youngsters playing every game, and niggly injuries more likely to occur all round. We have some talent in midfield for sure but with the 4-3-3 they are not going to boss many games. Downes would make a difference, particularly if we played a 4-4-2. Up top? Not overloaded with talent, but with Norwood and Jackson we have two players who are proven goal scorers. Playing off Hawkins could work. I'm afraid Freddie's best days are behind him, particularly from when he was playing off Murph. Being played wide hasn't helped him. Not at all sure we can bring in any much better players now we are in Lge 1, and the salary cap. Been supporting them for what 50 years,North Stand and the same seat in the Pioneer stand ( excuse the reminiscing) since 1986, and this is the worst l've known it. I saw the clip yesterday of the 6-4 game against Crewe. Miller,Coneago, Shifti , Wright, with Big Joe as manager. Not our best team ever obviously but they looked world class compared to what we've seen since Evans arrived. Well at least he's keeping us afloat, which is something. Season ticket paid as soon as issued, no games since etc.Not sure how much longer l can stay with it, 120 mile round trip, nightmare traffic mid week games, car parking, finding something to ear blah blah. to watch what? Think l'll stop now, l boring myself never mind you lot. Think l'll take the dog for a walk on the beach.

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BettyBlue added 09:29 - Nov 1 Lamvert out now.
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Skip73 added 09:44 - Nov 1 Hyperbrit, of course they are. Thats all they do. It really gets weary sometimes
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Michael101 added 09:54 - Nov 1 Atty,you hit the mail on the head with the line *since Evans arrived*. I don't think we are going anywhere with he at the helm.
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Upthetown1970 added 10:01 - Nov 1 Another 3pts is fantastic. Did we play well ?. No not in my opinion. My worry is that if we continue to play like this then we will start taking no points from matches as we did last season. Performances need to improve that's for sure. Still on the positive side we have got 6pts from our last 2 matches where we could have easily come away with nothing.
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barryblue added 10:10 - Nov 1 i think its bit unfair for sears to get so much stick, he has been out for a long time and also no spring chicken anymore, should give him a rest. i also think we should be playing 2 up front as none of them, apart from perhaps norwood, are suited to lone striker. and i think that even with lambert we should still get out of this league, and this season is probably our best chance, as with the size and depth of squad will be vital if the season gets concluded. All the other teams will have injuries and not many have the squads to cope.

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BettyBlue added 10:12 - Nov 1 Who are the injured players that would make a difference to our pathetic recent performances? Norwood??? you're having a laugh.
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