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

blueboy1981 added 17:11 - Sep 25 The ‘Happy Clappers' surface every season, same old, and STILL don't understand the difference between ‘stating FACT' and ‘Moaning'. They are the kind who would be just as ‘Happy' in the National League. Thankfully, many of us expect more - after much talk, and so called promise over many seasons. Don't forget we are one of a few Monster Fish in a Pond of many Minnows. … !!! The Difference between us and many of the ‘Little Clubs' we visit and play against - is quite embarrassing to be honest. Even Plymouth - just above half our Ground Capacity …. !!! Just a Reality Check for SOME !!

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budgieplucker added 17:24 - Sep 25 I don't think anyone here is suggesting that Kieron McKenna is not a great asset to our club and all probably agree he has done a very good job so far - just look at his record. Great start to the season, and we were always going to slip up and have a first defeat at some point. I don't begrudge Plymouth the 3 points, they came from behind against a lucky goal and whilst generally they may not necessarily dominate the possession in the same manner as we try, the do play some slick stuff and look more economical at times. They were more gutsy and seemed to want it better than us. However, we shouldn't dismiss the “buts” about our own performance today and more recently. Stop Morsy and Evans playing and you stop Ipswich. They were both rattled and got at today. And sorry but I thought the referee had a very fair game today. If there had been VAR, Sammy would have no doubt walked. That was an ugly attempt and unnecessary follow through. Lee Evans was less of an intentional one and a momentum follow through, which in my mind only deserved a yellow but n todays game I am convinced under VAR he would have probably walked as well. Disappointingly we can't even blame bad luck - we had been granted a huge slice of luck with Freddie's deflected goal. You have to make the most of your luck and take advantage of the gift. We didn't. Our final ball again often appears aimless and poorly executed who ever provides it. Our threat from corners remains virtually non-existence but perhaps we should think about bringing Christian Walton up for every corner!!! I agree with comments about Harness, apart from his very welcome goal sniffing his other game aspects are very sloppy and consistently loses possession. Keogh cannot be far off a start as George Edmundson continues to struggle to find consistency and can also show signs of sloppiness and clumsiness in a lot of his play. I think John-Jules could be living off of that goal at Shrewsbury for the rest of the season as whilst I will acknowledge he has oodles of skill, I am not sure he is suited to the rigours of the 3rd tier. I am pleased that we have Ball and Humphreys ready to step up as they may well be needed. Like other comments on here though my concern is that we consistently struggle to take full advantage of leads or periods of domination or situations where we have the opposition on the ropes (although not much domination today). As soon as Plymouth got sight of goal they tried to pull the trigger, when we get close we look for just one more touch or a lay off. As long as we can keep an average of 2 points a game I will keep reasonably calm about the situation, but if we don't capitalise on the opportunities like we have had in the last two games against top six side, we are very much there to be reigned in and potentially dragged out of the top six!!!

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therein61 added 17:33 - Sep 25 Cut out the lack of concentration at the back you boys we got away with it at Wednesday but today we were found out if we want to go up get it sorted!!!
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Suffolkboy added 18:00 - Sep 25 Stats CAN tell us much that's relevant ; but equally can be misleading ! Interpreting today's again points towards our seemingly well recognised inadequacies ! But we do not need the statistical evidence to realise we are often nigh on ‘useless ‘ in the last third of the pitch . How many crosses and passes were today reported as ‘not finding ‘ a colleague , or ‘ nobody in the area ‘ ? Either we are not fit enough to co-ordinate ,or we lack the mental application to manoeuvre play to ensure efforts result on meaningful shooting . Our creativity appears improved , shot numbers increasing but where is the venom and technical ability ? As a group we do not seem a lethal attacking force ; as a group we still too often lack defensive resolve . KM will be totally aware but can only coach and develop gradually : the record under him to date is fantastic and the ‘odd ‘ loss does not deserve the ‘way out ‘ reactions too often expressed amongst colleagues on this site ! Come on everyone ,we've a squad and Club to admire and again be proud of! COYB

