Luke Woolfenden’s first Town goal a minute before half-time saw Town to a 1-0 home win over Lincoln City at Portman Road and back to the top of League One. Woolfenden nodded Luke Garbutt’s freekick from the right into the net off keeper Josh Vickers to secure a deserved three points for the Blues.

Town named the same team which won 2-1 at Tranmere last week with Will Norris again in goal behind a back three of skipper Luke Chambers, ex-Imp James Wilson and Woolfenden. Garbutt and Gwion Edwards were the wing-backs.

In midfield, Emyr Huws and Flynn Downes were behind Alan Judge with Will Keane and Kayden Jackson the strikers. Town also named an unchanged bench.

Lincoln fielded the same side which beat Blackpool 1-0 at Sincil Bank last weekend with ex-Blues loanee Tayo Edun in midfield.

Town started positively, winning an early corner which Garbutt sent low across the Lincoln six-yard box.

The Blues continued to dominate the early stages, passing the ball around neatly in the Imps half, and on six Huws struck a shot from 25 yards which Lincoln keeper Vickers claimed comfortably.

Within seconds there was a scare at the other end, the ball was crossed from the right, Tyler Walker hooked it on and it bounced just wide of Norris’s right post but with the keeper looking unperturbed.

In the 12th minute a cleverly-worked freekick was played to Keane on the edge of the Lincoln box and the striker laid it back to Huws, whose powerful goalwards strike was blocked by Tyreece John-Jules.

The Blues continued to dominate and on 21 an Edwards cross from the right was only just cut out ahead of Keane at the far post by Neal Eardley. Seven minutes later, a corner from the left dropped to Chambers at the back of the box and his shot was blocked.

Town remained in total control of the game, passing the ball around confidently with Lincoln struggling to see any possession.

On 31 the Blues came close to going in front when, after a lengthy spell on the ball, Jackson played in Keane as the striker broke into the area on the left past two defenders but the former Manchester United trainee slipped his effort at goal just beyond the far post.

Immediately, Lincoln went close at the other end, Walker hitting an effort which Norris turned over. From the resultant corner, the ball struck Wilson and bounced safely to Norris.

Three minutes later, Walker was sent away on space on the right but Wilson came across to divert the ball back to Norris. The on-loan Nottingham Forest striker claimed the former Imps defender had used his hand but there were few other protests and referee Lee Swabey wasn’t interested.

But Town quickly regained their earlier level of control and in the 40th minute Lincoln’s Ipswich-born on-loan Bristol City midfielder Joe Morrell was yellow for pulling back Downes. A minute later, Woolfenden joined him in the book for a high boot inside the Imps box.

The Blues finally got the goal their first-half performance deserved a minute before the scheduled end of the half.

A Garbutt freekick from the right touchline reached Woolfenden at the far post and the centre-half nodded his first Town goal into the net off keeper Vickers.

Town weren’t too far away from making it 2-0 in the final moments of injury time, a Judge shot from the edge of the box deflecting wide.

The whistle ending the half came soon afterwards to warm applause from the home support after a very impressive half from the Blues.

All that had been missing had been a goal, which Woolfenden rectified at a crucial stage of the match.

Town began the second half on the front foot, Huws looping an early header to Vickers in the visitors’ goal.

Lincoln were next to threaten when a low cross from the right fell loose in the box but Edwards was able to scramble it behind ahead of Jorge Grant, who otherwise would have had a clear shot at goal from a matter of feet. From the corner, the ball deflected off an Imps head and wide.

But normal service soon resumed as the Blues went looking for their second goal. On 64 Garbutt smashed a low well-struck 25-yard shot which was headed into the corner of the net until Vickers got a strong arm across to turn it past the post. A minute later, Lincoln swapped John-Jules for new signing Tom Hopper, the striker having joined from Southend earlier in the week.

On 68 Downes was left in a heap just inside the Lincoln half after a two-footed Max Melbourne lunge which referee Swabey somehow saw as a fair challenge. Eventually play was stopped for treatment to the midfielder - who fortunately was able to continue - with the Blues players showing their anger at the tackle, which really ought to have led to a red card.

Moments later Cian Bolger was cautioned for tripping Jackson, then Huws joined him in the book for a foul on Grant after a loose pass had fallen for the Lincoln man on halfway. On 71 the Imps swapped Harry Anderson and Edun for Zak Elbouzedi and Conor Coventry.

Six minutes later, the Blues should have made it 2-0, Wilson flicking a corner from the right wide at the far post when he will feel he should have netted a goal against his old club.

As Lincoln prepared to restart, Town replaced Judge, who had had another very busy and effective game, with Teddy Bishop.

