Portsmouth striker David Nugent admitted that his side could have been 5-0 down at the break before he scored one and created a second for team-mate David Cotterill to see his team to a 2-0 victory over the Blues on Saturday. Nugent, the man Town fans love to hate, netted what was his eighth goal in eight games against the Blues and continued a record of having scored in every match he has played at Portman Road.

Nugent said: “We could have been 5-0 down in the first half but we made them pay for not taking their chances. In the end we outran them and outclassed them.”

The one-time England striker was booed throughout by Town supporters, something which has happened on all his visits to Portman Road since Preston’s 4-0 victory over the Blues in 2005. Having been booked for a wild challenge on Town full-back Sito, Nugent celebrated two goals within three minutes in front of the North Stand but without further censure from referee Brian Curson.

The 25-year-old says the stick he receives motivates him and that he also gets similar treatment elsewhere in East Anglia: “It goes back a few years to when I was with Preston and I scored here.

“They have been on my back ever since and always give me stick. But I thrive on it and it seems to make me play better.

“The more they boo, the more I want to score. Every time I set foot on this pitch I seem to score and it winds the fans up. It motivates me and I have never wanted to celebrate so much.

“The same thing happened at Norwich and their fans are always on my back as well.”

Nugent admits that he came close to picking up a yellow card for Saturday's goal celebration, which saw him salute all corners of Portman Road: “I wanted to make my point to the fans in all four stands.

“The ref came up to me and said ‘I don’t know what’s going on between you and these fans but calm down will you’.

“I gave him a smile and a pat on the back and he was fine with it. The fans had been abusing me all game and I just wanted to give them a bit back.”

The former Bury frontman says he decided against joining the Blues on loan in 2008 when repeatedly targeted by Jim Magilton due to fitness issues: “I wasn’t fit. I’d had two hernia operations and I couldn’t have played for anyone at the time.

“That was why I turned them down but their supporters seem to have taken it personally.

“I know the Ipswich fans are passionate for their team but I seem to be the one player they dislike more than any other.”

Photo: Action Images

WickedBlue added 18:25 - Feb 28 Eight goals in eight games.....and people calling him useless...people booing him helps him raise his game and what do our fans do? They boo him....They get on his back throughout the game, he scores and gives a little back and our fans complain....seems to me the real arrogant, immature pricks were in the crowd not on the field..... As for him playing here...he is a quality striker but it is up to PJ and who he wants here. If he bought Nugent I certainly would not be unhappy...

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bigfatjoe87 added 18:36 - Feb 28 Can't stand his record at ipswich but he's good I'd have him at PR was disappointed he didn't sign. Paul Jewell sign a decent striker or two in the summer
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Garv added 20:50 - Feb 28 No thank you!! He can f*ck off quite frankly! Again do any of you REALLY think he would come here?
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tractaboy added 21:12 - Feb 28 Nugent! You're a ****! Nugent Nugent you're a ****! I see he didn't have the balls to celebrate any closer to the Sir Bobby stand than the half way line.
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Worcester added 22:20 - Feb 28 We need to put Jaime up front for a 15 minute stab at it I bet he would pounce on a lose ball and get us something. quick feet, lots of pace. who am I kidding noone is listening
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patrickswell added 23:33 - Feb 28 “I know the Ipswich fans are passionate for their team but I seem to be the one player they dislike more than any other.” That's because you're a Grade A c**t. He might have got a little less stick over not coming here had he mentioned these "fitness issues" to Magilton instead of ignoring his calls. I know Jim wasn't the sanest of chaps, but I never saw him vent his fury over a transfer target's conduct in the way he did over Nugent.

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blue_em_away added 14:22 - Mar 1 All you who think we should sign him should watch him in other games. He only plays well against us. Why do you think he is still a Pompy..... LAZY TW*T!!!
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tractorboy2434 added 14:37 - Mar 1 has more ability in one foot than our forwards put together, as for coming here I would imagine he thinks he has as much chance of going up with Pompey as with us, anyone looking at our goals scored column can see why we won't, and it has nothing to do with luck, our fowards are just not up to it, judging by the past 4-5 seasons that is unlikely to change and I can only see another season of struggle, we have no creative players and no goalscorers.

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