Stand-in skipper Conor Chaplin headed the winner in the 75th minute as Town came from a goal down to beat Sunderland 2-1 at Portman Road. Jack Clarke gave the Black Cats the lead on 26 but Kayden Jackson levelled seven minutes later as the Blues grew into the game and then deservedly claimed the three points via Chaplin’s header 15 minutes from time.

New loan signing Lewis Travis was handed his Town debut as manager Kieran McKenna made seven changes from the team which beat AFC Wimbledon 3-1 in the FA Cup last week and three from the side which drew 0-0 at Stoke in the last Championship fixture on New Year’s Day.

Vaclav Hladky was in goal with Davis at left-back, Harry Clarke right-back and Luke Woolfenden and George Edmundson at the heart of the defence.

Travis was joined in central midfield by Jack Taylor with skipper Sam Morsy suspended and Massimo Luongo absent from the 20-man squad due to what McKenna described as an innocuous ankle injury picked up in training on Thursday.

Chaplin captained in the three with former Sunderland loanee Nathan Broadhead on his left and Wes Burns on the right behind Kayden Jackson. Town’s other January signing, Jeremy Sarmiento, was on the bench.

The Wearsiders made one change from the team which lost 3-0 at home to Newcastle in the FA Cup last week and beat Preston 2-0 on New Year’s Day with Abdoullah Ba replacing Nazariy Rusyn.

Town, who had dropped to third following Southampton’s 4-0 home victory over Sheffield Wednesday earlier in the afternoon, saw most of the ball in opening few minutes but rarely venturing into the opposition territory and causing no danger with Sunderland happy to sit in their half.

And it was the Black Cats who struck the first shot of the game in the fifth minute, Alex Pritchard blazing over from outside the area to the right.

Sunderland went closer a minute later after Harry Clarke lost out to Aji Alese on the visitors’ left from where the ball was cut back to Jobe Bellingham, whose shot was saved by Hladky with the Blues eventually, after some hesitation, getting the ball away.

Town created their first chance in the eighth minute, Burns sending over a dangerous low cross from the right, but just too far in front of the sliding Jackson.

The Blues were having plenty of the ball but still largely deep in their own half with Sunderland allowing them to keep it in those areas.

But on the quarter hour Jackson won the ball as Sunderland sought to bring it out from the edge of their area. Chaplin played it wide to Burns, whose low cross found Taylor, but the former Peterborough midfielder’s shot was blocked.

The loose ball ran to Chaplin, whose effort was crowded out, then from the floor the stand-in skipper had another go before the ball ran back out to Burns. The Welshman’s ball into the box was smashed against a Sunderland player by a teammate but eventually the danger was cleared.

Four minutes later, Davis took a throw-in on the left to Broadhead, who played on to Chaplin in the area, the former Pompey man laying it off first time to Jackson, whose effort looked to scuff wide off a defender but referee Sam Allison gave a goalkick, much to Chaplin’s annoyance.

Harry Clarke was shown the game’s first yellow card in the 24th minute for a foul on Bellingham just over halfway with the Town man aggrieved, with reason as he appeared to have got a touch on the ball.

Following the free-kick, Sunderland forced Hladky into his first serious save of the game, the ball having been played to Jack Clarke on their left from where he hit a low shot which the Czech keeper did well to divert over the bar with his feet.

But in the aftermath of the resultant corner, in the 26th minute, the Wearsiders went in front. Ba dribbled his way in from the right along the edge of the penalty area and laid it off to Clarke, who smashed an unstoppable strike past Hladky.

Two minutes after going behind, the Blues went close to levelling. Harry Clarke was played in on the right of the box and struck a low shot from a tight angle which Anthony Patterson in the Sunderland goal turned just past the post with his fingertips.

And in the 33rd minute, with Portman Road having become a little flat and Sunderland voices most audible, Town did get back on terms.

Woolfenden picked up a long clearance on halfway following a Town attack and gave it to Travis, who played a quick forward pass which caught Pierre Ekwah, diverting it between the two centre-halves and putting Jackson through on goal in the area, and the striker made no mistake to claim his third goal of the season.

Having equalised, Town went looking to get in front and in the 40th minute, after some less than decisive Sunderland defending, Jackson well wide shot on the turn under pressure from a Burns pass from eight yards.

That was the last chance of an entertaining half with the scoreline not an unfair reflection, although the Blues will feel they had controlled more of the game, while both keepers had made one significant save in addition to the goals they had conceded.

