Ipswich beat Blackburn to go top of Championship

[CharlieH]

 

 

Conor Chaplin's early goal sent Ipswich Town top of the Championship as they squeezed past Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park.

Chaplin's mis-timed strike in the ninth minute should have been saved but it beat Rovers keeper Aynsley Pears at his near post and proved enough to take the Tractor Boys one point clear of Leeds United, who drew with Watford later on Friday.

 

Blackburn thought they had equalised through Joe Rankin-Costello but the goal was ruled out for Sammie Szmodics interfering with keeper Vaclav Hladky's line of vision when stood in an offside position.

Rovers were then much the better side after the break and had a second goal chalked off from Andrew Moran for a foul on the keeper before Hladky saved with Szmodics about to tap into an empty net.

Victory was an eighth in nine games for Ipswich but they were forced to hang in to earn three more points in Lancashire.

• Relive Ipswich's victory at Blackburn

By stark contrast Rovers have now not won in eight league games and are just three points above the relegation zone.

The home side would have cursed their ill fortune that began with Pears' early error as Chaplin slipped away up the right wing, cut infield and played a ball to Leif Davis, whose cross back to Chaplin was hit first time with his left boot and crept past Pears.

 

FULL STORY