Two goals in two minutes from Jon Nolan and Kayden Jackson saw Town come from behind to beat Plymouth Argyle 2-1 at Home Park following Pilgrims winger Danny Mayor’s red card. Luke Jephcott’s 14th minute goal had given Argyle a 1-0 half-time lead but after one-time Town target Mayor had picked up his second yellow card on 70, Nolan and Jackson netted in the 73rd and 74th minutes to hand manager Paul Lambert a victory in his 100th game in charge of the Blues, who are up to third.

Town boss Paul Lambert made three changes with Alan Judge, Brett McGavin and Jackson coming into the side.

McGavin took over from Andre Dozzell, banned for one game having reached five bookings, in the holding midfield role with Judge ahead of him alongside Nolan.

Jack Lankester moved to the right of the front three with Keanan Bennetts, who has been suffering with a hamstring problem, dropping to the bench.

Jackson was the lone central striker with Aaron Drinan, who started at Oxford on Tuesday, not in the matchday 18.

Emyr Huws returned to the bench after a back problem along with Toto Nsiala, who has had a hamstring injury, and young defender Corrie Ndaba.

For Plymouth, defenders Will Aimson and Jerome Opoku came back into the side, as did midfielders Panutche Camara and Mayor, who turned down the chance to join the Blues in the summer of 2019 to sign for the Pilgrims.

Scott Wootton, Niall Canavan and Ben Reeves dropped to the bench, while George Cooper missed out on a place in the 18.

Former Blues loanee Conor Grant started in midfield and ex-Town striker Frank Nouble was up front.

The teams were playing in front of fans for the first time since March 7th with 1,808 Argyle season ticket holders present at Home Park.

Town started brightly with Armando Dobra sending over a low cross from the right which was turned behind by a defender. From the corner, ex-Blues striker Nouble slid in to make a fine challenge on Judge inside the box.

There was a scare for the Blues in the sixth minute after Stephen Ward was caught in possession on the Town left. A cross from the right flicked off a defender behind Nouble and Mayor saw a shot blocked.

A minute later at the other end, Town were adamant they should have been awarded a penalty when Opoku upended Lankester inside the box. However, referee Ollie Yates waved the protests away, seemingly indicating that Lankester had dived. Once again the Blues appeared to have been the victims of a bad big decision.

The game had started in an end-to-end open manner with chances at both ends. On 10 the Pilgrims might have gone ahead when Grant crossed from the right and Kell Watts headed well over.

But the returning, socially-distanced home fans dotted around the ground only had to wait another four minutes for their side to take the lead.

Ex-Town loanee Grant crossed from the left from Nouble’s lay-off and Jephcott got in front of Mark McGuinness and flicked goalwards. The ball struck the underside of the bar and, according to the linesman, went over the line. Ward protested and replays suggested the ball may not have crossed but to no avail.

The Blues should have got back on terms in the 22nd minute when a deflected Lankester pass sent Jackson away on goal. However, the striker took too long over taking his shot and Aimson slid in superbly to dispossess him.

The game continued to be an open affair but with Argyle looking more dangerous. On 34 Mayor cut in from the left and hit a powerful shot which flew across the face of goal and wide.

In the final scheduled minute of the half, Nouble flicked on a long kick from keeper Michael Cooper and Cornell had to come off his line to claim ahead of Jephcott.

Moments later, Dobra forced Cooper into his first save of the game but it was a regulation take for the Argyle glovesman and looked to be going wide in any case.

As has become familiar, Town had had plenty of possession and although they were less ponderous in their approach than has often been the case, they had created fewer of the chances than the home side.

Having said that, they were very unfortunate not to be awarded a penalty when Lankester was fouled, while Jackson ought to have got his shot away when he had his chance.

But Plymouth had looked more threatening with their goal, which may or may not have crossed the line, the outstanding opening created by either side.

Five minutes after the restart McGavin was booked for a foul on Camara, then Mayor joined him in being shown a yellow card for time-wasting as he prepared to take a corner.

On 55 Cooper was fored to turn a McGavin corner form his right over his bar. From the resultant flag-kick on the other side, the ball was eventually played out to McGavin by Jackson and the midfielder hit a powerful effort straight at Cooper who held confidently.

But overall, Town were hardly looking like getting back on terms with more of the action in and around a penalty area at the other end. In the 58th minute Tyrese Fornah hit a shot through to Cornell from distance.