Town struck the first shot of the second half less than a minute after the restart, Harry Clarke bringing it inside from the right and feeding Davis, who slammed a powerful effort towards goal. Patterson batted it into the air but the home side were unable to make anything from the loose ball.

The Blues were awarded their first free-kick of the game in the 49th minute when Jack Clarke felled Travis on the edge of the Town box.

Two minutes later, Taylor was booked for a foul on Clarke just outside the Town area, to the left. Pritchard’s free-kick flew well over.

On 54, Edmundson joined him for a foul on Ba, who also had his name added to the book for waving an imaginary card in referee Allison’s direction.

Two minutes later, Jackson ended up on the floor after being caught in the face by a Luke O’Nien elbow. As had been the case with a similar incident in the first half, referee Allison missed it and did nothing despite protests from the striker and Chaplin.

Just ahead of the hour, Burns was booked for a foul on Dan Neil, then, with Town stepping up the tempo, Chaplin hit a powerful strike against O’Nien after a cross from the left had been diverted out to him.

With the noise around Portman Road growing, Sunderland repeatedly struggled to clear their lines and on 63 Harry Clarke played a one-two with Chaplin and broke into the right of the box but Patterson did well to save his shot down to his right.

The Black Cats made their first chance in the 65th minute, Adil Aouchiche replacing Ba, and a minute later the sub was given a golden opportunity to put his side back in front.

Hladky’s pass out of the box was half-blocked by Bellingham and it fell to Jack Clarke, who played it to Aouchiche with the goal gaping but somehow the Frenchman put it wide of the post. Town could count themselves very fortunate.

Town made their first changes on 68, Sarmiento, making his home debut, Dom Ball and Omari Hutchinson replacing Jackson, Travis, who could be pleased with his debut, and Burns.

Hutchinson quickly made an impact, receiving the ball from Chaplin on the right of the area and hitting a shot which deflected out for a corner.

Following the flag-kick, Hutchinson lost out on the right of the box but Sarmiento picked it up and returned the ball to the on-loan Chelsea man, whose shot was saved.

The substitutions had seen the Blues put the visitors under increasing pressure and in the 75th minute, they went in front.

Davis, who had been fouled by Aouchiche, whipped over a free-kick from the left and an unmarked Chaplin powered a header past Patterson from eight yards out towards the near post and into the top corner of the net to send Portman Road into raptures.

Perhaps Sunderland felt the diminutive frontman was little threat in the air but he has shown on a number of occasions throughout his time at Town that he has an unerring ability to win the ball from set pieces despite his lack of height.

Four minutes after the goal, there was a scare for the Blues when Alese sent a low ball across the area from the left but fortunately no one was able to get the final touch.

And in the 81st minute, Town came within a whisker of a third goal. Chaplin flicked a Davis cross from the left beyond the far post with his shoulder and Woolfenden, from a tight angle, smashed it against the woodwork and across goal.

Sunderland were fortunate not to find themselves two behind, then on 83 Trai Hume was perhaps a little lucky not to see his second red card of the season against Town for a wild lunge on Sarmiento on halfway, which left both of them requiring treatment.

Referee Allison decided a yellow card was sufficient and moments later Pritchard was replaced by Rusyn.

On 85, Town were denied what looked the most obvious of penalties. O’Nien completely missed the ball and sent Hutchinson, who was looking to shoot, straight up in the air inside the box. The loose ball fell to Chaplin, whose shot deflected wide off Dan Ballard.

Even O’Nien seemed to be expecting a spot-kick but referee Allison, who had had a less than impressive evening for a Premier League official, either believed there had been no foul or deemed Town to have gained an advantage, although he made no signal to suggest the latter.

Sarmiento was booked for taking his protests too far, before Town swapped Broadhead for Marcus Harness, while the Wearsiders switched Bellingham for Mason Burstow.

With the game now in the fourth of five additional minutes, Axel Tuanzebe replaced Chaplin, who was given a standing ovation as he left the field following an outstanding performance and another vital goal.

Town were looking more likely to score a third than Sunderland a second in the final moments but nevertheless there was still a little nervousness around the ground until Allison blew his whistle for the final time, prompting a huge cheer around Portman Road.

The Blues had been well worth their win having been much the better side in the second half and having had chances to win more comfortably, most notably Woolfenden’s effort off the post.

Town, bedding in an unfamiliar central midfield, had grown into the first half but in the second they were very much better than the visitors, although had to survive one of the misses of the season before Chaplin’s excellent header which proved to be the winner.

