IPSWICH Town can win away - this was proved when the Blues staged an amazing comeback to reach the fourth round of the FA Youth Cup at Loftus Road, Queens Park Rangers last night.

By Elvin King

IPSWICH Town can win away - this was proved when the Blues staged an amazing comeback to reach the fourth round of the FA Youth Cup at Loftus Road, Queens Park Rangers last night.

The Under-18 Suffolk side were 3-1 down with ten minutes to go, before hitting back to win 5-3.

Jordan Rhodes scored a hat-trick with Ed Upson, who scored a dramatic winner when Town won this prestigious competition in 2005, and Jai Reason also finding the net.

“Ipswich Town has a tradition in the FA Youth Cup, and after a nervous first period we passed Rangers off the park after the interval,” said Town Under-18 coach Richard Hall, who was in charge of the side with academy manager Tony Humes.

“We are pleased with them all and they showed a great deal of bottle to come back from the dead.”

The draw for the fourth round has yet to be made, but Ipswich, who were missing injured defensive linchpin Tommy Smith, regular Under-18 skipper Curtley Williams and Nathan Tooms, look equipped for another good run now they have got over this scare.

Added Hall: “I have a few more grey hairs and the coach driver left to warm up the bus with the score at 3-1.

“It would be unfair to pick out individuals, but Jordan Rhodes knows his way to goal as he has proved that at every level he has played.

“With his natural instinct for putting the ball into the net I am sure he will carry on doing this as his career progresses.”

With Jim Magilton's first team failing to win away for the last 14 matches, has former Scunthorpe, Southampton and West Ham defender Hall any tips?

“They are working very, very hard on the training ground every day to put that right and it will come before very long,” he said.

Rhodes scored in the 35th minute to make the score 2-1 at the break and after a few words from the management team in the dressing room Ipswich dominated the last 45 minutes.

They went 3-1 down after a breakaway, but Upson gave them hope with a goal in the 80th minute and Reason equalised five minutes later.

Within a minute Rhodes added his second and completed his hat-trick in stoppage time.

Ipswich Town: Plummer, Clemo, Robinson, Daniels (Murphy 46), Watson, Hyam (Clark 78), Upson, Reason, Ainsley, Rhodes, Lambe. Substitutes: Ward, Calver, Eastman.