Plymouth Argyle came from a goal down to inflict Town’s first League One defeat of the season and to replace them at the top of the table. Freddie Ladapo’s first league goal for the Blues on 39 gave Town a half-time lead but Bali Mumba and Morgan Whittaker netted in the 69th and 75th minutes to claim the points and top spot for the Pilgrims.

Town boss Kieran McKenna has made two changes from the one which drew 2-2 at Sheffield Wednesday last week, one enforced with wing-back Wes Burns unavailable as he’s with the Wales squad.

Kayden Jackson moved to that role, while Marcus Harness came back into the XI as one of the number 10s with former Pilgrim Freddie Ladapo starting as the lone central striker, while Tyreece John-Jules dropped to the bench.

Ex-Town defender James Wilson, one-time Blues target Danny Mayor, Niall Ennis and Adam Randell were all back in the Argyle side having missed last week’s 2-2 draw at Portsmouth.

One-time Town loanee Conor Grant returned to the bench having been out since the end of last season after undergoing groin surgery.

The Pilgrims were without on-loan Aston Villa midfielder Finn Azaz, who is away with the Republic of Ireland U21s, while Brendan Galloway was suspended following a red card against Pompey.

Prior to kick-off, there was a minute’s applause for ex-Plymouth manager Dave Smith, who died earlier this month.

Town started on the front foot and in the third minute won a free-kick on the left which reached Luke Woolfenden at the back of the box but the central defender’s shot was too close to home keeper Michael Cooper.

Two minutes later, Blues number one Christian Walton, making his 200th league appearance against his local club where he started his career, kicked poorly and the Pilgrims attacked, Mayor eventually sending a low ball across the box which George Edmundson turned over the bar.

From the resultant corner, ex-Town centre-half Wilson headed powerfully over at the far post.

On eight, Lee Evans sent Jackson away with a curling pass in behind Bali Mumba on the Town right. The former Accrington man got their first as Mumba slipped and cut the ball across but with no Town player waiting for the pass.

The Blues continued to make the brighter start and in the 11th minute Chaplin made a clever reverse flick to play in Harness on the left of the box but the ex-Pompey man’s effort was blocked, then almost immediately Chaplin fed Ladapo and the ex-Pilgrim hit a shot on the turn which deflected wide.

"From the corner, Ladapo rose highest but headed straight at Cooper, who claimed confidently.

But it wasn’t all Town and in the 15th minute Mumba played in Matt Butcher on the left of the box but Walton read it well and palmed it behind. The keeper also confidently caught the resultant corner.

Ladapo had another chance in the 17th minute when he was fed in on goal inside the area by Chaplin but Cooper was quickly out to block his effort.

Plymouth worked themselves another opportunity a minute later, Randell exchanging passes with skipper Joe Edwards before dragging his shot from a very tight angle wide and out for a throw.

Soon after, Morgan Whittaker unleashed an effort from 25 yards which Walton pushed wide.

Harness was booked for a foul on Randell, then Morsy joined him for a 50/50 challenge with the same player, moments after Niall Ennis had caught Edmundson with a needless late challenge which referee Scott Oldham hadn’t seen as worthy of a caution.

Plymouth should have taken the lead in the 25th minute when Whittaker found Mumba in space on the left of the box with only Walton to beat but the Town keeper advanced and blocked much to his side’s relief.

Janoi Donacien required treatment in the 31st minute after Mumba caught him late and again the referee kept his cards in his pocket where earlier less serious Town transgressions had gone in the book.

Town began to get themselves back on top after the Pilgrims’ spell in charge and chances.

On 37 Chaplin was fouled just inside the Town half and took the free-kick quickly sending Leif Davis away on the left. The former Leeds man crossed and found Ladapo, who worked space before hitting a shot which was blocked. The rebound fell to Morsy whose strike was too close to Cooper.

But the travelling Town fans, some of whom left Ipswich on coaches at 3.30am, didn’t have long to wait for a goal.

Morsy slid in to make a challenge just inside the Town half and inadvertently sent Ladapo away on goal. The striker held off Dan Scarr before hitting a shot which took a double ricochet off the defender and then Ladapo himself before looping over Cooper.

Ladapo’s first league goal for the Blues, in his seventh start in addition to three sub appearances, was delightedly celebrated by the striker, his teammates and the travelling support at the other end of the ground.

Town went looking for a second and in the 44th minute Chaplin played in Jackson in the area but Mumba made a strong challenge as the shot came in and the ball looped to Cooper.

That was the last opportunity of thoroughly entertaining half with referee Oldham booed off by the Blues support with Town once again appearing to have been on the end of some harsh officiating.

Both sides had had had periods on top but with the Blues having more of the game’s opportunities, although with Walton also having been forced into a number of saves.