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KMcBlue added 18:00 - Sep 25 Watched every game this season. Ladapo has missed at least one gilt edge chance every time he plays. My heart sinks when we put him through. If you watch the games you can see our 9 is weak and not the the races... He is the centre point of our attack, and not sharp or a reliable finisher.. How long can he go on spurning great chances every game, when the margins are so tight?? Very generous of KmK to keep playing him in my opinion

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Lightningboy added 18:14 - Sep 25 If we had someone clinical up front like a Billy Sharp we'd walk this league. Bizarre tactical change when we were bossing the 2nd half & then back to the old ways like last week....oh & Edmundson cannot pass to save his life. Still,it's been a hell of an improvement so far under KM..just hope the injury problems aren't going to mount up now & cost us...about time we beat a top team though...starting next week.

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Dissboyitfc added 18:17 - Sep 25 Really disappointed after todays loss, Another thing which is equally disappointing are the posters who can't wait for us lose so they can get on here and slag the team of! before the game we were top and now we are second, keep it in perspective i say! Was always going to be a tough encounter today. They scored 2 really good goals and we didn't take our chances, game could have so easily gone either way! Should we lose against pompey perish the thought, this site will be awash with total negativity, some will be close to wanting KM out! Back to the game, the Norwich looked class but his tackle on Donacien should have seen him dismissed, wasn't even booked along with morsey who also should have been shown red! Todays game was a credit to league 1, hardly embarrassing was it! We now move on to saturday, i am happy with most of what is happening with the team!

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RobsonWark added 18:22 - Sep 25 Pg888 "As for Jackson he was again one of our best players and nearly scored a screamer at the end" Nearly doesn't win us any matches. He also was in 2 very good positions when he put in crosses across the face of goal without looking up to see if anyone was there. A total waste of goal scoring opportunities. He has no football brain.
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Lord_Mac added 18:25 - Sep 25 For a neutral (which I'm not) that was a fantastic game. The stats show that we were at least even on the game. We were worth 2-2 and it didn't go our way. Jackson sent a screamer into the side netting and Walton could have scored at the end. We are 10 games in and have lost one. Yet KM is getting stick. Jeez. Plymouth will drop points and they still have to come us. They might even lose their manager.

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tractorboybig added 18:28 - Sep 25 basically we are not that good.
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oldtimer3 added 18:28 - Sep 25 If Freddie didn't play we wouldn't have got a goal . He lead the line well and brought in players from his lay offs Jackson playing on the wing was good too. Taking Freddie off lost us the game!
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RobsonWark added 18:41 - Sep 25 blues1 "Robsonwark. Are you for real? Jackson was our best player today." Please tell me what he did that he contributed that could have given us a win today. He was in 2 very good positions when he put in crosses across the face of goal without looking up to see if anyone was there. A total waste of goal scoring opportunities. He has no football brain.
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RobsonWark added 18:43 - Sep 25 TimmyH "I wonder what our record is like on SKY over the last 10 years or so?." The commentator on Sky said that we "have played 35 televised matches and won just three of them, drawing 10 and losing 22" (now 23).
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RobsonWark added 18:46 - Sep 25 blues1 "KmcBlue. How was it ladapos fault we lost? He scored, played well, worked hard too" How can you say he played well? The amount of chances he gets and he still can't hit the back of the net - other than a freak goal.
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RobsonWark added 19:09 - Sep 25 I totally agree with every thing you say budgieplucker
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RobsonWark added 19:18 - Sep 25 Dissboyitfc "Really disappointed after todays loss, Another thing which is equally disappointing are the posters who can't wait for us lose so they can get on here and slag the team of!" We don't want the team to lose. We WANT the team to WIN!!! I'm a season ticket holder and I want us to get promoted to the Championship and then Premier League. Don't criticise supporters for calling out players who are not up to the standard we as supporters expect.

