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Match Report: Blackpool 0-1 Ipswich | Help spread the word: Share on Facebook 
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Ipswich recorded back-to-back victories in the league for the first time this season with a 1-0 away win over Blackpool. Paul Bloomfield reports.David Norris bagged what turned out to be the only goal of the game on 42 minutes with a low-drilled shot from 12 yards after Gareth McAuley’s goal-bound header had been cleared off the line. Norris has since apologised for his celebration of the goal which has attracted widespread media attention. The Ipswich midfielder appeared to make a “handcuffs” gesture which Norris has described as a “private gesture” to jailed friend and former Plymouth Argyle team-mate, Luke McCormick. McCormick was driving home from David Norris’ wedding when the fateful accident occurred that resulted in two young boys being killed back in June. McCormick was found to be driving at twice the drink-drive limit. Norris said, “I can see how people might have seen it like that and I apologise wholeheartedly if it has caused any offence. Luke’s a good friend of mine. But he made a massive mistake and he is rightly paying the price for it.” Norris has released a statement available for viewing on the Ipswich Town official website and has written to the parents of the two young boys. In addition, Norris plans to meet with them to apologise to them and explain his actions. Meanwhile, Norris has subsequently been fined by Ipswich Town, and warned about his future conduct. Blackpool had the ball in the net 2 minutes into the second-half, but Rob Edwards’ header was ruled out for offside. Kevin Lisbie came close to extending Town’s lead when he neatly controlled Jon Walters’ ball into the box before firing narrowly over. Jon Stead almost made an immediate impact after coming on as a substitute for Kevin Lisbie when he hit the crossbar with his first touch, late in the game. The home side very nearly snatched a point 5 minutes from the end when Gary Taylor-Fletcher saw his header loop over Richard Wright only to watch the ball come back off the crossbar. Ipswich hung onto their one-goal advantage to record back-to-back victories in the league for the first time this season. The result sees the Blues lying in the much healthier-looking position of 8th in The Championship. Blackpool: Rachubka, Barker, Edwards, Evatt, Camara (Fox 77), Taylor-Fletcher, Southern, Jorgensen (Kabba 66), Vaughan (Hammill 46), Gow, Burgess. Subs not used: Gilks, Broomes. Booked: Southern, Fox. Ipswich: R.Wright, Volz, McAuley, Naylor, D.Wright, Norris, Shumulikoski, Garvan, Quinn (Miller 89), Lisbie (Stead 80), Walters. Subs not used: Supple, Couñago, Bruce. Booked: Norris. Click to view author Paul Bloomfield's profile Fancy writing for LiveFootball? Click here to find out more. |