Match ends, Blackburn Rovers 0, Ipswich Town 1.
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.
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.
Rankin-Costello then turned in Tyrhys Dolan's cutback from the left only for referee Stuart Atwell to consult with his assistant and decide that Szmodics, who was in an offside position, had got in the eyeline of the keeper.
Rovers pressed hard in the second half and saw another goal disallowed for a foul by Scott Wharton on Hladky before Moran's excellent right-foot finish.
They were then almost gifted an equaliser when Hladky took far too long inside his six-yard box and Szmodics blocked his clearance, spun and seemed certain to score, only for Hladky to dive and make a desperate save with his left arm.
It seemed like Ipswich needed a second goal and they created two chances on the break but Ali Al-Hamadi shot well over the bar from Kayden Jackson's cutback before Jackson himself fired wide from a narrow angle.
It left a slender lead for the visitors to cling on to and they held firm among a flurry of late corners and Harry Pickering's shot that was deflected over the bar.
Blackburn Rovers head coach John Eustace:
"Frustrated but very proud as well. I thought the effort of the group was outstanding.
"After the week we've had with the injuries and bit of sickness in the camp as well, to have possibly four starters out of the XI, I thought the effort was outstanding.
"We've gone up against a very good team and played very well and we're disappointed not to get anything out of the game."
Ipswich Town boss Kieran McKenna:
"Fantastic result, you have to enjoy every win you get in the Championship.
"The performance was mixed. I thought first half we started ever so well, big credit to the way we came out, especially after international duty, we imposed ourselves really well on the game.#
"Didn't control the game as we would have liked but sometimes you have to show that other side and I thought we did that really well."
Line-ups
Blackburn
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Pears
- 2Brittain
- 5Hyam
- 16S Wharton
- 3PickeringBooked at 6minsSubstituted forCarterat 90+5'minutes
- 6Tronstad
- 11Rankin-CostelloSubstituted forAyariat 62'minutes
- 19HedgesSubstituted forTelalovicat 82'minutes
- 8Szmodics
- 45ChriseneSubstituted forMoranat 62'minutes
- 10DolanBooked at 44mins
Substitutes
- 12Wahlstedt
- 14Koumetio
- 17Carter
- 18Markanday
- 22Gilsenan
- 24Moran
- 30Garrett
- 33Telalovic
- 44Ayari
Ipswich
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 31Hladky
- 40Tuanzebe
- 6Woolfenden
- 4Edmundson
- 3DavisBooked at 3minsSubstituted forClarkeat 70'minutes
- 5Morsy
- 25LuongoBooked at 81mins
- 20HutchinsonSubstituted forBurgessat 90+5'minutes
- 10ChaplinSubstituted forJacksonat 65'minutesBooked at 84mins
- 33BroadheadSubstituted forSarmientoat 64'minutes
- 24MooreSubstituted forAl Hamadiat 64'minutes
Substitutes
- 1Walton
- 2Clarke
- 11Harness
- 14Taylor
- 15Burgess
- 16Al Hamadi
- 19Jackson
- 21Sarmiento
- 30Humphreys
- Referee:
- Stuart Attwell
- Attendance:
- 18,235
Match Stats
- Possession
- Home53%
- Away47%
- Shots
- Home8
- Away11
- Shots on Target
- Home3
- Away3
- Corners
- Home9
- Away2
- Fouls
- Home13
- Away13
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Blackburn Rovers 0, Ipswich Town 1.
Post update
Corner, Ipswich Town. Conceded by Hayden Carter.
Substitution
Substitution, Ipswich Town. Cameron Burgess replaces Omari Hutchinson because of an injury.
Substitution
Substitution, Blackburn Rovers. Hayden Carter replaces Harry Pickering.
Post update
Corner, Blackburn Rovers. Conceded by Kayden Jackson.
Post update
Attempt missed. Harry Pickering (Blackburn Rovers) left footed shot from the left side of the box misses to the right.
Post update
Harry Clarke (Ipswich Town) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Post update
Foul by Callum Brittain (Blackburn Rovers).
Post update
Offside, Blackburn Rovers. Sammie Szmodics is caught offside.
Post update
Attempt missed. Kayden Jackson (Ipswich Town) right footed shot from the right side of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Jeremy Sarmiento following a fast break.
Post update
Offside, Blackburn Rovers. Semir Telalovic is caught offside.
Booking
Kayden Jackson (Ipswich Town) is shown the yellow card.
Post update
Corner, Blackburn Rovers. Conceded by Kayden Jackson.
Substitution
Substitution, Blackburn Rovers. Semir Telalovic replaces Ryan Hedges.
Post update
Foul by Omari Hutchinson (Ipswich Town).
Post update
Sammie Szmodics (Blackburn Rovers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Booking
Massimo Luongo (Ipswich Town) is shown the yellow card.
Post update
Corner, Blackburn Rovers. Conceded by George Edmundson.
Post update
Attempt missed. Andrew Moran (Blackburn Rovers) right footed shot from the centre of the box is too high following a corner.
Comments
Join the conversation
Would love us both to go up.
I no a lot can still happen a few twists and turns but I think you have nailed it !
Keep up the good performance and good luck for the future
Still any two from the top four and all to play for.
Must mention the fantastic four thousand travelling tractor boys and girls who have been brilliant all season 👏 COYB.
How is Stuart Attwell a EPL referee one of the worst officials you’ll see so poor I think he sets out to ruin games