Alan Judge’s fantastic 25-yard free-kick and a predatory effort from James Norwood saw the Blues to a 2-1 victory over Doncaster Rovers at Portman Road and up to eighth in League One. Judge curled home a brilliant opener on 24, Norwood stabbed in the second in the 54th minute, before sub Jon Taylor pulled one back on 73 for Rovers, who pushed for a leveller in the final minutes but without success.

Town named the same side for the third successive game as they looked to build on Tuesday’s 1-0 win at Hull City.

Tomas Holy was again in goal with the back four, from the right, skipper Luke Chambers, Toto Nsiala, James Wilson and Myles Kenlock.

Andre Dozzell and Teddy Bishop were at the centre of the midfield with Judge on the left and Keanan Bennetts on the right, while Troy Parrott was behind lone out-and-out striker James Norwood.

Flynn Downes was back on the bench following his two-match ban with Luke Matheson dropping out of the 18.

Town assistant manager Stuart Taylor was again not in the dugout, as has been the case for the last two games, and announced earlier today that his father had died. The Blues players wore black armbands in tribute.

Doncaster made two changes from their last game, coincidentally also against Hull, a 3-3 home draw a week ago, with Fejiri Okenabirhie and John Bostock coming into the XI and Taylor and Madger Gomes dropping to the bench.

Prior to kick-off both teams, again with the exception of Nsiala as has been the case for the last two matches, took a knee in support of Black Lives Matter.

Doncaster saw most of the ball early on but in their own half of the field. The Blues made a break forward in the fifth minute through Bennetts, who fed Dozzell bursting towards the area but the former England U20 international was let down by his touch and the ball was cleared against him and over the bar.

A loose Judge pass was played to the feet of Omar Bogle on the right of the Town area in the seventh minute. The Blues forced the ball away from the striker but eventually it fell to Okenabirhie, who hit a low shot across the face of goal which Holy watched past his post.

Rovers continued to dominate possession with Town not able to get their passing going, although while presenting a potential threat on the counter-attack. On 17 Parrott mis-hit a bouncing ball which had fallen to him fortuitously 25 yards out well wide.

Two minutes later, Bennetts curled a shot into Ellery Balcombe’s arms after the Doncaster keeper had punched a corner to the edge of the box.

In the 23rd minute, Nsiala headed a Judge free-kick from the right back across the box, off a defender and wide. Referee Martin Coy adjudged Norwood to have committed a foul, much to the annoyance of the frontman.

Despite having had only a small share of the ball - the possession percentage stats at this stage were 72-28 in the visitors’ favour - the Blues had looked the more dangerous side and in the 24th minute they went ahead.

Bishop was brought down by Taylor Richards 25 yards out towards the left and Judge curled a brilliant free-kick past Balcombe to his left and into the corner of the net. It was the Irishman’s third goal of the season and probably the best of his Town career.

Having got their noses in front, the Blues began to put Rovers under pressure as they looked for a second.

Just after the half hour, Kenlock cut the ball back from the left towards Judge, who looked set to score his second of the game until Rovers skipper Tom Anderson dived in to block and divert his effort at goal over.

But the visitors quickly began to press Town at the other end, John Bostock hitting a shot into Holy’s arms in the 34th minute, then two minutes later, the Blues keeper reacted quickly to save from Richards before Nsiala blocked from Josh Sims. Moments later, Bogle shot wide.

Sims tried his luck again on 40 from just outside the Town area but failed to trouble Holy then two minutes later, after Bennetts had lost possession in a promising position on the right of the Rovers box, Reece James worked his way into the left of the Town area but hit a weak effort with the side of his foot which again failed to trouble Holy.

Just before the half was brought to an end by referee Coy’s whistle, Holy was quickly off his line to claim a ball just in front of Richards.

In many ways much of the half was a mirror image of many of Town’s matches this season. Doncaster had dominated possession without showing too much purpose early on, but it was the Blues who took the lead and had created more of the chances at that stage having looked a danger on the counter-attack.

Judge, having scored his superb free-kick, might have made it 2-0 before the visitors began to threaten more in the latter stages, although with most of their efforts hit from distance and Holy not troubled.

Two minutes after the restart, Kenlock was booked for a foul on Richards having been spoken to by the referee for a previous transgression in the first half.

Norwood should have doubled the Blues’ lead in the 52nd minute when Judge crossed from the left and the ball reached the striker at the far post but his scuffed effort into the ground bounced across the face of goal and was nodded out by Joe Wright.

But Norwood didn’t have to wait too long for his fifth goal of the season, joining Gwion Edwards and Jon Nolan as the Blues’ joint-top scorer.

