Blackpool 0 Ipswich 1

Dodgy goal celebrations aside, something is building gradually at Ipswich. And away from home to boot. As Jim starts to get a feel for his preferred starting eleven, so the team start to get a feel for victories.

Once again, Jim Magilton has shown that rather than squad rotation, as had been suggested previously, he was simply looking for the correct blend.

After weeks of inconsistent player selection, bourne out of inconsistent performances by the selected individuals on the pitch, suddenly the players are starting to pick themselves.

For the first time this season, Magilton named an unchanged line-up from that which won so well against QPR the previous week.

The major surprise was probably that last weekends super sub, Jon Stead, didnt take a starting position from Kevin Lisbie. But, Lisbie repaid Jims loyalty with another hard working performance. He continues to link well with Jon Walters and, whilst perhaps not individually the player most would pick to start, seems to be developing a decent striking relation with Walters. His work rate continues to remain good, but it feels as if he just needs a goal to push his confidence on. It remains that he could easily drop out of the side again at a moments notice.

The midfield is becoming a solid unit and the rest of the side is evidently benefitting from it. Garvan and Shumulikoski continue to have a good balance in the central positions, with Garvan seemingly finding confidence from his performances in a similar role with the Republic of Ireland U21 squad. Whilst the team perhaps lacks width, they certainly are not lacking in energy and workrate in the wide positions, with Quinn and Norris both getting up and down the pitch and tucking infield on regular occasions. Norris took his goal well, surprisingly his first of the season given how close he has come on other occasions, however it seems his celebration was not taken so well.

The defence is starting to speak for itself. For the fourth game in a row, the defence played with composure and steadiness, rewarded with their second consecutive clean sheet. In fact, they have been unlucky not to end up with the clean sheet from all of the last four games. Gareth McAuley grows further into his role in the side and on Saturday was possibly the best player. As he continues to improve, so his role as captain becomes increasingly strong.

Richard Wright will probably be most pleased with the last few games. After some very indifferent performances, he has held firm and been rewarded with clean sheets and performances to go with it. He appears to be regaining the solidity that Ipswich fans had grown to know him for and it will be of real benefit to the side in the coming months.

Four points from two away games would have been seen as a good return. However, with three points already secured and an away game at foot of the table Doncaster beckoning, six point is a distinct possibility. For a team that only managed three away wins in the entirety of last season, that particular corner looks to have been well and truly turned.