Match ends, Ipswich Town 1, Bolton Wanderers 0.
IpswichIpswich Town1BoltonBolton Wanderers0
Jay Tabb scored a late goal to give Ipswich their first win in five games and move Mick McCarthy's side to within a point of the play-off places.
Town kept themselves in the hunt before Saturday's trip to new leaders Watford with a vital three points.
Bolton were guilty of wasting chances from impressive debutant Rochinha and striker Craig Davies.
And Tabb made them pay when he latched on to Daryl Murphy's cross and fired past Ben Amos.
Neil Lennon's Bolton have now not won on the road for two months, but remain 10 points clear of the relegation zone.
Bolton's veteran striker Eidur Gudjohnsen had the first real chance when he had a shot blocked by Christophe Berra and Ipswich defender Jonathan Parr then cleared off the line as Tim Ream's scuffed shot was heading goalwards.
Ipswich continued to struggle and Rochinha - who joined Bolton on loan from Benfica in January - should have put the visitors ahead when he went clean through, but he shot wide.
The hosts were much improved after the break, midfielder Cole Skuse smashing a shot against the post from 25 yards.
And Tabb scored the winner soon after. Murphy's cross was not dealt with and the former Reading man struck decisively.
Ipswich boss Mick McCarthy:
"I was anxious and apprehensive watching - I'm sure most Ipswich fans were. There are nine games left and we still have a chance of being promoted. It is not going to be silky, free-flowing football without nerves.
"They had a lot of chances, as did we, but they were profligate in front of goal and we score through Tabby, that's all that matters.
"I kept the same team tonight and Bolton were no mugs. But we kept a clean sheet and we won."
Bolton manager Neil Lennon:
"We should have been home and hosed by half time, but that is endemic of our season away from home. You can't miss gilt-edged chances like we did against a good side.
"We had a great chance to win it at the end [through Davies] but we are left scratching our heads.
"We put out a young side and rested a few players. In Rochinha, we had the outstanding footballer on the pitch and it was just a shame he couldn't score in the first half with one of the goals of the season.
"The league table doesn't lie but a club like this shouldn't be where it is. Some of the senior players have a weak mentality but I can't do anything about that until the end of the season when we will still be hopefully in the Championship."
Line-ups
Ipswich
Formation 4-4-2
- 33Bialkowski
- 4Chambers
- 5Smith
- 6Berra
- 3Mings
- 2ParrSubstituted forVarneyat 45'minutes
- 27BishopSubstituted forBruat 57'minutesBooked at 90mins
- 8SkuseBooked at 22mins
- 18Tabb
- 20SearsSubstituted forClarkeat 90'minutes
- 9Murphy
Substitutes
- 11Anderson
- 14Chaplow
- 15Varney
- 17Bru
- 28Clarke
- 35Kenny
- 39Wood
Bolton
Formation 3-5-2
- 13Amos
- 4Mills
- 14Dervite
- 5Ream
- 25Vela
- 17Trotter
- 51Coke
- 20Costa RochaSubstituted forHallat 79'minutes
- 52Walker
- 22GudjohnsenSubstituted forBannanat 63'minutes
- 28Davies
Substitutes
- 1Bogdan
- 3Moxey
- 11Hall
- 27Twardzik
- 29Bannan
- 30Woolery
- 41Threlkeld
- Referee:
- Fred Graham
- Attendance:
- 16,923
Match Stats
Home TeamIpswichAway TeamBolton
- Possession
- Home55%
- Away45%
- Shots
- Home16
- Away9
- Shots on Target
- Home4
- Away3
- Corners
- Home4
- Away3
- Fouls
- Home8
- Away12
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Ipswich Town 1, Bolton Wanderers 0.
Booking
Kevin Bru (Ipswich Town) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Foul by Kevin Bru (Ipswich Town).
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Josh Vela (Bolton Wanderers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Attempt missed. Daryl Murphy (Ipswich Town) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Jay Tabb with a headed pass.
Substitution
Substitution, Ipswich Town. Matthew Clarke replaces Freddie Sears.
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Luke Varney (Ipswich Town) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Foul by Giles Coke (Bolton Wanderers).
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Attempt missed. Craig Davies (Bolton Wanderers) header from the left side of the six yard box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Josh Vela with a cross following a set piece situation.
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Foul by Kevin Bru (Ipswich Town).
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Robert Hall (Bolton Wanderers) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Attempt missed. Kevin Bru (Ipswich Town) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Cole Skuse.
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Offside, Bolton Wanderers. Dorian Dervite tries a through ball, but Craig Davies is caught offside.
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Luke Varney (Ipswich Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Dorian Dervite (Bolton Wanderers).
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Corner, Ipswich Town. Conceded by Dorian Dervite.
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Attempt blocked. Tyrone Mings (Ipswich Town) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Freddie Sears.
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Attempt saved. Robert Hall (Bolton Wanderers) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Tom Walker with a cross.
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Foul by Jay Tabb (Ipswich Town).