Balcombe punched clear a corner from the right, Bishop nodded it back in, it scuffed off a defender’s head and fell to Norwood, who stuck out a toe to stab past Balcombe from a few feet.

Judge wasn’t too far away from his second of the afternoon and Town’s third in the 55th minute, his curling effort from the edge of the area only just going over the bar. Three minutes later, Rovers swapped Sims and Matt Smith for Taylor and Scott Robertson.

Rovers hadn’t looked particularly dangerous in the second half but on 65 Okenabirhie crossed low from the left and Bogle’s effort at goal was deflected wide off Wilson. Three minutes later, Town swapped Dozzell and Judge for Downes and Edwards.

Doncaster began to up the pressure and in the 72nd minute they hit the post, Richards striking a low shot which beat Holy to his left but cannoned off the foot of the woodwork.

But in the following passage of play, the South Yorkshireman were able to pull a goal back. Downes slid in to make a challenge 10 yards outside the area and inadvertently played the ball into the path of sub Taylor on the right of the box from where he struck a low shot across Holy and into the net. It was the first goal the Blues had conceded in four games.

Town replaced Bennetts with Josh Harrop in the 75th minute with Doncaster still seeing a lot of the ball but without having been able to create another chance. Four minutes later, Aaron Drinan took over from Norwood and Freddie Sears replaced Parrott.

On 82 Richards almost played in Bogle with a clever pass but the former Grimsby man was just unable to get his toe to the ball.

Two minutes later, Richards shot high and wide before he and Okenabirhie were switched for James Coppinger and Jason Lokilo.

On 86 Coppinger played a free-kick on the right to Robertson not far outside the area but the sub scuffed his effort through to Holy as a number of Town players charged towards him.

Rovers continued to pass the ball around, probing for a gap in the Blues’ backline. Just before the fourth official’s board indicated four additional minutes, Brad Halliday struck a 25-yard shot straight at Holy, who had made a lot of saves but few which were more than regulation stops.

There were no major scares for the Blues in the final minutes and referee Coy confirmed their first back-to-back wins since October and a second scalp among the teams in the top six in five days following their struggles against the better sides previously this season.

Having got their second goal via Norwood, Town were able to stand firm in the latter stages as Doncaster, who always had the lion’s share of the ball, put them under pressure. Taylor’s goal gave Rovers, who beat the Blues 4-1 at the Keepmoat Stadium earlier in the season, a sniff but an equaliser never really looked on the cards.

The win moves the Blues, who are now undefeated in four, conceding only once in that time, up to eighth in the table, now only two points behind today’s opponents with a game in hand ahead of Tuesday’s trip to Accrington Stanley, who drew 1-1 at Fleetwood this afternoon.

Town: Holy, Chambers (c), Nsiala, Wilson, Kenlock, Dozzell (Downes 68), Bishop, Bennetts (Harrop 75), Judge (Edwards 68), Parrott (Sears 79), Norwood (Drinan 79). Unused: Cornell, Ward, Sears, Drinan.

Doncaster: Balcombe, Halliday, James, Anderson (c), Wright, Bogle, Okenabirhie (Coppinger 84), Smith (Robertson 58), Bostock, Richards (Lokilo 84), Sims (Taylor 58). Unused: Jones, Gomes, John. Referee: Martin Coy (Durham).

Photo: Matchday Images

Marinersnose added 18:08 - Feb 27 For me this is not just another 3 points as Doncaster are a far better side than Hull and as a result they dominated a huge percentage of the game. This is where I felt the team showed mental strength by defending well and working extremely hard without the ball. We rode our luck again at the back but we still beat a very good team who play football the right way. Judge deserves credit for his excellent free kick and Norwood was again busy and prominent causing them problems at the back. Fantastic that he again scored which will do his confidence no harm at all. I'm not going to mention the negatives as this would detract from a very good result. Same again Tuesday.

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BeattiesBackPocket added 18:08 - Feb 27 Well anyone who listened to Lambert's post match interview must now realise there's more than just rumours to the takeover now otherwise he would've just come out and said it was rumours but he just kept saying ‘you'll have to ask Marcus' never been more convinced it's gonna happen now.
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chepstowblue added 18:10 - Feb 27 A heartening run of results and nice to banish the top 6 hoodoo. A tad fortuitous today which was the case with many of our victories early season, so feet are still firmly planted,though I'll look at the table tonight with a bit more optimism. What surprises me is that this little patch of 7pts from 9 against a trio of the better sides has coincided with a settled line up consisting of a back four ....three of whom I didnt think I'd see at all this season, other than in the Mickey Mouse cup. Hope I'm sure will eventually lead to anti climatic disappointment, but credit where it's due, it's been a good fortnight.