Town created the first opening of the second half in the 49th minute, Jackson hitting a low cross-shot from the right which failed to find a teammate.

Moments later, Morsy cut a ball back from the left which fell to Donacien but the defender, still looking for his first Town goal, saw his effort blocked and Jackson couldn’t get on the loose ball.

Plymouth threatened for the first time since the restart in the 53rd minute, a well-worked passage of play on the left eventually ending with Whittaker hitting a low shot from the edge of the area which arced only just past Walton’s left post.

The home crowd started to make themselves heard as Town gave away a free-kick in their half, Whittaker eventually hitting a shot which was blocked.

Following a subsequent Pilgrims’ free-kick, Town broke away through Jackson on the right and should have added to their lead. Jackson cut back to Chaplin, who fed Harness to his left but the summer signing scraped his shot wide.

The Blues made their first two changes in the 59th minute with Kane Vincent-Young and John-Jules taking over from Harness and Ladapo. Vincent-Young went to right wing-back with Jackson into the number nine role.

Plymouth made two switches of personnel two minutes later with Mayor and Butcher replaced by Jordan Houghton and Sam Cosgrove.

Town had quietened down the Home Park crowd and were on top and looking for a second with Davis twice having crosses cut out.

On 65, John-Jules twisted and turned on the left of the box before hitting a shot which Cooper turned behind.

Edmundson was booked in the 66th minute for a foul on Whittaker as Argyle attacked following a Town corner.

Three minutes later, the Pilgrims equalised. A Whittaker cross from the right was headed clear by Vincent-Young and, after Chaplin had looked to be fouled by Houghton, on-loan Norwich City full-back Mumba picked the ball up and hit a powerful strike past Walton to his right and into the corner of the net.

Unsurprisingly having got back on terms, Argyle tails were now up and, after Evans had been booked for a foul, they went close to a second, Wilson turning the ball wide from a corner on the right.

On 72, after a Town attack had broken down, the Pilgrims broke quickly with Whittaker found in space on the right from where he hit a shot which Walton did well to palm wide.

But Argyle fans didn’t have long to wait for their side to go in front. Town played themselves into trouble on their left, Whittaker seizing on a loose Edmundson pass and exchanging passes with Edwards before hitting a brilliant strike into the top corner of Walton’s net.

Town needed something to change the game’s momentum back in their favour and in the 81st minute they swapped Chaplin and Davis for Gassan Ahadme and Kyle Edwards. A minute later, Plymouth exchanged Ennis for Will Jenkins Davies.

Jackson shot into the side-netting from distance in the 88th minute, then as the game moved into injury time Edwards cut in from the left and hit a shot which Cooper saved down to his right.

Town kept pushing in the final moments and keeper Walton almost claimed a point against his old club having come up for a corner. The Wadebridge-born number one’s header looped off the bar and John-Jules’s rebound was forced away from the line.

The Blues were unable to make anything of the subsequent flag-kick and referee Oldham’s whistle signalled delight among the home fans.

As at Sheffield Wednesday last week, it was a game the Blues ought to have had won. Harness’s chance was their most notable opportunity to add to their lead but they should have made their spell on top in the second half tell.

Instead, they allowed Argyle back into the game - as they did at Home Park last season, the last time they led and lost - and like at Hillsborough last week were unable to change the momentum of the game once it was going against them and were made to pay for sloppy defending, although both goals were superb strikes.

Walton was unlucky not to mark his 200th league appearance with a goal but Town had spurned their opportunity to seal the points earlier in the match.

The Blues, who have now won just one of their last 21 matches live on Sky, are next in action at Portman Road next Saturday when Portsmouth, now third having had their game postponed due to international calls this weekend, visit Suffolk.

Plymouth: Cooper, Wilson, Scarr, Lonwijk (Gillesphey 90), Mumba, Randell, Butcher (Cosgrove 61), Edwards (c), Whittaker (Grant 90), Ennis (Jenkins Davies 82), Mayor (Houghton 61). Unused: Burton, Hardie.

Town: Walton, Donacien, Woolfenden, Edmundson, Jackson, Morsy, Evans, Davis (Edwards 81), Chaplin (Ahadme 81), Harness (John-Jules 59), Ladapo (Vincent-Young 59). Unused: Hladky, Keogh, Ball. Referee: Scott Oldham (Poulton-le-Fylde). Att: 15,480.

