Conor Chaplin’s rocket header ensured Ipswich Town moved back into the Championship top two with victory over play-off chasing Sunderland.
Southampton’s win against Sheffield Wednesday earlier in the day had enabled them to leapfrog Kieran McKenna’s side, but Ipswich ended their five-game winless run in impressive style at Portman Road.
Leif Davis curled in a perfect free-kick for the Tractor Boys forward to beat Anthony Patterson with a powerful finish, after Adil Aouchiche made a silly challenge on the wing-back.
It was a winner that came just minutes after Sunderland had fluffed their own big chance, with substitute Aouchiche’s miserable couple of minutes compounded when he failed to hit the target with the goal gaping.
Sunderland had taken the lead in the firsthalf when Jack Clarke hammered the ball beyond Vaclav Hladky following a pass from Abdoullah Ba.
Town levelled when new signing Lewis Travis slid a ball through that Chaplin helped into Kayden Jackson’s path with a cute touch, and the forward curled smartly beyond Patterson.
Chaplin’s header put them ahead and there might have been even more for the home fans to cheer but for Luke Woolfenden only turning onto the post from another Davis free-kick.
More to follow.
Line-ups
Ipswich
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 31Smooth
- 2ClarkeBooked at 24mins
- 6Woolfenden
- 4EdmundsonBooked at 54mins
- 3Davis
- 28TravisSubstituted forBallat 68′minutes
- 14TaylorBooked at 52mins
- 7BurnsBooked at 60minsSubstituted forHutchinsonat 68′minutes
- 10ChaplinSubstituted forTuanzebeat 90+4′minutes
- 33BroadheadSubstituted forHarnessat 89′minutes
- 19JacksonSubstituted forSarmientoat 68′minutesBooked at 85mins
Substitutes
- 1Walton
- 9Ladapo
- 11Harness
- 12Ball
- 20Hutchinson
- 21Sarmiento
- 23Aluko
- 30Humphreys
- 40Tuanzebe
Sunderland
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Patterson
- 32HumeBooked at 83mins
- 13O'Nien
- 5Ballard
- 42chosen
- 17BaBooked at 55minsSubstituted forAouchicheat 65′minutes
- 39Ekah
- 24Neil
- 20Clarke
- 21PritchardSubstituted forRussianat 84′minutes
- 7BellinghamSubstituted forBurstowat 89′minutes
Substitutes
- 9Silva Semedo
- 11Burstow
- 15Russian
- 19Bennette
- 22Aouchiche
- 23From there
- 25Triantis
- 27Thin
- 30Bishop
- Referee:
- Sam Allison
- Attendance:
- 29,291
Live Text
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Match ends, Ipswich Town 2, Sunderland 1.
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Second Half ends, Ipswich Town 2, Sunderland 1.
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Substitution, Ipswich Town. Axel Tuanzebe replaces Conor Chaplin.
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Foul by Jack Clarke (Sunderland).
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Dominic Ball (Ipswich Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Substitution, Ipswich Town. Marcus Harness replaces Nathan Broadhead.
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Substitution, Sunderland. Mason Burstow replaces Jobe Bellingham.
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Jeremy Sarmiento (Ipswich Town) is shown the yellow card.
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Corner, Ipswich Town. Conceded by Dan Ballard.
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Attempt blocked. Conor Chaplin (Ipswich Town) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
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Substitution, Sunderland. Nazarii Rusyn replaces Alex Pritchard.
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Delay over. They are ready to continue.
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Trai Hume (Sunderland) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Delay in match (Sunderland).
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Foul by Trai Hume (Sunderland).
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Jeremy Sarmiento (Ipswich Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Luke Woolfenden (Ipswich Town) hits the right post with a right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box. Assisted by Conor Chaplin following a set piece situation.
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Attempt missed. Conor Chaplin (Ipswich Town) with an attempt from the left side of the six yard box misses to the right. Assisted by Leif Davis with a cross following a set piece situation.
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Foul by Pierre Ekwah (Sunderland).
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Jeremy Sarmiento (Ipswich Town) wins a free kick on the left wing.