Two minutes later, after the Blues had broken forward quickly, Jackson flicked a Dobra cross from the left goalwards at the near post but it hit a defender and went behind.

Town made a double change in the 65th minute with Bennetts and Oli Hawkins taking over from McGavin and Lankester and moved to a 4-4-1-1 system. Three minutes later, Argyle swapped goalscorer Jephcott for Ryan Hardie.

In the 70th minute the Pilgrims were reduced to 10 men when Mayor - already booked for time-wasting at a corner - deliberately tripped Dobra on halfway and was shown a second yellow and then a red card. Nouble was subsequently cautioned for protesting.

It took Town only three minutes after the dismissal to get back on terms. Bennetts fed Ward overlapping on the left and the Irishman crossed to Nolan just inside the area from where the Liverpudlian chested down and shot low into the corner of the net.

Having scored their first goal in four games, it took Town only a minute to net another.

Again it came from a Ward cross from the left, this time from not far inside the Plymouth half. Hawkins chested it down and Jackson hit a low left-footed shot across Cooper and into the corner of the net for his first goal of the season.

Plymouth switched skipper Joe Edwards and Nouble for Byron Moore and Ben Reeves in the 78th minute as the 10 men went about getting back on terms.

On 84 Watts went very close to levelling with a powerful shot from distance which flew only narrowly over Cornell’s cross bar. In the final minute Dom Telford took over from Fornah for the Pilgrims.

In four minutes of injury time, there was a falling out between Cornell and McGuinness after the defender had ignored a call from the keeper leaving him in no-man’s land as sub Telford hooked well over the bar. Referee Yates yellow-carded Cornell following the incident.

Soon after Yates confirmed that the 1,808 Plymouth fans would leave Home Park for the first time in nine months having seen their side defeated.

No doubt about the turning point in the game. Before Mayor’s red card a Blues’ revival hadn’t looked particularly likely.

Mayor seemed to immediately realise his error after tripping Dobra having picked up a cheap yellow card earlier in the half for time-wasting.

Town certainly made the most of their one-man advantage with Nolan - now the Blues' joint-top scorer on five alongside Gwion Edwards - and Jackson taking their chances clinically - the only opportunities following the red card - with Ward playing a role in both and Hawkins the second.

The Blues’ first win in four will relieve some pressure of manager Lambert, whose record in his 100 games in charge reads won 32, drew 25, lost 43.

Town are up to third in the table ahead of next week’s home game against fourth-placed Portsmouth in front of 2,000 Blues supporters.

Plymouth: M Cooper, Aimson, Opoku, Watts, Fornah (Telford 90), Edwards (c) (Moore 78), Camara, Mayor, Grant, Nouble (Reeves 78), Jephcott (Hardie 68). Unused: McCormick, Wootton, Canavan.

Town: Cornell, Chambers (c), Woolfenden, McGuinness, Ward, McGavin (Bennetts 65), Nolan, Dobra, Lankester (Hawkins 65), Judge, Jackson. Unused: Holy, Nsiala, Ndaba, Huws, Gibbs. Referee: Ollie Yates (Staffordshire). Att: 1,808.

Photo: PagePix

Bert added 18:19 - Dec 5 A win is a win and Plymouth are no push over. No surprise at all that there are posters on here trying their best to rubbish a win. Just look at results in the last week with everyone slipping up so yes it is a poor league but if a club under siege like us with unprecedented injuries can still grind out a result then there is hope. A big test this Saturday but let's hope that those who attend do so for right reason.

