Troy Parrott’s first senior goal saw Paul Cook to his first win as Blues boss as Town defeated Plymouth Argyle 1-0 at Portman Road. The on-loan Tottenham striker seized on a poor Adam Lewis backpass in the fourth minute to grab the game's only goal with the three points seeing Town up into the final play-off place.

Parrott, Kayden Jackson and Alan Judge returned to the Blues’ starting line-up with James Norwood missing from the 18 and Jack Lankester and Teddy Bishop dropping to the bench.

Jackson, who was making his first start under Paul Cook, started as the lone striker in place of Norwood with Parrott behind him, while Judge was on the left.

Veteran midfielder Cole Skuse was back in the 18 for the first time this season following knee surgery.

Plymouth made one change with Lewis coming into the side for 18-goal top scorer Luke Jephcott, who was on the bench following an eight-game goalless streak, with Niall Ennis playing as a lone frontman. Former Blues loanee Conor Grant started for the visitors.

The game got under way with hail falling heavily and the wind blowing strongly. Within a minute Pilgrims keeper Mike Cooper saw a clearance which would probably normally have reached halfway stop and then drop midway inside his team’s half with Jackson securing possession before being fouled 25 yards out.

Judge took the free-kick and hit a well-struck and wind-assisted effort which Cooper did well to claw behind for a corner to his left.

But the Blues only had to wait until the fourth minute to go in front via Parrott’s first goal in senior football. The on-loan Tottenham man reacted quickly to intercept an awful Lewis backpass across his area from left-back towards Cooper and took it wide of the keeper before slotting home prior to a punch of the air which looked as much relief at finally finding the net as it was celebration.

Jackson did well to break away down the right on seven but Parrott’s effort from his cutback was blocked.

The Blues’ number nine should have made it 2-0 in the 10th minute when James Wilson played a deftly weighted ball over the top of the Plymouth backline beating their offside trap. However, Cooper was out quickly and blocked Jackson’s lobbed effort at goal.

Town had been completely dominant in the early stages with the conditions in their favour but playing confidently and at pace, while Plymouth had looked distinctly shaky and unsure of themselves.

The hail subsided as the game passed the quarter-hour mark, although the wind remained something of a factor, with Plymouth making it out of their own half more than had been the case earlier.

But the Blues were still seeing most of the ball, passing it around slickly and at a greater tempo than has been the case for much of the season.

As the half hour mark approached, the Pilgrims had a spell of possession which ended with Grant hitting a low shot wide.

But the Blues quickly regained control, seeing most of the ball and usually quickly winning it back when it had been lost. However, without creating clear-cut opportunities with too many crosses easy for Cooper.

On 34 Parrott hit a shot against Kellard Watts from inside the box following a strong run and through ball from Downes, who suffered a knock as he was doing so and following treatment on the pitch was replaced by Bishop.

Three minutes later, Lewis almost atoned for his earlier error when his cross from the left wasn’t too far away from Ennis.

The visitors thought they’d missed a golden chance to level in the 43rd minute when Lewis found Panutche Camara unmarked in the middle with another decent ball from the left. Camara smashed well wide when it looked easier to score and was probably relieved when he saw the linesman’s flag had been raised.

Town were well worth their lead at the break and should have been in front by more goals - Jackson will feel he ought to have taken his one-on-one opportunity - with Plymouth having looked there for the taking in the early stages as they struggled to adjust to the conditions and the Blues’ front-foot start.

However, later on the half, while Town had still seen a lot of the ball, the Pilgrims had come into it more and more and had looked dangerous in the final third with Lewis having sent in a couple of threatening crosses from the left.

Myles Kenlock struck the first shot of the second half, five minutes after the restart but his powerful effort from wide on the left flew high and wide.

Town should have doubled their lead in the 52nd minute when Dozzell sent Jackson away on the right and the striker cut the ball back for Judge, who blazed over. The Irishman will feel he definitely should have scored.

Plymouth were seeing most of the ball with Town’s main threat on the counter-attack. As the game reached the hour mark, Parrott sent Jackson away on the right and the striker held the ball up well as he waited for Judge and Bishop to break into the area, but as they arrived put his pass well in front of both his team-mates. A wasted opportunity.

Both sides made subs in the 64th minute, the Pilgrims swapping Ennis and Lewis for strike pair Ryan Hardie and Jephcott, while the Blues switched Parrott and Jackson for Skuse, making his first appearance since March 7th last year, and Drinan. Bishop moved into the number 10 role behind Drinan with Skuse joining Dozzell in the centre of the midfield.

Plymouth continued to take the game to Town and in the 71st minute Tomas Holy was forced into his first save of the game, Lewis Macleod hitting a well-struck shot from 30 yards straight into the Czech’s midriff.