Blues keeper-coach and Jimmy Walker was booked in the 82nd minute for encroachment having come on to the pitch to retrieve the ball ahead of an Imps throw, much to the surprise of the former member of the Lincoln staff.

There was a scare for Town in the 86th minute when Grant was sent away breaking into the Blues’ area on the left but Wilson got across to make a strong challenge.

Downes was yellow-carded in the 88th minute for a foul, the midfielder’s ninth of the season with a 10th leading to a two-match ban, then the again very impressive Keane was replaced by Norwood just prior to the announcement of four additional minutes.

Town saw out the final minutes in relative comfort to claim their third win in five games since that 5-3 loss to the Imps at Sincil Bank a month ago.

The Blues were rarely as fluent in the second half as they had been during their excellent first period but were still in control of the match for the most part and might have added to their lead, most notably Garbutt’s well-saved shot and Wilson’s header wide.

Lincoln will feel they might have done better with a couple of second-half chances when the Blues were caught too open at the back.

Overall though, a confidence-boosting victory and display, in the first half particularly, taking Town back to the top of the division - for the first time since November 17th - ahead of Tuesday’s visit to Rotherham, the team they have usurped at the summit, who were beaten 2-1 at Peterborough, who visit Portman Road next Saturday.

Town: Norris, Chambers (c), Wilson, Woolfenden, Edwards, Downes, Huws, Garbutt, Judge (Bishop 77), Keane (Norwood 90), Jackson. Unused: Holy, Earl, Skuse, Nolan, Sears.

Lincoln: Vickers, Shackell (c), Bolger, John-Jules (Hopper 65), Walker, Grant, Morrell, Eardley, Melbourne, Anderson (Elbouzedi 71), Edun (Coventry 71). Unused: Smith, Chapman, Lewis, Hesketh. Referee: Lee Swabey (Devon). Att: 18,795 (Lincoln: 749).

Photo: TWTD

Dissboyitfc added 19:13 - Jan 25 should say.Tough rehab and any town players.
0

delias_cheesy_flaps added 19:17 - Jan 25 Fark me Agent Lambert has finally found his managerial skills, nothing new if you was about in the 70's and 80's....play your best 11 and you will win games...SIMPLES
10

TimmyH added 19:30 - Jan 25 Glad to be back on top and a deserved 3 points today...though again sounds like the second half didn't back the first half up in terns of performance. Looks like all those who wanted a settled team could be proved to be right though still a long way to go and no doubt there will be further twists and turns and some tougher looking fixtures coming up.
7

londontractorboy57 added 19:33 - Jan 25 Great result blimey we must of won only 1 page of comments.
-3

blueboy1981 added 19:39 - Jan 25 Londontractorboy57 ...... shame you can't be as happy as we are when we win. But that's your problem - not ours. COYB. Competition is for WINNERS, not satisfied LOSERS.
4

ITFCsince73 added 19:39 - Jan 25 Londontractor Zzzzzz
3

blueboy1981 added 19:49 - Jan 25 Great three points, great position tonight - more of a goal threat may be needed to stay there though, and wouldn't go amiss for sure. Happy Saturday evening to you all with that ITFC smile on your faces.
10

bonamassablue added 19:50 - Jan 25 That was the best home performance this season. Totally dominant although another goal or two would have made it more comfortable. The big difference is the settled side and keeping possession. How many matches have we been giving the ball away only to put the midfield and defence under pressure. Men of the match were Wilson ( a no nonsense centre half who gives stability to the defence and allows Woolfy to go forward) and Keane who holds the ball and makes those energetic runs with Jackson. A solid team performance and really enjoyable to watch.

6

budgieplucker added 19:54 - Jan 25 Squad rotation is dead!!!! See Paul the fans can sometimes be right. I thought I was watching a team that had played together for a long time. Pretty much dominated possession from start to finish, slick movement of the ball and lots of good individual performances. Michael Appleton is a good manager and very experienced.he has started to transform Lincoln following the slump from when the Cowleys left. This side could do us a few favours against our main opponents Just a little more in the final third and we are nicely positioned to contest a top two spot. This next week or so sees our most difficult fixtures left for the season, come out of this next spell well, even if we get three draws, then a top two position will almost be ours to loose.

7

cat added 20:03 - Jan 25 The one thing that stuck out from today's performance (apart from Keane's back to goal play) was Huws. The bloke's top draw and by far our best player. It's no coincidence his return to form has revived our season.
15

happybeingblue added 20:33 - Jan 25 well well a settled team and hey presto we dont look like strangers anymore :) some nice passing in first half,keane looked very good,would like to have seen a bit more purpose at times with the volume of passing we were having,maybe one or 2 players try and beat their opponent hit the byline or drive into the penalty box,but lincoln did seem quite well organised to be fair, would like to have seen norwood come on sooner for kayden who had a quieter game than usual. finally beating lincoln though about time hey!

