IPSWICH Town manager Jim Magilton has invested wisely in the purchase of £600,000 Macedonian midfielder Velice Sumulikoski, 26, from Turkish club Bursaspor.

Elvin King

IPSWICH Town manager Jim Magilton has invested wisely in the purchase of £600,000 Macedonian midfielder Velice Sumulikoski, 26, from Turkish club Bursaspor.

And the Blues boss was delighted to see Shumi run Saturday's 2-1 win over Blackpool and highlight his display with a stunning opening goal.

“It was a great strike from Shumi,” said Magilton.

“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.

“We could tell almost straight away that he was a player who had fallen through the net when we were lucky enough to have him on trial.

“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 added.

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

“It was a rather a bizarre manner in which they scored their goal, but I have no complaints over it as the ball was played goalwards by one of my players.

“We have won three of our last four games, and the guys are starting to believe in themselves.”

Blackpool boss Simon Grayson said that he could have easily lost by five goals and that a draw would have been embarrassing.

He lost central defenders Ian Evatt and Michael Jackson through hamstring injuries in the first half, and quipped: “Portman Road is the last place you want that to happen - after the Nou Camp.

“It was always going to be difficult before that happened because Ipswich are a very good team with a great home record.

“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."