In the 77th minute Drinan played a clever ball to Judge from the right to the left as the Blues broke. The midfielder took it to the edge of the box but his shot was blocked by Will Aimson.

There was a big scare for Town a minute later when Watts crossed from the left and Camara, who had caused the Blues’ defenders a few problems, rose highest but diverted his header just the wrong side of the far post.

Both sides made their second double substitutions of the game in the 82nd minute, Town withdrawing Judge and Edwards for Lankester and Keanan Bennetts, operating on the left and right respectively. Plymouth replaced Grant and Macleod with Ben Reeves and Byron Moore.

The Blues had regained control as the game entered its final few scheduled minutes, Drinan and Lankester exchanging passes in the area before the Irishman was dispossessed when one of them ought to have looked goalwards earlier.

In injury time, Bennetts was sent away on the left but his ball towards Bishop at the back post was, like so many of Town’s crosses, disappointing.

The second half had been a more even affair but with the Blues still having had chances to cement their victory with Judge in particular missing a golden opportunity.

Plymouth might have nabbed an equaliser via Camara’s late header but a draw would have been harsh on the Blues overall.

A first win for new boss Cook takes the Blues above Portsmouth, who they face at Fratton Park next Saturday, with Pompey in Papa John’s Trophy action today. The Blues travel to Fleetwood, who drew 0-0 at Blackpool today. on Tuesday evening.

Town: Holy, Chambers (c), Nsiala, Wilson, Kenlock, Downes (Bishop 37), Dozzell, Edwards (Lankester 82), Judge (Bennetts 82), Parrott (Skuse 64), Jackson (Drinan 64). Unused: Cornell, Ward.

Plymouth: Cooper, Watts, Aimson, Edwards (c), Mayor, Grant (Reeves 82), Macleod (Moore 82), Ennis (Hardie 64), Lewis (Jephcott 64), Opoku, Camara. Unused: McCormick, Fornah, Tomlinson. Referee: Sam Purkiss (London).

Photo: Matchday Images

runaround added 21:23 - Mar 13 Good win & up into 6th. As things stand at the moment we look good for a play off place but I still have a nagging doubt that we don't score enough goals
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Eeyore added 22:06 - Mar 13 It was a return to the kind of form were we can sometimes beat the teams in the lower half. Nice to be back in the top 6 but we will need to have more of a killer instinct. Our attacking players take too many touches and look reluctant to shoot. They pass when they should shoot and vice-versa. I am sure PC will have words about that! I like his ethos that he wants a stable team and may persevere with players for the sake of 'building relationships'. PC has his work cut out; We will need more from midfield and strikers if we are to win play-offs!

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EricGatesShinpad added 22:19 - Mar 13 Just watched the highlights on EFL. What's going on with the pitch? We always used to have one of the best surfaces in the land. It looks like it is missing a couple of caravans and a village fete.....
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DifferentGravy added 22:57 - Mar 13 I understand why some are disappointed with the lack of goals, fire power etc. But give Cook a chance for heavens sake. He cant be expected to walk into the job, assess all the players and then change our style/attacking impetus around in the space of two weeks! Cook is seeing more of the players in training/games and expect to see him improving our attacking threat as time goes on. I would like us to play two up front but am content to go with 4-5-1 if we are creating. Appreciate Plymouth were woeful in the first twenty but we created a number of good opportunities.....kind of died of death thereafter but we actually got into double digits shot wise! (hooray). Certainly feel the players need to have a bit more determination to drive into the box and make defenders commit themselves......so many one on one opportunities today. On we go, Fleetwood away.......COYB!

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barrystedmunds added 00:21 - Mar 14 Spot on Different Gravy, it amazes me some of the comments on here. All our obvious failings over the last few seasons will not be turned around within 3 games of PC coming through the door. We're in need of a MAJOR overhaul in all departments and hopefully this is the beginning of that journey. If we make the playoffs, happy days we'll take our chances, but if not, would anyone really be surprised, given this season under Shambert? It's a long way from what we all want but let's be realistic here folks.

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algarvefan added 01:07 - Mar 14 Many of us on here for some time have pontificated about why we are where we are and what is wrong with the club. For those who saw Paul Cooks post match interview there was a telling moment when he commented on players fitness, being dedicated to being a professional footballer and Town still having much to do in that area. I think there have been some players who's lifestyles are not compatible with being a professional footballer. I won't speculate on who he meant but it might go some way to explain our lacklustre and slow performances, what do you think?

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dirtydingusmagee added 08:23 - Mar 14 no body is criticising PC Linkboy , and certainly not sharpening knives, mearly pointing out ONE OF the teams failings ie lack of goals . That failure cannot be disputed. We were relegated from Championship because we couldnt score goals, and have not improved in Lge 1. We all know PC will have his work cut out with this squad , they are at best average and sometimes that flatters them.

