Billy Clarke scored the winning goal at Portman road for the second time in four days, as Ipswich beat Coventry 2-1.
Mark Noble opened the scoring ahead of an Elliot Ward equalised before Billy Clarke’s 85th minute winner.
Fabian Wilnis came back into the side ahead of Richard Naylor, while Sylvain Legwinski made his full debut in midfield, preferred to Matt Richards.
Coventry should have been ahead in the sixth minute, with the big frontman Keven Kyle thumping a header over from close range, when he really should have scored.
Gavin Williams should also have had the ball in the net minutes later, he managed to drag an Alan Lee cross wide, after superb interplay between the two Irish strikers Macken and Lee.
Mark Noble put in a cross that hit the feet of Alan Lee, who didnt know much about it, but the ball trickled wide.
If Kyles firsat effort had not been simple enough, he will be kicking himself st the second. Steven Hughes’ cross found the diving head of the Scot 5 yards out, and again he thumped his header off target.
The last action of the first half saw Alex Bruce pick up his fifth booking of the season, and will now miss the visit of Sunderland.
Coventry had the fist chance of a young second half, Stern John clipped his header just wide, but the Blues went straight up the end and took the lead.
Towns three loanee’s combined and Simon waltons cross was flashed in by Noble form eight yards for his forst senior goal.
Noble could have doubled his tally moments layer, with a crisp volley that just flew over.
Former Canary Leon McKenzie made his debut on the hour to a chorus of boo’s, the frontman replacing Andrew Whing.
Mckenzie made a quick impact, his low ball accross the box enabled Elliot ward to slam home at the far post to put the Sky Blues level on 72.
Billy Clarke replaced Jon Macken with ten minutes to go, and almost saw the Blues regain the lead, Simon Walton’s low drive was superbly tipped away by former Blue Andy Marshall.
On 85 Clarke picked up the ball and shrugged off the challenfge of Hutchison, then hit a sweet strike that Marshall could only get a hand too, the ball ballooned up off the keeper and into the roof of the net to send the home crowd into raptures.
Coventry had one last throw off the dice as Marshall came up for the corner in stoppage time. The keeper managed to get his head to the ball , but could only put it wide.
The Blues hung on to secure their third straight league win, and moved Town up to 13th in the table.
Price, Wilnis (Naylor 66), De Vos, Bruce, Harding, Williams, Walton, Legwinski, Noble (Currie 84), Macken (Clarke 79), Lee. Subs not used: Supple, Sito, Booked: Bruce, Noble, Harding.
Player Ratings
34. Lewis Price 7
Solid in goal, made one superb save and a number of impressive high catches, may still need to work on communication with his back line.
2. Fabian Wilnis 7
Only lasted an hour having not trained all week, hardly put a foot wrong, you wouldnt guess he was 36.
23. Dan Harding 9
Man Of The Match. Very solid at the back, and started to show what he can offer going forward, with a number of bursting forward runs.
4 Jason De Vos (c) 7
Skipper marshalled Kevin Kyle very well, only allowed him one chance, which he put wide.
5. Alex Bruce 7
Picked up fifth yellow card and misses the Sunderland game, but looked after Stern John well
8. Sylvain Legwinski 7
Played almost in front of the back four, and enjoyed an unglamourous, almost Matt Holland like role.
21. Simon Walton 7
Strong in the challenge, got the ball wide very well.
11. Gavin Williams 6
Continued his superb start to the season, was the Town engine room, although he really should have scored in the first half.
20. Mark Noble 8
First goal for Town set the Blues on their way, always busy, very creative.
14. Alan Lee 8
Very hard working, ran the channels tirlessly, was a great physical presence.
27. Jon Macken 7
Good hold up play,. Once he is fully fit will be a great asset to Town.
6. Richard Naylor, On 66 Wilnis. 7
Maybe at fault for the Coventry goal, but made a mends with typical last ditch defending.
24. Billy Clarke. On for Macken 80 8
Second successive winning goal, frightens defenders half to death with his pace and busyness, great strike for the goal.
Micky Adams
Didnt really get into the game, except for one exceptional crossfield ball for Williams
Manager Rating
Jim Magilton, set the stall out well, and was almost tactically spot on, allow the three central midfielders to drift aroiund, with Legwinski in the holding roll.
Opponent Rating
Micky Adam, a side typical of Adams side, always battling. The change to 3-4-3 didnt really work.
Jim Magilton
Magilton on Billy Clarke ‘He is a revelation, but I must try to keep his feet on the ground. He was a substitute, so he will be reporting for training in the morning. He has always had something about him. He suffered from injury last season but he took it on the chin and is now firing on all cylinders.’
On his loan players ‘They are good lads. They are ambitious young men. If we can help their football education and they can contribute for us, that’s perfect.’
Billy Clarke
‘I can’t believe how it’s gone for me. It’s just amazing. It’s mad really.
‘I don’t get that many goals from long distance but the ball was there and I just hit it. It bounced in front of the keeper and went in.
‘I didn’t really do anything else in the time I was on, so it was great to see the ball hit the back of the net.
‘The lads are flying at the moment. You can see the confidence on the training ground and during games and, with three wins on the trot, it means we will go to Birmingham on Saturday and really take them on.’
Micky Adams
We had the chances to have knocked them out of the game but Ipswich showed a lot of confidence going forward. Their last two results have boosted their confidence to the roof, so we knew it was going to be difficult.
‘I was disappointed with the goals we conceded. We should have dealt with the first and maybe the goalkeeper should have done a little better with the second, although Andy Marshall did bring off one terrific save.
‘Ipswich took their chances, and we didn’t. We failed to live up to the standard we showed against Norwich City on Saturday. To do well in this league you must be very consistent. We have introduced new faces and we need to find out about each other quickly and then the results will come. Maybe it is better to be a lucky manager than a good one.’
