Freddie Ladapo and Conor Chaplin both netted a first-half brace as the Blues beat Morecambe 4-0 at Portman Road to make up ground in the League One promotion race. Ladapo gave the Blues the lead in only the 52nd second, then made it 2-0 on 16 before Chaplin added goals three and four in the 38th minute and in first-half injury time.

Harry Clarke and Nathan Broadhead were handed their full debuts as boss Kieran McKenna made five changes from the team which was beaten 2-1 at Oxford on Saturday.

Clarke, who joined last week from Arsenal, came into the side in Janoi Donacien’s right-sided role with Richard Keogh and George Edmundson joining him at the back with Cameron Burgess and Luke Woolfenden left out of the 18.

Broadhead was one of the number 10s alongside Chaplin and Ladapo returned as the central striker.

George Hirst dropped to the bench along with Donacien and Marcus Harness, while Kyle Edwards and Cameron Humphreys returned as substitutes having been left out entirely on Saturday with Massimo Luongo and Sone Aluko dropping out of the squad with the Nigerian international watching the game with the Town analysts in front of the press box.

Morecambe make one change from their most recent fixture, the 2-1 win at home to Cheltenham on January 7th with last season’s 23-goal top scorer Cole Stockton, who had been out with a hamstring injury, coming in for former loanee Kieran Phillips, who has returned to his parent club Huddersfield.

Town went in only the game’s 52nd second. Wes Burns won a corner on the right and Leif Davis sent the ball over. Farrend Rawson headed against the grounded Jacob Bedeau, who had tripped as the flag-kick came over, and Ladapo gleefully smashed into the net.

Morecambe weren’t far away from levelling two minutes after going behind. A free-kick from midway inside the Town half on the left reached an unmarked Caleb Watts but Edmundson and Keogh both slid in to block, the former Rangers man in front of the ex-Republic of Ireland international.

The frenetic start continued and on five Ladapo did well on the left of the area before Broadhead unleashed a powerful strike from the edge of the box which Shrimps skipper Connor Ripley did well to get to his right to save.

Within a minute, Town had gone even closer to a second, Lee Evans picking up the ball midway inside the Morecambe half before slamming a strike against the outside of Ripley’s right post.

The Blues continued to dominate and look for openings and in the 11th minute Burns cut from the right in to Chaplin, who worked himself space but saw his shot blocked.

But Town didn’t have to wait too long to double their lead. In the 16th minute, almost immediately after a stoppage for an injury to Watts, Broadhead played in Ladapo on the right of the area, cleverly putting the ball on the outside of Bedeau as the striker burst past him on the other.

The former Rotherham man hit a shot across Ripley, the ball struck the inside of one post and bounced across goal before hitting the inside of the net on the other to take Ladapo’s tally for the season to 13.

The Blues, who had been well in control even before their second goal, went after more goals, Clarke winning a corner on 19 after his shot was deflected wide off a defender.

Town maintained their dominance, despite one or two slightly shaky moments in their own half, and on 27 skipper Sam Morsy struck a shot against a Morecambe defender on the edge of the box.

On the half hour, the Blues struggled to get the ball out of their area but the Shrimps were unable to get a clean shot at goal and Adam Mayor’s effort was eventually charged down by Clarke, who followed the ball out and made a strong but fair challenge on Ryan Delaney, which left the one-time Town trialist requiring treatment.

In the 34th minute, Ladapo wasn’t too far away from his hat-trick. Evans found Burns just outside the area and the wideman played a clever ball in for Clarke on the right of the box, from where the new signing cut back to the striker, whose effort was blocked.

Three minutes later, Edmundson rose highest to head goalwards but too close to Ripley, who claimed.

But in the 38th minute, Town did make it 3-0. Burns was sent away on the right by Morsy, cut in and laid back to Chaplin, who a low and hard first-time effort just inside of the post.

Two minutes after the third goal, Broadhead almost played Ladapo in on goal again but Rawson stuck out a foot to cut out his pass.

Within a minute, Clarke tricked his way past his man on the right of the box before sending a ball across the six-yard box but with no one able to get on the end of it.

Edmundson headed over from another corner on 43 as the Blues continued to chase goals despite their already significant advantage.