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juniorblue added 08:23 - Mar 14 Well done to all for getting the first win under PC. I agree with others on here who say that we cannot expect miracles after only three games with the new manager. I do think that some of the players have got so used to not performing, it will take time to change their attitude and commitment. If we stay in the play off places, brilliant. But, PC has a lot of thinking to do from now until the end of the season to find a way with the current squad to keep in there. I am confident we finally have a manager who can at least get us back into the Championship, but this is not going to be a quick fix.

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atty added 09:25 - Mar 14 We're back in the play off places after a decent recent run which is great but says something about the quality of this division given our woeful performances under Lambert. But hey we'll take it. Games coming thick and fast,plus travel of course so why not rotate a bit, say a couple of players each game? Anyway, obvious shortcomings in the squad, but with right attitude/application we could do it. As commented on by many, lack of goals is a real problem. Not sure you can coach that ability to score, and unquestionably we need to get one or two proven goals scorers next season. If there is any money that's where we should spend it.

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Cloddyseedbed added 09:35 - Mar 14 Not as good a game of football that I was expecting but a win is most certainly a win and we now find ourselves back in the play offs without reaching any outstanding performances. I do hope better is to come and I'm sure it will be under cook but it is still early days and it's not his players that he has to try to mould into his team. Regarding our defence yes we look more of a unit but i think many will agree that clean sheets are because the opposition don't score when presented with goal scoring opportunities. The same has to be said for us, we have no clinical goal scorers and many attempts are either squandered or turned into a pass rather than a shot. How on earth Bennetts gets into the team i don't know, he has all the tricks and speed but when he gets into a crossing, passing or shooting position in the final 3rd he hasn't got a clue. Of our 2 full backs, I'm sorry but neither impress me going into next season. We need 2 fullbacks who can attack in conjunction with a wide player and defend and stop crosses going into our box. Both are guilty of to many unchallenged crosses going into our box. Both can put good crosses into opposition boxes however, but the must be able to do professional jobs at both ends of the pitch. We need an aggressive ball winner in midfield, we missed Downes when he went off today, that changed the game for me. We are improving under Paul Cook and I'm impressed by him greatly. There will be massive changes in the pre season and there needs to be. I would like to know the latest on Huws and KVY no Cook is at the club, maybe we could have a truthful update as to where they are regards fitness and what has been going on.

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Saxonblue74 added 10:02 - Mar 14 The lack of goals is clearly a problem and had been for some time. This was the first thing that PC identified, so not a criticism of him. 20+ goals a season strikers are not 10 a penny, we spent good money on Jackson and in my opinion has been (and continues to be) way below the standard we need. If we can somehow scrape into the playoffs and maybe even win them I'm sure PC will sort this squad out. I could easily name 10 players that I'd move on to make way for a couple of decent strikers.

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IpswichT62OldBoy added 10:25 - Mar 14 Every game under him brings progress, 10 shots is more like it, shame we need 8 chances to score one. We could have won 3 0 if reasonable chances had been taken
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cat added 11:37 - Mar 14 Not sure what all the dramas about cause from what I saw yesterday there was a lot of positive stuff. Started on the front foot and took the game to them. We created chances, kept a clean sheet and played some decent pass and move football. The win was the ultimate goal so job done.
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norfolkbluey added 17:01 - Mar 14 Sorry unconvincing win. Good job they made a howler at the back but well done to Parrot. How this team needs some training ground tactics with the upcoming break. PC will have his time to impose some new ideas in pressing the opposition. I am really hoping to see a difference in the team after the break and a start on scoring more goals. Nevertheless a much needed win albeit against a very average division 1 team.

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Linkboy13 added 17:06 - Mar 14 All the tactics in the world is not going to turn this moderate bunch into a good team.
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whymarkwhynot added 22:36 - Mar 14 #standwithToto
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dirtydingusmagee added 10:13 - Mar 15 where was Norwood ?
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shakytown added 10:24 - Mar 15 I wonder if Cook can actually improve these players when he gets some time with them. We drift out of games far too easily and far too often. All this back passing is just a sign that the people in front of the ball are not moving into space and working off the ball. As soon as the opposition have the ball most of our lot just stand there and watch or in Dozzells case just pulls shirts. Time to be proper professional footballers boys.

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mib added 16:50 - Mar 15 Saxon blue , I think a kiddy from infants school could have identified that Ipswich cant score goals, but you say that it was the first thing that PC spotted, he must be good then as the rest of us had not noticed. Or had we.?
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Saxonblue74 added 18:41 - Mar 15 Correct mib, but why didn't Lambert see it?
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mib added 19:19 - Mar 15 Saxon. No money I would think.
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