First-half goals from James Norwood, Gwion Edwards and Troy Parrott saw Town to a comfortable 3-1 home victory over Fleetwood Town in a typical meaningless final-day game at Portman Road. Norwood gave the Blues the lead on three, Edwards made it 2-0 six minutes later and Parrott added the third on 29, while Wes Burns pulled one back for the visitors in the 72nd minute.

Luke Chambers skippered the Blues in what could be his final game for the club, coming in at right-back for Kane Vincent-Young, who suffered a shoulder injury at Shrewsbury on Tuesday evening.

Loanee Parrott, whose spell is up after today’s game, kept his place behind lone striker James Norwood with Teddy Bishop again on the bench, alongside Kayden Jackson, Toto Nsiala and Cole Skuse, with all four also out of contract this summer. For Fleetwood, former Blues loanee Callum Connolly skippered.

Town went ahead from the first serious attack of the game in the third minute. Armando Dobra brought the ball in from the right inside the area then, with no Fleetwood challenge having come in, squared to Norwood, who shot low past Alex Cairns in the visitors’ goal.

It was Norwood’s 10th goal of the season, making sure he ends an injury-hit campaign on double figures, as he has done every year since 2013/14 season when he was with Forest Green Rovers.

Six minutes later it was 2-0. Edwards out-muscled James Hill on the Town left, cut in and shot right-footed low past Cairns. It was the Welshman’s sixth goal of the season but his first since October.

Fleetwood’s first chance came in the 12th minute when Kyle Vassell cut across to Harrison Biggins but the ball was stabbed away from the striker and Dai Cornell in the Town goal claimed.

Edwards, another who could be playing his last game for the club with his deal up this summer, was forced off with a knock in the 16th minute and replaced by Keanan Bennetts with the loanee from Borussia Mönchengladbach playing his final match before his loan expires.

Cornell was forced into a save two minutes later when Dobra was robbed on the halfway line after Luke Woolfenden played him an under-hit ball and Barrie McKay was sent away on the left before hitting a low shot which the Town keeper stopped and then grabbed at the second attempt.

The Cod Army threatened again on 24 when Burns crossed from the right but Ged Garner was unable to get in a shot and the ball was scrambled away, albeit rather untidily.

Despite the visitors having reacted well to conceding the two earlier goals, the Blues made it 3-0 in the 29th minute.

Norwood cleverly threaded in Parrott inside the area and the Irish international confidently placed his shot to the keeper’s right to claim his second goal of his spell and of his senior career.

It was the first time Town had scored three times at home in the league this season, having previously netted only twice in their last eight matches, in the 2-1 win at Swindon last week. Town last scored three goals in a half at Blackpool in October.

Biggins saw an effort deflect wide in the 35th minute after Fleetwood had broken quickly and had been two on one at one stage before the Town backline retreated. Then, following the resultant corner, Danny Andrew forced Cornell to bat away his well-struck shot.

Vassell shot too close to Cornell from just behind the penalty spot on 44, the final action of a dominant half from the Blues.

Town started positively grabbing their two early goals as the visitors began the game somewhat hesitantly at the back. Confidence flowed from there with the Blues passing the ball around and looking for opportunities as well as they have at any time this season.

To their credit, Fleetwood didn’t completely crumble as they might have done in a meaningless final day game, albeit without showing the intensity they might have done earlier in the season, and had one or two chances themselves before the Blues made it 3-0 with their third shot on target of the afternoon. How they could have done with such clinical finishing earlier in the campaign.

Fleetwood swapped Kyle Vassell for Nathan Sheron ahead of the second half but it was the Blues who were first to seriously threaten after the restart, Parrott shooting into the side-netting having been sent away on the left of the box by Flynn Downes.

On 57 the Dubliner was again sent away down the left by Andre Dozzell and cut in but allowed the ball to run too far in front of him and his eventual shot was blocked.

At the other end, Burns hit an effort into the side-netting off Mark McGuinness, another loanee playing his last game, from the right of the box after the visitors had broken quickly. On 52 Sam Finley was booked for pulling back Downes.

Town skipper Chambers wasn’t far away from a goal as the game reached the hour mark, the right-back catching a Fleetwood defender dawdling on the ball on their own touchline. The veteran’s effort from a tight angle was pawed over by Cairns. From the corner, McGuinness sent the ball well over, the on-loan Arsenal man claiming he had been fouled.

The Blues were camped in the Fleetwood half, prodding and probing for an opening and on 65 they should have made it 4-0. Bennetts sent over a curling low cross from the left, the best of his spell with the club, but the unmarked Norwood scuffed well wide when it looked easier to score, the striker acknowledging the winger’s excellent ball.

Bishop replaced Norwood, who had suffered a knock moments earlier, for the final 20 minutes with Parrott taking on the lone striker’s role.

