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Freddie Sears scored his first goals for Ipswich at Portman Road

Freddie Sears struck twice as Ipswich beat Birmingham City at Portman Road to get their promotion bid back in motion.

Mick McCarthy's side, who lost at home to Reading on Saturday, led through Tyrone Mings's header against City.

Sears capitalised on defensive confusion after the break to score. David Davis headed in for City before Sears added his second with a low shot.

Davis scored again after firing through a congested box, but Kevin Bru sealed the win as Ipswich move up to third.

It was Bru's first goal for Ipswich and settled a contest which had become a tense occasion for the home side after Davis got his second of the game.

Ipswich have not suffered back-to-back league defeats this season and their consistency has provided a platform for an automatic promotion push few would have predicted at the start of the campaign.

Ipswich are now just three points behind second-placed Middlesbrough and five behind leaders Derby County, who both also won on Tuesday.

Birmingham have not won in the league since 10 January but still maintain an eight-point gap between themselves and the relegation places, though they have now conceded eight goals in two games.

Birmingham boss Gary Rowett will rue Wes Thomas' missed chance when he was unable to turn home the ball following a goalmouth scramble moments after Mings scored his first Ipswich goal with a powerful header.

Sears doubled the lead, capitalising on Birmingham keeper Darren Randolph's indecision in coming to collect a long ball, by racing clear to finish.

The ex-West Ham striker's second goal at Portman Road swiftly followed Davis's smart finish from a Paul Caddis cross and this time Sears took advantage of a mistake from Jonathan Grounds to outpace Jonathan Spector and then drill the ball into the far corner.

Ipswich keeper Bartosz Bialkowski seemed to be unsighted as he failed to keep Davis's second out, but moments after Sears was denied a third by a goal-line clearance, Bru was on hand to poke home on the rebound following Daryl Murphy's initial shot and seal the win.

Ipswich manager Mick McCarthy: "I have been impressed with Freddie from the moment he walked through the door. He certainly has a chance of playing in the Premier League and we have a chance if he continues to play like that.

"He left the Premier League to go to Colchester and I admire him for going down to go back up again. I am delighted with him, his second goal was outstanding but both goals were really good finishes."

Birmingham manager Gary Rowett: "Ipswich are a good side but they have not had to work hard for any of their goals.

"Perhaps gifting them goals is a little harsh, but we defended poorly for all four goals."