Conor Chaplin netted twice and Nathan Broadhead and Freddie Ladapo once each as Town comfortably beat Burton Albion 4-0 at Portman Road, their third league win on the bounce. After a sluggish start, the Blues sealed the win with three goals in 11 minutes from the 31st minute onwards, Chaplin netted the first, Broadhead the second and Ladapo the third, before Town’s top scorer took his tally for the season to 19 in the 69th minute.

Massimo Luongo and Ladapo started for the Blues in an otherwise unchanged team from the previous two matches, the 4-0 home victory over Forest Green Rovers and last week’s 1-0 win at MK Dons.

Luongo was handed his second full debut for the club in the centre of midfield with Cameron Humphreys dropping to the bench, while Ladapo came in as the number nine for George Hirst, who was also among the subs.

Burton made three changes with Conor Shaughnessy, Mark Helm and Jonny Smith coming into the team. Former Blues winger Mustapha Carayol was on the bench.

Town got off to a scruffy start, losing the ball in their own half twice within the opening five minutes but with the Brewers unable to capitalise.

On eight, Burton claimed a penalty when the ball bounced up and hit Luke Woolfenden as he battled with Dale Taylor on the left of the box, but the defender’s arms were down at his sides and referee Carl Boyeson waved away the protests.

The Blues slow start continued and in the 10th minute the visitors created the first opportunity, Tom Hamer nodding back a free-kick from the right played to the far post, Helm shooting on the turn and Woolfenden heading behind.

With Town still to really get going, Harry Clarke picked up the game’s first yellow card on the quarter hour for a foul on Helm as the former Manchester United youngster threatened to break away down the Blues’ right.

From the resultant free-kick, Deji Oshilaja, who came close to joining Town in his AFC Wimbledon days, scraped a shot well wide and Taylor diverted it nearer to goal but still beyond Christian Walton’s right post.

Jasper Moon joined Clarke in the book for a foul on Nathan Broadhead as the Town forward looked to breakaway following a Burton set piece, then visitors’ skipper John Brayford was also shown a yellow card for a high challenge on Leif Davis.

While still not on top of their game, the Blues threatened for the first time in the 20th minute, Chaplin looping a header high and wide from a cross from the right.

Three minutes later, Broadhead picked up a loose ball after a Chaplin pass had been cut out and fed Ladapo on the left but the striker’s low cross-shot was too far in front of any Town players and not close enough to goal.

Town were beginning to get on top and on 24, Wes Burns was sent away on the right into the area and cut back to Ladapo but a defender turned the ball behind. Davis’s corner was hit too long.

The Blues forced Craig MacGillivray into his first save of the afternoon in the 27th minute, Chaplin volleying from the right of the box and the former Portsmouth keeper saving sharply, Luongo having nodded on Broadhead’s ball across the area after it had been blocked.

Town were getting better and were looking more dangerous and a minute after the half hour, they went in front.

Clarke played in Burns down the right and the Welshman cut back towards Chaplin. The ball caught Hamer’s heels and fell the wrong side of the Blues’ top scorer, who twisted and turned before hitting a shot on the turn across MacGillivray and just inside the far post to give Town a vital lead and take his total for the season to 18.

Seven minutes after going in front, the Blues scored their second with the providers the same as the first.

Clarke again fed Burns on the right, the Wales international just reaching it before it crossed the byline and cutting back to Broadhead, who slammed his third goal in three home games into the net from the edge of the six-yard box.

And on 42, Town scored their third goal in 11 minutes. After Hamer had been booked for a foul on Chaplin inside the centre circle, the Blues took the free-kick quickly, Luongo played a ball out to the right and Hamer’s poor headed clearance fell to Chaplin, who threaded Ladapo in through a huge gap in the Brewers’ defence and the striker confidently slipped his 16th goal of the season past the advancing MacGillivray.

As the game moved into four minutes of injury time, Chaplin struck a shot from the edge of the area which deflected narrowly wide after a long spell of Blues’ possession around the Burton box.