Almost immediately, the Irishman fed Dobra in on goal as the Albanian U21 international made a clever run across the area from the right but keeper Cairns thwarted him. The 20-year-old is still waiting for his first league goal.

Fleetwood reduced the deficit in the 72nd minute when Burns was sent away down the right and shot powerfully across Cornell and into the net.

Six minutes later Skuse and Jackson were handed what could be their final appearances for the club, along with loanee Josh Harrop, whose loan spell ends today. Skuse, making his 277th appearance for the club 268 starts and eight as a sub, replaced Bennetts, Jackson Parrott and Harrop Dobra

Harrop was on the right and Bishop the left with Skuse in central midfield alongside Downes with Dozzell ahead of them.

As the game moved into its final 10 minutes Jordan Rossiter was booked for pulling Downes’s shirt on halfway.

McKay smashed a low free-kick well wide on 85 before Fleetwood made a triple change in which he Andrew, Finley were replaced by Barry Baggley, Josh Morris and Glenn Whelan.

On 88 Burns shot low and hard across the face of the Town goal, then as the match moved into three minutes of injury time Bishop crossed onto the roof of the net.

A comfortable Town win for the Blues who having established their early lead never looked in any real trouble.

Having established their two and then three-goal lead they probably played as well as at any time this season, albeit in a final-day dead rubber, showing that they can play once they’re a couple of goals in front, as they did against Blackpool at Portman Road earlier in the year.

Although Fleetwood kept at it and pulled a goal back in the second half, there never seemed any likelihood that the Blues’ lead was in danger.

Town finish the season ninth in League One, two places better off than last year, but will hope they’re very much more in the mix come this time next season.

Town: Cornell, Chambers (c), Woolfenden, McGuinness, Kenlock, Downes, Dozzell, Edwards (Bennetts 16 (Skuse 78)), Parrott (Jackson 78), Dobra (Harrop 78), Norwood (Bishop 70). Unused: Holy, Nsiala.

Fleetwood: Cairns, Andrew (J Morris 85), Connolly (c), Burns, Rossiter, Vassell (Sheron 46), McKay (Baggley 85), Finley (Whelan 85), Biggins, Garner, Hill. Unused: Coleman, Holgate, S Morris. Referee: John Busby (Oxfordshire).

Photo: Matchday Images

BeattiesBackPocket added 16:45 - May 9 BromleyBloo not sure why you got any down marks for that as you've stated facts that no one can deny. Spot on assessment. Dozzell hasn't been anywhere near his potential and we've been saying that for last couple of seasons however I think with better players around him next season he could flourish and we saw a lot of his quality today. We definitely need for me a keeper, experienced centre half for woolfy, a creative midfielder and more goals from midfield and up front but that can happen if we give the service and play like we did first half of today. Good luck to cook and the boys next season I for one will renew my season ticket now we have the takeover and a structure happening for everyone to see even suffolkboy must be able to see getting football men in the top positions is the right step forwards and something we haven't had since before evans came in and he bought clegg in because he done well with the olympics but knew nothing about football! Onwards and upwards

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BeattiesBackPocket added 16:48 - May 9 Also those unsure on Cook let's remember when John Lyall came in second half first season and we looked terrible season later we play some amazing stuff. Cook needs time to implement his style of play and develop the technique with those players that's what good coaches like Lyall and burley did so let's give him that chance in what is a our biggest overhaul in the club ever

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Marinersnose added 16:53 - May 9 Excellent first half performance and job effectively done. Second half Fleetwood changed formation and caused us problems but we could and should have had another three goals with Norwood missing a sitter and Parrot along with Dobra also missing good chances. Dobra had another effective game and is improving all the time. Burns certainly looked a player worth tapping up. I've no recollection of seeing him before but he looked to have pace and strength together with an eye for goal.

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brassy added 17:07 - May 9 cooky is the man coyb
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dirtydingusmagee added 17:17 - May 9 oh well ,signed the season off with a win, and Norwood managed to make double figures, Chambers and Skuse had a run out , would have liked Dobra to have managed a goal for his efforts,but his time will come . NOW for the serious business. A lot to be done over coming weeks,and hopefully we will not hang around this time , Ship out ,sign up get the team bonding and fitness sorted and hit the ground running next term. COYB

