Jim Magilton hailed new boy Velice Sumulikoski his goal helped Ipswich towards a 2-1 success against Blackpool at Portman Road.Second-half goals from the Macedonian and Jon Walters put his side in the driving seat and, although Paul Dickov pulled one back at the death, the Blues hung on for three precious points to keep them sixth in the Championship.

Town boss Magilton said: "It was a great strike from Velice.

"He has brought us composure, experience and knowledge in a very important area of the pitch and he has definitely got goals in him.

"He arrives on the edge of the box and if he continues hitting them like that they will keep going in.

"Velice and Tommy Miller have complemented each other very well in central midfield and both know there are players waiting to play, which has given them extra incentive."

Magilton felt his side created enough chances to win two games.

"In the first half we had enough opportunities but stayed patient and didn't get anxious when they weren't going in," he said.

"Then after the break we took our chances and found ourselves cruising."

Sumulikoski, making his full home debut, smashed his side into the lead five minutes after the restart.

It came after a flowing move involving Walters, Danny Haynes and Alan Lee, who teed up the Macedonian.

The midfielder, who arrived for £600,000 during last month's transfer window from Turkish side Bursaspor, unleashed a venomous, rising shot past goalkeeper Paul Rachubka.

Town doubled their lead eight minutes later when Lee hooked a long pass forward and Walters muscled behind Keith Southern before coolly slotting home for 2-0.

Dickov grabbed a consolation for the Tangerines from a late one-on-one position - much to Ipswich's anger.

They felt the Scot was offside, but the referee correctly played an advantage after spotting that Stephen McPhee's pass deflected off Town's Alan Quinn.

Overall, Ipswich could have scored five or six and had more than enough chances to win by a greater margin.

Lee hit the bar with a dipping volley, Jason De Vos saw a header cleared off the line and there were other decent opportunities for Walters, Miller, and Quinn.

Blackpool boss Simon Grayson bemoaned the fact that he lost his two centre halves, Ian Evatt and Michael Jackson, to injury within 31 minutes.

"This is the last place you want that to happen, after the Nou Camp," he joked.

"It was always going to be difficult before that happened because Ipswich are a very good team with a great record at Portman Road.

"But to lose two experienced players, the spine of your team, so early on meant our plan went out the window.

"Keith Southern and Shaun Barker battled manfully in their place but, overall, we were taught a footballing lesson. Ipswich could have scored three, four, or five.

"We rode our luck and had we got anything from the game I'd have been a bit embarrassed."

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