Delighted manager Mick McCarthy described Ipswich's first win in eight league games as "outstanding" as they comfortably beat Bolton 2-0 at Portman Road.
Arsenal loanee Ainsley Maitland-Niles grabbed his first senior goal before Brett Pitman made the points safe in the second half with a clinical finish.
In truth, Ipswich dominated proceedings and should have won by a much greater margin, much to the delight of McCarthy.
He said: "We have played well in recent games and not got the result, so to get the win is a relief.
"I would have taken a scruffy shinner or an own goal to get back to winning ways but our performance was outstanding.
"We had a difficult spell in the first half but we weathered that storm. It was great to get a clean sheet, which was a team effort, and some of the play from the front lads was terrific.
"The result could have been better but their keeper (Ben Amos) was outstanding."
The writing was on the wall for third-bottom Bolton as early as the 12th minute when Ipswich took the lead with their first real chance.
Maitland-Niles was set clear down the right by Daryl Murphy and the winger cut inside and found the bottom corner with a low left-foot shot which Amos should have done better with.
It was only Ipswich's second goal in six games but it galvanised the hosts with Pitman denied a second by a goal-line clearance by left-back Jose Manuel Casado before Freddie Sears twice saw first-half chances saved by the busy Amos.
Jonathan Douglas hit the crossbar with a stinging drive shortly after the restart before Pitman's sweetly-struck shot made the points safe 20 minutes from time.
Pitman was denied a second when Jay Spearing brilliantly cleared his header off the line before Sears almost grabbed a deserved goal, firing just wide of the far post and then seeing a late volley superbly saved by the diving Amos.
Bolton offered very little after Max Clayton's early header was smothered by Dean Gerken but manager Neil Lennon remained confident that he had the squad to move away from trouble.
Despite not tasting victory in nine games, Lennon said: "There was a mental fragility but on the basis of previous games, I do think we have the squad.
"We need to start showing moral courage to score goals and put our foot in. There is no point being a nice team - we have to start winning games.
"I thought we were in the game in the first half but we never competed in the second half.
"If you don't compete in this division, especially against a Mick McCarthy side, you will get beat.
"The two goals were poor from our point of view and if you are not scoring goals and not keeping clean sheets then it is mentally and physiologically damaging."
Source: PA-WIRE