Photo: Pagepix

bluemay77 added 15:36 - Sep 25 Some seriously stupid feeble excuses of fans who just continue to slate the team week in week out we have lost 1 game we are second in the table we are playing some lovely football compared to last few years go and support some other team I'm sick of some of these comments on here by the same negative people honestly the club doesn't deserve your constant negative comments

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blues1 added 15:42 - Sep 25 Blue86. Was about to agree with everything u saying until ir comment about jackson. He wqs our best player today, in that wing back role. And why would u drop ladapo, when jes just scored 2 in 2 games? And played well in both games? Everything else tho, ur right about.
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tobymeadz91 added 15:43 - Sep 25 Absolutely gutted today… Game that we could have won lost or drawn we didn't win… Now Bolton / Barnsley / Sheff W / Plymouth (anyone with potential) we haven't beaten .. I've Always been a Jackson hater for years HOWEVER… thought today he's starting to look like a player Overall as it stands I think we are top 6 unless we invest big time in January for a striker as every supporter could tell you … HOW MANY CHANCES HAS LACRAPO MISSED NOW… Think the difference between last and this year is we can beat the bottom half but still not quite the top half.. need another 3/4 mill chucked at it imo ..

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bluesince76 added 15:44 - Sep 25 Substitutions cost us the points today.
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1987TractorBoy added 15:45 - Sep 25 Jesus Christ some of these negative comments. Blueboy in particular please shut up, your incessant negative posting is tiresome. Yes it's a disappointing loss, especially after being 1 up, but to be so doom and gloom is unbelievable. They score 2 very good goals from outside the box and some “fans” are basically writing our chances off. And the Jackson hate in unbelievable, our biggest threat today by a mile. If we were a bit more clinical at 1-0, that game is put to bed. 10 games is, 2nd in the league with a few negatives but mainly very much positive. Big game Saturday in a sellout stadium, let's get right behind the lads! Uppa Towen!!

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rdibble added 15:48 - Sep 25 Never capitalised on a bright start then fridge gave the ball away and we looked shaky but 36 games to go
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Bert added 15:52 - Sep 25 ....and the echo is "didn't take long for the "moaning minnies' to surface again". One loss and some, seemingly, don't want to accept anything good about the club. I'm very happy to clap the club on to even better times.
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jas0999 added 15:53 - Sep 25 Disappointing result. Taking just one point from last six on offer, when in winning positions and in control isn't promotion quality. In fact it is very poor. We can't beat the better sides in league one, which is an issue. For those blaming the referee, he wasn't bad today. In fact he probably should have sent two of our players off. The failure to win is down to us. Failed to take chances. Very sloppy at key times.overall deservedly beaten. Up front, we still look light of a striker. Lapado did okay first half and scored, but he should have scored more. Must do better than today.

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blue86 added 15:55 - Sep 25 Blues1, the jackson debate is a difficult one for me? I just think we have better players in that position, you need to be able to defend at wing back sometimes aswell, and jacksons awareness and positioning can let him down, but in all a fairness attacking wise he did ok. So maybe I'm being a bit harsh? Ladapo for me though at present needs just to many chances to convert, plus for a big bloke his hold up play is scratchy at best. When I watched town play burton, I thought ahadme looked strong and mobile for them and I was impressed, I would like him to have a run of games with freddie off the bench maybe? Let's just hope we turn Portsmouth over, we need to beat them.

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SussexTractor added 15:58 - Sep 25 Great match - but Town on TV always manage to snatch a defeat from the jaws of victory.
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chopra777 added 15:59 - Sep 25 Today everything was against us. 1. Televised game. 2. Long distance to travel to game. 3. Early start. 4. Pressure on Walton to perform against boyhood club. 4. Ex Norwich (scum) player scores. 5. Pressure to beat fellow promotion challenger. The game was a good advert for the league. Basically we should have been more clinical. As least the unbeaten pressure is now off. We are still in a very good position. Therefore we regroup and win our next game. MOM Walton motivated throughout the game. Please no more doom merchants. Get behind the team.

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Saxonblue74 added 16:08 - Sep 25 Blueboy1981, gratuity was shown to the travelling support with coach travel reimbursed. Its ridiculous to refer to any supporters that don't moan every time we lose (which isn't often) as "happy clappers". Perhaps the magnificent travelling support should heed your wise words and stay home, just incase we lose another fantastic game of football (championship standard at least) against undoubtedly one of this leagues top teams?

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Ebantiass added 16:13 - Sep 25 Never a free kick to Chaplin he did not even try to reach the ball. Deeply disappointing of course but they deserved the win over the whole match. I have been critical of Jackson in the past but he was very good today as he´s been all season to be fair. We need to show more steel at the back to ride these games out. Morsy though brilliant was lucky it should have been red, Evans was brilliant but could also have seen red. Freddy is a work horse but not a 20 plus a season striker. On the whole disappointing but there is a long way to go and its our first defeat all season.....calm down some on here. Pompey is a huge game even more so after today, a must win in my book to send the right message and for the confidence of the entire team. Brilliant header by Walton.