In the final scheduled minute, ahead of six additional minutes, Ladapo laid the ball off to Broadhead, who hit a low shot from the edge of the area which Ripley saved and was able to grab hold of at the second attempt as Chaplin slid in looking for his second of the game.

Two minutes later, Morsy sent Burns away down the right and the Welshman cut across to Ladapo at the near post but the striker’s effort looped well wide under pressure from Rawson.

Seconds before the half-time whistle, Town extended their lead to four goals. Burns played inside to Chaplin just inside the box to the right and the Blues top scorer, having been given far too much space, took a touch, looked up and hit a shot with little backlift which caught Bedeau and nestled in the corner of the net to take his total for the season to 15.

The half was ended almost immediately to cheers and applause from the home support after 45 minutes almost entirely dominated by Town who quite reasonably could have been more than four goals in front.

New signings Clarke and Broadhead had been among the Blues’ top performers fitting into the side and making an impact from the opening minutes.

Morecambe had looked ring rusty after their enforced 17-day hiatus and had been thoroughly outplayed by the slick Blues from the 52nd-second opener onwards.

The shell-shocked visitors made a quadruple change ahead of the second half, Donald Love, Dynel Simeu, Michael Mellon and Dan Crowley replacing Ryan Cooney, Delaney, Mayor and Watts, while he Blues swapped Burns for Jackson.

Four minutes after the restart, Bedeau, who was having something of a disastrous evening, was booked for a foul on Broadhead as the Blues’ recent signing from Everton took the ball past him midway inside the Morecambe half.

Moments later, Evans was fouled, then Broadhead again and the referee David Rock had a word before the third free-kick.

Ripley again prevented Broadhead from netting a goal on his home and full debut in the 54th minute, diving away to his left to paw the Welsh U21 international’s top corner-bound shot from just outside the box.

Four minutes later, Stockton flicked a header from a cross wide but with Blues keeper Christian Walton, who was yet to save a shot, not troubled.

Just after the hour, Jackson was sent away down the right and cut back to a pack of Town players chasing into the area with Morsy the one it reached, the Egyptian international striking a low effort straight at Ripley.

Town made a triple change in the 64th minute, Humphreys replacing skipper Morsy, Edwards taking over from Broadhead, who left the field at the other side of the pitch and made his way round low-fiving his new fans as he made his way round the perimeter, and Hirst coming on for Ladapo, who was given standing ovation as he left the field.

Chaplin got his name in referee Rock’s book for a foul on Crowley in the 70th minute, the Town forward making it very clear to the official that he disagreed with the decision. Four minutes later, the two-goal forward was replaced by Harness.

Town had remained well in control in the second half but understandably without quite the same urgency or tempo as in the first having established their four-goal lead. Morecambe had kept it tighter in the middle, denying the Blues the space they had made the most of in the first period.

In three minutes of injury time, Jackson headed wide before referee Rock put Morecambe out of their misery.

Having scored four times in the first half, the game was already all but over by the time the second period got under way.

Morecambe clearly sought to limit the significant damage inflicted in the first period with their changes and second half approach.

"Even so, having remained in control throughout, Town might have added to their lead with Broadhead, excellent like fellow full debutant Clarke, going close along with Morsy.

The Blues, still third, move seven points behind leaders Plymouth, now having played the same number of games as the Pilgrims, and four off Sheffield Wednesday in second, the Owls having played one fewer with their game at Cheltenham this evening postponed due to a frozen pitch.

Town are next in action in the FA Cup at home to Burnley on Saturday with a visit to Cambridge United a week on Saturday their next League One fixture.

Town: Walton, Clarke, Keogh, Edmundson, Burns (Jackson 46), Evans, Morsy (c) (Humphreys 64), Davis, Chaplin (Harness 74), Broadhead (Edwards 64), Ladapo (Hirst 64). Unused: Hladky, Donacien.

Morecambe: Ripley (c), Gibson, Rawson, Delaney (Simeu 46), Stockton (Hunter 83), Weir, Bedeau, Watts (Crowley 46), Shaw, Cooney (Love 46), Mayor (Mellon 46). Unused: Smith, Gnahoua. Referee: David Rock (Hertfordshire). Att: 21,948 (Morecambe: 102).

