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

RobsonWark added 21:00 - Sep 25 pg888 "Give up your season ticket robson wark you have no idea about football" Lets all just cross pointless balls into the box. Think about it...it's not going to win us matches! You have no idea about football.
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Dozzells_Bobblehat added 21:56 - Sep 25 Close game, two cracking goals for them. I thought Ladapo was decent. Had some luck with goal but he deserves some . Jackson is ok playing wide going forward but twice in the first half they got through cos he wasn't tracking back. I'm not too worried, we deserved a point.
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PhilR added 22:24 - Sep 25 It was a good game. We probably deserved a point, and when you are beaten by two strikes of that quality well so be it. Two good teams, the biggest difference between Ipswich and Plymouth for me was in the directness of their attacking, which got our midfield and defence going backwards. Especially against a team who are coming at us there is some space and I just can't understand our reluctance at times to be more direct and run at them. That is what gave their players the space to shoot from the edge of our box on occasion. Maybe we just don't have quite enough skill in our front players, there were many times when passes or first touches were a little heavy in that area. The second major difference for me was that they were generally a bit bigger than us and consequently won the vast majority of headers in defence and midfield, which was a strong advantage for them - but we can't do much about that, except keep the ball on the ground. Come on lads, get your most confident and skilful heads on and run at Portsmouth.

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bobble added 23:17 - Sep 25 the wallabies ,the swans ,and now the cart horses ,,what a bad weekend of sport
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algarvefan added 00:40 - Sep 26 Let's get Walton up for all our corners from now on, man what a story that would have been and the best header by an Ipswich player for some time!!! It's a long season, there will be other down days, but I'm not worried I think we will keep improving and we will be there abouts at the end of the season, just need a bit more calmness and clinical ability in front of goal. Bring on the Pompey!!!

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oldtimer3 added 06:32 - Sep 26 It was a good game. Both teams played well Just our finishing let us down! Look forward to seeing Plymouth at Portman Road. Should be another good match
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oldtimer3 added 06:32 - Sep 26 It was a good game. Both teams played well Just our finishing let us down! Look forward to seeing Plymouth at Portman Road. Should be another good match
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oldtimer3 added 06:33 - Sep 26 It was a good game. Both teams played well Just our finishing let us down! Look forward to seeing Plymouth at Portman Road. Should be another good match.
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oldtimer3 added 06:33 - Sep 26 It was a good game. Both teams played well Just our finishing let us down! Look forward to seeing Plymouth at Portman Road. Should be another good match.
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oldtimer3 added 06:33 - Sep 26 It was a good game. Both teams played well Just our finishing let us down! Look forward to seeing Plymouth at Portman Road. Should be another good match.
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oldtimer3 added 06:33 - Sep 26 It was a good game. Both teams played well Just our finishing let us down! Look forward to seeing Plymouth at Portman Road. Should be another good match.
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Trojan added 08:07 - Sep 26 Well an excellent game in L1 and must have surpassed many neutrals expectations. I was always nervous about this game as there record is superb at home and they like us they have an excellent young manager. I think in all honesty they looked a little bit more of a threat in the final third with our final ball just not quite on the money. I have looked at the Conor Chaplin incident a few times and as a town fan I would lone to have a different view, but in reality believe that CC was trying to trick the ref and may have been better off trying harder to stop the situation. In addition to that Morsy and Evans were very lucky to stay on the pitch and must show better dicipline in big games, in the Premier and with VAR they would have gone. All in all lets not get downbeat a first loss against a title contender and we pick up 3 points on Saturday not the end of the world after a very tough group of games. Up the Town !!

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gpstracker added 10:11 - Sep 26 Close the ball playing team down, hassle, be a yard quicker, get them out of their comfort zone, have they a plan B ?
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Marinersnose added 10:17 - Sep 26 Disappointed with the defeat and loss of our unbeaten record but we need to put the game in perspective. We were playing a team who had not conceded at home until they played us . Plymouth were a good team and with the two quality loanees were better than us on the day. We still haven't got a finisher in the squad. Many chances were created but we didn't offer the same goal threat as our opponents. Jackson imo had an excellent game and was creative and direct. Ladapo for me had one of his best games in a town shirt and yes he scored a fortuitous goal but he was a goal threat. The Davis pullback required a first time left foot finish which a goalscorer would've taken. Our Freddie hasn't got that instinct. Chaplin played for the foul and could've got it but why try conning the ref in such a dangerous area. We still have many players who are of league one standard and the Swansea and Norwich players today looked to have far more quality and we're the difference between winning and losing the game. We must now beat Portsmouth at home in order to demonstrate that we can compete at the top of this league.

