Ipswich stun leaders Coventry to breathe life into Championship promotion race

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Ipswich narrowed nan spread connected nan Championship’s apical 2 pinch an awesome 2-0 triumph astatine Coventry, ending nan leaders’ unbeaten location grounds this season. Jack Clarke opened nan scoring aft 72 minutes and Wes Burns’ first extremity since April 2024 doubled nan visitors’ lead 11 minutes later.

The Tractor Boys had started nan time 13 points down Frank Lampard’s squad and 5 down second-placed Middlesbrough aft a tally of 4 distant matches without a win.

It was nan 2nd clip this period that Ipswich tasted triumph complete Coventry, aft Kieran McKenna’s broadside enjoyed a 3-0 occurrence astatine Portman Road connected 6 December. Monday’s conclusion ended a tally of 8 consecutive location wins for Coventry, who were handed their first nonaccomplishment astatine nan CBS Arena this play – and only a 3rd successful nan convention this almanac year.

Ipswich dominated nan first half, enjoying almost 70% possession against an uncharacteristically passive Coventry. McKenna made 4 changes to his broadside from nan 0-0 tie pinch Millwall connected Boxing Day arsenic Jack Taylor, Sindre Walle Egeli and Clarke replaced Jens Cajuste, Kasey McAteer and Jaden Philogene.

Jacob Greaves replaced nan sick Leif Davis astatine left-back, and it was his transverse that created nan first opening of nan lucifer erstwhile Iván Azón’s header was saved by Carl Rushworth.

Clarke past lashed an effort wide aft latching connected to a transverse connected nan separator of nan Coventry box. Azón was released by Greaves and nan Spaniard was capable to trim wrong and curl a changeable into nan arms of Rushworth. Darnell Furlong’s transverse was past met by Greaves, who saw his header held by Coventry’s keeper.

The on-loan Brighton man past made 1 of nan saves of nan play to contradict Taylor. The 24-year-old sprawled to his correct to support retired nan midfielder’s well-struck effort, tipping connected to nan underside of nan barroom earlier Luke Woolfenden prodded nan shot retired for a corner.

Ipswich head Kieran McKenna applauds nan fans aft their triumph astatine Coventry
Ipswich head Kieran McKenna applauds nan fans aft their triumph astatine Coventry. Photograph: Bradley Collyer/PA

The Sky Blues, who had managed conscionable 1 effort successful nan first half done Ephron Mason-Clark’s header, started nan 2nd half connected nan beforehand ft arsenic Victor Torp’s changeable was blocked by Greaves. Ipswich’s goalkeeper, Christian Walton, made his first prevention 10 minutes aft nan break erstwhile he pushed distant Haji Wright’s deflected effort arsenic nan American went successful hunt of his first extremity since 4 October. Lampard was past near aghast erstwhile nan referee Anthony Backhouse waved distant appeals for a punishment aft Wright and Furlong fought connected nan separator of nan box.

Rushworth had enjoyed a quiet commencement to nan 2nd play aft his first-half heroics but was called upon erstwhile again arsenic he pushed Azón’s goalbound changeable retired for a corner. The opener arrived connected 72 minutes erstwhile Marcelino Núñez picked retired Clarke and nan winger had plentifulness of clip to get his changeable away, which looped up disconnected nan bottommost of Woolfenden and into nan corner.

Ipswich doubled their lead done Burns, who was making his 2nd quality since suffering an anterior cruciate ligament wounded against Liverpool successful January. Núñez was nan creator erstwhile again arsenic he laid into nan way of nan Wales international, who rolled his changeable calmly into nan area successful beforehand of nan travelling supporters.

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Source theguardian.com
theguardian.com