That was the last action of what had been a half of two halves from Town. The Blues made an uncharacteristically sloppy start to the match, giving the ball away too easily and struggling to take control of the game.

However, as the match moved towards the half-hour mark, they began to take charge and create chances and once in front they dominated and might even have been more than three goals in front at the break.

Burton made a double change ahead of the start of the second half replacing Helm and Smith with Charlie Kirk and Josh Walker.

Broadhead saw a strike blocked two minutes after the restart with Town keeping the ball and continuing to probe before Luongo shot just wide from the edge of the area.

Four minutes into the half, there was a scare for the Blues when Walton, Taylor and Cameron Burgess collided as they battled for a cross from the left, the ball falling to Brayford on the right of the box with the keeper grounded. Fortunately for Town, the veteran ex-Derby man, who moments earlier had been fortunate not to be shown a second yellow card for a foul on Broadhead, shot well wide.

The Blues should have made it 4-0 in the 54th minute when Burns was again sent away on the right and cut back to Chaplin on the edge of the area but, having been given plenty of time, the forward scuffed his shot wide.

Within a minute, Burton broke following a Town attack, Woolfenden misjudging and allowing Walker to feed Taylor in space on the right of the box, however, Burgess slid in to make an important block. From the corner, the Blues failed to clear their lines and Taylor hooked wide but with the referee awarding a free-kick for a foul.

In the 59th minute, a Blues’ free-kick was cleared to Chaplin on the edge of the box and Burgess tried to flick on his underpowered effort but sent it wide from an offside position.

Just after the hour mark, Burton swapped Brayford for Bobby Kamwa ahead of a free-kick 30 yards out which Joe Powell struck powerfully to Walton’s right, the keeper scrambling across to palm it round the post.

The Brewers subsequently kept the Blues pinned into their area, winning three corners in quick succession, but eventually Walton confidently claimed a cross played in from the left.

However, on 64, following a long throw, Burton’s main threat in the early stages of the game, Kamwa hooked a shot towards goal which was blocked.

Three minutes later, shortly after Shaughnessy had been booked for the latest in a succession of fouls on Broadhead, the recent signing from Everton worked himself space before shooting across the face of goal following good work by Morsy.

And in the 69th minute, the Blues made it 4-0. Broadhead played Davis in on the left and the former Leeds man cut back to Chaplin on the edge of the box from where the forward struck his 19th goal of the season into the net, the ball taking a deflection off Moon on the way through.

Having established their four-goal lead, Blues boss Kieran McKenna swapped Ladapo, Chaplin and Broadhead, all of whom were given warm ovations as they left the field, for Hirst, Marcus Harness and Kyle Edwards. Three minutes later, ex-Town winger Carayol replaced Taylor for the by-now well-beaten visitors.

As Burton prepared to restart in the 77th minute following a Harness low shot wide, Australian international Luongo’s second full Town debut ended when he was switched for Humphreys, the January free signing receiving a standing ovation following a very impressive display.

In the 81st minute, Carayol cut back from the Brewers’ right to Kamwa but Woolfenden slid in to prevent the sub from getting a shot away. The ball eventually ran out to Powell but his strike flew deep into the Sir Bobby Robson Stand.

Town were forced into a change in the 83rd minute after Davis suffered what looked like an ankle knock. The left-back underwent lengthy treatment on the pitch before gingerly making his way around the perimeter, Janoi Donacien having come on on the right with Clarke moving to the left.

In injury time, the Blues weren’t far away from making it five when Humphreys crossed from the byline on the left to Harness just inside the area on the right from where the ex-Portsmouth man unleashed a volley which his one-time Pompey teammate MacGillivray did well to block.

That was the final action of a game which had effectively been over since the Blues’ quick-fire treble in the first half.

Town had opportunities to add to their lead beyond Chaplin’s fourth but the second period inevitably lacked the intensity of the latter period of the first.

The Blues have now won three in a row in the league for the first time since October and for only the second time this season. They have also kept four clean sheets in a row.

Town remain third with leaders Sheffield Wednesday and second-placed Plymouth both winning, but the Blues are now three points ahead of fourth-placed Bolton following their lunchtime 0-0 draw with Morecambe, the Trotters having played two more games than Town.