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dirtydingusmagee added 17:23 - May 9 atty , lets hope Cook pulls more Rabbits out of the hat next season lol.
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ThaiBlue added 18:00 - May 9 Today does not mean anything,bottom line its been poor all season and not good enough by many wearing a blue shirt.lets see how we all feel this time next year,hopefully higher than a pityful 9th.
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Rimsy added 18:57 - May 9 Just shows PC will get more out of the retained players than any of the recent managers. Dozzell was excellent, looked a different player a bit further up the pitch. We actually looked like we knew what we were supposed to be doing. A long time coming, but excellent performance and maybe a glimpse of the kind of football we can look forward to.
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Drifter3012 added 19:11 - May 9 A good win and some positive performances and an exciting summer of change ahead so once again I can have an enjoyable evening. So I am willing to put this season behind me and actually be thankful we weren't in a relegation battle in the last few weeks. I wouldn't mind seeing Parrot back for another season either but that it is it of the current loanees for me.
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BettyBlue added 19:16 - May 9 I would have liked to see us lose 3-1 and all the ITFC involved get sacked and never p[ay professional football again. You can already see how delusional players like Chambers , Skuse and Sears are. Do they really thin they can play on as 36 yrs olds. Are there really people out there willing to pay them to "play football?" Insane.
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KernewekBlue added 19:25 - May 9 A decent win today but, as others have said, frustrating that it's too little, too late. How can it be that this same team, these same players, can turn on a performance when it matters not one jot? Why could they not have done this a little earlier? I suppose a part of me is glad (or relieved) that we didn't get promoted this term. Going back up into The Championship, with a massive rebuild to oversee, might have been a stretch too far. I'd like to see how far from the mediocrity and inconsistency of the past few seasons Paul Cook can carry us before we get the side tested, week -in, week-out, by a better class of competition. I'm thankful that another lacklustre season has come to an end on a slightly more positive result. I pray it bodes well for our future. Now, let the rebuild of ITFC, as a force in English football, begin. COYB

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KernewekBlue added 19:39 - May 9 >BettyBlue You're entitled to your opinion BettyBlue but so am I... My opinion is that you're never happy unless you have something (anything) to moan about. There comes a time when your inane banter, whether purely designed to wind up others on this forum or not, smacks of you not being a true supporter of this club. I suppose we all our crosses to bear and on this forum, it seems, our cross is you! Ever thought of changing your username to "Negative Nelly" or, perhaps, "Closet Budgie"??? Stop whingeing and whining at everything and try smiling at yourself in a mirror for a while... you may just find a brighter outlook ahead. COYB

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heathen66 added 19:39 - May 9 Great first half performance with notable contributions from Edwards, Norwood, Dobra and Kenlock all looking adventurous going forward, getting players into the box and scoring 3 goals Understandably took their foot off the gas in the 2nd half, and with the substitutions really had an end of season feel about it. Good three points, good first half performance, but glad it is all over Roll on 21/22 season New House owner, new paint and new brushes...COYB !!!

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suffolkblueeye added 20:53 - May 9 Sign Wes burns...best player on the pitch...do it
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dirtydingusmagee added 22:06 - May 9 love your posts Betty, i always know that how ever miserable i feel you beat me hands down lol.
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Help added 07:19 - May 10 OMG what happened there. No pressure and we score 3 in 30 minutes of football.
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BettyBlue added 08:00 - May 10 Are you all stupid? A good three points?????? What are you going to do with them now? We weren't involved in any issues. We should have been but you seem as happy as when you all cheered Lambert taking us down without a whimper. Fans have a responsibility to hold the club to account. It appears that the council must be putting Prozac in the dinking water. The club is rotten and unfortunately so are the fans.

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Barty added 08:16 - May 10 Good to finish with a win. Shame the players didn't have this attitude ten games ago. Thank god this awful season is over. Lets hope next season is much better and I am optimistic [ assuming we have a major clear out ]
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BettyBlue added 08:33 - May 10 The pre match changing room. (any of his games in charge) Paul Cook: OK lads, lets not bother too much, the fans think going back up into the Championship, with a massive rebuild to oversee, might have be a stretch too far. Better not to test our selves with hassle of trying to get in the play-offs. anyway this way we all get to go holiday a few weeks early. Let's go. ITFC!

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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 09:22 - May 10 This league is very unpredictable. Definitely some signs of a better, more positive approach from us on Sunday, and this was, at last, a decent game to watch. We looked compact and lively in the first half. But, a word of caution. On another day, this game could have gone a different way if the dice had fallen a bit differently. I think that has what has happened at times over the season. After looking good, we've thrown it away. On another day, we might have drawn or we might even have lost this one too. But of course, it's the cumulative points over a season that tell you whether or not you are good enough, and this season we weren't. Next season won't be a walkover, but I expect a considerable improvement.

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Barty added 10:22 - May 10 BettyBlue. Do us all a favour and go support another club. All your posts are so negative - you clearly hate everything about the club which is you prerogative but a bit tiresome now
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Razor added 10:53 - May 10 I am disappointed that our season collapsed at the end so woefully and that it took the cheeky chappy until the first half of the last game to actually start playing as a team---why? Dobbs is now learning to release the ball at the right time and thought Dozzer had his best game of season. Lets see what today and the summer brings----I will certainly be there in August tio have a good look!!

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