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Razor added 10:50 - Sep 26 Last two games in the lead and in relative control but failed to close out----very worrying!! Is it all going to happen again----when the autumn leaves fall so do Ipswich Town-----please pleaae no!!
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bomber21 added 10:53 - Sep 26 oldtimet3,I think we get the message 😀
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Nomore4 added 11:11 - Sep 26 We have 2 weak link players in our usual starting 11. Janoi and Jackson. Both not good enough, for what's required. Not just this season or last….over a 4 year period now. Having a good game once every 5 isn't good enough.
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jonju11 added 11:30 - Sep 26 We are becoming them victims of our own inflated expectations. We have made some poor signings who look to be only Div 2 standard at best. Oh for Bonne & Norwood up front despite their hang-ups. Could be a time to test an under 21 (Chirewa & Humphreys). They have to be let loose some time.
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Cadiar added 11:34 - Sep 26 God, there are some stupid comments on here from so called supporters. pg88 get a life and that goes for RobsonWark also. Couldn't be bothered to read all the comments as most are so dumb they don't warrant reading. We have lost one game so far, played some great football, probably should be still top if officials decisions had been correct. What the F are people moaning about & as as for the treatment of Jackson, it's disgusting.

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FrankMarshall added 12:20 - Sep 26 We are still second in the table and in an automatic promotion place. Plenty more football to come. Nobody is going to walk this league, we are doing well.
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Nomore4 added 13:16 - Sep 26 The season is young, but thus far have struggled against the divisions better sides….Bolton, Barnsley, Sheff Wed and Plymouth….And struggled to beat the divisions weakest. Forest Green, Burton. Pompey will be a huge test for sure.
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tempzzzz added 13:22 - Sep 26 God I hate Town fans sometimes! We win a game there's about 40 or 50 comments. We lose a game (our first loss this season ON THE CURSED SKY) and over 100 comments! Negative whingers who previously would've been singing everyone's praises! Here's my observations. . Jackson, best player on the pitch but should've been kept in his original position and not moved to loan striker, doesn't suit him. . Chaplin, poor today, perhaps the player of the month curse? Sure he'll come back strong . Mistakes for the goals could've been prevented. Chaplin stays on his feet (cos he DID go looking so never a foul) and he could've prevented the second goal. . Wrong subs made at the wrong times, just remember KmK is still in his first year of management, he WILL make mistakes and I have no doubt he WILL learn from them! . Ladapo was lucky with his goal, I think he'll come good and get the confidence to do better. If not we have a January transfer window with an ownership group who are actually prepared to SPEND MONEY. . Morsy needs to calm down, could easily have been a red. I am in agreement though that Mumba deserved at least a yellow, pundits talking him up that it's "not like him" pfft! . Give Dom Ball a chance when we need to close out a game! Especially if both CDM's are on a yellow! Probably other stuff I've forgot to mention but at the end of the day, we have time to make changes, McKenna will do something about it. He's not Mick McCarthy! We have lost 1 game in 10 in the league this season, away to a side that hadn't even CONCEDED at home this season. Last week and this week yes we should've been more on it and taken our chances and we made mistakes but there is time to fix that. Personally think we played too many first team players in the Pizza Cup and wore them out a bit. We have been pretty solid at home, we win our home games and draw some away games we'll go up. Keep the faith, stop trying to kill each other and SUPPORT THE TEAM.

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blues1 added 13:22 - Sep 26 Robsonwark. Uve clearly neverxplayed football if you think players always have the time to look up before putting a ball across. Eve the co- commentator on the game said he didnt. But hey, guess u know better than an ex pro footballer.
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Nomore4 added 13:38 - Sep 26 Blues1 if you've played the game you'd know to hit the penalty spot, not get to the byline and hit a ball across the goal line in hope someone gets on the end of it……
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TractorClarke added 13:47 - Sep 26 Some of the comments on here amaze me, one loss and all of a sudden we are not the team we thought we were etc etc Yes we were beaten, and the way we let them win it, and i do mean let them, is the difference. I think we were just not at the races like we usually are, internationals and injuries dont help but they should never be the excuse as thats why you have a squad. I do think though this team is going places and will and are improving, the passion they have is evident, backed by a manager that seems to be keeping them hungry and maybe this is the wake up call needed. I am as gutted as the next fan and for me we must beat Portsmouth as it would be criminal not to take 3 points off of one of the top teams we have played in the last three. I would have been happy with 5 from weds, plymouth and portsmouth before this, now we have to take 3 no excuses. But this situation does not make us a bad team and one that has been found out, we have our problems such as a striker that can score, however i think Ladapo will start soon, as in not just a lucky goal, that player is doing a lot of good work but not putting it in the net, and i get it for a 9 you need to but the foundations are there. I agree with some that in hindsight the subs were an issue for this game, i personally think Ball would have offered a lot in the game in the second half, Morsy and Evans for all the good work they do needed to hold back because of cards and some dodgy fouls on their part. Ball i think is a great box to box and also has goals in his locker, i also agree Jackson should not have been the striker late on especially as he was offering some threat down the channel and getting balls across. But despite all the above we move on, we play Portsmouth, and we need to win it, but we are still a good team and will get better. This if nothing else is a great learning experience for everyone in the levels required to see out a game and to humble yourselves because as soon as you get too big fore your boots and believe the hype too much you will get punished. We know we are good and rightly so but there are ways of handling that situation, and i dont think we are too big headed but this game if any reinforces that as i think some of our other performances earlier in the season would have seen Plymouth off. Our game didnt flow like it normally does and also some of our defending was pretty shocking to be fair as well, some of the openings they were allowed was just criminal, but this is football and these things happen. These last couple of games does not define us or our season, the end does however so until then we need to support

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