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RobsonWark added 18:11 - Feb 27 LimerickTractorBoy added 17:55 - Feb 27 "PL please bring Nolan and Jackson back into the fold." Why would you want a player that lets the club, his team mates, the supporters, the manager, the owner, etc, etc down by getting himself sent off after less than 10 minutes in a match? You are having a laugh!! Why would you want a highly paid so called "professional " footballer who would rather be at home with his wife and kids rather than travelling with the team and supporting the team on to a win. (even if he didn't get in the squad for the match). Surely a team win has to be in his interest too. I'm with Lambert on these two tw*ts who obviously think they are better than our club. Lambert finally grows some balls and drops them to the U23s. GOOD ON HIM!! I have soooooooooooo much respect for Lambert doing that.

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EssexTractor added 18:15 - Feb 27 It is true that 2.0 ahead is a dangerous scoreline- when we got there we stopped playing- But fortunately despite Doncaster being quicker to the ball and having overwhelming possession their actual real attempts were few and far between ..Aside from their goal ..not the keepers fault at all, Holy dealt comfortably with the crosses, easy enough for him , and the rather tepid shots. Wilson and Nsiala did their work comfortably ..Chambers was not outsmarted, but Kenlock seemed to have no help and was caught out of position a few times. Bennetts needs proper coaching ..he could be really good but for now despite thinking he will ..he doesn't ...Norwood is a handful and only real chance he had he scored..that is the real next stage to make opponents frightened of us..today our midfield truthfully created little..Bishop non existent..Judge great free kick but also non creative....Dozzell flitted in and out Parrott is a bit like marmite per opinions on here...he has energy , a good heart but no one really sets him or Norwood up with defence splitting passes.. Today we showed heart and determination and rode our luck a little...and after some shambolic performances this season we did deserve to win ..because at the final whistle we scored one more goal.. But be it Lambert or whomsoever, from now on build on this little good run by trying to dominate when two up and not making us into nailbiters for last twenty minutes...

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TractorBeezer added 18:15 - Feb 27 Great result. Well defended plus goals from Judge and Norwood. Referees have been decent the last 2-3 games which makes a big diffetrence. UTTBs
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Beattiesballbag added 18:16 - Feb 27 Great goal from Judge, obviously defended well to get the result & give the fans some hope but why is it Doncaster like so may other teams in this division can out pass us, when so many times we win the ball then give it straight back to the opposition, it was more like us as the away side defending in numbers.....As someone said, "we passed & kept the ball well"........I don't know what game they were watching? I hope these results keep coming but we need to be able to find a simple first time pass to keep possession & not get caught dwelling on the ball & getting closed down, as that could easily have gone tits up.

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dangerous30 added 18:20 - Feb 27 Well done town 👍
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LimerickTractorBoy added 18:31 - Feb 27 Fair enough question RW. IMHO so much has been wrong lately but now we seem to be getting back in the mix. I think the 2 should be bought back to help with the promotion push. Jackson made a bad mistake but he apologised and surely deserves to be allowed an opportunity to make up for the mistake? I'd say Nolan was as peeved with Lambert as most of the rest of us have been. He was wrong but again, promotion is the top priority and Nolan has a goal or 2 in him. Basically Town desperately need to get back to the Championship this year, takeover or no takeover and I'd like all hands on deck and harmony within the squad but it's only my my humble opinion. COYB!!!!!

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Cloddyseedbed added 18:32 - Feb 27 Great result following on from Hull. 2 unexpected wins. Doncaster dominated possession and were unlucky a few times so luck was on our side for a change. I felt they had more chances to win the game and with all our substitutions it affected our play and we tended to be under pressure more. Front 2 worked hard and Norwood scored another, he's back to his best but don't underrate Parrott as his high work rate and continued running creates a bit more space for Norwood. they work well together. Yes the defence played well but I'm still concerned by the amount of crosses that go into our box from wide area's with our fullbacks beaten. I thought our midfield today looked a bit sluggish to and didn't press like they did against Hull. That said Doncaster were a lot better side than Hull were. Regarding the call to get back Nolan and jackson into the fold, strange that since they were exciled the team has improved beyond belief. Maybe, just maybe their influence was not a positive one to have around. Onwards and upwards, well done management and players. This is how we should have been playing all season though, with the desire we now show.