Photo: Matchday Images

Davidwb20 added 22:50 - Jan 24 Well deserved win. I just hope George Edmundson keeps his place in central defence. I agree with most posters Harry Clarke looks a very shrewd signing along with Nathan Broadhead. We now need to go on a winning streak and keep chipping away in hope either PAFC or SWFC have a dip in form. SWFC slightly in our own hands.
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micky_1560 added 22:54 - Jan 24 Waiting for all the fickle supporters to turn up. Morecambe were sluggish to begin with, but we wanted this one so badly. My only question would be "Why haven't we had this attitude more often?" Clarke and Broadhead have added quality to their positions. Chaplin had another brilliant game and Ladapo had one of his better games, but against weak opposition. We may still fade away like Plymouth did last year, but people need to realise this is still a massive rebuilding from the wake of Marcus Evan's era, it may take another season to be as strong as the current Sheff Wed and Plymouth sides.

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KMcBlue added 22:55 - Jan 24 Based on tonights performance I'd start Clarke and Broadhead every game. Much needed forward, positive urgency from these guys which we need week in week out.
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Bazza8564 added 22:55 - Jan 24 Clearly KM had fired into the boys and the sharpness in the first half was astonishing. Broadhead looked great, Clarke arguably better and Freddie lead the line like a man possessed, thats what he can do when he really has the bit between his teeth. Chappers looks better each week and if we can repeat that intensity, I believe we have every chance of this 6 game winning straek ive been banging on about! Felt a little sorry for Hirst, the game was over before he came on and he looked rather disappointed we'd sat and held and Morcambe had simply applied damage limitation tactics. His time will come. All the boys off the bench looked effective, I love Jackson wide right his crossing can be so good too. Suddenly a game Saturday that looked an irritant looks like an appealing opportunity again, COYB

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RobsonWark added 23:00 - Jan 24 Definitely a game off two halves tonight. First half we were brilliant against a poor Morecambe side who gave us lots of space to play our passing game. We totally out played them and it was just a question of how many goals we could score. Jackson comes on at half-time and totally kills the game. Most fans can see that Jackson offers nothing to the team and ruins our passing game.

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RobsonWark added 23:03 - Jan 24 You heard it here first RobsonWark added 17:26 - Jan 20 Harry could well be our best signing of the season. I'm looking forward to seeing him in the team asap.
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EssexTractor added 23:10 - Jan 24 The pace and the enthusiasm in the first half I think would have tested sides better than Morecambe. Broadhead calm , intelligent with a nice turn , and exciting when on the ball Clarke , well what a debut , hardly gave ball away , looked to go forward , strong and although cup tied should return for next match. All played like a proper team in first half , and although reservations about so many substitutes, we saw a nice cameo from Edwards , and credit to Keogh who did little wrong , in fact did everything really well. We have to go on this winning run as the closing pack are not letting up and the front two have fir gotten how to lose . There points much needed and final round of applause to the 100 from Morecambe .

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Lukeybluey added 23:49 - Jan 24 Thought Clarke was a standout for me...absolute machine. Worked well with burns on the right, can pick a pass, always an outlet and boy made a he'll of a crunching tackle in the first half. Also, proper leader, saw him telling keogh where to be! Cracking buy. Thought Broadhead oozed composure, and always looked a threat. Good vision and tricky, drew a few fouls. Thought Ladapo was also immense today, strong held the ball up well, and brought others into play. Second goal was quality. Can't fault any of the lads to honest, those stood out to me. Second half was like a training match, but fair play, made it quite easy the first half, was just a case of being professional and seeing it out the second, which we done well.

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Bert added 23:59 - Jan 24 Clarke and Burns in the first half were unstoppable. We were first to the ball, hungry and intelligent. The opposition were totally outplayed but to their credit they did try and play football. Cambridge away will be feisty but is another must win game.
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midastouch added 00:43 - Jan 25 Very impressive first half, we totally blew them away. Sheff Wed at home is a huge game, if we could beat them then we're back in the mix, lose though and the Play Offs are looking much more likely. Derby look like making it a 4-horse race though. Could be plenty more twists and turns as yet. One thing is for sure, we need to get on a solid winning run to stand any chance of top two, if not we're going to have to chance our hand at the lottery of the Play Offs (where lady luck can rarely be counted on)!