The win, the Blues’ first in the league since December 12th at Watford, sees Town move back ahead of Southampton and into second behind Leicester, who they visit a week on Monday, with the Foxes now seven points points ahead following their 3-1 defeat at Coventry earlier today.

Town: Hladky, Clarke, Woolfenden, Edmundson, Davis, Travis (Ball 68), Taylor, Burns (Hutchinson 68), Chaplin (c) (Tuanzebe 94), Broadhead (Harness 89), Jackson (Sarmiento 68). Unused: Walton, Humphreys, Aluko, Ladapo. 

Sunderland: Patterson, Hume, Ballard, O’Nien (c), Alese, Neil, Ekwah, Pritchard (Rusyn 84), Bellingham (Burstow 89), Clarke, Ba (Aouchiche 65). Unused: Bishop, Seelt, Triantis, Matete, Bennette, Hemir. Referee: Sam Allison (Wiltshire). Att: 29,291 (Sunderland: 1,965).

Photo: Matchday Images

Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 08:10 - Jan 14 I was apprehensive before this one - thought all the predictions about Town imploding might actually come true, Nor did it help when we went down 0-1. But what a transformation. It turned into the best match of the season for me and a result against a very good team that will be in or around the playoffs come May. If we can perform like this, I'd give us a good chance against anyone in the Championship, Leicester and Soton included. KMcK's genius is there for all to see in how he trusts his players and makes the right substitutions at the right times. Still buzzing on Sunday morning over this result and performance.

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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 08:20 - Jan 14 Plus a word for the Sunderland fans. Ok, they have a big catchment area, so they can come in big numbers. But they were a great bunch - seemed to mostly sing songs supporting their team rather than insulting the opposition and were very vocal. Plus they joined in the remembrance of the Town fans who sadly perished during Covid (if I understood correctly). In fact, they out-sang the home support, which was rather disappointing. Blue Action do their best and I wouldn't knock them, but their placing in the Cobbold doesn't work for me. If they were back in the Sir Bobby, then perhaps there would be a greater cohesion and the bits and pieces of singing that break out in different places might be joined together. Anyway, I'm sure our away support at Leicester will make themselves heard.

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eastcoastblue added 08:25 - Jan 14 Great game which at times looked like a zero pointer. Not much about Jackson and I thought he ran his socks off all day. Deserved his goal which was well taken. Im not a huge fan but his effort and finish deserve praise. Keep it up. Travis looked good which is promising cover for the midfield. Great stuff. Coyb.
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eastcoastblue added 08:28 - Jan 14 Posters slating Jackson?!? Thats not on and not Ipswich. Get behind every player to a man. Everyone has a bad game in life let alone in front of 30000 fans.
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Saxonblue74 added 08:38 - Jan 14 A much needed and deserved 3 points. Another McKenna master stroke in signing Travis who instantly looks like our best cover for Morsy or Luongo. Davis was my man of the match, slipped immediately back into his role following a period on the sidelines. My only slight concern is our pace of play from the back which at times was pedestrian and caused issues, particularly Woolfy who gave us some nervy moments. Perhaps it's a result of disruption to the team of late, I don't know but we just haven't looked our fluent selves for a while now. Still, great 3 points and looking forward to Leicester. Their Manager and right winger both red carded which is a plus, but they'll be wounded by their defeat to Coventry, who looked very good I might add.

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senduntd added 08:59 - Jan 14 Leicester should be interesting they have 3 forwards away on international duty which explains todays result.
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Europablue added 09:11 - Jan 14 Global_Blue Travis was excellent. It really feels like KM has solved the Morsy problem if he can play Travis. I dare say he will also be competition for Morsy and increase standards. I don't know if the team would be balanced enough to play Travis with Morsy. Jackson usually needs two or three chances, but he will take one if he gets enough chances and he buried the one he scored in. I loved the way that before the match KM basically said that the crowd need to stop being negative about Jackson and Ladapo and get behind the players who are on the pitch. I really think that both players are decent at Championship level. They just aren't quite consistent enough for a promotion push. Edmundson was man of the match. It is exemplary how he comes into matches and just performs at the top level. Woolfy was poor, too many loose passes. We can't afford that at Leicester. Whilst not at his best, Davis made a big difference. He made some great runs without the final ball so did Burns in the first half. The thing with Chaplin and Davis is that even if they are having a quiet or off match, they can come up with a moment of magic. Some of the starting players seem to have that telepathic connection, whereas when other players come in they don't quite seem to be on the same wavelength.