Elsewhere, Derby in fifth drew 2-2 at home to Shrewsbury and Barnsley, sixth, were held 0-0 at Bristol Rovers.

Town are next in action when Accrington Stanley, who beat bottom side Forest Green 2-0 at home this afternoon, visit Portman Road before a trip to Bolton a week today.

Town: Walton, Clarke, Woolfenden, Burgess, Davis (Donacien 83), Morsy (c), Luongo (Humphreys 77), Burns, Chaplin (Harness 70), Broadhead (Edwards 70), Ladapo (Hirst 70). Unused: Hladky, Jackson.

Burton: Macgillivray, Brayford (c) (Kamwa 61), Oshilaja, Hughes, Powell, Taylor (Carayol 73), Smith (Walker 46), Moon, Shaughnessy, Helm (Kirk 46), Hamer. Unused: Garratt, Lavelle, Ashworth. Referee: Carl Boyeson (East Yorkshire). Att: 25,000 (Burton: 147).

Photo: Matchday Images

dirtydingusmagee added 19:24 - Mar 4 well done lads, another solid performance, I was a bit fearful for a while until we scored then everyone got into the groove, Chaplin is having a blinding season imo, and Ladapo who took a while to get going when he arrived has come good We need to keep this run going now turn over the chasing pack and pray Plymouth falter. Tall order BUT ITS NOT IMPOSSIBLE, COYB .Hope Davis will be ok we dont want to lose players now of all times .

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19781981twtd added 19:48 - Mar 4 Luongo class strength composure with mersey a force to be second with mom without scoring⁷
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FramlinghamBlue added 19:54 - Mar 4 Firstly, Burton brought the game to us and at times played some excellent stuff. In the first half they overlapped like Wes and Janoi and we were worried. Once we had the game by the scruff of the neck we looked composed, exciting and determined. The change in play is a combination of intricate passing alternating with direct through the middle and direct over the top football. It works. Broadhead is a baller, he runs with a swagger and has a football brain above this league. Morsy and Massimo looked excellent in the centre. Always there, always making themselves available. A final mention for Freddy, what a tireless, clever performance - he is in a groove and his replacement has big boots to fill

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Lukeybluey added 20:11 - Mar 4 Great performance today, the first 20 mins I thought Burton were the better side, they were pressing high man for man every time we had the ball, but eventually ran out of steam. Everybody had a great game today, but I actually thought Burgess was awesome. The leadership that he had with the back four and Walton was really great to see, and he made an immense block/tackle second half when the player was through on goal. Chaplin for me is player of the season though, followed by Burgess and then Morsy. Job done. Onto the next one.

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RobsonWark added 20:26 - Mar 4 We are on 66 points. We have 14 points more than we did last season after 34 games and we still have 12 games left to play. There is definite progress this season.
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RobsonWark added 20:47 - Mar 4 There was too much of balls in the air in the first 15-20 minutes of the match. We can beat any team when we play the ball on the ground. Having said that we do not score many goals when we just cross the ball into the box from out wide because a) we can not pick out a player and b) we don't get enough bodies into the box . We need to get the ball down to the byline more often and then pull it back for players rushing in to the box to attack and score like we did this afternoon. Well played Town this afternoon.

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warktheline added 20:58 - Mar 4 @bossman, what are you talking about? Maybe you need to pay more attention to what's been posted on here over the last 4 months! @grem….you need to grow up and understand what happens over a course of a season, and lay off slaughtering the team when we don't win!
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Help added 21:16 - Mar 4 So the first 25-30 minutes we could not get hold of the game. Burton dictated the play and we ended up playing like them. High balls, headers, bouncing around, poor touches. Then we started to get the ball on the floor. Then we passed past their high defence, got in round the back (which I wish we would do more often against other teams). balls into the box on the floor and bang goal, after goal after goal. Three up first half killed the game off. Another clean sheet. Same again on Tuesday please. Then the big important game start. Draws away from home I will take, the odd win would be even better. Chappers has surely nailed on player of the season already. It is not just his goals, but the energy to chase bits of paper across the pitch like Shefki. The commitment and determination. Massimo has been a revelation in midfield. Clarkes runs down the wing, then to move to the left and do the same on that side. Broadhead grows stronger every game Well done Kieran, the players, well done all.