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BettyBlue added 18:23 - Dec 5 Do these no-hopers only steal points off one legged pensioners or blind children lost on their way home from school. Lamberty has no shame. He'd tell his own grandmother lies if he could keep getting the £20k a week till the end of his contract. They should all be sacked with a performance like that.
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Edmundo added 18:30 - Dec 5 Jingle bells...! COYB
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budgieplucker added 18:31 - Dec 5 Firstly thank you to the many of you who responded with generous comments to my post on the Andre thread earlier today, I think fairness needs a hearing to avoid the debate turning toxic and we must avoid the “you must be either for or against the manager”. My take today is more valuable time on the turf for the young lads standing in who again didn't let us down and are doing more than their bit in helping to keep us in the race until we get some of our injured back. I can't wait for the day when we can see a settled midfield of Dozzell, Bishop and Downes proving they are not only the best midfield in this league but more than capable of propelling us forward in the Championship. Brett McGavin has come on a lot in a short period of time and I would be surprised if Jack Lankester doesn't gradually work his way to a regular starting position before the end of the season providing he remains injury free. Keep supporting our young talent and enjoy watching them improve. Finally the medical staff have taken a lot of stick in press and social media and the news of Jim Henry returning to Scotland has fuelled a lot of negative speculation. In the spirit of fairness I would urge all fair minded town fans to read the following article on James Milner when he was at Villa and his comments on Villa's secret weapon in respect of Jim. https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/james-milner-hails So well done lads a better performance, more tempo to our game and let's see what we can do at home next week with 2,000 fans who I hope will give the lads a great reception. 4 points from six is not a bad start for the recovery, noting that Hull couldn't take 3 points from Oxford today either.

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dirtydingusmagee added 18:47 - Dec 5 WELL WELL WELL , . Lets hope it dosnt prove to be a one off. Seen these get out of jail results before, Well done all for snatching 3 points out of the fire .
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mib added 18:48 - Dec 5 Still 3 points bettyblue
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Lathers added 18:48 - Dec 5 After spending £40 on ifollow games in the past fortnight, finally got to see us score some goals, get a win and produce a reasonable display. Also won £115 backing us to win, BTTS and 5+ corners each so I will enjoy my Saturday night beers and curry and forget about the politics for now.
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johnwarksshorts added 18:55 - Dec 5 I didnt listen to, or watch the match today but glad we got a well needed 3 points. More game time for the youngsters which has to be a good thing. Still worried about number of shots on goal and clear cut chances. COYB!
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Tony88 added 18:56 - Dec 5 Boringarmy81 at it again, if Evans and Lambert go it will not because of you and your little gang with a few banners.
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Bluearmy_81 added 18:58 - Dec 5 Question: if your club has become a bit of a joke and laughing stock and are at their lowest in 60+years is it acceptable as a fan to say, "this isn't good enough" and demand better? Answer from ever fan in the league except some Ipswich--yes, of course!! You must. Its part of what being a fan is about! Answer from some perma happy clappers here: no, just clap and stay happy ffs! Support the team!! 🤔🙄🙄🙄🙄

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Bluearmy_81 added 18:59 - Dec 5 It's like there's a book on how to be a football fan and you've not read it Tony!! 😂😂
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Nobbysnuts added 19:07 - Dec 5 Welcome 3 points but it all hinged on the red card and you would be fools to think any different... this had nothing to do with lamberts tactical prowess.... but playing two up front definitely helps.The only problem is that lambert will only do this when we are losing and the opposition are down to 10 men... Back to one up front on Saturday and getting beaten...this time in front of a few unlucky fans..

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DifferentGravy added 19:08 - Dec 5 Mibs - Just turn in for a night..... theres a good lad/lady
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rabbit added 19:10 - Dec 5 Bluearmy_81 I'm not sure whether anyone is reading a book on how to be a football supporter, but for sure your psychology reading is certainly coming on...."perma" "gaslighting" haha I notice you have not used "Stockholm Syndrome" recently. Anyway from a Town supporter and long term season ticket holder I am extremely pleased with the win, not getting carried away happy but just quietly pleased.

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algarvefan added 19:17 - Dec 5 Our injury list is crazy and we have some good players missing, that number out would be a disaster for most teams in this league. Reading some of the comments on here you would be forgiven for thinking we didn't get 3 points away from home today. Both goals were excellent, well taken strikes. You can be as critical as you like, we are where we are as a club, we have had a poor run, not surprising with the players we are missing, but we are still 3rd, 5 points off the top and still very much in the mix. Give the lads who played today some credit, some of them very young. These are difficult times on and off the pitch, hang in there folks, it ain't over yet. Would like to see us start 4-4-2 next game and hope to see some of the injured players back soon, but well done to the lads today, some real 'dig in' performances and a scrap at the end which we held on for. Not pretty today but these are the results that get you promoted.

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BettyBlue added 19:19 - Dec 5 Our team and Lambert are stinking this league out.
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Linkboy13 added 19:37 - Dec 5 So two up front doesn't work Mr Lambert. The way the second goal was created showed what we have been missing for years since Darrell Murphy a target man. Hawkins chests it down to Jackson who scores simple game football why complicate with these stupid formations that don't work 4321 and all that horlicks. Lambert even managed to call it 4411 to avoid admitting we played two up front. Top coach and friend Steve Foley who worked with Jim Magilton told me there's only one formation for him and that's 442 and he's highly respected in the game.

