IT is said in the financial markets that confidence is more valuable than gold right now.

Derek Davis

Ipswich 3 Barnsley 0

IT is said in the financial markets that confidence is more valuable than gold right now.

The same can be said in football and for Ipswich the confidence-boost from this win was akin to more bling than what's left in the country's gold reserves.

After a less than impressive start to the season Town needed a lift and it took a German keeper to hand it to them.

The Blues got their noses in front on 20 minutes, totally against run of play, when they got incredible break when Reds keeper Heinz Muller gifted ball to Jon Stead who stayed calm to finish low past the German.

That was his third goal in a row at Portman Road after previously netting against Reading on his debut and Crystal Palace on Saturday.

The second came from a quick counter with Owen Garvan feeding it up to Pablo Counago.

The wily Spaniard returned the pass and Garvan had time and space to finish from 14-yards.

Iván Campo made it number three when Muller made another howler and allowed his 35-yard drove spill out of his hands and trickle over the line.