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LonE17Blue added 16:16 - Sep 25 Anti Moaners, Moaning again! Just respect other opinions, whether you agree with them on not. Just Smile!
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Mariner1974 added 16:16 - Sep 25 Some hilarious knee jerk stuff here again. Steve Holmes going off on one about young talent, DaGremoid spitting his dummy out, various pinning things on Jackson who was one of our standout players today. We were really good in many aspects today. Nothing to worry about. Two good strikes from them in a 10 Min spell. Can't knock Plymouth. Played some good football to match us today. Could easily have been 2-0 to us when we were on top, but they scored two quality goals when they had that spell. Can't blame the ref, and we were the ones picking up the yellows for playing with a bit of dirt. Would rather see us picking up yellows than mincing about, not getting stuck in. Quiet games from Chappers and Harness, but we still looked like a strong football team at this level, playing with style and endeavour. Are other teams not allowed to play well at this level? Credit to Plymouth, that's the best I've seen them play, and will be in the mix this season. I'm sure we'd all like Ipswich to walk it, and not have any worries this season, but it'll be more fun to go up after having more of a battle against some worthy opponents. Now let's go and smash our way through Portsmouth and Cambridge and pick up 6 Points. Onwards and (back) upwards!

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zonderdan added 16:30 - Sep 25 Like others I really disagree with the negative comments on here. Yes we had a slightly worse day at the office than usual but we were in the game and could have easily won it had we made some better decisions on the final ball. Yes we are not the finished article by any means and there are some issues we need to address. But KMck is an intelligent manager he will learn a lot from this and adjust accordingly. We are a good team and that was an exciting game of footbal to watch. We haven't had this in years. For the love of god don't lose the faith now.

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Nobbysnuts added 16:30 - Sep 25 Absolute garbage...fell apart like a cheap suit again...two top six sides played...1 point. Sound familiar??? It should do. We are not as good as people think. Players are clearly not good enough to play it out from the back. Complete and utter collapse. We looked so poor at times it was painful to watch.
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ringwoodblue added 16:32 - Sep 25 A very good game of football that could've gone either way. Walton was fantastic and could've grabbed a late equaliser but it wasn't to be. The TV curse continues but the unbeaten run is over so we have to bounce back quickly to stop the slide down the table. COYB!
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SickParrot added 16:42 - Sep 25 Those blaming the referee for our defeat today are mistaken. He should have given Morsy a red card but didn't, Chaplin wasn't fouled when Plymouth scored their first and Plymouth were the better team. So we lost to a very good team and it's now about how we react to that defeat. On the plus side it's our first defeat, we're still second in the league and have 21 points from 10 games, which if replicated over the whole season is good enough for the playoffs at least. However, on the minus side our 6 wins were all against teams outside the top 8 (4 were against teams in the bottom 7) and in our 4 games against teams in the top 6 we have no wins and just 3 points. If this inability to beat any of the top sides continues we are unlikely to even reach the playoffs but if we do we won't reach the final or get promoted. The game against Portsmouth is therefore very important, especially psychologically. My view is that we need to win to give the fans and players confidence that we can beat the top sides and to make a statement to our promotion rivals.

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steve_holmes27 added 16:54 - Sep 25 Saxonblue74, Mariner1974, which bit of our demise over the last 40 years is not connected to our failure to produce our own quality young players? It isn't a coincidence is it. My point is that unless we go back to that, we won't have long term, sustainable success. We have to change. Invest in the youth recruitment and development today and maybe, just maybe we might progress over the next 5-10 years. Robson joined Ipswich in 1969, by 1974 we were one of the best teams in the country, every year. History can teach you a lot you know! He only ever bought 14 players...we seem to do that every season!!

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churchmans added 16:58 - Sep 25 I can't believe that there is a bellend on here blaming Brena wooley a radio suffolk commentator for our loss today
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churchmans added 17:00 - Sep 25 BLUEMAY77 open ya fu kin eyes mate! What are you watching that we ain't!! Jesus fu kin christ!
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ThaiBlue added 17:05 - Sep 25 Super game of footy,ref was ok but we need defenders to follow there men.poor defending cost us a point we really need to see games out.pompey next week good time to show some mettle and bounce back with a win.
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Saxonblue74 added 17:06 - Sep 25 Which bit is not connected Steve Holmes? Most of it in my opinion! Have a run through the teams in the Premier lge and see how many are "home grown", if indeed even English! It's a very nice, romantic, old fashioned ideal but for better or worse the game has changed immeasurably in the last almost half century to which you refer.
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dirtydingusmagee added 17:08 - Sep 25 first defeat this season ,some already in meltdown. It was on SKY FFS , NOTHING MORETO ADD.
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