Darren Bent was the hero as Ipswich got their promotion hopes back on track with a deserved victory against struggling Bradford.
Bent set up two goals and then netted a superb third to seal a much-needed win following the defeat at home to Wigan last week.
Shefki Kuqi had given Joe Royle's men the lead after 28 minutes, but Bradford levelled in first-half stoppage-time through Dean Windass.
There was still time for Ian Westlake to restore the advantage before the break, albeit in controversial circumstances, and Bent's second-half strike
condemned Bradford to their fifth straight defeat.
It meant a losing start for Nico Vaesen on his Bradford debut following his loan move from Birmingham this week - and he had a busy afternoon.
The Belgian had found his goal under pressure as early as the third minute, but Richard Naylor headed just over before Bent volleyed wide from a Drissa Diallo cross.
Vaesen was tested for the first time in the 21st minute when he did well to tip Kuqi's left-footed shot around the post, but he could not repeat the feat seven minutes later.
A long ball up the field was flicked on by Bent straight into Kuqi's path and the Finn hammered a right-footed shot into the top corner which left Vaesen with no chance.
Bradford had created little going forward, but levelled against the run of play when Ronnie Wallwork's cross looped up off John McGreal and Windass was left with a simple header at the far post.
But their joy was short-lived and Bent was again the provider as his cross from the right found Westlake, who scored with a neat side-footed finish.
Bradford claimed there had a been a foul on Mark Bower in the build-up to the goal and their frustration boiled over as Windass, Vaesen and David Wetherall
were all booked for dissent.
Ipswich needed just seven minutes of the second half to give themselves a two-goal cushion as the ever-dangerous Bent deservedly got his name on the scoresheet.
He moved out to the right and beat Bower before curling a left-foot shot in off the far post for his first goal in eight games.
Westlake almost added another from Diallo's cross and the ball then fell to Jermaine Wright, who hit a 25-yard drive which was parried by Vaesen.
Kuqi and Bradford's Gareth Farrelly were both booked, while Bradford's frustrations were summed up when Wetherall headed across goal and Danny Cadamarteri netted from just a yard out, but was denied by an offside flag.
Teams
Ipswich: Davis, Diallo, Naylor, McGreal, Richards, Miller,
Magilton, Wright, Westlake, Kuqi, Bent.
Subs Not Used: Price, Reuser, Bart-Williams, Counago, Santos.
Booked: Kuqi.
Goals: Kuqi 28, Westlake 45, Bent 52.
Bradford: Vaesen, Atherton, Wetherall, Bower, Heckingbottom,
Summerbee (Cadamarteri 61), Wallwork, Farrelly,
Evans (Emanuel 61), Windass, Gray (Branch 75).
Subs Not Used: Davies, Jacobs.
Booked: Vaesen, Wetherall, Windass, Atherton, Farrelly.
Goals: Windass 45.
Att: 21,478
Ref: J Ross (Essex).
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