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budgieplucker added 00:47 - Jan 25 Great result, played at great tempo in the first half and would have taken a 4-0 any day and before hand. But for 45 minutes in the second half we let the game drift, so it wasn't as much about getting more goals, we let Morecambe start to get back into the game although they never really threatened. However, seeing Kayden Jackson doing his impression of a poor winger, and Kyle all fizz and no substance not really making an impact, completely took the life out of the game. Shame Freddie and Connor taken off as they were busting a gut to get hatricks, think this also had some i bearing on the game going very fkar

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Mariner1974 added 01:08 - Jan 25 Crackin' start to the game and main difference today was we were clinical with our finishing and took our chances. We've often played that well, but tonight we finished a fair chunk of what we created in the first half and again like when Peterborough came here we faced a team that wanted to play football and gave us the space to play our game. Most teams press and try and stop us playing, or park the bus. Morecambe on the back of 3 wins, thought they could go toe to toe with us. After 56 seconds they realised they couldn't. If more teams came here and played with the same intention, we'd have won plenty more games 4-0. I always think in our Division, if it's a team that wants to take us on football wise, then we'll win. If they try and stop us playing and their main aim is to keep it at 1-0 and then nick something at the end, then of course we'll have more frustrating games. We haven't stopped being a really good team under McKenna, just more teams have given up trying to beat us creatively and know their best chance is to stop us playing, and not give us time on the ball. McKenna has brought a great style of play to the team, and taken us up so many levels. The muppets that call for his head when we lose a game or draw a few games in a row, must have very short memories or attention spans. We have a team to believe in now, and a manager who has delivered that. Let's get behind the team and McKenna wholeheartedly for the rest of the season, and we'll reap the benefits.

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Steelmonkey added 01:13 - Jan 25 Magnificent performance tonight, well done. Well done also to the new lads on their home debut, I thought Harry Clarke was exceptional, he looked assured and confident in all he did, he's one of our own. Some great touches and an assist from Nathan Broadhead for Freddie's first goal, looks class. Freddie looked sharp against some big players in the Morecambe side and unlucky to not get his first hat trick for the club. What can you say about Chaplin, great finisher in the box, looked very composed taking both his goals. An important three points to keep us in touch with the top two. The game was won in the first half which gave us the opportunity to give the bench a run out. Not sure about Hirst yet he needs I think he needs time to make a greater impact, looks rusty and needs games to start to click with his teammates. I was all for getting in a player of his stature, it didn't seem to work with Piggott so maybe a big target man doesn't suit our style of playing.

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Steelmonkey added 01:16 - Jan 25 I stand corrected it was for Freddie's second goal that got the assist from Broadhead.
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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 07:19 - Jan 25 The first half performance was just what we needed to fire up the team and fans again after a very disappointing result against Oxford. But, we must remember the opposition was very poor. I think we could do the same against better teams, but it won't be as easy. Clarke looks the business, and I think he has to start above JD, which is a pity on the emotional level because the latter has been a great servant. But Clarke brings a new dynamism that we must have if we are going to make top two (or prevail in the playoffs). I'm not that bothered about Burnley, but it will be interesting to see how we go from here. Onwards and upwards or back to the old stop-start? COYB!

