- Chaplin’s low shot somehow squirmed past Pears to claim victory for Ipswich
- Blackburn were denied an equalizer three times by referee Attwell and his officials
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Conor Chaplin took advantage of an early error from Blackburn goalkeeper Aynsley Pears as Ipswich climbed to the top of the Championship ahead of Leeds United’s evening kick-off.
Chaplin’s goal after nine minutes snaked through the hands of Pears whose Rovers side are still searching for their first win under manager John Eustace.
Their fans turned on referee Stuart Attwell and his officials, with Blackburn denied an equalizer three times: twice by an offside flag and then by a foul on visiting goalkeeper Vaclav Hladky.
But while the home side are just three points clear of the relegation zone after a tenth game without a win under Eustace, Ipswich have now leapfrogged Leicester and onto the top as the final whistle blew at Ewood Park.
The Tractor Boys started as a side supported by rivals Leicester and Southampton who previously failed to win on Good Friday.
Conor Chaplin’s low shot somehow squirmed past Aynsley Pears to claim victory for Ipswich
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Nathan Broadhead was disappointed not to be awarded an early penalty when referee Stuart Attwell missed Callum Brittain while pulling on his shirt, but the visitors quickly took the lead.
Leif Davis advanced from left back and made a cutback for Chaplin to strike from the edge of the box.
Although the midfielder – who returned from a back injury – did not make the nicest connections with his left foot, the ball bounced out of Pears’ gloves and trickled in.
The visitors were as bright as their orange shirts in the first half and Kieffer Moore’s header almost contributed to Chaplin’s thirteenth goal of the season.
Blackburn failed to muster a shot on target until the hour mark, but Attwell was still booed at half-time as the Lancashire side were frustrated by a few bookings and disallowed goals.
First, Ben Chrisene was given an offside flag after lobbed ‘keeper Vaclav Hladky, while Town defender George Edmundson comically applied the final touch into his own net in an attempt to clear the ball.
Then Joe Rankin Costello finished from twelve yards but his celebration was cut short as championship top scorer Sammie Szmodics was in an offside position and deemed to be obstructing Hladky’s view.
Joe Rankin Costello finished from twelve yards, but his celebration was interrupted by the offside flag
Substitute Andy Moran had an attempt disallowed in the second half due to a push in the build-up
In the second half, substitute Andy Moran’s half volley was also disallowed due to a push on Szmodics’ Hladky.
It didn’t matter to Ipswich’s four thousand traveling supporters as their side withstood pressure from Rovers in the second half to boost their own hopes of successive promotions.
Hladky saved from Szmodics and Scott Wharton as Ipswich dug in and visitors manager Kieran McKenna changed his entire front three midway through the second half to try and add energy.