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ArnieM added 21:53 - Mar 4 That's the strongest midfield we've had all season . Pity we didn't have ML at the start of the season (even though Evans was an excellent form).
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postie323 added 22:32 - Mar 4 Phil i've spotted a mistake at the bottom of the match report.The Accrington score was 2-1 not 2-0(i was at that match today)
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RobsonWark added 00:39 - Mar 5 joyousblue great to see you back. Marking me down for two positive posts. You must be a NAARWICH wan**r!!!
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RobsonWark added 00:43 - Mar 5 This is joyousblue crap we get on here: Comment McKenna: Fully Understandable Decision at 15:28:23 I have to say a big big sorry for my posts that were diresptfull, but I lost my wife far to young and her loves were the queen and the blues , and I kinda lost it with bobble especially the disgusting post prior to this one , by a man I want to say sorry for other posts I put to robsonwark etc I was diresptfull and very wrong , I realise that now and promise to not let grief cloud my judgement and become a man I'm certainly not , I still find he wants to fight me he doesn't know me , I am a taekwondo third dan , but I learnt it to walk away , but hurt, so it's all threat and no action , but I can defend myself very very very well, my last and only comment on this bobble is he must bea Norwich supporter out to cause havoc , I certainly have no interest in any comment he makes , but I am sorry for some comments I made to perfectly true blue supporters choice is a wonderfull thing ,and I respect all comments may not agree , but my reply's will be curteous and polite once again I apologise for my nasty comments Thankyou

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RobsonWark added 00:44 - Mar 5 and this joyousblue: Comment Ipswich Town 2-0 Bristol Rovers - Match Report at 09:43:46 You will only get polite comments on here from now on sorry for the disrespect losing my wife made me angry but apart from one person you are all lovely coyb
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RobsonWark added 00:46 - Mar 5 Joyousblue I bet you are still a virgin!!!
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Saxonblue74 added 08:37 - Mar 5 Robsonwark, I'm not sure if we did indeed put the ball in the air too much for the "first 15-20 minutes" as I didn't see the game yesterday, bit if we did then maybe this was the plan B that so many were suggesting KmK doesn't have? Just a nod to our 4 consecutive clean sheets with our "weak link" Woolfenden at the heart of defence, the liability you were suggesting must be sold just a few games ago.

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dirtydingusmagee added 09:54 - Mar 5 i reckon if we can do 4 nils till end of season we will be ok , come on you blues .
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Positive_Vibes added 10:52 - Mar 5 Whilst, like everyone else, I'm loving these last few performances, they have been against teams at the bottom of the table. I'm really hoping we don't get over confident but continue to build on the momentum and confidence into the matches against Bolton away, Derby away and Barnsley.. as each of these are potentially 6 pointers and could make or break our automatic promotion hopes.

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Saxonblue74 added 11:01 - Mar 5 I hear what you're saying Positive vibes, but they are the kind of teams we struggled to break down earlier in the season. Seems we have found a way to do so recently.
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Rimsy added 11:10 - Mar 5 Excellent professional performance. Luongo superb and my mom, Broadhead is class. Just keep winning and look to Plymouth slipping up is all we can do. At last we are starting a more or less settled side and it shows with the understanding amongst the team. Gonna be a tense couple of months.
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Positive_Vibes added 11:15 - Mar 5 @saxonblue74 Agree totally. It's great to see we're making progress. In past seasons we've slipped up against these teams. Really praying we can keep this momentum going and finally put a long run of wins together so that we can dislodge Plymouth.
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Razor added 10:21 - Mar 6 Woolfy has at least a couple of brain fades a game in him and Walton got lucky when he missed a routine cross and it eventually fell to an ageing full back who smashed it past the post and should have done much better-------otherwise all good and with players coming back from injury could get very interesting.
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