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Europablue added 09:17 - Jan 14 EssexTractor It's funny how KM has changed his managerial style. At first he was always cool and collected and barely celebrated, it was always on to the next challenge. Perhaps it is because he has taken the club into his heart, but he doesn't seem able to hide his passion now. It's not a bad thing. I think it helps to build team spirit and momentum. It's difficult not to consider the context. It just goes to show how far we have come that a few draws and everyone thinks we've blown it. KM has steered us through some choppy waters, but we are out the other side ready to attack the rest of the season. Of course we still need that striker, but for now, we can feel very satisfied.

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Europablue added 09:26 - Jan 14 Billysherlockblue There's a big difference in thinking that we have better players who should be starting or criticizing a performance and being negative about the teamsheet when our manager absolutely deserves our trust and creating a negative environment in the crowd. Some people have let their expectations get out of control. The team have overperformed for the quality of the squad. We just don't have the second best squad in the league even though we have been the second best team. There is still some work to be done in the January window and a lot of work to be done in the summer. If we don't get promoted we will be recruiting for another crack at automatic promotion with a bit more depth in the squad. Last season we already had a mid-table Championship quality squad.

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Europablue added 09:30 - Jan 14 TimmyH You have to differentiate between expressing an opinion and not backing the players that are put out there. I swear some people want players to fail just so they can be proven right. Some people have learnt some twisted ways to get enjoyment from how terrible we were for many years before KM joined us. The bottom line is, once the players are on the pitch we back them fully and turbo charge them to perform above their ability. Super KM knows exactly what we need, it just isn't that easy to land signings for a reasonable price.

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Europablue added 09:39 - Jan 14 Did anyone else get unreasonably excited about that turn that Chaplin did near the halfway line, dropping his shoulder and losing two players?
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Cloddyseedbed added 10:24 - Jan 14 Massive result for us, I think like many I feared we may not get the result we needed. We showed great character throughout the whole team, but we do miss Hirst as we all know, hopefully a similar style player to him will arrive in the transfer window. Thought the 2 new players played well but thought travis needs time to settle into our playing style and the players he has around him. Many times Woolfy was left frustrated by travis not being available to pass to in midfield, he positioned himself behind opposition players so the pass out of defence was not on, maybe a confidence thing. Morsey always shows for the ball out of defence. I also thought Travis was waving his arms around telling players who knew each others games where to pass and what to do, it is him that needs to adapt to our game, not the other way around. I'm sure the understanding will come, given a run in the team. Jackson as always battled away but isn't as we all know a number 9. The absence of ladapo for an appearance on the pitch must mean he and the club needs to find him a new club, he just isn't up to the level we now play at and expect. Davis.....what a return, how we miss him when he's not in the team. Special praise must go to Edmundson who goes about his job so well, burgess is not being missed and will have to fight hard to get back in the team if George can keep fit. Well done boys you made us all so proud!

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oldegold added 10:51 - Jan 14 It seems the common thinking amongst football pundits in this period is that Ipswich will fold and a"bigger" club like Southampton will automatically overtake them...the praise for Southampton's unbeaten run is gushing and overblown; I think this should be a challenge to the Superblues to stuff these words down the throats of these so-called experts and prove them wrong. Town are a bigger club than them and we should act as much...let's continue with doing the business on the pitch, as we proved against a strong Sunderland side and we will see at season's end but I say may the best team win...

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Marinersnose added 11:46 - Jan 14 Cloddyseedbed it’s nice to see that some fans fully understand why Wolfie Hladky and Edmundson struggled to pass out from the back. You saw exactly what I saw our midfield weren’t coming short and offering an angle so defensively they had to hold the ball longer and were pressed into mistakes. I’m sure Travis and Taylor will soon develop in this area as the former showed on his debut that he’s a good Championship player. It’s easy to go long but the balls coming straight back. McKenna ball is the way forward

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ipswichboi added 12:37 - Jan 14 Cloddy, 100% bang on with the Travis comments! A lot of praise for him on here, and when he was on the ball he looked comfortable and protected it well, however he wasn't available to receive the ball that often. Sunderland had a good shape and pressed well from the start so it was a difficult one to come into. Look forward to seeing him once he has more time/games under his belt!

