Fearing the worst, Alf and the Faithful can find a few straws to cling to in that improved effort.

Cards on the table time, Alf and the punters were not in the most positive frame of mind before the game with the free-scoring Seasiders from Blackpool this weekend.

The news that owner Marcus Evans had free-falled into Playford Road to give the thumbs up to beleaguered Paul Jewel had done little to get the locals onside.

Once gain the manager shuffled the pack, with injuries to Leadbitter and Bowyer and threw a teasing gauntlet down at the feet of some of the Town youngsters champing at the bit to resurrect the drifting tractor.

And much to the pleasure of Alf and the sceptic natives, the young tyros picked it up and went a’ running.

With Luke Hyam playing his simple passing and prodding game in the centre and Josh Carson back to his busy hungry best, Town had the pace to rattle the visitors and put them firmly on the back-foot from the start.

Once again Lee Martin did that all too rare things at Portman Road of late and have the supporters on their feet for all the right reasons. With Emmanuel-Thomas showing flashes of quality, Town had the legs out wide to run the lurid tangerine-shirted Blackpool ragged in a one-sided first-half that was the best Alf and the Faithful had seen in ages.

With Tommy Smith reminding everyone of the doubters that he can defend, Alex McCarthy in the Town goal hardly had his gloves warmed with the Blues dominating all before him.

Andy Drury put in an industrious shift, winning the ball and running down the opposition up and down the park.

Suddenly it was pleasure watching Ipswich Town again.

The key was the boys playing higher up the pitch and pressing their opponents into submission. Hardly rocket-science, but much of this season (and last), Town’s gears have been reverse.

Town took the lead in the 10th minute when free spirit Martin whipped in a cross which the visiting Martinez could only divert into the goal.

Alf’s finest were playing the kind of football that all-comers to IP1 have craved – pace, movement and attack.

Town rode their luck briefly when LuaLua missed a guilt-edged chance but deserved the applause which rang round the stadium at half time.

Come the second period and Town again put one big foot forward and drove the visitors back.

Carlos Edwards drove a fierce shot at Howard, who could only parry the ball. From the corner, Drury teed up Smith to head home and cap a welcome return to form.

Meanwhile, one K Phillips had come off the bench armed with a couple of thorns.

After a flea in the ear from one Ian Holloway, Blackpool could only play better in the second half and they did.

But in an open free-flowing game, despite a fussy inconsistent referee, both sides created chances.

The Seasiders clawed one goal back, after a McCarthy in the Town goal had made a fine save, but Grandin pounced on the rebound.

And then it began to go horribly wrong.

Scotland’s injury saw the surprise return of lost soul Tamas Priskin, who entered the fray ahead of Chopra. Bullard replaced Carson. Lee Martin went out to the right and JET to the left.

Town lost their shape, initiative and fell back down the park as Blackpool swapped rolls and took the game to Town.

Blackpool were on level terms, through who else, but Kevin Phillips. It was a bitter pill for the locals and 69 Fortuna Dusseldorf fans to swallow, having dominated for long periods.

That said that was much, much better.