6

Buryblue78 added 21:56 - Jan 25 Totally agree Cat It's no coincidence either that Downes looks good playing alongside him IMO I thought Keane had a very good game today (although the bloke sat next to me disagreed!) Very encouraging day and happy train home However a better team would of scored against us on the counter We need to feed off Keanes hold up play and get more shots on target But I shouldn't be so picky On another note I watched last 10 mins of Sunderland last night on Sky and they were CRAP We are top of the league and have more to offer COYB

5

Reecex28 added 22:25 - Jan 25 Light years away from the MM and huff and puff football that made my 240 mile round journey so painful. Slick passing, settled team (now) and youngsters that you can identify with and feel proud of. What's not to like !!
10

dirtydingusmagee added 22:36 - Jan 25 maassive 3 points well done all, but lets not get carried away, home to Lincoln 1 - 0 next game away to Rotherham, is going to be a REAL test. COYB
4

blueboy1981 added 22:53 - Jan 25 Interestingly Jordan Roberts scores two for Gillingham today - even more interestingly played in his best, and rightful position. Just saying ... !!
1

Steelmonkey added 00:05 - Jan 26 I think that's the best first 45 minutes I've seen us play this season at home, just a shame that we couldn't have scored a second. Back on top of the league but we can't afford to ease up, I can't wait for us to field our best eleven, Edwards is doing a great job but KVY is a must in that position, I thought Keane was great today and Hughes dominated our midfield. Things now seem to be clicking into place, great passing game today and just wish someone would take a leaf out of Murphy's phenomenal season and take a chance on shooting at any opportunity that they get, doing the unexpected can result in a great season for us. I really think that is a part that is missing from our game play. Lambert now seems to have consolidated his best eleven at his disposal, and I'm pleased with our attitude, and we can get better. COYB's.

7

KiwiBlue2 added 00:40 - Jan 26 Great to see this result but scoring 2 at home especially would be nice. So great that PL has gone back to a settled team with only 1 or 2 changes, so much more cohesive. A result at Rotherham on Tuesday would be great but all is not lost if we dont at least get a point as we have 7 of our last 10 games at home. By the beginning of March I would hope that we are more consistent and aggressive at home and scoring more freely there ....... a lot to be positive about coyb.........

5

midastouch added 08:48 - Jan 26 Great effort yesterday. I think that's the first back-to-back wins in the league since August. Nice of us Posh to do us a big favour too against Rotherham. Hopefully we can get at least a point against Rotherham on Tuesday night. A win there would feel massive in the context of our season so far given we haven't had much change from any of the teams nearer the top of the league. Fingers crossed we're all still buzzing come 10pm Tuesday night! A lot of questions will surely be answered over the next three crunch / key games. COYB!

1

Marinersnose added 09:33 - Jan 26 Excellent performance with good movement of the ball. The spine in Woolfenden Downes and Keane were immense and the team as a whole kept the ball well and managed the game against very good opponents. We should have scored more than one goal but it's 3 points and move on. Still some strange fans in the Radio Suffolk phone in on my return from the game moaning about Keane. He gives the team exactly what they need with excellent touch and hold up play. He's real quality now he's fit . COYB

3

Linkboy13 added 11:02 - Jan 26 I'm afraid mariners nose fans never change their opinions on players they don't like. I agree with you i thought Keane played well and gives the team better balance up front and when fully fit first choice for me .Some fans were saying that the game was not that exciting but the overall quality was good by Div 1 standards both teams looked well organised which probably nullified the excitement. Im nit picking a bit but would like to see a big strong centre half at times we get out muscled as we did today by their number 9 don't know why they took him off possibly injured.

0

heathen66 added 12:19 - Jan 26 Good performance,from a settled side Thought Edwards was superb showing his skill as a genuine winger (which btw is what we signed him as) and Covered the out of position Chambers on more than one occasion. Made some very important interceptions in our own penalty area play won a number of important headers. TheWoolf was good but imo Edwards shaded it. Huws and Downes were solid in the middle giving the whole side great energy. PL seems to have found a formation in 3-4-1-2 (not 5-2-1-2) which also helps when they are near enough the same personnel. Important few weeks ahead, however let Rotherham, Petereborough and Sunderland worry about us, not let us worry about them and go all defensive.

3

londontractorboy57 added 14:40 - Jan 26 Wrong as usual Bluebore i was only making the point that when we win only 2 pages when we lose 8. I did enjoy the game although i thought we should of scored more goals against a very average team.
0

IpswichT62OldBoy added 14:43 - Jan 26 We are coming into form, have worked through a lot of our injury issues and have a squad good enough that our bench always looks decent. Noice
1

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls