Ipswich Town keep Play-Off hopes alive with nervy win over Bristol Rovers

The hosts were able to race into an early two-goal lead as the Gas were unable to reduce the deficit and fell to a 2-1 defeat.

Ipswich rose up to 9th in League One with their gritty win over Bristol Rovers. The Blues were on the back foot for the majority of the match but were able to get the three points after a hard fought battle.

After only 11 minutes, Ipswich led 2-0 thanks to a low Alan Judge strike and a Luke Leahy own goal. The hosts started the game full of confidence in attack, something that they have really struggled with in recent matches and looked likely to score more until they were brought down to earth by a speedy reply from their visitors.

A sloppy turn in midfield from Andre Dozzell handed possession over to Luke McCormick who had the goal at his mercy with Tomas Holy on the edge of his box. The midfielder floated his shot over the Czech goalkeeper and into the corner of the goal to halve the deficit for Bristol Rovers.

One reason Ipswich looked so good in attack in the opening 20 minutes was thanks to James Norwood who looked lively and dangerous throughout the first-half until he was replaced at half-time due to a thigh injury.

Norwood’s thigh injury is the latest in a long list of casualties this season for Ipswich as manager Paul Cook admitted the current injury list is a serious issue:

“I’ve never been involved in a club which has so many injuries, if I’m being truthful. But it’s the hand you’re dealt, just keep going and keep believing in what you’re doing.”

Although the score ended 2-1 to Ipswich, they were extremely lucky to get the three points against a much weaker side who dominated most of the play after the 20th minute. Paul Cook spoke after the game about his frustrations with his side on Friday:

“It’s painful watching us as a manager, I don’t know what it’s like for fans or reporters, because we don’t do anything easily. The games are all marginal, they’re all the odd goal.”

The Gas were lucky that all the teams around them also dropped points on Friday however manager Joey Barton will need to turn his side’s form around if they want to stand any chance of staying in League One this season, as Bristol Rovers remain four points from safety having lost five games in a row.

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