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therein61 added 18:34 - Feb 27 The gruesome twosome are banging the drum again and worshipping the indefensible thank heavens school is open Monday week.
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therein61 added 18:42 - Feb 27 If we carry on with the current run we have going the only thing that can hold us back is our dreadful goal difference for heavens sake boys bag a few more each game enjoy being on the park and go for it(while ignoring the person who made stupid substitutions today and his negativity)
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moggasnotebook added 18:48 - Feb 27 I shall personally be on the phone to my old school chum Boris to put an end to the lockdown the day before our Wembley play off final match. No way is my old rugger mucker putting the kibosh on a day and night out for us Town fans in May.
1

Town4me added 18:51 - Feb 27 Did we really only have 25% possession? How times have changed. Its mostly be us dominating the ball and doing nothing with it this season.
1

Bazza8564 added 18:51 - Feb 27 Decent workmanlike win, deserved that and against a decent side. A result Tuesday and then put that **** in his place at Gillingham next week and who knows what we can do. just keep playing boys, its all about momentum from now til May
1

VanDusen added 18:52 - Feb 27 Really gutsy good stuff. Whisper it - but after the next three games have gone we will only have one (Portsmouth) of the supposed 'contenders' we can't beat in our fourteen game run in.
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ringwoodblue added 18:56 - Feb 27 Great win that helps to close the gap on the play-off places. If only we'd only bought Clarke-Harris instead of letting him go to Posh. Alongside a fully-fit Norwood, we would be scoring many more goals and terrorising defences. If we can stay in touch over the next 6 matches, our final 11 games are all against teams below us so we would be in with a fighting chance. I'm definitely believing again

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SickParrot added 19:03 - Feb 27 I can hardly believe that we've beaten 2 top 6 sides in a week. Just shows what is possible with a settled team. Unfortunately it's taken 2 years for Lambert to work that out. Too little, too late. Lambert out, Evans out, Consortium in.
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Michael101 added 19:09 - Feb 27 Just as we go and win and then start thinking this will be a good weekend .England then go and lose the rugby ,never mind it red wine time
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royoftherovers added 19:23 - Feb 27 Just a thought ... anyone reckon Paul Cooke's picked the team for the last 3 games????
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royoftherovers added 19:34 - Feb 27 Try before you buy ....
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RobsonWark added 19:34 - Feb 27 LimerickTractorBoy added 18:31 - Feb 27 "IMHO so much has been wrong lately but now we seem to be getting back in the mix. I think the 2 should be bought back to help with the promotion push. Jackson made a bad mistake but he apologised and surely deserves to be allowed an opportunity to make up for the mistake? I'd say Nolan was as peeved with Lambert as most of the rest of us have been. He was wrong but again, promotion is the top priority and Nolan has a goal or 2 in him." You know what I think...GET RID OF THEM ASAP. We don't need negative players like that anywhere around the team.

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RobsonWark added 19:36 - Feb 27 Jackson and Nolan think they are too good for Ipswich Town. Get rid of them ASAP.
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LimerickTractorBoy added 19:56 - Feb 27 Your opinion is so good you had to post it twice RW! I'M not saying I'm right, maybe this is something PL got right? He's made a fair balls-up of alot of things since he's been here, as you said yourself here today.. 6/7 changes per game needlessly and the raft of needless changes today that almost cost us. I'd give them another chance myself anyways
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Len_Brennan added 20:00 - Feb 27 Robsonwark. I would have neither Jackson nor Nolan in my starting XI & was happy enough to see interest in them from other clubs during the summer & January window; but your characterisation of them is very unfair in my opinion. Jackson is a striker who has missed out on a lot of the season through injury & team selection due to the 4-3-3 formation. He got a start in that game & would have wanted to make an impression - unfortunately he did, with a diabolic tackle that right got him a straight red. This doesn't make him a bad guy who deliberately set out to harm the club, certainly no more than Dozzell, Downes or anyone else sent off. It was a stupid dangerous tackle by a striker tracking back. It affected the team that night, but this hyperbole of him letting down the whole of Suffolk is ridiculous. Nolan has scored 5 goals this season & was pissed off that he was brought across the country & not even named on the bench. That can happen to kids on the cusp on the squad, but is not usual for a senior player. He has very young kids & there is a pandemic; it wasn't good management & he told Lambert that in a face to face. Again, notthe biggest bust up in history & certainly not a case of him throwing the shirt on a fire & saying he'd rather have teeth pulled than ever play for the club again. Finally, they are assets, with resale value; both at a good age & well capable of playing at League 1 level & possibly Championship; their value is reducing by the day.

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