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OliveR16 added 19:24 - Sep 25 It's been a bad couple of Saturdays. If we aspire to automatic promotion we can't afford many more. Also I think the Captain and the Manager are both a bit diminished after these two games and need to look at themselves a bit as well as others.
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pg888 added 19:28 - Sep 25 RobsonWark Jackson has no time to look up either time he puts it where someone should be making a run… Ladapo, Harness, Chaplin anyone has a tap in with any football sense! 2 brilliant balls not his fault not one single player made the run. I hate to say it those are the crosses Norwood would have eaten for breakfast
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DaGremloid added 19:39 - Sep 25 Dissboy - worse than fans posting facts about how poor we can be is muppets like you questioning our loyalty to the club. Stating that there 'are the posters who can't wait for us to lose so they can get on here and slag the team of' is a pathetic and offensive accusation to make. What gives you the right to throw out an asinine remark like that? I care very much about my club and hate it when we lose, especially because of an inept performance like today's. If you don't like hearing facts that you don't agree with, stay off the forum.

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EssexTractor added 19:49 - Sep 25 Having cooled off since the final whistle and reading all comments, time to pen some opinion . it appears that the views, though mixed , do substantially indicate that the majority of genuine supporters want ITFC to win and win with skill and entertainment Supporters will have their favourites , and have others whose abilities they sometimes question, that's football always has been. It is a fact that after 10 matches our points tally has come at the expense of lower opposition, and the last two matches have increased supporters frustration , anger, disappointment as we have not over come them , on their grounds. But this is a difficult League to escape from , and although even Kieran McKenna has made ( just a few ) errors, with his vision and temperament who better to really lead this squad this season? The last 180 minutes of play will have given him and his management colleagues lots to consider and the next two home matches, again against reputable League One teams will be a mighty challenge to secure the six points we all want, But whether in those games the players are favourites or “the ones you you moan at”, they are all wearing the Ipswich Blue and are in need of support. To acclaim the seasons end now of promotion or mid table obscurity after just 10 matches are both silly statements to make. 36 more League games to go,108 points to play for…now however hard, forget the Wednesday and Plymouth results , they have gone , look next to Portsmouth and Cambridge and the six points on offer.

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blueboy1981 added 20:07 - Sep 25 Mark me down as much as you like - but we are already missing Norwood up Front, playing off Ladapo. His Three Goals in limited game time for Barnsley already proves his ability. Another shot in the Foot for our Club, and misfiring Front Line !! Thankfully, Football is all about opinions. Yes, we're still second, but based on today and last weekend - for How Long ?? Overrated at the moment - and incompetent when we play the better Teams. It's called - ‘accepting what it is, people' - No more, No less … !!! We have a strong Squad - but a few players who are not top end players, even in Division 3. I also think KM's substitutions can be as weird as a certain MM's were. Much Improvement Required - or don't relish May 23.

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RobsonWark added 20:27 - Sep 25 pg888 "RobsonWark Jackson has no time to look up either time he puts it where someone should be making a run… Ladapo, Harness, Chaplin anyone has a tap in with any football sense! 2 brilliant balls not his fault not one single player made the run. I hate to say it those are the crosses Norwood would have eaten for breakfast" You are having a laugh! Any one who has ever played football has time to look up and pick out a team mate. He just kept his head down and hit the ball as hard as he could across the face of goal without knowing if anyone was in there. They are not brilliant balls if he doesn't pick out a team mate. Ridiculous comment by you.

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RobsonWark added 20:29 - Sep 25 Jackson should be at Colchester United helping "legend" Chambers and Skuse take them down to non-league football.
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Saxonblue74 added 20:35 - Sep 25 Agree PG888, Jackson put 2 very good crosses across the face of goal into an area where somebody should be taking a chance. Don't always agree with pundits/commentary but that was mentioned today, and always is when a cross comes in such as Jackson's today.
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pg888 added 20:53 - Sep 25 Give up your season ticket robson wark you have no idea about football
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