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ipswichboi added 12:38 - Jan 14 Sorry Europa, meant to vote up. That Chaplin turn was delightful
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Len_Brennan added 13:00 - Jan 14 Great battling performance & win, epitomised by Kayden Jackson, who worked his socks of, ran the channels intelligently & then finished with aplomb when his big chance came through his own anticipation & movement. I have never been either his biggest supporter nor his harshest critic on here, and this performance has not changed my view because he has all that in his locker. The finish was great & instinctive; sometimes his finishing can be questionable due to him having more time. For all that, it is not abuse or even criticism to say that we still need to sign a new centre forward, actually two, because we know that that is exactly what McKenna/the club is trying to do. Also, McKenna has been converting him into a right sided forward over the last 12+ months, so he clearly doesn't regard the lone spot up front as priority for Kayden. He is ahead of Freddie, which is telling in itself, and will be kept beyond this window due to his versatility & teamwork, but he is not the focal point centre forward needed to bring the best out of this team & the formation that the manager wants to play.

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BlueTractor83 added 14:43 - Jan 14 Not overly impressed with a certain post from 20.57 last night, after the match. I won't waste my time naming the poster. I don't feel the need to personally embarrass them further by naming them (They did that themselves with their original post.). They know who they are, don't need the extra attention and if you all read the comments since the final whistle last night, you'll know who I'm referring to. I've never felt compelled to post on here before. As a fellow Town Fan & supporter for nearly 40 years, I usually enjoy sitting back and reading everyone's thoughts, comments and differing opinions ABOUT THE FOOTBALL. I was looking forward to everyone's thoughts after a great match yesterday. Alas, someone had to spoil it. Thankfully, I was able to report the comment & it appears the post has since been removed... Thank you. Poster has now put up a new comment today that is thankfully less contentious and about THE FOOTBALL, which is what TWTD forum is for. I'll give them the benefit of the doubt. They must have been very tired from all the excitement and they've clearly calmed down after a nap...bless them. I'm all for differing opinions about THE FOOTBALL. That's part of the beauty of this sport that we all know and love! It would be really boring if we all agreed on everything, but there's no need to make it personal. Did the poster have issues with the football opinion being different to theirs... or the fact it was a female opinion? To quote "Classic female town fan says..." As far as I'm concerned, the team win, lose and draw together. MotM means little to me these days, as there tends to be more than one on offer. Clarke was the Match Sponsors MotM... Sky's MotM was Chaplin...Fotmob's MotM was Davis... to name just a few. I can only presume Poster didn't have issues with these different opinions, as they've assumed they were the opinions of males...? Football is for everyone, as is the entitlement to an opinion about THE FOOTBALL. The inclusivity of ITFC for all, male and female, young and old, is part of what makes our club great and I'm glad Town are returning to being what we used to call a welcoming "Family Club" in addition to their community initiatives. Can I please take this opportunity to remind the poster we are well into the 21st century, in an attempt to drag them kicking & screaming out of the dark ages. Thank you. On a lighter note... Still absolutely buzzing from last night's result. A third goal would've been appreciated, for my heart rates sake, as well as not having to go behind first... But the commitment and determination, of each and every player in a Town shirt, not to let their heads drop or the game get away from them and to turn the result around, fills me with immense pride. Team of the Match for me!

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Billysherlockblue added 18:44 - Jan 14 Europablue. My point is there is no harm in criticism if one feels its justified. At the heat of the moment we all get caught up because we want the best for our team. I follow Ipswich with a passion since early 70s. No one can deny this. However it also gives me a personal rite to judge games players managers as i believe i see it. If i think a player is not up to it imo ill say so... its only an option. Does not mean im right but i have the right to my opinion. Jackson as an example he is a great hard worker and a blue and he had a great game after the 1st 20 mins where he missed a few chances. I personally feel hes not up to top championship level but i hope im proved weong. And i also think our best 11 are not punching above their weight i believe we are on par with the top 4 or 5. Its just our squad depth is not quite as good but is getting there. These are my thoughts and mean no disrespect to anyone as my only thoughts are to a blues result.

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cat added 21:14 - Jan 14 That was a top game of football, a great result and the entertainment value was up there as per. Great to see the ‘ULTRAS’ marching to the ground banging their drum and chanting which created a superb atmosphere before the game. So pleased for Jackson as I love his energy and work rate. He deserves a run of games imo and gets a hard time on here, but least McK can see his potential. Supporters (lol) forget his 11 goals and 11 assists when we were last in the championship so he’s proven at this level.

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RobsonWark added 21:34 - Jan 14 Billysherlockblue I am with you 100%. Jackson should not ne playing in the Championship.
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pragmatic added 13:05 - Jan 15 McKenna knows far more about who we need in team from availability, & know Jackson won’t let him down,
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