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lonelyblue added 19:59 - Dec 5 Bluearmy, you do know that you're just a bully, don't you? It's not necessarily your views that alienate people, it's the way you express them and the insulting language you perpetually use towards people that disagree with you. I click on this excellent site two or three times a day, but read the comments at most once or twice a month, and then immediately wish I hadn't, because of the nasty little club of squabblers that take over. You're not the only one of course, but you're inevitably there, repeating your same point for all to see, and being vicious towards anybody who dares to question you. You don't have to be like that, you know that, don't you?

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Westy added 20:04 - Dec 5 I for one will savour the victory. Would we have won if they'd had eleven players? Possibly not, but it's discipline and keeping all our players on the pitch is all part of the game and we were better at that today than Plymouth and ultimately it won us the game.
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Tractorboy1985 added 21:21 - Dec 5 Wheeeeyyyy clappy clap clap... we beat 10 men... only when our manager switched to a formation 4-4-2 that ‘the knowledgeable' fans have been crying out for for the past 3 months! 1 win and the happy clappy berks are back on side of Evans and lambert! Easiest ride a football owner will ever have owning a club with such pathetic and patient fans of incompetence from top to bottom! I'll wait till we go another few games when we don't score... let's blame it on the injuries though not the manager or the hopeless owner who has watched our demise since 2015!!

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algarvefan added 21:33 - Dec 5 Tractorboy1985, OK then big man what's your solution, get a new owner from where? Someone with hoards of money because there are loads of them look for a third division club. A new manager, like Sunderland perhaps for all the good their constant changes have done them. The injuries are relevant, you and you fantasy football friends are not, some of us live in the real world. ITFC don't have some divine right to win every week playing football of the God's. Get your head out the sand and start supporting the team or clear of elsewhere. They fought hard and won today, be grateful, like a proper fan be p[leased for them instead of dripping every week!!!!!

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Tractorboy1985 added 22:09 - Dec 5 Algarve... get out the sun mate... gone to your head today! I'm a realistic and beating Plymouth who had 10 men doesn't change my thoughts this club is being run into the ground by the worst owner in English football and a man who is running the side said can't play 4-4-2 2 weeks ago! Maybe you should come to Ipswich and Portman road and see closer for yourself rather than sunning yourself on those lovely beaches I've been unable to see this year 😉 season ticket holder I may add and seen what's happening in front of my eyes for the last 8 years.. not a screen on a beach ☀️

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LondonBlue73 added 23:11 - Dec 5 Tractorboy I accept everybody is entitled to an opinion and if you read my post on page one then you will see my feelings about the owner and where we are. However a few points have been raised by algarve that don't deserve the response. So what if he doesn't attend Portman road does that mean he can't have an opinion. I live 125 miles away and for 31 years have gone to most games home and away. But for 4 years was too ill to travel does that make my view less valid? In terms of the owner and manager - I'm not overly happy with either. But who else will buy our club and evans is not the best but far from the worst. Let's be honest, realistic and respectful. Look at Bolton, Bury, MK Dons (when Wimbledon were sold out) Wigan, Macclesfield and many many more. I get frustration and anger - I also think the recent atmosphere at PR has had a negative effect on the team, young players especially. The atmosphere, the fans, the players and whoever the manager is and the owner are itfc some is in our control but much is not. Supporting our team is what is needed. Once we can't go up then that's the time to vent until then I will support and hope others will do. Oh and also how many ten man teams hold On to a 1-0 we won end of and that worth a beer tonight.

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Bert added 23:17 - Dec 5 Empty vessels make the most noise but rarely do they speak for the majority.
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BlueDublin78 added 23:52 - Dec 5 With so many Normally first choice players missing through injury/suspension , the players today deserve massive credit and thanks for their efforts to get that result ! As an Ipswich supporter , they have my and many others support, win lose or draw !! Realistic and measured comments from Londonblue and Algarve , and probably many others, I haven't read all . 3rd in the league in December, players hopefully coming back from injury in the coming weeks, an addition or 2 in Jan , every reason to be positive for the second half of the season !!

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