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warktheline added 08:18 - Jan 25 The boys definitely won last night!…4 pages of nonsense and rubbish missing!
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Help added 08:32 - Jan 25 So first off full credit to Morecombe for coming to play football. Yes, 3 wins on the trot, but had not played for 2 weeks. Not parking the bus, no high press. 2nd half they were tighter and played better football. Now Ipswich were lightning in the 1st half from Town. On the attack from the off. A fortuitous 1st goal for Freddie. But you have to be there to score and the rebound off the back of the prostrate Morecombe player on the ground in the box and Freddie there to poke it in. Any goal will do. Then the second, third and eventually fourth all before half time. Pace down the wings, cutting passes for players to run onto, crosses and passes into the box. Even Evans had a shoot from outside the box which hit the post. Why can we not have more shots from outside the box. We were on fire, Morcombe could not handle it. Job done. If anticipation was for more and a better goal difference in the 2nd, then the expectation was for a less exciting affair. Morecombe looked better if not threatening, we just had to keep a clean sheet even if it meant a less exciting half. Hirst really did not have a chance 2nd half as there was no impetuous to go forward with intent. When the team was announced I was a little shocked and maybe disappointed, but in Kieran we trust, that why he is manager and we are not. Clarke was amazing. Fight, desire, pace, hard tackling, solid and worked well with Burns. I thought Donacien was good, but Clarke is better. Still love Donacien as a player though. Keough and Edmundson did what was required, safe and even getting forward. Walton had a much better game than of recent times. Davis was good down the wing also. Burns was like his old self, Morsy and Evans worked the middle of the park. Broadhead was superb, all over the pitch left, right, middle, filling the space evans and Morsy leave when they drop back so far to get the ball. Chaplin was his usual self, putting himself about getting into space, crating and scoring. Ladapo, well what can I say really well done, holding up the ball, even chased down a player early on to put pressure on. Think the arrival of Hirst has given him something to think about. Overall, a fantastic performance. Finally full credit to the Morcombe 100 who journeyed here and had a long trip home after that.

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Ipswichbusiness added 08:53 - Jan 25 Wonderful first half, went off the boil slightly in the second. I thought that Ladapo was excellent, not just for his goals but also his general forward play. Clarke looked very good, sound defensively, positive and confident going forward.
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Rimsy added 09:11 - Jan 25 Great performance all round. Clarke and Broadhead slotted in beautifully and have surely done enough to be first choice in their respective positions. I'm sure there were many eyebrows raised when Keogh was picked, myself included, but he marshalled the defence brilliantly. You could hear him bellowing out instructions to the back line the whole match. Our young defenders can only improve with his experience guiding them, so I'd give him mom for his leadership.

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ArnieM added 09:26 - Jan 25 Sublime Town 💙
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Linkboy13 added 09:29 - Jan 25 The match was won at half time and was all about seeing the game out and thinking about Saturday without any unnecessary injuries Morecombe were not any better we just went down a gear. Clarke and Broadhead look genuine championship class to me especially Clarke who's allround game and decision making is excellent. Chaplin just about shaded man of the match for me from Clarke. As for the rotation system it's not going to go away im afraid although Saturday's line up shouldn't look much different as some of the players who played last night need games to get match fit.

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johnwarksshorts added 10:07 - Jan 25 We showed desire from the off to win this match, and never stopped. We are much better imo when we are playing at a high tempo, opposition couldn't cope with it. Shout out for Clarke and Broadhead, both showed their quality, and pace. Broadhead so comfortable on the ball and can thread great passes beyond defenders. Keogh bossed the back line and always commanding and chatting to Clarke infront of him. Mom for me Clarke. Now we need to build on this confidence and take it on to next games.

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HopefulBlue69 added 10:09 - Jan 25 Clearly a great night for town and credit to the team for having finishing practice in the week. Hate to say it though, it will mean nothing unless we win at Cambridge and they will do anything to stop us playing our game. It would be good to see the same forwards rewarded with a start again Burnley on Saturday...
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oldelsworthyfan added 10:19 - Jan 25 It is such a pity we don't still have a Combination League for out reserves to play in. It would lessen the need for all this chop-and-changing. When the substitutes come on our performance rarely improves or we usually concede a goal.
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Orraman added 10:30 - Jan 25 What struck me as the biggest change last night was the much quicker transition from defence to attack, undoubtedly helped by the rampaging runs up the right wing by Harry Clarke. Now while I have the highest regard for Janoi who has enjoyed a great 18 months interacting with Wes, he was not one to break speed records. The back line of Clarke, Keogh and Edmundson spent much less time faffing around with cross field play amongst themselves as was the style of the three previous incumbents with the result that the ball was moved forward much more quickly and in Nathan Broadhead we had someone always ready to collect and distribute quickly. We do appear to have unearthed two real diamonds in Harry and Nathan and although Morecambe provided little resistance, class shone through these two and hopefully we will see much more of this positivity in future. Kudos too to Freddie who put in a performance rewarding the hard graft he has put in so far this season.

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